Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Coexistence of Chlorobium and Chromatium in a sulfide-limited continuous culture

  • Published:
Archives of Microbiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Competition experiments between Chromatium vinosum and Chlorobium limicola in sulfide-limited continuous culture under photolithoautotrophic conditions resulted in the coexistence of both organisms. The ratio between the two bacteria was dilution-rate as well as pH dependent. The observed coexistence can be explained as a hitherto not reported form of dual substrate limitation. The two substrates involved are the electron donors sulfide (growth-limiting substrate in the reservoir vessel) and extracellular elemental sulfur (formed by Chlorobium as a result of sulfide oxidation). It is argued that, although Chlorobium may have the better affinity for both substrates involved, Chromatium can compete successfully on the basis of its intracellular storage of sulfur. Ecological implication of the observed coexistence with respect to natural blooms are discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

Bchl:

bacteriochlorophyll

me:

milliequivalent

D:

dilution rate

References

  • Anagnostidis, K, Overbeck J (1966) Methanoxydierer und hypolimnische Schwefelbakterien. Studien zur ökologischen Biocönotik der Gewässermikroorganismen. Ber Deutsch Bot Ges 79:163–174

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Beeftink HH, van Gemerden H (1979) Actual and potential rates of substrate oxidation and product formation in continous cultures of Chromatium vinosum. Arch Microbiol 121:161–167

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Biebl H, Pfennig N (1978) Growth yields of green sulfur bacteria in mixed cultures with sulfur and sulfate reducing bacteria. Arch Microbiol 117:9–19

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cohen Y, Krumbein WE, Shilo M (1977) Solar Lake (Sinai). 2. Distribution of photosynthetic microorganisms and primary production. Limnol Oceanogr 22:609–620

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cohen-Bazire G, Sistrom WR, Stanier RY (1957) Kinetic studies of pigment synthesis by purple non-sulfur bacteria. J Cell Comp Physiol 49:25–68

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Culver DA, Brunskill GJ (1969) Fayetteville Green Lake, New York. V. Studies of primary production and zooplankton in a meromictic marl lake. Limnol Oceanogr 14:862–873

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fredrickson AG (1977) Behaviour of mixed cultures of microorganisms. Ann Rev Microbiol 31:63–87

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gorlenko VM, Chebatarev EN, Kachalkin VI (1975) Participation of microorganisms in the circulation of sulfur in Pomyaretskoe Lake. Microbiology 43:772–776

    Google Scholar 

  • Guerrero R, Abella C (1978) Dynámica espaciotemporal de las poblationas bacteriahas fotosynthéticas en una laguna anaerobia de aguas sulfurosas. Oecol Aquatica 3:193–205

    Google Scholar 

  • Herbert D, Phipps PJ, Strange RE (1971) Chemical analysis of microbial cells. In: Norris JR, Ribbons DW (eds) Methods in microbiology, vol 5B. Academic Press, New York, pp 209–344

    Google Scholar 

  • Lowry OH, Rosebrough NJ, Farr AL, Randall RJ (1951) Protein measurement with the Folin phenol reagent. J Biol Chem 193:265–275

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Olson JM, Romano CA (1962) A new chlorophyll from green bacteria. Biochim Biophys Acta 59:726–728

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Takahashi M, Ichimura KS (1970) Photosynthetic properties and growth of photosynthetic sulfur bacteria in lakes. Limmol Oceanogr 15:929–944

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Thiele HH (1968) Die Verwertung einfacher organischer Substrate durch Thiorhodaceae. Arch Mikrobiol 60:124–138

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Trüper HG, Genovese S (1968) Characterization of photosynthetic sulfur bacteria causing red water in Lake Faro (Messina, Sicily). Limnol Oceanogr 13:225–232

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van Gemerden H (1974) Coexistence of organisms competing for the same substrate: an example among the purple sulfur bacteria. Micr Ecol 1:104–119

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Gemerden H, Beeftink HH (1978) Specific rates of substrate oxidation and product formation in autotrophically growing cultures of Chromatium vinosum. Arch Microbiol 119:135–143

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van Niel CB (1963) A brief survey of the photosynthetic bacteria. In: Gest H, San Pietro A, Vernon LP (eds) Bacterial photosynthesis. The Antioch Press, Yellow Springs, pp 459–467

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Microbiology, University of Groningen, Kerklaan 30, 9751 NN, Haren, The Netherlands

    H. van Gemerden & H. H. Beeftink

  2. Department of Microbiology, University of Amsterdam, Nieuwe Achtergracht 127, 1018 WS, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    H. van Gemerden & H. H. Beeftink

Authors
  1. H. van Gemerden
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. H. H. Beeftink
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

van Gemerden, H., Beeftink, H.H. Coexistence of Chlorobium and Chromatium in a sulfide-limited continuous culture. Arch. Microbiol. 129, 32–34 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00417175

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00417175

Key words

Search

Navigation