Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Growth Response of Soda Lake Bacterial Communities to Simulated Rainfall

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Microbial Ecology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Moderately saline soda lakes harbor extremely abundant and fast growing bacterial communities. An interesting phenomenon of an explosive bacterial growth in shallow soda lakes in Eastern Austria after dilution with rainwater, concomitantly with a significant decrease in temperature was observed in a former study. In the present study, we tried to identify the factors being responsible for this enhanced bacterial growth in laboratory batch cultures. Three experiments were performed with water taken from two different lakes at different seasons. Natural soda lake water was diluted with distilled water, artificial lake water, sterile filtered soda lake water, and grazer-free water to test (1) for the influence of compatible solutes released to the environment and reduced salt stress after osmotic down-shock, (2) for the influence of nutrients, which may be washed in from the dry areas of the lake bottom after rainfall and (3) for the decrease of grazing pressure due to dilution. The potential influence of (4) viruses was indirectly deduced. The response of the bacterial community to the manipulations was measured by changes in bacterial numbers, the incorporation of 3H-leucine and the concomitant determination of the amount of 3H-leucine uptaking bacteria by microautoradiography. The influence of the environmental factors enhancing bacterial growth after a simulated rainfall event showed variations between the lakes and over the seasons. The addition of nutrients was, in all experiments, the main factor triggering bacterial growth. The decrease in grazing pressure and viral lysis after dilution was of significant importance in two of three experiments. In the experiment with the highest salinity, we could show that either compatible solutes released after osmotic down-shock and used as a source of nutrients for the soda lake bacterial populations or reduced salt stress were most probably responsible for the observed marked enhancement of bacterial growth.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4
Figure 5
Figure 6
Figure 7

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Ajouz B, Berrier B, Garrigues A, Besnard M, Ghazi A (1999) Release of thioredoxin via the mechanosensitive channel MscL during osmotic downshock of Escherichia coli cells. J Biol Chem 273:26670–26674

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Boon PI (1991) Bacterial assemblages in rivers and Billabongs of south-eastern Australia. Microb Ecol 22:27–52

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Bremer E, Krämer R (2000) Coping with osmotic challenges: osmoregulation through accumulation and release of compatible solutes in bacteria. In: Stroz, G, Hengge-Aronis, R (eds.) Bacterial Stress Responses. ASM Press, Washington DC

    Google Scholar 

  4. Carpenter SR (1996) Microcosm experiments have limited relevance for community and ecosystem ecology. Ecology 77: 677–680

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Chen F, Lu JR, Binder BJ, Liu YC, Hodson RE (2001) Application of digital image analysis and flow cytometry to enumerate marine viruses stained with SYBR gold. Appl Environ Microbiol 67:539–545

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Coveney MF, Wetzel RG (1992) Effects of nutrients on specific growth rate of bacterioplankton in oligotrophic lake water cultures. Appl Environ Microbiol 1:150–156

    Google Scholar 

  7. Drake J, Huxel G, Hewitt C (1996) Microcosms as models for generating and testing community theory. Ecology 77:670–677

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Eiler A, Farnleitner AH, Zechmeister TC, Herzig A, Hurban C, Wesner W, Krachler R, Velimirov B, Kirschner AKT (2003) Factors controlling extremely productive heterotrophic bacterial communities in shallow soda pools. Microb Ecol 46:43–54

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Felip M, Pace ML, Cole JJ (1996) Regulation of planctonic bacterial growth rates: the effects of temperature and resources. Microb Ecol 31:15–28

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Fischer UR, Velimirov B (2002) High control of bacterial production by viruses in a eutrophic oxbow lake. Aquat Microb Ecol 27:1–12

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Flood JA, Ashbolt NJ (2000) Virus sized particles can be entrapped and concentrated one hundred fold within wetland biofilms. Adv Environ Res 3:403–411

