Abstract
Observations on the seasonal periodicity in bottom deposits of Lake Vechten indicated an ecological relationship between sulfate-reducing and methane-producing bacteria. Sulfate reducers are most abundant at depths of 0 to 2 cm in the mud at pS2- values of about 11 and redox potential values of-100 to-150 mV. Maximum number of methane producers are situated at depths of 3 to 6 cm in the mud at pS2- values of about 14, redox potential values of-250 to-300 mV and maximum values of the methane concentration.
During summer stratification the numbers of bacteria increased considerably. However the number of methane producers rose much more than that of the sulfate reducers. Sulfate in the interstitial water of the sediments is reduced by the sulfate reducers and the sulfate concentration limited the latter's abundance. Methane producers are found deeper in the mud at lower concentrations of hydrogen sulphide. Therefore the different localities of the two bacterial groups may be due to sensitivity of methane producers to hydrogen sulphide. Differential counting of the mixed population of methane-producing bacteria showed that acetate-and methyl-alcohol-fermenting types are most abundant at a depth of 5, and formate-and CO2/H2-fermenting types at a depth of 3 cm in the mud.
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Cappenberg, T.E. Interrelations between sulfate-reducing and methane-producing bacteria in bottom deposits of a fresh-water lake. I. Field observations. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek 40, 285–295 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00394387
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00394387