Microbial community structure and function during abnormal curve development of substrate-induced respiration measurements.
Soil respiration measurements are an established method to test the abundance, activity and vitality of the soil microorganisms. However, abnormal progressions of soil respiration curves impede a clear interpretation of the data. The aim of this study was to investigate the changes in the microbial structure during the formation of phenomena like double peaks and terraces by analysis of the PLFA composition (phospholipid fatty acid composition). Moreover, 13C labeled glucose was used as substrate; therefore it was possible to measure delta13C values both within the PLFA fraction as well as within the carbon dioxide evolved during respiration. As contaminants trinitrotoluene, cycloheximide, and hexadecane were used. The results showed that the appearance of double peaks was mainly related to the growth of fungi with the marker 18:2delta9,12 due to a toxic effect of trinitrotoluene and cycloheximide. In contrast, the phenomenon of terrace formation was related to the utilization of hexadecane as a carbon source mainly by bacteria.
Bartling
Johanna
J
Berlin University of Technology, Institute of Ecology, Franklinstr. 29, 10587 Berlin, Germany. johanna.bartling@tu-berlin.de
Kotzerke
Anja
A
Mai
Maike
M
Esperschütz
Jürgen
J
Buegger
Franz
F
Schloter
Michael
M
Wilke
Berndt-Michael
BM
D000473:Alkanes / Q000633:toxicity; D001419:Bacteria / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000378:metabolism; D003513:Cycloheximide / Q000633:toxicity; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D005658:Fungi / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D005947:Glucose / Q000494:pharmacology; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000378:metabolism; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D014303:Trinitrotoluene / Q000633:toxicity
D000473:Alkanes; D005227:Fatty Acids; D010743:Phospholipids; D014303:Trinitrotoluene; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D003513:Cycloheximide; C007932:n-hexadecane; D005947:Glucose