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Bacteria in post-glacial freshwater sediments

Ian Miskin1, Glenn Rhodes2,1, Kirsten Lawlor1

  • 1School of Biological Sciences, University of LiverpoolPO Box 147, Liverpool L69 7ZBUK.

Microbiology (Reading, England)
|October 23, 1998
PubMed
Summary
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Ancient freshwater sediments harbor persistent prokaryotic communities. Bacteria and archaea remain viable and active, indicating long-term survival in deep, aged environments.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Geomicrobiology
  • Freshwater Ecology

Background:

  • Post-glacial freshwater sediments represent long-term depositional records.
  • Understanding microbial life in deep sediments is crucial for biogeochemical cycling.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the culturability, viability, and community structure of prokaryotes in ancient freshwater sediments.
  • To infer the potential for active geochemical cycles based on microbial presence.

Main Methods:

  • Direct cell counts and viability probes (CTC, CFDA) were used to assess microbial activity.
  • Culturing techniques were employed to enumerate culturable bacteria.
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) with eubacterial and archaeal primers identified microbial lineages.

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Main Results:

  • Microbial cell densities decreased with sediment depth, from 10(12) to 10(9) cells/g dry weight.
  • A significant proportion of cells in upper sediments were metabolically active.
  • Culturable bacteria numbers declined with depth, but spore-forming heterotrophs and denitrifiers were found throughout the core.
  • PCR detected sequences similar to deep-sea microbes and methanogenic archaea in sediments over 7000 years old.

Conclusions:

  • Bacteria and archaea demonstrate remarkable long-term persistence and metabolic activity in deep, aged freshwater sediments.
  • These microbial communities likely contribute to geochemical cycling over geological timescales.