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PLFA Analyses of Microbial Communities Associated with PAH-Contaminated Riverbank Sediment

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Abstract

Sediment contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) is widely distributed in aquatic ecosystems. The microbial community structure of riverbank PAH-contaminated sediments was investigated using phospholipid-derived fatty acid (PLFA) analysis. Surface and subsurface riverbank sediment was collected from a highly contaminated site and from an uncontaminated site along the Mahoning River, OH. PAH concentrations, physical sediment characteristics, and other microbial community parameters (biomass as phospholipid phosphate (PLP) and activity) were also measured. PAHs were detected in all samples but were only quantifiable in the contaminated (250 μg/g g−1) subsurface sediment. Subsurface samples from both locations showed very similar PLP values and distribution of PLFAs, with 27–37 % of the microbial community structure being composed of sulfate reducing and other anaerobic bacteria. Principal components analysis indicated no correlation between PAH contamination and PLFA diversity. Although PLP and phospholipid fatty acid measurements of bacterial communities did not reflect the environmental differences among sites, the highly PAH-contaminated sediment showed the highest measured microbial activity (reduction of 1,200 nmol INT g−1 h−1), likely from a population adapted to environmental pollutants, rates that are much higher than measured in many uncontaminated soil and sediment systems. These data warrant further investigation into community structure at the genetic level and indicate potential for bioremediation by indigenous microbes.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by a Presidential Academic Center for Excellence in Research grant from Youngstown State University. The authors are grateful for useful discussions about statistics from T Diggins from the Department of Biological Sciences, Youngstown State University and J Kearns from the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Youngstown State University and for editorial suggestions by GP Johnston from the Biology Department, Kent State University.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. URS Corporation, 1375 Euclid Ave Suite 600, Cleveland, OH, 44115, USA

    Brenda Pratt

  2. Ecole d’Ingénieurs de Changins, Route de Duillier 50, Case postale 1148, CH-1260 Nyon 1, Switzerland

    Roland Riesen

  3. Department of Biological Sciences, Youngstown State University, Youngstown, OH, 44555, USA

    Carl G. Johnston

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  1. Brenda Pratt
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  2. Roland Riesen
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  3. Carl G. Johnston
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Correspondence to Carl G. Johnston.

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Pratt, B., Riesen, R. & Johnston, C.G. PLFA Analyses of Microbial Communities Associated with PAH-Contaminated Riverbank Sediment. Microb Ecol 64, 680–691 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00248-012-0060-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00248-012-0060-8

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