Microbial Ecology

, Volume 16, Issue 2, pp 133–147 | Cite as

Bacterial zonation, photosynthesis, and spectral light distribution in hot spring microbial mats of Iceland

  • Bo Barker Jørgensen
  • Douglas C. Nelson
Article

Abstract

The zonation and structure of phototrophic microbial mats were studied along two thermal gradients in sulfide-rich hot springs of southwest Iceland. The green, filamentous bacteriumChloroflexus and the unicellular, “high-temperature form” (HTF) ofMastigocladus formed mats growing up to a temperature limit of 62–66°C. The dominant phototrophs wereChloroflexus sp.,Mastigocladus laminosus, andPhormidium laminosum, respectively, at the three temperature intervals: >60°C, 60°C to 55–50°C, and <55–50°C. AChloroflexus mat growing at 60°C under 60μM H2S was anoxic in the light with the exception of a 0.5 mm thick band of HTFMastigocladus which produced oxygen. The oxygenic photosynthesis of these H2S-sensitive cyanobacteria was probably dependent on a preceding sulfide depletion by the anoxygenicChloroflexus. Measurements of spectral radiance gradients with a fiberoptic microprobe showed maximum light attenuation by carotenoids and bacteriochlorophyllC. AM. laminosus mat growing at 52°C was oxic throughout and showed maximum light attenuation by carotenoids, chlorophyllA, and phycocyanin, but no detectable phycoerythrocyanin absorption.

Keywords

Sulfide Photosynthesis Carotenoid chlorophyllA Thermal Gradient 
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Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag New York Inc. 1988

Authors and Affiliations

  • Bo Barker Jørgensen
    • 1
  • Douglas C. Nelson
    • 2
  1. 1.Institute of Ecology and GeneticsUniversity of AarhusAarhus CDenmark
  2. 2.Department of BacteriologyUniversity of CaliforniaDavisUSA

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