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Ecology of Thermophilic Anoxygenic Phototrophs

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Anoxygenic Photosynthetic Bacteria

Part of the book series: Advances in Photosynthesis and Respiration ((AIPH,volume 2))

Summary

It is apparent that very few species of anoxygenic phototrophs occur or grow at high temperatures, particularly when compared to species numbers for thermophilic Archaea and non-photosynthetic Bacteria. Chloroflexus spp. are the most thermotolerant ( up to ~70 °C), but none are in the hyperthermophilic category.

Recognizing that there may be some endemic populations of anoxygenic phototrophic bacteria that have not been dispersed among geographically disparate geothermal sites, the major factors affecting the distribution of these bacteria are temperature, pH, and concentration of sulfide. Oxygen may have an effect on the vertical distribution and the diel vertical migration of some species within mats. Facultative aerobic metabolism appears to be a property of many of the anoxygenic phototrophs (but not Chlorobium or Heliobacillus) in these dynamic habitats. Light quantity and quality are affected by the diversity of pigmentation within the vertically stratified communities and adaptation to low photon fluence rates is a necessity for many species.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biology Department, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, 97403-1210, USA

    Richard W. Castenholz

  2. Biology Department, University of Puget Sound, Tacoma, WA, 98416-0320, USA

    Beverly K. Pierson

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  1. Richard W. Castenholz
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  2. Beverly K. Pierson
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA

    Robert E. Blankenship

  2. Department of Microbiology, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Illinois, USA

    Michael T. Madigan

  3. Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA

    Carl E. Bauer

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Castenholz, R.W., Pierson, B.K. (1995). Ecology of Thermophilic Anoxygenic Phototrophs. In: Blankenship, R.E., Madigan, M.T., Bauer, C.E. (eds) Anoxygenic Photosynthetic Bacteria. Advances in Photosynthesis and Respiration, vol 2. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/0-306-47954-0_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/0-306-47954-0_5

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