Robinson Christopher Thomas

Bacteria diversity and the functional traits of alpine freshwaters

Project Number: CH-2200
Project Type: Master
Project Duration: 04/01/2003 - 12/31/2003 project completed
Funding Source: EAWAG ,
Project Leader: PD Dr. Christopher Thomas Robinson
Fliessgewässerökologie, Fliessgewässersysteme
Aquatische Ökologie (ECO)
EAWAG
Überlandstrasse 133
8600 Dübendorf
Phone: +41 (0) 58 765 53 17 ; +41 (0) 58 765 51 32
FAX: +41 (0) 58 765 53 15
e-Mail: christopher.robinson(at)eawag.ch
http://www.eawag.ch/research/lim/d_index.html

related to this project.
for which the project has a relevance.


Research Areas:
Biodiversity

Disciplines:
hydrology, limnology, glaciology
environmental sciences

Keywords:
microbiology
population genetics
bacteria
diversity
alpine freshwaters
rivers
T-RFLP, DAPI
hyporheic respiration
open system metabolism
heterotrophy
autotrophy
periphyton


Abstract:
Relationship between bacteria genetic diversity, sediment organic content, and the ecosystem metabolism of Alpine streamsBacteria play an important role in the transfer of energy and ecosystem metabolism within freshwater systems. We compared bacteria abundance (DAPI-stained cell counts), relative bacteria genetic diversity (terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism, T-RFLP, a molecular genetic technique) and sediment organic content (ash-free dry mass: AFDM) in 11 streams of 3 different Alpine catchments during summer 2003. We also related the above parameters, in addition with periphyton biomass and hyporheic respiration, with whole stream estimates of gross primary production (GPP) and ecosystem respiration (ER) in a glacial and non-glacial stream in one of the catchments. Counts of bacteria cells per ml sediment averaged 2x106 to 4x106, and were correlated with sediment AFDM for streams in only one of the catchments. The percent organic matter of sediments ranged from 4 to 14% (0.01 to 0.04 g AFDM per ml sediment). Bacteria genetic diversity (based on the presence and absence of terminal sites, T-RFs, from T-RFLP analysis,) showed strong seasonality and differed between glacial- and groundwater-fed streams. In the one catchment, hyporheic respiration averaged 0.0004 and 0.0003 g O2 h-1 kg sediment-1 and was positively correlated with AFDM (r2 = 0.23). Although ecosystem metabolism displayed a strong seasonality, GPP averaged 4.5 and 8.4, ER 5.4 and 9.9 g O2 m-2 d-1 for the two sites, respectively, thus indicating a predominance of heterotrophy in these open-canopied systems.Key words: T-RFLP, DAPI, hyporheic respiration, open system metabolism, heterotrophy, autotrophy, periphytonJürg Brendan Logue and Christopher T. Robinson Department of Limnology, Swiss Federal Institute for Environmental Science and Technology (EAWAG/ETHZ), Überlandstrasse 133, CH-8600 Dübendorf, SwitzerlandChristoph Meier and Jan Roelof Van der MeerDepartment of Microbiology, Swiss Federal Institute for Environmental Science and Technology (EAWAG/ETHZ), Überlandstrasse 133, CH-8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland

Leading questions:
This is the first attempt at relating bacteria diversity (using novel DNA techniques) to the functional potential of alpine freshwaters. We provide initial data on bacteria diversity and the metabolic characteristics of alpine freshwaters. This is a pilot study that combines microbiology, population genetics, and ecology to better understand how alpine freshwaters function.

Publications:
Logue JB, Robinson CT, Meier C, Van der Meer JR 2004: Relationship between bacteria genetic diversity, sediment organic content, and the ecosystem metabolism of Alpine streams. Department of Limnology, Swiss Federal Institute for Environmental Science and Technology (EAWAG/ETHZ), Überlandstrasse 133, CH-8600 Dübendorf, SwitzerlandLogue B 2003: Bacterial diversity and stream ecosytem metabolism: functional relationships. Diplomarbeit, EAWAGLogue, J. B., C. T. Robinson, C. Meier and J. R. Van der Meer. 2004. Relationship between sediment organic matter, bacteria composition, and the ecosystem metabolism of alpine streams. Limnology and Oceanography 49: 2001-2010.Logue, J.B., H. Bürgmann, and C.T. Robinson. 2008. Ecological genetics and the biodiversity of freshwater aquatic bacteria. BioScience 58: 103-113. (Invited overview article).


Last update: 12/16/16
Source of data: ProClim- Research InfoSystem (1993-2024)
Update the data of project: CH-2200

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