Community Structure of Subsurface Biofilms in the Thermal Sulfidic Caves of Acquasanta Terme, Italy

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Publication Date

September 2010

Abstract

We performed a community analysis of biofilms inhabiting thermal (35 to 50°C) waters more than 60 m below the ground surface near Acquasanta Terme, Italy. The groundwater hosting the has 400 to 830 μM sulfide, <10 μM O2, pH of 6.3 to 6.7, and specific conductivity of 8,500 to 10,500 μS/cm. Based on the results of 16S rRNA gene cloning and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH), the biofilms have low species richness, and lithoautotrophic (or possibly mixotrophic) Gamma- and Epsilonproteobacteria are the principle biofilm architects. sequences retrieved from the biofilms have <90% 16S rRNA similarity to their closest relatives in public databases and may represent novel sulfate-reducing bacteria. The Acquasanta biofilms share few species in common with Frasassi cave biofilms (13°C, 80 km distant) but have a similar community structure, with representatives in the same major clades. The ecological success of Sulfurovumales-group Epsilonproteobacteria in the Acquasanta biofilms is consistent with previous observations of their dominance in sulfidic cave waters with turbulent water flow and high dissolved sulfide/oxygen ratios.

Keywords

Microbial, Biofilms, Deltaproteobacteria

Document Type

Article

Notes

Microbial Ecology, Vol. 76, no. 17 (2010-09-01).

Identifier

SFS0039945_00001

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