BACTERIAL COMMUNITIES OF THE BOTTOM SEDIMENTS NEAR A HYDROTHERMAL SOURCE IN FROLIKHA BAY, NORTHERN BAIKAL
B. B. Namsaraev, T. I. Zemskaya, O. P. Dagurova, L. Z. Granina, L. P. Golobokova, and T. Ya. Sitnikova
Keywords: Outputs of underground waters, bacterial community, methane genesis, methane oxidation, sulfate reduction, Lake Baikal
Pages: 644-647
Abstract
Geological, microbiological, and isotopic investigations showed that the bacterial communities form in surface sediments near a hydrothermal source in Frolikha Bay, northern Baikal. The base of these communities is colorless sulfur bacterium Thioploca. The bottom sediments in the region are characterized by intensive processes of sulfate reduction and methane genesis. Organic matter is used mostly for synthesis of methane. Carbon isotope composition in sediments and fauna (to -68.3  ) suggests that the metabolism of the community of bottom sediments of Frolikha Bay is based on biogenic methane utilized by methanotrophic bacteria. The intensity of methane oxidation reaches high values: 1180.4  L CH 4/kg  day. |
