5S rRNA fingerprints of marine bacteria, halophilic archaea and natural prokaryotic assemblages along a salinity gradient

Natural prokaryotic assemblages from two multi‐pond solar salterns and pure cultures of both marine bacteria and halophilic archaea were analyzed and compared by electrophoretic analysis of 5S rRNAs. A salinity gradient from seawater (3.7%) to NaCl precipitation (37%) was studied. The culture‐independent, PCR‐free, fingerprinting analysis covered two objectives: (i) to compare natural assemblages among them and with results previously obtained through a PCR‐dependent approach and (ii) to estimate the in situ relevance of those prokaryotic groups obtained with classical culture methodologies. Natural assemblages were analyzed through cluster analysis of quantitative 5S rRNA band patterns. The resulting groups were in accordance with environmental parameters (i.e., NaCl concentration) and with the clustering obtained after a PCR‐dependent approach, showing the formation of three salinity‐based groups of samples (<10%, 10–25% and >25% salinity). Similarities between the laboratory strains tested and dominant community members were studied by comparing 5S rRNA band patterns. The lack of match obtained after cluster analysis indicated that the prokaryotic populations relevant in the ponds below 25% salinity were neither Flavobacteria nor haloarchaeal strains belonging to the genera Halococcus, Haloarcula and Halobacterium . Members of Proteobacteria and Gram‐positive bacteria were found to match bands in these samples. The 5S rRNA fingerprint from the dominant community members in the ponds above 30% salinity did not fit any of the cultured halophilic archaea studied, in agreement with earlier PCR results. This is consistent with a greater bias introduced by culture‐dependent methods than by those based on PCR, especially for archaeal populations.