1887

Abstract

SUMMARY: The incorporation of CO and assimilation of introduced organic compounds by bacterial populations in deep groundwater from fractured crystalline bedrock has been studied. Three depth horizons of the subvertical borehole V2 in the Stripa mine, Sweden, 799-807 m, 812-820 m and 970-1240 m, were sampled. The groundwaters, obtained from fracture systems without close hydraulic connections, were anoxic and had the following physicochemical characteristics: pH values of 9·5, 9·4 and 10·2; values of + 205, + 199 and—3 mV; sulphide, 0, 106 and 233 μM; CO , 158, 50 and 57 μ; CH, 245, 170 and 290 μl l; and N, 25, 31 and 25 ml l. Biofilm reactors, each containing a series of parallel glass surfaces, were connected to the groundwaters issuing from these depth horizons at flows of approximately 1×10 m s during two periods of two and four months. There were from 1·8×10 to 1·2×10 bacteria per ml groundwater and from 1·2×10 to 7·1×10 bacteria per cm of colonized test surface. These results imply that the populations of attached bacteria are several orders of magnitude greater than those of unattached bacteria in bedrock fractures with flowing groundwater. The incorporation of CO, [C]formate, [U-C]lactate, [U-C]glucose and -[4,5-H]leucine by the bacterial populations was demonstrated using microautoradiographic and liquid scintillation counting techniques. The measured CO incorporation reflected the production of organic carbon from CO. Incorporation of formate followed that of CO and indicated the presence of bacteria able to substitute formate for CO, e.g. methanogenic bacteria. The presence of sulphate-reducing bacteria is suggested by the observed incorporation of lactate by up to 74% of the bacterial populations. The recorded uptake of glucose indicates the presence of heterotrophic bacteria other than sulphate-reducing bacteria. Up to 99% of the populations incorporated leucine, showing that major fractions of the populations were viable.

Loading

Article metrics loading...

/content/journal/micro/10.1099/00221287-138-2-369
1992-02-01
2024-12-03
Loading full text...

Full text loading...

/deliver/fulltext/micro/138/2/mic-138-2-369.html?itemId=/content/journal/micro/10.1099/00221287-138-2-369&mimeType=html&fmt=ahah

