Abstract
The annual dynamics of the phototrophic bacterial populations developing in the anoxic layers has been monitored in three basins of the northern area of Lake Banyoles (Spain). Although two of the studied basins are meromictic and one is holomictic, chemical properties of the water are almost identical. Therefore, differences in both the spatial and temporal distribution, as well as in the composition of phototrophic bacterial communities, dominated by Chlorobium phaeobacteroides and Chromatium minus, are discussed on the basis of the structural and morphometric characteristics of each basin. Both species showed the same physiological adaptations to light intensity changes by modifying the carotenoid/bacteriochlorophyll ratio. Light reaching the oxic-anoxic boundary appears to be the most important factor controlling the growth of phototrophic bacteria in Lake Banyoles. The oxic-anoxic boundary becomes shallower as summer advances, until enough light is available for bacterial photosynthesis.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abella, C. A., 1980. Compared population dynamics of sulfur fototrophic bacteria. (In spanish). PH. D. Thesis. Autonomous University of Barcelona.
Abella, C. A., E. Montesinos & R. Guerrero, 1980. Field studies on the competition between purple and green sulfur bacteria for available light (Lake Sisø, Spain). Dev. Hydrobiol. 3: 173–181.
Broch-Due, M., J. G. Ormerod & B. S. Fjerdingen, 1978. Effect of light intensity on vesicle formation in Chlorobium. Arch. Microbiol. 116: 269–274.
Davison, W. & S. I. Heaney, 1978. Ferrous iron-sulfide interactions in anoxic hypolimnetic waters. Limnol. Oceanogr. 23: 1194–1200.
Garcia-Gil, L. J., 1990. Sulphur fototrophic bacteria and iron cycle in Lake Banyoles. (In catalan). Ph.D. Thesis. Autonomous University of Barcelona.
Garcia-Gil, L. J., R. C. Brunet & C. A. Abella, 1987. Incidencia de la inestabilidad de la meromixis en Banyoles IV (Banyoles, Girona) en la dinamica poblacional de bacterias fototróficas del azufre. Proc IV Spanish Congress of Limnology: 85–94.
Garcia-Gil, L. J., L. Sala-Genoher, J. V. Esteva & C. A. Abella, 1990. Distribution of iron in Lake Banyoles in relation to the ecology of purple and green sulfur bacteria. Hydrobiologia 192: 259–270.
Guerrero, R., C. Abella & M. R. Miracle, 1978. Spatial and temporal distribution of bacteria in a meromictic lake basin: relationships with physico-chemical parameters and zooplankton. Verh. Int. Ver. Limnol. 20: 2264–2271.
Guerrero, R., E. Montesinos, I. Esteve & C. Abella, 1980. Physiological adaptations and growth of purple and green sulfur bacteria in a meromictic lake (Vilar) as compared to a holomictic lakes (Sisó). Dev. Hydrobiol. 3: 161–171.
Jensen, A., O. Aasmundrud & K. E. Eimhjellen, 1964. Chlorophylls of photosynthetic bacteria. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 88: 466–479.
Margalef, R., 1946. Materiales pera el estudio del Lago de Banyoles (Gerona). Publ. Inst. Biol. Apl. (Barcelona) 1: 27–78.
Miracle, M. R., 1975. Segregation of zooplankton populations in several depressions within one lake basin. Verh. Int. ver. Limnol. 19: 1140–1149.
Montesinos, E., 1982. Physiological ecology of the bacterial photosynthesis (In spanish). Ph. D. Thesis. Autonomous University of Barcelona.
Montesinos, E., R. Guerrero, C. Abella & I. Esteve, 1983. Ecology and physiology of the competition for light between Chlorobium limicola and Chlorobium phaeobacteroides in natural habitats. Appl. envir. Microbiol. 46: 1007–1016.
Montesinos, E. & H. Van Gemerden, 1986. The distribution and metabolism of planktonic phototrophic bacteria. In F. Megusar & M. Gantar (eds), Perspectives in Microbial Ecology. Ljubljana: 344–359.
Moreno-Amich, R. & E. Garcia-Berthou, 1989. A new bathymetric map based on echosounding and morphological characterization of the Lake of Banyoles (N-Spain). Hydrobiologia 185: 83–90.
Parkin, T. B. & T. D. Brock, 1980(a). Photosynthesis bacterial production in lakes: the effect of light intensity. Limnol. Oceanogr. 25: 711–718.
Parkin, T. B. & T. D. Brock, 1980(b). The effect of light quality on the growth of phototrophic bacteria in lakes. Arch. Microbiol. 125: 19–27.
Pfennig, N., 1989. Ecology of phototrophic purple and green sulfur bacteria. In Schlegel & Bowien (eds), Auto-trophic bacteria. Springer Verlag, New York: 97–116.
Planas, M. D., 1973. Composición ciclo y productividad del fitoplancton en el Lago de Banyoles. Oecol. Aquat. 1: 3–106.
Takahashi, M. & S. Ichimura, 1970. Photosynthetic properties and growth of phototrophic sulfur bacteria in lakes. Limnol. Oceanogr. 13: 924–944.
Takahashi, M., K. Shiokawa & S. Ichimura, 1972. Photosynthetic characteristics of a purple sulfur bacterium grown under different light intensities. Can. J. Microbiol. 18: 1825–1828.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Garcia-Gil, L.J., Abella, C.A. Population dynamics of phototrophic bacteria in three basins of Lake Banyoles (Spain). Hydrobiologia 243, 87–94 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00007023
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00007023