Abstract
The environmental conditions in laminated microbial sediment ecosystems on the island of Schiermonnikoog (The Netherlands) were monitoredin situ over 24-hour periods by using micro-electrodes. In the layer of purple sulfur bacteria dramatic diel aerobic/anaerobic shifts occurred, whereas the top layer of cyanobacteria was occasionally confronted with sulfide. Pure cultures of the dominant organisms, being the cyanobacteriumMicrocoleus chthonoplastes and the purple sulfur bacteriumThiocapsa roseopersicina, were subjected to regimes mimicking the natural circumstances. It was demonstrated that both organisms are physiologically very well adapted to the fluctuating environmental conditions. The organisms interact by releasing metabolic end-products, the removal of toxic compounds and by competition for common substrates. It was demonstrated that positive interactions between both organisms are more important than negative interactions.
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de Wit, R., van Gemerden, H. Interactions between phototrophic bacteria in sediment ecosystems. Hydrobiological Bulletin 22, 135–145 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02256817
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02256817