    Google Scholar 

  12. Grant WD, Jones BE, Mwatha WE (1990) Alkaliphiles: ecology, diversity and applications. FEMS Microbiol Rev 75:255–270

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Kiefer DA, Berwald J (1992) Limnology and oceanography. Limnology and Oceanography 37:457–467

    Google Scholar 

  14. Kilham P (1981) Pelagic bacteria: extreme abundances in African saline lakes. Naturwissenschaften 68:380–381

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Kirchman D, K’Nees E, Hodson R (1985) Leucine incorporation and its potential as a measure of protein synthesis by bacteria in natural aquatic systems. Appl Environ Microbiol 49:599–607

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Kirchman DL, Ducklow HW (1993) Estimating conversion factors for the thymidine and leucine methods for measuring bacterial production. In: Kemp, PF, Sherr, BF, Sherr, EB, Cole, JJ (eds.) Handbook of Methods in Aquatic Microbial Ecology. Lewis Publishers, Boca Raton, FL pp 513–517

    Google Scholar 

  17. Kirisits MJ, Parsek MR (2006) Does Pseudomonas aeruginosa use intercellular signalling to build biofilm communities? Cell Microbiol 8:1841–1849

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Kirschner AKT, Velimirov B (1999) Benthic bacterial secondary production measured via simultaneous 3H-Thymidine and 14C-Leucin incorporation, and its implication for the carbon cycle of a shallow macrophyte-dominated backwater system. Limnol Oceanogr 44:1871–1881

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Kirschner AKT, Eiler A, Zechmeister TC, Velimirov B, Herzig A, Mach R, Farnleitner AH (2002) Extremely productive microbial communities in shallow saline pools respond immediately to changing meteorological conditions. Environmental Microbiology 4:546–555

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Kirschner AKT, Wihlidal P, Velimirov B (2004) Variability and predictability of the empirical conversion factor for converting 3H-thymidine uptake into bacterial carbon production for a eutrophic lake. Journal of Plankton Research 26:1559–1566

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Koropatkin NM, Koppenaal DW, Pakrasi HB, Smith TJ (2007) The structure of a cyanobacterial bicarbonate transport protein, CmpA. J Biol Chem 282:2606–2614

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Krachler R, Krachler R, Milleret E, Wesner W (2000) Limnochemische Untersuchungen zur aktuellen Situation der Salzlacken im Burgenländischen Seewinkel. Burgenländische Heimatblätter 62:3–49

    Google Scholar 

  23. Maranger R, Bird DF (1995) Viral abundance in aquatic systems: a comparison between marine and fresh waters. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 121:217–226

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Morris DP, Lewis WM (1992) Nutrient limitation of bacterioplankton growth in Lake Dillon, Colorado. Limnol Oceanogr 37:1179–1192

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Murray AG, Jackson GA (1992) Viral dynamics: a model of the effects of size, shape, motion and abundance of single-celled planktonic organisms and other particles. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 89:103–116

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Norland S (1993) The relationship between biomass and volume of bacteria. Current Methods in Aquatic Microbial Ecology 303–307

  27. Pace ML, Cole JJ (1994) Comparative and experimental approaches to top–down and bottom–up regulation of bacteria. Microb Ecol 28:181–193

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Pomeroy LR, Wiebe WL (2001) Temperature and substrate as interactive limiting factors for marine heterotrophic bacteria. Aquat Microb Ecol 23:187–204

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Posch T, Loferer-Krößbacher M, Gao G, Alfreider A, Pernthaler J, Psenner R (2001) On the precision of bacterioplankton biomass determination: a comparison of two fluorescent dyes and of allometric and linear volume-to-carbon conversion factors. Aquat Microb Ecol 25:55–63

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Pulido-Villena E, Reche I (2003) Exploring bacteriplankton growth and protein synthesis to determine conversion factors across a gradient of dissolved organic matter. Microb Ecol 46:33–42

