Dynamic microbial community associated with iron-arsenic co-precipitation products from a groundwater storage system in Bangladesh

Microb Ecol. 2012 Jul;64(1):171-86. doi: 10.1007/s00248-012-0014-1. Epub 2012 Feb 16.

Abstract

The prokaryotic community in Fe-As co-precipitation product from a groundwater storage tank in Bangladesh was investigated over a 5-year period to assess the diversity of the community and to infer biogeochemical mechanisms that may contribute to the formation and stabilisation of co-precipitation products and to Fe and As redox cycling. Partial 16S rRNA gene sequences from Bacteria and Archaea, functional markers (mcrA and dsrB) and iron-oxidising Gallionella-related 16S rRNA gene sequences were determined using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). Additionally, a bacterial 16S rRNA gene library was also constructed from one representative sample. Biogeochemical characterization demonstrated that co-precipitation products consist of a mixture of inorganic minerals, mainly hydrous ferric oxides, intimately associated with organic matter of microbial origin that contribute to the chemical and physical stabilisation of a poorly ordered structure. DGGE analysis and polymerase chain reaction-cloning revealed that the diverse bacterial community structure in the co-precipitation product progressively stabilised with time resulting in a prevalence of methylotrophic Betaproteobacteria, while the archaeal community was less diverse and was dominated by members of the Euryarchaeota. Results show that Fe-As co-precipitation products provide a habitat characterised by anoxic/oxic niches that supports a phylogenetically and metabolically diverse group of prokaryotes involved in metal, sulphur and carbon cycling, supported by the presence of Gallionella-like iron-oxidizers, methanogens, methylotrophs, and sulphate reducers. However, no phylotypes known to be directly involved in As(V) respiration or As(III) oxidation were found.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Archaea / classification
  • Archaea / genetics
  • Archaea / isolation & purification*
  • Arsenic / chemistry*
  • Arsenic / metabolism
  • Bacteria / classification
  • Bacteria / genetics
  • Bacteria / isolation & purification*
  • Bangladesh
  • DNA, Archaeal / genetics
  • DNA, Bacterial / genetics
  • Groundwater / chemistry
  • Groundwater / microbiology*
  • Iron / chemistry*
  • Iron / metabolism
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Phylogeny
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / genetics

Substances

  • DNA, Archaeal
  • DNA, Bacterial
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
  • Iron
  • Arsenic

Associated data

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