In situ biomass production of a hot spring sulfur-turf microbial mat.

摘要

Sulfur-turf microbial mats develop in sulfide-containing hot spring water dominated by chemolithoautotrophic sulfur-oxidizing bacteria. The sulfur-turf mat that developed at a source of hot water (72 degrees C, pH 6.8) exhibited a growth rate of 0.48+or-0.04 h-1 and biomass production of 4.6+or-1.0 mg of C h-1. On a per-cell basis, this biomass production was at least an order of magnitude higher than the CO₂ uptake rate calculated for a photosynthetic mat dominated by thermophilic Synechococcus spp. at 70 degrees C. The sulfur-turf-associated microbial community likely contributes to carbon fixation and primary production in this geothermal habitat.