Proliferation of purple sulphur bacteria at the sediment surface affects intertidal mat diversity and functionality
Abstract
There is a relative absence of studies dealing with mats of purple sulphur bacteria in the intertidal zone. These bacteria display an array of metabolic pathways that allow them to disperse and develop under a wide variety of conditions, making these mats important in terms of ecosystem processes and functions. Mass blooms of purple sulphur bacteria develop during summer on sediments in the intertidal zone especially on macroalgal deposits. The microbial composition of different types of mats differentially affected by the development of purple sulphur bacteria was examined, at low tide, using a set of biochemical markers (fatty acids, pigments) and composition was assessed against their influence on ecosystem functions (sediment cohesiveness, CO2 fixation). We demonstrated that proliferation of purple sulphur bacteria has a major impact on intertidal mats diversity and functions. Indeed, assemblages dominated by purple sulphur bacteria (Chromatiaceae) were efficient exopolymer producers and their biostabilisation potential was significant. In addition, the massive growth of purple sulphur bacteria resulted in a net CO2 degassing whereas diatom dominated biofilms represented a net CO2 sink.
Citation
Hubas , C , Jesus , B , Ruivo , M , Meziane , T , Thiney , N , Davoult , D , Spilmont , N , Paterson , D M & Jeanthon , C 2013 , ' Proliferation of purple sulphur bacteria at the sediment surface affects intertidal mat diversity and functionality ' , PLoS One , vol. 8 , no. 12 , e82329 . https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0082329
Publication
PLoS One
Status
Peer reviewed
ISSN
1932-6203Type
Journal article
Description
Funding provided by French National Centre for Scientific Research/INSU program EC2CO-MicroBien (Microbiologie Environnementale -BIOPOURPRE Project), European Community (ASSEMBLE grant agreement n° 227799), Region Pays de la Loire (France), Marine Alliance for Science and Technology for Scotland and the Scottish Funding Council and participating institutions.Collections
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