Name: microbial layers inside a winogradsky column
Uploaded: 2026-03-12T13:57:35.000Z
Duration: 1 min 27 s
Channel: JoVE

Eine Winogradsky-Säule ist ein selbstorganisierendes, künstliches mikrobielles Ökosystem zur Untersuchung der mikrobiellen Vielfalt und des Stoffwechsels.Sie wird gebaut, indem ein Glaszylinder halb mit organisch-reichem Sediment gefüllt wird.Geschreddertes Papier wird als Kohlenstoffquelle hinzugefügt, Gips als Sulfatquelle und Calciumcarbonat als Puffer.Die Säule ist mit Wasser gefüllt und dem Licht ausgesetzt.Im Laufe der Zeit bilden sich in der Säule deutliche mikrobielle Schichten, die Sauerstoff- und Schwefelgradienten erzeugen.Oben führen Cyanobakterien sauerstoffhaltige Photosynthese durch, produzieren Sauerstoff und halten die obere Zone aerob.Darunter nutzen chemolithotrophe Schwefelbakterien diesen Sauerstoff zur Oxidation von Schwefelwasserstoff.In den unteren anoxischen Zonen führen violette und grüne Schwefelbakterien eine anoxygenische Photosynthese durch und verwenden Schwefelwasserstoff zur Fixierung von Kohlendioxid.In den tieferen anoxischen Schichten reduzieren anaerobe Bakterien wie Sulfatreduzierer und Fermenter Sulfat zu Schwefelwasserstoff, das nach oben diffundiert und von schwefeloxidierenden Bakterien genutzt wird, wodurch ein vertikaler Schwefelkreislauf entsteht.

die winogradsky-säule

The Winogradsky Column

Eine Winogradsky-Säule bietet ein leistungsstarkes Werkzeug zur Untersuchung der mikrobiellen Ökologie und metabolischer Wechselwirkungen in einer geschichteten, in sich geschlossenen Umgebung. Dieses künstliche Ökosystem, das Ende des 19. Jahrhunderts von Sergei Winogradsky entwickelt wurde, repliziert die komplexen biogeochemischen Gradienten natürlicher Sedimente und ermöglicht es Forschern, mikrobielle Sukzession und Wechselwirkungen über die Zeit zu beobachten.Die Säule wird typischerweise in einem transparenten Glaszylinder zusammengesetzt, der halb mit Sediment gefüllt ist, das mit Cellulose (z. B. zerkleinertem Papier), Calciumcarbonat und Gips vermischt ist. Die Cellulose dient als Kohlenstoffquelle, Calciumcarbonat als pH-Puffer, und Gips liefert Sulfat. Der verbleibende Raum wird mit Teichwasser gefüllt, und die Säule wird versiegelt, um Verdunstung und Kontamination zu verhindern. Anschließend wird es ins Licht gelegt, um die photosynthetische Aktivität zu fördern. Innerhalb weniger Wochen bilden sich chemische Gradienten von Sauerstoff und Schwefel, die die Bildung unterschiedlicher mikrobieller Zonen vorantreiben.Die oberste Schicht, die Licht und Sauerstoff ausgesetzt ist, wird von sauerstoffhaltigen Phototrophen wie Cyanobakterien und Algen dominiert. Diese Organismen fixieren Kohlendioxid mithilfe von Lichtenergie und produzieren Sauerstoff als Nebenprodukt. Direkt darunter, in der mikroaerophilen Zone, oxidieren farblose Schwefelbakterien Schwefelwasserstoff (H₂S) mit dem begrenzten verfügbaren Sauerstoff und bilden so elementaren Schwefel (S⁰) oder Sulfat (SO₄²⁻).Tiefer in der Säule, wo der Sauerstoff erschöpft wird, nutzen violette schwefelfreie Bakterien Photoheterotrophie und verlassen sich auf organische Substrate und Licht für das Wachstum. Noch tiefer, unter streng anoxischen Bedingungen, führen violette und grüne Schwefelbakterien eine sauerstofffreie Photosynthese durch. Diese Organismen nutzen H₂S als Elektronenspender und fixieren CO₂, was zur Primärproduktion in Abwesenheit von Sauerstoff beiträgt.An der Basis der Säule zersetzen anaerob Bakterien wie sulfatreduzierende Bakterien (z. B. Desulfovibrio-Arten ) und Fermentatoren organisches Material. Sulfatreduzerer verwenden Sulfat als terminalen Elektronenakzeptor und erzeugen H₂S. Dieses H₂S diffundiert nach oben und dient als Energiequelle für schwefeloxidierende und photosynthetische Bakterien in den oberen Schichten, wodurch ein geschlossener Schwefelkreislauf aufrechterhalten wird.Die Winogradsky-Säule veranschaulicht durch ihre geschichtete Struktur und dynamischen Wechselwirkungen die Komplexität und gegenseitige Abhängigkeit mikrobieller Ökosysteme und dient als aufschlussreiches Modell für Umweltmikrobiologie und biogeochemischen Kreislauf.