References

  1. Andersson P., Andersson P., Gustavsson E., Olsson O. 1989 Investigation of flow distribution in a fracture zone at the Stripa mine, using the radar method, results and interpretation. SKB Technical Report89–33 Swedish Nuclear Fuel and Waste Management Co.; Box 5864, S-10248 Stockholm:
    [Google Scholar]
  2. Belyaev S. S., Ivanov M. V. 1983 Bacterial methanogenesis in underground waters. In Environmental Biogeochemistry (Proceedings of the 5th International Symposium of Environmental Biogeochemistry), pp. 273–280 Edited by Hallberg R. Stockholm: Liber Tryck;
    [Google Scholar]
  3. Belyaev S. S., Wolkin R., Kenealy W. R., DeNiro M. J., Epstein S. W., Zeikus J. G. 1983; Methanogenic bacteria from the Bondyuzhshoe oil field: general characterization and analysis of stable-carbon isotopic fractionation. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 45:691–697
    [Google Scholar]
  4. Beveridge T. J., Fyfe W. S. 1985; Metal fixation by bacterial cell walls. Canadian Journal of Earth Science 22:1893–1898
    [Google Scholar]
  5. Carlsson L., Olsson T., Andrews J., Fontes J.-C, Michelot J. L., Nordstrom K. 1983 Geochemical and isotope characterization of the Stripa ground waters - progress report. Stripa Project Technical Report83–01 Swedish Nuclear Fuel and Waste Management Co.; Box 5864, S-10248 Stockholm:
    [Google Scholar]
  6. Chapelle F. H., Zelibor J. L. J., Grimes D. J., Knobel L. L. 1987; Bacteria in deep coastal plain sediments of Maryland: a possible source of CO2 to ground water. Water Resources Research 23:1625–1632
    [Google Scholar]
  7. Chapelle F. H., Morris P. B., McMahon P. B., Zelibor J. L. 1988; Bacterial metabolism and the δ13S composition of ground water, Floridan aquifer system, South Carolina. Geology 16:117–121
    [Google Scholar]
  8. Fauque G., Legall J., Barton L. L. 1991 Sulfate-reducing and sulfur-reducing bacteria. In Variations in Autotrophic Life, pp. 271–337 Edited by Shively J. M., L. L. Barton: London: Academic Press;
    [Google Scholar]
  9. Fontes J. C, Fritz P., Louvat D., Michelot J. L. 1989 Aqueous sulfates from the Stripa ground water system. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 531783–1790 Franson M. A. H. 1985 Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Waste Water,, 16th edn. Washington, DC: AWWA-APHA-WPCF;
    [Google Scholar]
  10. Fuchs G. 1986; CO2 fixation in acetogenic bacteria: variations on a theme. FEMS Microbiology Reviews 39:181–213
    [Google Scholar]
  11. Fuchs G. 1990 Alternative pathways of autotrophic CO2 fixation. In Autotrophic Bacteria, pp. 365–382 Edited by Schlegel H. G., Bowien B. Berlin:Springer-Verlag
    [Google Scholar]
  12. Ghiorse W. C., Wilson J. T. 1988; Microbial ecology of the terrestrial subsurface. Advances in Applied Microbiology 33:107–172
    [Google Scholar]
  13. Godsy E. M. 1980; Isolation of Methanobacterium bryantii from a deep aquifer by using a novel broth-antibiotic disk method. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 39:1074–1075
    [Google Scholar]
  14. Hallbeck L., Pedersen K. 1990; Culture parameters regulating stalk formation and growth rate of Gallionella ferruginea. Journal of General Microbiology 136:1675–1680
    [Google Scholar]
  15. Hicks R. J., Fredrickson J. K. 1989; Aerobic metabolic potential of microbial populations indigenous to deep subsurface environments. Geomicrobiology Journal 7:67–78
    [Google Scholar]
  16. Huffman E. D. W. 1977; Performance of a new automatic carbon dioxide coulometer. Microchemical Journal 22:567–573
    [Google Scholar]
  17. Kirchman D., Knees E., Hodson R. 1985; Leucine incorporation and its potential as a measure of protein synthesis by bacteria in natural aquatic systems. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 49:599–607
    [Google Scholar]
  18. Kjelleberg S., Hermansson M., MArden P., Jones G. W. 1987; The transient phase between growth and nongrowth of heterotrophic bacteria, with emphasis on the marine environment. Annual Review of Microbiology 41:25–49
    [Google Scholar]
  19. Kuenen J. G., Bos P. 1989 Habitat and ecological niches of chemolitho(auto)trophic bacteria. In Autotrophic Bacteria, pp. 53–96 Edited by Schlegel H. G., Bowien B. Berlin:Springer-Verlag
    [Google Scholar]
  20. Lakksoharju M. 1990 Colloidal particles in deep Swedish granitic ground water. SKB Progress Report90–37 Swedish Nuclear Fuel and Waste Management Co.; Box 5864, S-10248 Stockholm:
    [Google Scholar]
