HR: 0830h
AN: B21C-0724    [PDF]
TI: Properties of Distinct Biofilm Communities at an Acid Mine Drainage Site
AU: * Flanagan, J L
EM: flanagan@nature.berkeley.edu
AF: Dept. of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, 151 Hilgard Hall University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720-3110 United States
AU: Ram, R J
EM: rjram@nature.berkeley.edu
AF: Dept. of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, 151 Hilgard Hall University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720-3110 United States
AU: Cervini-Silva, J
EM: javiera@eps.berkeley.edu
AF: Dept. of Earth and Planetary Sciences, 307 McCone Hall University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720-3767 United States
AU: Banfield, J F
EM: jill@eps.berkeley.edu
AF: Dept. of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, 151 Hilgard Hall University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720-3110 United States
AU: Banfield, J F
EM: jill@eps.berkeley.edu
AF: Dept. of Earth and Planetary Sciences, 307 McCone Hall University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720-3767 United States
AB: The Superfund site at the Richmond Mine in Redding, California contains microorganisms that greatly contribute to the generation of the mine's characteristic acidic, metal-rich environment. Rather than dispersed as single cells, these microorganisms are often found in biofilm communities. Several visually distinct biofilm communities exist in the mine, and they have been previously analyzed by FISH. The different communities are likely to be a reflection of the different microenvironments within the mine. Here, we compare other aspects of these distinct biofilms to better understand how these organisms thrive in their microenvironments. First, we have analyzed the polysaccharides present in the different biofilm samples, since polysaccharides are prominent components of the matrix which holds the biofilms together. Second, we have monitored how resilient the biofilms are to changes in temperature and pH, and to the presence of detergents. Third, since some biofilms have a characteristic pink hue thought to be due to the presence of cytochromes, we have also studied the heme-containing proteins in the pink biofilm samples. And last, we have used ICP-AES, UV-VIS, HRSEM, ATR-FTIR and XRD analyses, to compare the ability of different biofilms to sequester metals including As, Zn, and Fe, which may also have implications in toxicity and metal mobility in water bodies and sediments.
DE: 0400 Biogeosciences
DE: 1055 Organic geochemistry
DE: 1615 Biogeochemical processes (4805)
SC: Biogeosciences [B]
MN: 2003 Fall Meeting