The Winogradsky Column

The Winogradsky Column

1. The Winogradsky column Richa Banthia & Ben Anderson

2. Sergei Winogradsky Pond mud diverse microbial communities Clear-glass cylinder Mud samples water excess substrates (optimal growth) Sun light (synthetic or otherwise) O 2 gradient – H 2 S gradient Multiple layers Overview Sergei Winogradsky

3. Diverse microbial communities lots of stuff in soil Many samples Symbiosis between bacteria Anaerobe rich Mud samples

4. 700 mls Mud 1 scoop Cellulose 1 scoop Calcium sulfate 300 ml Tap Water Foil or parafilm The column

5. Additional Substrates Cellulose Carbon source Anaerobic bacteria Examples: Clostridium Bacillus Calcium Sulfate Sulfur source S ulfate reducing bacterium Examples: Desulfovibrio (sulfate reducer) Chlorobium (sulfur oxidizer) Chromatium Green Sulfur bacteria

6. Sunlight / Plant light Fuels growth of phototrophs Examples: Algae Diatoms Cyanobacteria E.g. Anabaena Light Source

7. Influences type of Bacterial Growth O 2 Gradient: Bottom – Top Anaerobes – bottom Aerobes - Top H 2 S Gradient: Top – Bottom Sulfur reducers – bottom - produce sulfide - Diffuses upward Sulfur oxidizers – top - Traces of oxygen O 2 and H 2 S Gradients

8. Zonation Layers of the Winogradsky Column

9. Water Layer Top layer Aerobic layer Oxygenic Phototrophs Greenish color - Chlorophyll Examples: Algae Cyanobacteria Anabaena

10. Water Layer DIATOMS DIATOMS – BINARY FISSION

11. Pink layer Non-Sulfur bacteria Aero-tolerant Phototrophic Lower H 2 S tolerance Various carotenoid pigments – bacteriochlorphyll A or B Examples: Rhodospirillum Thiobacillus RHODOSPIRILLUM

12. Rhodospirillum in action!

13. Pink Layer

14. Purple Layer Sulfur bacteria Anoxygenic Phototrophic Higher H 2 S tolerance Various carotenoid pigments Examples: Chromatium Thiocapsa CHROMATIUM

15. Purple Layer

16. Black Layer More Sulfur Bacteria Anaerobic Cellulose Fermentation Carbon Source Sulfate-reducing H2S combines with metals in mud to form metal sulfides (Black pigment) Examples: Clostridium Desulfovibrio

17. Green layer Green Sulfur Bacteria Anoxygenic photosynthetic bacteria H2S – electron source - Sulfur production Green – chlorophyll Examples: Chlorobium

18. Cool stuff

19. Bartholomew “BART” ~In memoriam~ 10/2/2013 - ??

20. Nematode

21. What the what??

22. Conclusion A lot of the soil was dry/sandy Better light source Pond water instead of tap water More cellulose powder and calcium sulfate Other options?? Newspaper shavings (cellulose) Blackened marshmallows/ egg shells (calcium carbonate) Egg yolk (Sulfur source) Soil not packed densely enough – air pockets More time?

23. References http:// en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Sergei_Winogradsky.jpg http ://www1.pictures.gi.zimbio.com/Annual+Mud+Day+Celebration+Lets+Kids+Get+Dirty+rOS7KBcnzkel.jpg http :// healthfreedoms.org/files/2012/02/soil.jpg www.grin.com/en/e-book/184354/new-insights-on-winogradsky-columns-simulation-of-contaminated-subsurface http:// textbookofbacteriology.net/environment_4.html http://www2.nau.edu/~ doetqp-p/courses/env440/env440_2/lectures/lec23/lec23.html http:// wassertropfen-makros-und-mehr.npage.de/galerie357150.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_sulfur_bacteria