Open AccessChanges in microbial diversity in industrial wastewater evaporation ponds following artificial salination
Author(s) -
BenDov Eitan,
Shapiro Orr H.,
Gruber Ronen,
Brenner Asher,
Kushmaro Ariel
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
fems microbiology ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.377
H-Index - 155
eISSN - 1574-6941
pISSN - 0168-6496
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6941.2008.00549.x
Subject(s) - firmicutes , biology , proteobacteria , bacteroidetes , soil salinity , actinobacteria , microbiology and biotechnology , botany , euryarchaeota , salinity , 16s ribosomal rna , ecology , bacteria , genetics
The salinity of industrial wastewater evaporation ponds was artificially increased from 3–7% to 12–16% (w/v), in an attempt to reduce the activity of sulfate‐reducing bacteria (SRB) and subsequent emission of H 2 S. To investigate the changes in bacterial diversity in general, and SRB in particular, following this salination, two sets of universal primers targeting the 16S rRNA gene and the functional apsA [adenosine‐5′‐phosphosulfate (APS) reductase α‐subunit] gene of SRB were used. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that Proteobacteria was the most dominant phylum both before and after salination (with 52% and 68%, respectively), whereas Firmicutes was the second most dominant phylum before (39%) and after (19%) salination. Sequences belonging to Bacteroidetes, Spirochaetes and Actinobacteria were also found. Several groups of SRB from Proteobacteria and Firmicutes were also found to inhabit this saline environment. Comparison of bacterial diversity before and after salination of the ponds revealed both a shift in community composition and an increase in microbial diversity following salination. The share of SRB in the 16S rRNA gene was reduced following salination, consistent with the reduction of H 2 S emissions. However, the community composition, as shown by apsA gene analysis, was not markedly affected.