Multifunctionality and diversity in bacterial biofilms.
Bacteria are highly diverse and drive a bulk of ecosystem processes. Analysis of relationships between diversity and single specific ecosystem processes neglects the possibility that different species perform multiple functions at the same time. The degradation of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) foll...
Main Authors: | , , , , , |
---|---|
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2011-01-01
|
Series: | PLoS ONE |
Online Access: | http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3151291?pdf=render |
id |
doaj-2fe343dc0bbc4ac2b14d3b66e1ed8d72 |
---|---|
record_format |
Article |
spelling |
doaj-2fe343dc0bbc4ac2b14d3b66e1ed8d722020-11-25T02:57:21ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032011-01-0168e2322510.1371/journal.pone.0023225Multifunctionality and diversity in bacterial biofilms.Hannes PeterIrene YllaCristian GudaszAnna M RomaníSergi SabaterLars J TranvikBacteria are highly diverse and drive a bulk of ecosystem processes. Analysis of relationships between diversity and single specific ecosystem processes neglects the possibility that different species perform multiple functions at the same time. The degradation of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) followed by respiration is a key bacterial function that is modulated by the availability of DOC and the capability to produce extracellular enzymes. In freshwater ecosystems, biofilms are metabolic hotspots and major sites of DOC degradation. We manipulated the diversity of biofilm forming communities which were fed with DOC differing in availability. We characterized community composition using molecular fingerprinting (T-RFLP) and measured functioning as oxygen consumption rates, the conversion of DOC in the medium, bacterial abundance and the activities of five specific enzymes. Based on assays of the extracellular enzyme activity, we calculated how the likelihood of sustaining multiple functions was affected by reduced diversity. Carbon source and biofilm age were strong drivers of community functioning, and we demonstrate how the likelihood of sustaining multifunctionality decreases with decreasing diversity.http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3151291?pdf=render |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Hannes Peter Irene Ylla Cristian Gudasz Anna M Romaní Sergi Sabater Lars J Tranvik |
spellingShingle |
Hannes Peter Irene Ylla Cristian Gudasz Anna M Romaní Sergi Sabater Lars J Tranvik Multifunctionality and diversity in bacterial biofilms. PLoS ONE |
author_facet |
Hannes Peter Irene Ylla Cristian Gudasz Anna M Romaní Sergi Sabater Lars J Tranvik |
author_sort |
Hannes Peter |
title |
Multifunctionality and diversity in bacterial biofilms. |
title_short |
Multifunctionality and diversity in bacterial biofilms. |
title_full |
Multifunctionality and diversity in bacterial biofilms. |
title_fullStr |
Multifunctionality and diversity in bacterial biofilms. |
title_full_unstemmed |
Multifunctionality and diversity in bacterial biofilms. |
title_sort |
multifunctionality and diversity in bacterial biofilms. |
publisher |
Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
series |
PLoS ONE |
issn |
1932-6203 |
publishDate |
2011-01-01 |
description |
Bacteria are highly diverse and drive a bulk of ecosystem processes. Analysis of relationships between diversity and single specific ecosystem processes neglects the possibility that different species perform multiple functions at the same time. The degradation of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) followed by respiration is a key bacterial function that is modulated by the availability of DOC and the capability to produce extracellular enzymes. In freshwater ecosystems, biofilms are metabolic hotspots and major sites of DOC degradation. We manipulated the diversity of biofilm forming communities which were fed with DOC differing in availability. We characterized community composition using molecular fingerprinting (T-RFLP) and measured functioning as oxygen consumption rates, the conversion of DOC in the medium, bacterial abundance and the activities of five specific enzymes. Based on assays of the extracellular enzyme activity, we calculated how the likelihood of sustaining multiple functions was affected by reduced diversity. Carbon source and biofilm age were strong drivers of community functioning, and we demonstrate how the likelihood of sustaining multifunctionality decreases with decreasing diversity. |
url |
http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3151291?pdf=render |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT hannespeter multifunctionalityanddiversityinbacterialbiofilms AT ireneylla multifunctionalityanddiversityinbacterialbiofilms AT cristiangudasz multifunctionalityanddiversityinbacterialbiofilms AT annamromani multifunctionalityanddiversityinbacterialbiofilms AT sergisabater multifunctionalityanddiversityinbacterialbiofilms AT larsjtranvik multifunctionalityanddiversityinbacterialbiofilms |
_version_ |
1724711661624885248 |