Scientists from the University of
California put to the test the ability of a microbial community to affect
processes in estuarine sediments. They transplanted sediments from a low
salinity location to a high salinity location and vice versa along the Nonesuch
River. They placed the sediments in microbial “cages” to prevent microbial
cross-contamination but still allowing the sediments to be exposed to the conditions
of the new environment. They performed a short term experiment, which lasted a
week, and a long term experiment that lasted 7 weeks. With these tests,
scientists concluded that sediment processes, such as CO2 production,
CH4 flux, nitrification, and enzyme activities resisted changes in the
environment as long as the microbial composition remained the same. As
microbial composition changed, functional processes in the sediments changed as
well.
Figure 1. Dialysis tubing sediment cages with PVC collars. United States quarter dollar (24.26-mm diameter) shown for scale
Original article:
Reed, H. E. and Martiny, J.B.H. (2012). Microbial composition affects the functioning of estuarine sediments. The ISME Journal 7: 868-879.
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