Microflorae of aquatic moss pillars in a freshwater lake, East Antarctica, based on fatty acid and 16S rRNA gene analyses

• DOI: 10.1007/s00300-011-1090-2
• Publication Date: 2011-08-29T18:25:14Z
• Authors: Ryosuke Nakai; Takashi Abe; Tomoya Baba; Satoshi Imura; Hiroshi Kagoshima; Hiroshi Kanda; Atsuko Kanekiyo; Yuji Kohara; Akiko Koi; Keiko Nakamura; Takanori Narita; Hironori Niki; Katsuhiko Yanagihara; Takeshi Naganuma
• Keywords: Extreme environment; Microbial mat

Aquatic mosses in the genera Bryum and Leptobryum form unique tower-like "moss pillars" underwater some Antarctic lakes, association with algae cyanobacteria. These are communities a two-layer structure comprising an oxidative exterior reductive interior. Although habitats photosynthetic properties of moss pillars have been reported, microfloral composition has not described. Here we report fatty acid analysis one pillar molecular phylogenetic analysis, based on 16S rRNA gene, this other pillar. Cluster phospholipid showed three groups corresponding to exterior, upper interior, lower interior This suggested that species differed by section, dominated organisms such as mosses, algae, cyanobacteria, primarily containing gram-positive bacteria anaerobic sulfate-reducing bacteria, gram-negative bacteria. Molecular revealed Proteobacteria dominate whole; cyanobacteria were found obligate anaerobe Clostridium while present lowest part Nitrogen-fixing denitrifying all sections. Thus, genetic similar patterns. findings suggest microorganisms different inhabit sections single microbial community performs biogeochemical cycling establish maintain oxidation–reduction gradient between