Microbial Community Structure in Three Deep-Sea Carbonate Crusts

• S. K. Heijs ^[1] ; G. Aloisi ^[6] ; I. Bouloubassi ^[2] ; R. D. Pancost ^[3] ; C. Pierre ^[2] ; J. S. Sinninghe Damsté ^[4] ; J. C. Gottschal ^[1] ; J. D. van Elsas ^[1] ; L. J. Forney ^[5]
  1. [1] University of Groningen

     University of Groningen

     Países Bajos

     
  2. [2] Pierre and Marie Curie University

     Pierre and Marie Curie University

     París, Francia

     
  3. [3] University of Bristol

     University of Bristol

     Reino Unido

     
  4. [4] Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research

     Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research

     Países Bajos

     
  5. [5] University of Idaho

     University of Idaho

     Estados Unidos

     
  6. [6] UMR 5125–PEPS–CNRS–UCBL, Domaine Scientifique de la Doua, Bâtiment GEODE. Villeurbanne. France

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• Localización: Microbial ecology, ISSN-e 1432-184X, ISSN 0095-3628, Vol. 52, Nº. 3, 2006, págs. 451-462
• Idioma: inglés
• Texto completo no disponible (Saber más ...)
• Resumen

  • Carbonate crusts in marine environments can act as sinks for carbon dioxide. Therefore, understanding carbonate crust formation could be important for understanding global warming. In the present study, the microbial communities of three carbonate crust samples from deep-sea mud volcanoes in the eastern Mediterranean were characterized by sequencing 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes amplified from DNA directly retrieved from the samples. In combination with the mineralogical composition of the crusts and lipid analyses, sequence data were used to assess the possible role of prokaryotes in crust formation. Collectively, the obtained data showed the presence of highly diverse communities, which were distinct in each of the carbonate crusts studied. Bacterial 16S rRNA gene sequences were found in all crusts and the majority was classified as α-, γ-, and δ- Proteobacteria. Interestingly, sequences of Proteobacteria related to Halomonas and Halovibrio sp., which can play an active role in carbonate mineral formation, were present in all crusts. Archaeal 16S rRNA gene sequences were retrieved from two of the crusts studied. Several of those were closely related to archaeal sequences of organisms that have previously been linked to the anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM). However, the majority of archaeal sequences were not related to sequences of organisms known to be involved in AOM. In combination with the strongly negative δ 13C values of archaeal lipids, these results open the possibility that organisms with a role in AOM may be more diverse within the Archaea than previously suggested. Different communities found in the crusts could carry out similar processes that might play a role in carbonate crust formation.