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