Population structure in a Philippines hot spring microbial mat

Abstract

Surface-dwelling microbial mats within discreet pools of 44.8, 53.3 and 60.1 °C were sampled using a nested design, in order to gather information on within and between spring variation in population diversity. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) will be used to distinguish between PCR amplicons from mat samples obtained using cyanobacteria- and eubacteria-specific primers. Assignment of DGGE bands to individual species will be attempted by sequence analysis. These data will be compared with estimates of diversity using direct observation of cell morphology within mats and isolation of axenic cultures from enrichment. This presentation illustrates sampling locations and rationale, plus preliminary data from molecular and microscopy studies. Initial findings suggest a unique photosynthetic population structure within these mats, but little within and between pool variation.