the winogradsky column
TRANSCRIPT
o Sergei Winogradsky
o Pond mud
diverse microbial communities
o Clear-glass cylinder
Mud samples
water
excess substrates (optimal growth)
o Sun light (synthetic or otherwise)
o O2 gradient – H2S gradient
o Multiple layers
OVERVIEW
Sergei Winogradsky
o Diverse
microbial
communities
o lots of stuff in
soil
o Many samples
o Symbiosis
between
bacteria
o Anaerobe rich
MUD SAMPLES
700 mls Mud
1 scoop
Cellulose
1 scoop
Calcium sulfate
300 ml Tap
Water
Foil or parafilm
THE COLUMN
ADDITIONAL SUBSTRATES
C E L L U L O S E
• Carbon source
• Anaerobic
bacteria
• Examples:
•Clostridium
•Bacillus
C A L C I U M
S U L F AT E
• Sulfur source
• Sulfate reducing bacterium
• Examples: • Desulfovibrio (sulfate
reducer)
• Chlorobium (sulfur oxidizer)
• Chromatium
• Green Sulfur bacteria
Sunlight / Plant light
Fuels growth of phototrophs
Examples:• Algae
• Diatoms
• Cyanobacteria• E.g. Anabaena
LIGHT SOURCE
Influences type of Bacterial Growth
O2 Gradient:
• Bottom – Top
• Anaerobes – bottom
• Aerobes - Top
H2S Gradient:
• Top – Bottom
• Sulfur reducers – bottom
- produce sulfide - Diffuses upward
• Sulfur oxidizers – top
- Traces of oxygen
O2 AND H2S GRADIENTS
WATER LAYER
T O P L AY E R
Aerobic layer
Oxygenic Phototrophs
Greenish color -
Chlorophyll
Examples:
Algae
Cyanobacteria
A N A B A E N A
WATER LAYER
DIATOMS DIATOMS – BINARY FISSION
PINK LAYER
N O N - S U L F U R
B A C T E R I A
Aero-tolerant
Phototrophic
Lower H2S tolerance
Various carotenoid pigments –bacteriochlorphyll A or B
Examples:
Rhodospirillum
Thiobacillus
RHODOSPIRILL
UM
RHODOSPIRILLUM IN ACTION!
PINK LAYER
PURPLE LAYER
S U L F U R B A C T E R I A
Anoxygenic
Phototrophic
Higher H2S tolerance
Various carotenoid
pigments
Examples:
Chromatium
ThiocapsaCHROMATIU
M
PURPLE LAYER
BLACK LAYER
M O R E S U L F U R
B A C T E R I A
Anaerobic
Cellulose Fermentation
Carbon Source
Sulfate-reducing
H2S combines with metals in mud to form metal sulfides (Black pigment)
Examples:
Clostridium
Desulfovibrio
GREEN LAYER
G R E E N S U L F U R B A C T E R I A
Anoxygenic photosynthetic
bacteria
H2S – electron source
- Sulfur production
Green – chlorophyll
Examples:
Chlorobium
BARTHOLOMEW “BART”
~ I N M E M O R I A M ~
1 0 / 2 / 2 0 1 3 - ? ?
NEMATODE
WHAT THE WHAT??
CONCLUSION
• A lot of the soil was dry/sandy
• Better light source
• Pond water instead of tap water
• More cellulose powder and calcium sulfate
• Other options??
• Newspaper shavings (cellulose)
• Blackened marshmallows/ egg shells (calcium carbonate)
• Egg yolk (Sulfur source)
• Soil not packed densely enough – air pockets
• More time?
REFERENCES
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Sergei_Winogradsky.jpg
http://www1.pictures.gi.zimbio.com/Annual+Mud+Day+Celebration+Lets+Kids+Get+Dirty+r
OS7KBcnzkel.jpg
http://healthfreedoms.org/files/2012/02/soil.jpg
www.grin.com/en/e-book/184354/new-insights-on-winogradsky-columns-simulation-of-
contaminated-subsurface
http://textbookofbacteriology.net/environment_4.html
http://www2.nau.edu/~doetqp-p/courses/env440/env440_2/lectures/lec23/lec23.html
http://wassertropfen-makros-und-mehr.npage.de/galerie357150.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_sulfur_bacteria