Abstract
Spatial (10 different locations) and temporal (2. years) changes in characteristics of the Marmara Sea Sediments were monitored to determine interactions between the chemical and microbial diversity. The sediments were rich in terms of hydrocarbon, nitrate, Ni and microbial cell content. Denitrifying, sulfate reducing, fermentative and methanogenic organisms were co-abundant in 15. cm below the sea floor. The local variations in the sediments' characteristics were more distinctive than the temporal ones. The sulfate and nitrate contents were the main drivers of the changes in the microbial community compositions. N and P were limited for microbial growth in the sediments, and their levels determined the total cell abundance and activity. Seasonal shifts in temperatures of the shallow sediments were also reflected in the active cell abundances. It was concluded that the Marmara Sea is a promising ecosystem for the further investigation of the ecologically important microbial processes.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 2384-2394 |
| Number of pages | 11 |
| Journal | Marine Pollution Bulletin |
| Volume | 62 |
| Issue number | 11 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Nov 2011 |
Funding
This work was supported by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey Grant TUBITAK 105Y307 . Authors would also like to acknowledge Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) for their cooperation.
| Funders | Funder number |
|---|---|
| TUBITAK | 105Y307 |
| Türkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Araştirma Kurumu |
Keywords
- 16S rRNA gene
- Denaturant gradient gel electrophoresis
- Fluorescence in situ hybridization
- Marmara Sea Sediments
- Microbial diversity
- Pollution
