Effects of Photosynthesis on Bacterial Phosphatase Production in Biofilms

The fraction of bacteria displaying phosphatase activity within natural photosynthetic biofilms was examined in relation to phosphorus limitation and algal photosynthesis. An artificial substrate that forms a fluorescent precipitate was used in conjunction with the nucleic acid stain DAPI to enumerate extracellular phosphatase expression by biofilm bacteria exposed to different photosynthetic activities and phosphorus supplies. The proportion of bacteria displaying phosphatase activity changed in response to the presence or absence of algal photosynthesis. In general, phosphate-deprived biofilms had positive linear trends in bacterial phosphatase activity (p < 0.001), with greater proportions of bacteria displaying phosphatase under photosynthetic inhibition compared to active photosynthesis. Under sufficient phosphate supplies, biofilms had negative linear trends (p < 0.05) or were lower in the proportion of bacteria displaying phosphatase activity in the presence of algal photosynthesis, whereas bacterial phosphatase activity was generally maintained when photosynthesis was inhibited. It is suggested that the amount of extracellular organic carbon released within the biofilm matrix during photosynthesis indirectly affected bacterial phosphatase synthesis.