Combined microbial community-level analyses for quality assurance of terrestrial subsurface cores

摘要: Bacterial communities from surface soils, groundwater, drilling muds and deep subsurface cores were profiled by sole carbon source utilization phospholipid ester-linked fatty acid analysis. The combination of these functional structural methods successfully distinguished disparate origins. Multivariate analysis the data showed good agreement between results two methods. Subsurface tended to respire amino acids over carbohydrates demonstrated preferential use individual compounds such as acetate Tween sources. PLFA profiles indicated that groundwaters predominately contained gram negative aerobic heterotrophic populations, cuttings populated anaerobes core composed anaerobic bacteria positive bacteria. utility this approach a component quality assurance samples obtained for microbiological during mud rotary coring was demonstrated. Monitoring controlled bioprocesses, environmental remediation detection disturbance are some numerous potential applications community-level characterization Since combined analyses can simultaneously provide specific information about community members function, it is hoped will prove useful in answering fundamental questions microbial ecology, relationship situ structure its measurable function.