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Simek K, Hornak K, Masin M, Christaki U, Nedoma J, Weinbauer MG, Dolan JR (2003) Comparing the effects of resource enrichment and grazing on a bacterioplankton community of a meso-eutrophic reservoir. Aquat Microb Ecol 31:123–135

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Simon M, Azam F (1989) Protein content and protein synthesis rates of planktonic marine bacteria. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 51:201–213

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Smith LT, Pocard JA, Bernard T, Le Rudulier D (1988) Osmotic control of glycine betaine biosynthesis and degradation in Rhizobium meliloti. J Bacteriol 170:3142–3149

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Toolan T, Wehr ID, Findlay S (1991) Inorganic phosphorus stimulation of bacterioplankton production in a meso-eutrophic lake. Appl Environ Microbiol 57:2074–2078

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Vaque D, Pace ML (1992) Grazing on bacteria by flagellates and cladocerans in lakes of contrasting food-web structure. J Plankton Res 14:307–321

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Welsh DT (2000) Ecological significance of compatible solute accumulation by micro-organisms: from single cells to global climate. FEMS Microbiol Rev 24:263–290

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. White PA, Kalff J, Rasmussen JB, Gasol JM (1991) The effect of temperature and algal biomass on bacterial production and specific growth rate in freshwater and marine habitats. Microb Ecol 21:99–118

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Wieltschnig C, Wihlidal P, Ulbricht T, Kirschner AKT, Velimirov B (1999) Low control of bacterial production by heterotrophic nanoflagellates in a eutrophic backwater environment. Aquatic Microbial Ecology 17:77–89

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Wieltschnig C, Kirschner AK, Steitz A, Velimirov B (2001) Weak coupling between heterotrophic nanoflagellates and bacteria in a eutrophic freshwater environment. Microb Ecol 42:159–167

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Wieltschnig C, Kirschner AKT, Fischer U, Velimirov B (2003) Top–down control of benthic heterotrophic nanoflagellates by oligochaetes and microcrustaceans in a littoral freshwater habitat. Freshw Biol 48:1840–1849

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Wommack KE, Colwell RR (2000) Virioplankton: viruses in aquatic ecosystems. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 64:69–114

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Wood JM, Bremer E, Csonka LN, Kraemer R, Poolman B, van der Heide T, Smith LT (2001) Osmosensing and osmoregulatory compatible solute accumulation by bacteria. Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol 130:437–460

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Zar JH (1974) Biostatistical Analysis, Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ

    Google Scholar 

  44. Zinabu GM, Taylor WD (1997) Bacteria–chlorophyll relationships in Ethiopian lakes of varying salinity: are soda lakes different? J Plankton Res 19:647–654

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

Many thanks to Claudia Nemecz-Wieltschnig for substantial help in protozoan direct counting. Thanks also to the staff of the “Biologische Station Neusiedlersee” (Peter Gisch and Jutta Prückler) for the chemical analyses of the soda lake water. The project was financed by ENVIRO OEG, Eisenstadt, the Province of Burgenland (Project LW 621) and the Austrian “Naturschutzbund”.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Medical University Vienna, Waehringerstr. 10, 1090, Vienna, Austria

    M. Krammer, B. Velimirov & U. Fischer

  2. Institute of Chemical Engineering, Technical University of Vienna, 1060, Vienna, Austria

    A. H. Farnleitner

  3. Biological Research Institute Burgenland, 7142, Illmitz, Austria

    A. Herzig

  4. Clinical Institute of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Water Hygiene, Medical University Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, 1095, Vienna, Austria

    A. K. T. Kirschner

Authors
  1. M. Krammer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. B. Velimirov
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. U. Fischer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. A. H. Farnleitner
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. A. Herzig
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. A. K. T. Kirschner
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to A. K. T. Kirschner.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Krammer, M., Velimirov, B., Fischer, U. et al. Growth Response of Soda Lake Bacterial Communities to Simulated Rainfall. Microb Ecol 55, 194–211 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00248-007-9267-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00248-007-9267-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation