Hi! We are Jorge, Alejandro and Pepe and we're studying Biotechnology at UCA. We have been
working on a Winogradsky column as part of microbiology practicals so we are glad to show you
how it has evolved since we prepared it.
working on a Winogradsky column as part of microbiology practicals so we are glad to show you
how it has evolved since we prepared it.
Firstable, we are going to explain what is our column made of and which are our suppositions about
its development based on the composition:
its development based on the composition:
– The main sustances that compose the colum are sand and mud from Río San Pedro. Mud
contains lots of metals and minerals which are necessary in the development of the
microorganisms.
– As carbon source we have added 0,4 g of cellulose. It will be used by chemoheterotrophs
microorganisms to grow but due to the difficulties related to its metabolism ( it's a polymer
that needs to be degraded first to its monomers ) it will take some time.
– We've also added 0,4 g of Na2SO4 that provides sulphate to sulphur-reducing bacteria during
the anaerobic respiration, generating H2S.
– Next we added 0,3 g of CaCO3. It will supply inorganic carbon to photosynthetic
microorganisms and will act as buffer solution keeping a constant pH.
– Finally we filled up the colum with sea water, we wrapped it up with cling film and left it in
the lab under the sunlight.
contains lots of metals and minerals which are necessary in the development of the
microorganisms.
– As carbon source we have added 0,4 g of cellulose. It will be used by chemoheterotrophs
microorganisms to grow but due to the difficulties related to its metabolism ( it's a polymer
that needs to be degraded first to its monomers ) it will take some time.
– We've also added 0,4 g of Na2SO4 that provides sulphate to sulphur-reducing bacteria during
the anaerobic respiration, generating H2S.
– Next we added 0,3 g of CaCO3. It will supply inorganic carbon to photosynthetic
microorganisms and will act as buffer solution keeping a constant pH.
– Finally we filled up the colum with sea water, we wrapped it up with cling film and left it in
the lab under the sunlight.
As we have prepared a column with a balanced composition we hope to observe a varied ecosystem
with lots of different types of microorganisms. On the top where there is plentiful of oxygen aerobic
photoautotrophs microorganisms as well as aerobic heterotrophs microorganisms will grow.
At the same time we descend in the column, oxygenn concentration decreases in contrast to H2S's which increases creating an O2- H2S gradient. Because of this fact, in the lower zone of the column
only anaerobic microorganisms will grow depending on their compatibility to sulphide levels.
with lots of different types of microorganisms. On the top where there is plentiful of oxygen aerobic
photoautotrophs microorganisms as well as aerobic heterotrophs microorganisms will grow.
At the same time we descend in the column, oxygenn concentration decreases in contrast to H2S's which increases creating an O2- H2S gradient. Because of this fact, in the lower zone of the column
only anaerobic microorganisms will grow depending on their compatibility to sulphide levels.
Nicely explained.
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