Microbial diversity in coastal subsurface sediments: A cultivation approach using various electron acceptors and substrate gradients

Article Abstract:

Microbial communities in coastal subsurface sediments are investigated along the geochemical gradients from the surface down to a depth of 5.5 m using two different cultivation approaches. The results have shown that a majority of the isolates grew well under anoxic conditions, by fermentation, or by anaerobic respiration with nitrate, sulfate, ferrihydrite, or manganese oxides as electron acceptors.

Microbial growth, Marine sediments, Microbial populations

Sensitive determination of microbial growth by nucleic acid staining in aqueous suspension

Article Abstract:

A novel procedure for the sensitive quantification of microbial cells in cultures and most-probable-number-series is developed. It is observed that the method simplifies quantification of microbial cells in pure cultures as well as enrichments and is particularly suited for low cell densities.

Drugs, In-Vitro Diagnostic Substance Manufacturing, Bacterial Culture Products, Cell culture, Bacteriology, Bacterial cultures, Microbial genetics

Specific bacterial, archaeal, and eukaryotic communities in tidal-flat sediments along a vertical profile of several meters

Article Abstract:

The subsurface of tidal-flat sediment is analyzed down to 360 cm in depth by molecular and geochemical methods. The depth distribution of methanogenic archaea correlated with the sulfate profile and could be explained by electron donor competition with sulfate-reducing bacteria.

Genetic aspects, Eukaryotes, Electron-electron interactions, Geochemical research