Stable isotope labeling confirms mixotrophic nature of streamer biofilm communities at alkaline hot springs
Streamer biofilm communities (SBC) are often observed within chemosynthetic zones of Yellowstone hot spring outflow channels, where temperatures exceed those conducive to photosynthesis. Nearest the hydrothermal source (75-88°C) SBC comprise thermophilic Archaea and Bacteria, often mixed communities...
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doaj-762daa5a460d46619e62ce0f4c2df74c2020-11-24T22:49:01ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Microbiology1664-302X2015-02-01610.3389/fmicb.2015.00042117248Stable isotope labeling confirms mixotrophic nature of streamer biofilm communities at alkaline hot springsFlorence eSchubotz0Florence eSchubotz1Lindsay E Hays2Lindsay E Hays3D'Arcy Renee Meyer-Dombard4D'Arcy Renee Meyer-Dombard5Aimee eGillespie6Everett eShock7Roger Everett Summons8Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyUniversity of BremenMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyNASA HQMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyUniversity of Illinois at ChicagoMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyArizona State UniversityMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyStreamer biofilm communities (SBC) are often observed within chemosynthetic zones of Yellowstone hot spring outflow channels, where temperatures exceed those conducive to photosynthesis. Nearest the hydrothermal source (75-88°C) SBC comprise thermophilic Archaea and Bacteria, often mixed communities including Desulfurococcales and uncultured Crenarchaeota, as well as Aquificae, Thermus, each carrying diagnostic membrane lipid biomarkers. We tested the hypothesis that SBC can alternate their metabolism between autotrophy and heterotrophy depending on substrate availability. Feeding experiments were performed at two alkaline hot springs in Yellowstone National Park: Octopus Spring and ‘Bison Pool’, using various 13C-labeled substrates (bicarbonate, formate, acetate and glucose) to determine the relative uptake of these different carbon sources. Highest 13C uptake, at both sites, was from acetate into almost all bacterial fatty acids, particularly into methyl-branched C15, C17 and C19 fatty acids that are diagnostic for Thermus/Meiothermus and some Firmicutes as well as into universally common C16:0 and C18:0 fatty acids. 13C-glucose showed a similar, but a 10 to 30 times lower uptake across most fatty acids. 13C bicarbonate uptake, signifying the presence of autotrophic communities was only significant at ‘Bison Pool’ and was observed predominantly in non-specific saturated C16, C18, C20 and C22 fatty acids. Incorporation of 13C-formate occurred only at very low rates at ‘Bison Pool’ and was almost undetectable at Octopus Spring, suggesting that formate is not an important carbon source for SBC. 13C uptake into archaeal lipids occurred predominantly with 13C acetate, suggesting also that archaeal communities at both springs have primarily heterotrophic carbon assimilation pathways. We hypothesize that these communities are energy-limited and predominantly nurtured by input of exogenous organic material, with only a small fraction being sustained by autotrophic growth.http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fmicb.2015.00042/fullArchaeaBacteriaHot SpringsStable isotopesYellowstone National Parkheterotrophy |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Florence eSchubotz Florence eSchubotz Lindsay E Hays Lindsay E Hays D'Arcy Renee Meyer-Dombard D'Arcy Renee Meyer-Dombard Aimee eGillespie Everett eShock Roger Everett Summons |
spellingShingle |
Florence eSchubotz Florence eSchubotz Lindsay E Hays Lindsay E Hays D'Arcy Renee Meyer-Dombard D'Arcy Renee Meyer-Dombard Aimee eGillespie Everett eShock Roger Everett Summons Stable isotope labeling confirms mixotrophic nature of streamer biofilm communities at alkaline hot springs Frontiers in Microbiology Archaea Bacteria Hot Springs Stable isotopes Yellowstone National Park heterotrophy |
author_facet |
Florence eSchubotz Florence eSchubotz Lindsay E Hays Lindsay E Hays D'Arcy Renee Meyer-Dombard D'Arcy Renee Meyer-Dombard Aimee eGillespie Everett eShock Roger Everett Summons |
author_sort |
Florence eSchubotz |
title |
Stable isotope labeling confirms mixotrophic nature of streamer biofilm communities at alkaline hot springs |
title_short |
Stable isotope labeling confirms mixotrophic nature of streamer biofilm communities at alkaline hot springs |
title_full |
Stable isotope labeling confirms mixotrophic nature of streamer biofilm communities at alkaline hot springs |
title_fullStr |
Stable isotope labeling confirms mixotrophic nature of streamer biofilm communities at alkaline hot springs |
title_full_unstemmed |
Stable isotope labeling confirms mixotrophic nature of streamer biofilm communities at alkaline hot springs |
title_sort |
stable isotope labeling confirms mixotrophic nature of streamer biofilm communities at alkaline hot springs |
publisher |
Frontiers Media S.A. |
series |
Frontiers in Microbiology |
issn |
1664-302X |
publishDate |
2015-02-01 |
description |
Streamer biofilm communities (SBC) are often observed within chemosynthetic zones of Yellowstone hot spring outflow channels, where temperatures exceed those conducive to photosynthesis. Nearest the hydrothermal source (75-88°C) SBC comprise thermophilic Archaea and Bacteria, often mixed communities including Desulfurococcales and uncultured Crenarchaeota, as well as Aquificae, Thermus, each carrying diagnostic membrane lipid biomarkers. We tested the hypothesis that SBC can alternate their metabolism between autotrophy and heterotrophy depending on substrate availability. Feeding experiments were performed at two alkaline hot springs in Yellowstone National Park: Octopus Spring and ‘Bison Pool’, using various 13C-labeled substrates (bicarbonate, formate, acetate and glucose) to determine the relative uptake of these different carbon sources. Highest 13C uptake, at both sites, was from acetate into almost all bacterial fatty acids, particularly into methyl-branched C15, C17 and C19 fatty acids that are diagnostic for Thermus/Meiothermus and some Firmicutes as well as into universally common C16:0 and C18:0 fatty acids. 13C-glucose showed a similar, but a 10 to 30 times lower uptake across most fatty acids. 13C bicarbonate uptake, signifying the presence of autotrophic communities was only significant at ‘Bison Pool’ and was observed predominantly in non-specific saturated C16, C18, C20 and C22 fatty acids. Incorporation of 13C-formate occurred only at very low rates at ‘Bison Pool’ and was almost undetectable at Octopus Spring, suggesting that formate is not an important carbon source for SBC. 13C uptake into archaeal lipids occurred predominantly with 13C acetate, suggesting also that archaeal communities at both springs have primarily heterotrophic carbon assimilation pathways. We hypothesize that these communities are energy-limited and predominantly nurtured by input of exogenous organic material, with only a small fraction being sustained by autotrophic growth. |
topic |
Archaea Bacteria Hot Springs Stable isotopes Yellowstone National Park heterotrophy |
url |
http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fmicb.2015.00042/full |
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