  21. Moreno L., Neretnieks I., Klockars C.-E. 1985; Analysis of some laboratory tracer runs in natural fissures. Water Resources Research 21:951–958
    [Google Scholar]
  22. Moreno L., Tsang Y. W., Tsang C. F., Hale F. V., Neretnieks I. 1988; Flow and tracer transport in a single fracture. A stochastic model and its relation to some field observations. Water Resources Research 24:2033–2048
    [Google Scholar]
  23. Neretnieks I. 1990 Soluble transport in fractured rock - applications to radionuclide waste repositories. SKB Technical Report90–38 Swedish Nuclear Fuel and Waste Management Co.; Box 5864, 5-10248 Stockholm:
    [Google Scholar]
  24. Niemelä S. 1983 Statistical evaluation of results from quantitative microbiological examinations. NMKL Report no. 1, 2. nd edn Uppsala: Nordic Committee on Food Analysis;
    [Google Scholar]
  25. Nordstrom D. K., Andrews J. N., Carlsson L., Fontes J.-C,. Fritz P., Moser H., Olsson T. 1985 Hydrogeological and hydrogeochemical investigations in boreholes - final report of the phase 1 geochemical investigations of the Stripa ground waters. Stripa Project Technical Report85–06 Swedish Nuclear Fuel and Waste Management Co.; Box 5864, S-10248 Stockholm:
    [Google Scholar]
  26. Olson G. J., Dockins W. S., McFethers G. A. 1981; Sulfate-reducing and methanogenic bacteria from deep aquifers in Montana. Geomicrobiology Journal 2:327–340
    [Google Scholar]
  27. Ormeland R. S. 1988 Biogeochemistry of methanogenic bacteria. In Biology of Anaerobic Microorganisms, pp. 641–705 Edited by Zehnder A. J. B. New York: John Wiley;
    [Google Scholar]
  28. Pedersen K. 1982; Method for studying microbial biofilms in flowing-water systems. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 43:6–13
    [Google Scholar]
  29. Pedersen K., Albinsson Y. 1991; Effect of cell number, pH and lanthanide concentration on the sorption of promethium by Shewanella putrefaciens. Radiochimica Acta 54:91–95
    [Google Scholar]
  30. Pedersen K., Ekendahl S. 1990; Distribution and activity of bacteria in deep granitic ground waters of southeastern Sweden. Microbial Ecology 20:37–52
    [Google Scholar]
  31. Pedersen K., Holmstrom C, Olsson A.-K., Pedersen A. 1986; The influence of species variation, culture conditions, surface wettability and fluid shear on attachment and biofilm development of marine bacteria. Archives of Microbiology 145:1–8
    [Google Scholar]
  32. Pettersson C, Ephraim J., Allard B., Boren H. 1990 Characterization of humic substances from deep ground waters in granitic bedrock in Sweden. SKB Technical Report90–29 Swedish Nuclear Fuel and Waste Management Co.; Box 5864, S-10248 Stockholm:
    [Google Scholar]
  33. Strandberg G. W., Starling E., Shumate II., Parrott J. R. 1981; Microbial cells as biosorbents for heavy metals: accumulation of uranium by Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 41:237–245
    [Google Scholar]
  34. Tabor P. S., Neihof R. A. 1982; Improved microautoradiographic method to determine individual microorganisms active in substrate incorporation in natural waters. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 44:945–953
    [Google Scholar]
  35. Tsang Y. W., Tsang C. F., Neretnieks I., Moreno L. 1988; Flow and tracer transport in fractured media. A variable aperture channel model and its properties. Water Resources Research 24:2049–2060
    [Google Scholar]
  36. West J. M., Christofi N., McKinley I. G. 1982; Microbes in deep geological systems and their possible influence on radioactive waste disposal. Radioactive Waste Management Nuclear Fuel Cycle 3:1–15
    [Google Scholar]
  37. West J. M., Christofi N., McKinley I. G. 1985; An overview of recent microbiological research relevant to the geological disposal of nuclear waste. Radioactive Waste Management Nuclear Fuel Cycle 6:79–95
    [Google Scholar]
  38. Widdel F. 1988 Microbiology and ecology of sulfate- and sulfur-reducing bacteria. In Biology of Anaerobic Microorganisms, pp. 469–585 Edited by Zehnder A. J. B. New York: John Wiley;
    [Google Scholar]
  39. Wood H. G., Ljungdahl L. G. 1991 Autotrophic character of the acetogenic bacteria. In Variations in Autotrophic Life, pp. 201–250 Edited by Shively J. M., Barton L. L. London: Academic Press;
    [Google Scholar]
/content/journal/micro/10.1099/00221287-138-2-369
Loading
/content/journal/micro/10.1099/00221287-138-2-369
Loading

Data & Media loading...

This is a required field
Please enter a valid email address
Approval was a Success
Invalid data
An Error Occurred
Approval was partially successful, following selected items could not be processed due to error