Limitation of Microbial Processes at Saturation-Level Salinities in a Microbial Mat Covering a Coastal Salt Flat
Dimitri V. Meier, Andreas Greve, Arjun Chennu, Marit R. van Erk, T. S. Muthukrishnan, Raeid M. M. Abed, Dagmar Woebken, Dirk de Beer
Abstract
studies, and theoretical calculations. In particular, oxygenic photosynthesis has barely been explored beyond 5 M NaCl (28% wt/vol). By applying a variety of biogeochemical and molecular methods, we show that despite abundance of photoautotrophic microorganisms, oxygenic photosynthesis is inhibited in salt-crust-covered microbial mats at saturation salinities, while rates of other energy generation processes are decreased several-fold. Hence, the complete element cycling required for self-sustaining microbial communities only occurs at lower salt concentrations.
Topics & Concepts
Microbial matPhototrophBiogeochemical cycleMicrobial population biologySalinityEnvironmental chemistryEcologyAlphaproteobacteriaPhotosynthesisCyanobacteriaBotanyChemistryBiologyBacteriaGenetics16S ribosomal RNAMicrobial Community Ecology and PhysiologyPaleontology and Stratigraphy of FossilsMethane Hydrates and Related Phenomena