Die Winogradsky-Säule

A Winogradsky column provides a powerful tool for studying microbial ecology and metabolic interactions in a stratified, self-contained environment. This ...

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Education

Lehre

JoVE Core

Microbiology

Mikrobiologie

Unit

Einheit

Microbial Ecology

Mikrobielle Ökologie

KEY TERMS AND CONCEPTS

ZENTRALE BEGRIFFE UND KONZEPTE

microbial layers inside a winogradsky column

A Winogradsky column shows how microbial layers form in a simple, sealed ecosystem. It is a clear model for studying microbial ecology and how different metabolisms interact in sediment over time.

The setup uses a transparent glass cylinder. Half of it is filled with sediment mixed with cellulose, such as shredded paper, calcium carbonate, and gypsum. The cellulose provides a carbon source. Calcium carbonate buffers pH, and gypsum supplies sulfate. The rest of the cylinder is filled with pond water, then sealed to limit evaporation and contamination.

The column is placed in light so photosynthesis can occur. Over several weeks, oxygen and sulfur gradients develop. These chemical changes create distinct microbial zones in the sediment and water column.

The top layer, which has both light and oxygen, is dominated by oxygenic phototrophs such as cyanobacteria and algae. These organisms use light to fix carbon dioxide and release oxygen as a byproduct. Just below that, in the microaerophilic zone, colorless sulfur bacteria use the small amount of oxygen available to oxidize hydrogen sulfide, or H2S. This process can produce elemental sulfur, S0, or sulfate, SO4(2−).

Deeper in the column, oxygen becomes scarce. Purple nonsulfur bacteria live here and use photoheterotrophy, which means they use light and organic substrates for growth. Still deeper, in fully anoxic zones, purple sulfur bacteria and green sulfur bacteria carry out anoxygenic photosynthesis. They use H2S as an electron donor and fix CO2 even without oxygen.

At the base of the column, anaerobic bacteria break down organic matter. Sulfate-reducing bacteria, such as Desulfovibrio species, use sulfate as a terminal electron acceptor and produce H2S. Fermenters also help decompose the material. The H2S moves upward and becomes fuel for sulfur-oxidizing and photosynthetic bacteria, which helps sustain a closed sulfur cycle in the column.

Microbial Layers Inside a Winogradsky Column

microbial-layers-inside-a-winogradsky-column

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the winogradsky column

A Winogradsky column shows how microbial layers form in a simple, sealed ecosystem. It is a clear model for studying microbial ecology and how different metabolisms interact in sediment over time. The setup uses a transparent glass cylinder. Half of it is filled with sediment mixed with cellulose, such as shredded paper, calcium carbonate, and gypsum. The cellulose provides a carbon source. Calcium carbonate buffers pH, and gypsum supplies sulfate. The rest of the cylinder is filled with pond...

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key terms and concepts

Explore how a Winogradsky column forms distinct microbial layers, from oxygenic phototrophs at the top to sulfate reducers at the base.

Microbial Layers Inside a Winogradsky Column | JoVE K12

JoVE Core Microbiology provides an engaging introduction to the microbial world and its influence on health, industry, and the environment. This comprehensive collection covers key concepts such as microbial structure, metabolism, genetics, and ecology. It introduces essential laboratory techniques and microscopy methods through visually engaging animations. Corresponding scientist-in-action videos bridge classroom concepts with real-world research and applications.

microbiology

Microbial Layers Inside a Winogradsky Column

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