Importance of Micromonospora spp. as colonizers of cellulose in freshwater lakes as demonstrated by quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR of 16S rRNA

Abstract

The relative abundance of micromonosporas in the bacterial communities inhabiting cellulose baits, water columns, and sediments of two freshwater lakes was determined by quantitative PCR (qPCR) of reverse-transcribed 16S rRNA. Micromonospora spp. were shown to be significant members of the active bacterial population colonizing cellulosic substrates in the lake sediment, and their increased prevalence with greater depth was confirmed by enumeration of CFU.

Fig 1

Dissolved oxygen and temperature depth profiles in Esthwaite Water samples obtained from the constant monitoring station on 28 April 2008 (solid line) and 3 June 2008 (dotted line). Dissolved oxygen concentrations are expressed as percentages of air saturation.

Fig 2

Micromonospora numbers in cotton baits (CFU g⁻¹), lake water (CFU liter⁻¹), and sediments (CFU g⁻¹ of wet sediment) obtained from Esthwaite Water (A) and Priest Pot (B) (n = 3) on 3 June 2008. Error bars represent standard errors.

Fig 3

Relative abundances of Micromonospora spp. as determined by qPCR of cDNA prepared from RNA extracts from Esthwaite Water (A) and Priest Pot (B) on 3 June 2008 (n = 3). Error bars represent standard errors.