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The phylogenetic structure of microbial biofilms and free-living bacteria in a small stream

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Abstract

The phylogenetic composition, bacterial biomass, and biovolume of both planktonic and biofilm communities were studied in a low-order Bystřice stream near Olomouc City, in the Czech Republic. The aim of the study was to compare the microbial communities colonizing different biofilm substrata (stream aggregates, stream sediment, underwater tree roots, stream stones, and aquatic macrophytes) to those of free-living bacteria. The phylogenetic composition was analyzed using fluorescence in situ hybridization for main phylogenetic groups. All phylogenetic groups studied were detected in all sample types. The stream stone was the substratum where nearly all phylogenetic groups were the most abundant, while the lowest proportion to the DAPI-stained cells was found for free-living bacteria. The probe specific for the domain Bacteria detected 20.6 to 45.8 % of DAPI-stained cells while the probe specific for the domain Archaea detected 4.3 to 17.9 %. The most abundant group of Proteobacteria was Alphaproteobacteria with a mean of 14.2 %, and the least abundant was Betaproteobacteria with a mean of 11.4 %. The average value of the Cytophaga–Flavobacteria group was 10.5 %. Total cell numbers and bacterial biomass were highest in sediment and root biofilm. The value of cell biovolume was highest in stone biofilm and lowest in sediment. Overall, this study revealed relevant differences in phylogenetic composition, bacterial biomass, and biovolume between different stream biofilms and free-living bacteria.

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Abbreviations

FLB:

Free-living bacteria

AGR:

Macroscopic stream aggregates

SED:

Stream sediment

STN:

Stream stone

ROT:

Riparian underwater roots

PLT:

Water buttercup leaves

DAPI:

4′,6-Diamidino-2-phenylindole, fluorescent dye

Cy3:

Indocarbocyanine fluorescent dye

FISH:

Fluorescence in situ hybridization

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Acknowledgments

The methods which required use of epifluorescence microscope were made available to us by the Department of Botany, Palacky University. We thank all the staff of this department for their cooperation. Mr. Simon Hooper and Mr. Alex Outlon are acknowledged for language correction, and the reviewers who amended the final version of the manuscript are thanked.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Aquatic Microbial Ecology, Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Palacky University, Šlechtitelů 11, 783 71, Olomouc, Czech Republic

    Lenka Brablcová, Iva Buriánková, Pavlína Badurová & Martin Rulík

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  1. Lenka Brablcová
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  2. Iva Buriánková
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  3. Pavlína Badurová
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  4. Martin Rulík
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Correspondence to Lenka Brablcová.

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Brablcová, L., Buriánková, I., Badurová, P. et al. The phylogenetic structure of microbial biofilms and free-living bacteria in a small stream. Folia Microbiol 58, 235–243 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12223-012-0201-y

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