Winogradsky column from a low temperature river!

Greetings from Ioannina,
   
     We are Christina Renta and Stephania Tsola from the department of Biological Applications and Technology. We decided to conduct a joint experiment by creating two Winogradsky columns from the river Voidomatis (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voidomatis). The river has an average temperature of 4^oC and knowing that, we decided to test where the column microorganisms would grow faster, in room temperature or conditions mimicking the river ie. 4^oC (fridge). The columns, on 23/10/2015, were made in 2L and 1.5L plastic bottles, where 1/3 was filled with mud mixted with our enrichment materials (one whole egg,with shell, 10g baking powder and newspaper cuttings). Extra mud was poured in the bottles until 2/3 of the way followed by river water. 
     No sunlight access in the fridge meant that the two columns couldn't be accurately compared, to bypass that we decided to place the room temperature column in a black plastic bag.

Room temp column
First day

Fridge column
First day

     The photos show the columns on the first day and twelve weeks after the experiment started. After three weeks the fridge column was opened and we found out that sulfur-reducing bacteria were living in our column and producing H₂S resulting in a rotten egg smell. Other than that, the column didn't change in appearance. 
     In the room temperature column, activity was first observed four weeks into the experiment in the form of the gelatinous mass that can still be seen after twelve weeks. Two weeks after that, a weak oil smell appeared which only grew in strength. The mass and the smell helped us understand that sulfur-oxidizing bacteria and/or iron bacteria lived in our column. Both these bacteria are known to create that particular smell and dark slime. 
     The results so far helped us come to the conclusion that the microorganisms in the fridge column were able to appear sooner possibly due to conditions resembling the in situ ones.

Room temp column
12 weeks

Fridge column
12 weeks

     The next step in our experiment is transfering both the columns to a sunlight accessible place whilst still           retaining the temperature conditions in order to compare     the two columns on a phototrophic level. 

Thanks for reading!
May the Winoforce be with you!