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Nitrogen Fixation in Microbial Mat and Stromatolite Communities from Cuatro Cienegas, Mexico

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Abstract

Nitrogen fixation (nitrogenase activity, NA) of a microbial mat and a living stromatolite from Cuatro Cienegas, Mexico, was examined over spring, summer, and winter of 2004. The goal of the study was to characterize the diazotrophic community through molecular analysis of the nifH gene and using inhibitors of sulfate reduction and oxygenic and anoxygenic photosynthesis. We also evaluated the role of ultraviolet radiation on the diazotrophic activity of the microbial communities. Both microbial communities showed patterns of NA with maximum rates during the day that decreased significantly with 3-3,4-dichlorophenyl-1′,1′-dimethylurea, suggesting the potential importance of heterocystous cyanobacteria. There is also evidence of NA by sulfur-reducing bacteria in both microbial communities suggested by the negative effect exerted by the addition of sodium molybdate. Elimination of infrared and ultraviolet radiation had no effect on NA. Both microbial communities had nifH sequences that related to group I, including cyanobacteria and purple sulfur and nonsulfur bacteria, as well as group II nitrogenases, including sulfur reducing and green sulfur bacteria.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología, Mexico. L.F. had a postdoctoral fellowship from Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico. We thank Comisión Nacional para el Conocimiento y Uso de la Biodiversidad for elements used in Fig. 1 and are also grateful to L. Espinosa-Asuar for technical assistance.

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  1. Instituto de Ecología, Departamento de Evolución Molecular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, 04510, Mexico

    L. I. Falcón, R. Cerritos, L. E. Eguiarte & V. Souza

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  1. L. I. Falcón
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Correspondence to L. I. Falcón.

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Falcón, L.I., Cerritos, R., Eguiarte, L.E. et al. Nitrogen Fixation in Microbial Mat and Stromatolite Communities from Cuatro Cienegas, Mexico. Microb Ecol 54, 363–373 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00248-007-9240-3

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