Present address: Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, 845 W. Taylor, Chicago, IL, 60515, USA.
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Hydrothermal ecotones and streamer biofilm communities in the Lower Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park
Article first published online: 31 MAR 2011
DOI: 10.1111/j.1462-2920.2011.02476.x
© 2011 Society for Applied Microbiology and Blackwell Publishing Ltd
Issue
Environmental Microbiology
Thematic Issue: Extremophiles. Guest Editors: Ricardo Cavicchioli, Ricardo Amils, Dirk Wagner, Terry McGenity
Volume 13, Issue 8, pages 2216–2231, August 2011
Additional Information
How to Cite
Meyer-Dombard, D. R., Swingley, W., Raymond, J., Havig, J., Shock, E. L. and Summons, R. E. (2011), Hydrothermal ecotones and streamer biofilm communities in the Lower Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park. Environmental Microbiology, 13: 2216–2231. doi: 10.1111/j.1462-2920.2011.02476.x
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Present address: Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, 845 W. Taylor, Chicago, IL, 60515, USA.
Publication History
- Issue published online: 21 AUG 2011
- Article first published online: 31 MAR 2011
- Received 25 November, 2010; accepted 25 February, 2011.
Summary
In Yellowstone National Park, a small percentage of thermal features support streamer biofilm communities (SBCs), but their growth criteria are poorly understood. This study investigates biofilms in two SBC hosting, and two non-SBC springs. Sequencing of 16S rRNA clones indicates changing community structure as a function of downstream geochemistry, with many novel representatives particularly among the Crenarchaeota. While some taxonomic groups show little genetic variation, others show specialization by sample location. The transition fringe environment between the hotter chemosynthetic and cooler photosynthetic zones hosts a larger diversity of organisms in SBC bearing springs. This transition is proposed to represent an ecotone; this is the first description of an ecotone in a hydrothermal environment. The Aquificales are ubiquitous and dominate among the Bacteria in the hottest environments. However, there is no difference in species of Aquificales from SBC and non-SBC locations, suggesting they are not responsible for the formation of SBCs, or that their role in SBC formation is competitively suppressed in non-SBC sites. In addition, only SBC locations support Thermotogales-like organisms, highlighting the potential importance these organisms may have in SBC formation. Here, we present a novel view of SBC formation and variability in hydrothermal ecosystems.