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Detection of a microbial consortium, including type II methanotrophs, by use of phospholipid fatty acids in an aerobic halogenated hydrocarbon‐degrading soil column enriched with natural gas
Author(s) -
Nichols Peter D.,
Antworth Christopher P.,
Parsons John,
White David C.,
Henson J. Michael,
Wilson John T.
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
environmental toxicology and chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.1
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1552-8618
pISSN - 0730-7268
DOI - 10.1002/etc.5620060203
Subject(s) - microbial population biology , environmental chemistry , hydrocarbon , chemistry , microorganism , fatty acid , fatty acid methyl ester , gas chromatography , bacteria , chromatography , biology , biochemistry , organic chemistry , genetics , biodiesel , catalysis
The phospholipid ester‐linked normal and lipopolysaccharide layer hydroxy fatty acids from microbes in a natural gas (85% methane)‐stimulated soil column capable of degrading halogenated hydrocarbons were analyzed in detail by capillary column GC‐MS. Microbial biomass, calculated from phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) concentrations to be 5.6 × 10 9 bacteria/g (dry weight), was greater in the hydrocarbon‐degrading column than in either an azide‐inhibited soil column or an untreated surface soil. Microbial community structure information, using GC‐MS analysis of derivatized monounsaturated PLFA, indicated that the major component (16 to 28%) of the PLFA in the hydrocarbon‐degrading column was the PLFA 18:1δ10c. This novel PLFA has been reported as a major component in type II methanotrophs. The high relative proportions of C 18 components relative to C 16 fatty acids indicated that type II rather than type I methanotrophs were the most abundant microbial flora present in the active soil column. Fatty acids from other bacterial groups and microeukaryotes also were detected in the hydrocarbon‐degrading soil column. Differences between the relative proportions of these metabolic groups of microorganisms were quantified and compared among the three soils analyzed. Based on these differences, the potential exists to use these methods to monitor shifts in microbial biomass and community structure in aquifers where indigenous bacteria are stimulated to biotransform pollutant compounds.