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

Una columna de Winogradsky es un ecosistema microbiano artificial y autoorganizado para estudiar la diversidad microbiana y el metabolismo.Se construye llenando un cilindro de vidrio hasta la mitad con sedimento rico en materia orgánica.Se añade papel triturado como fuente de carbono, yeso como fuente de sulfato y carbonato de calcio como amortiguador.La columna se llena de agua y se expone a la luz.Con el tiempo, se desarrollan capas microbianas distintas en la columna, creando gradientes de oxígeno y azufre.En la parte superior, las cianobacterias realizan la fotosíntesis oxigénica, produciendo onígeno y manteniendo la zona superior aeróbica.Por debajo de esto, las bacterias quimiolítotróficas de azufre utilizan este osígeno para oxidar sulfuro de hidrógeno.En las zonas anóxicas inferiores, las bacterias de azufre púrpura y verde realizan la fotosíntesis anioxigénica, utilizando sulfuro de hidrógeno para fijar el dióxido de carbono.En las capas anóxicas más profundas, bacterias anaeróbias como los reductores de sulfato y fermentadores reducen el sulfato a sulfuro de hidrógeno, que se difunde hacia arriba y es utilizado por bacterias oxidadoras de azufre, creando un ciclo vertical de azufre.

la columna winogradsky

The Winogradsky Column

Una columna de Winogradsky proporciona una herramienta poderosa para estudiar la ecología microbiana y las interacciones metabólicas en un entorno estratificado y autosuficiente. Este ecosistema artificial, desarrollado por Sergei Winogradsky a finales del siglo XIX, replica los complejos gradientes biogeoquímicos encontrados en los sedimentos naturales, permitiendo a los investigadores observar la sucesión microbiana y las interacciones a lo largo del tiempo.La columna suele ensamblarse en un cilindro de vidrio transparente relleno a la mitad con sedimentos mezclados con celulosa (por ejemplo, papel triturado), carbonato de calcio y yeso. La celulosa actúa como fuente de carbono, el carbonato de calcio actúa como amortiguador de pH y el yeso suministra sulfato. El espacio restante se llena con agua del estanque y la columna se sella para evitar la evaporación y la contaminación. Luego se coloca en luz para promover la actividad fotosintética. En cuestión de semanas, se desarrollan gradientes químicos de oxígeno y azufre, que impulsan la formación de zonas microbianas distintas.La capa superior, expuesta a la luz y al oxígeno, está dominada por fototróficos oxigénicos como cianobacterias y algas. Estos organismos fijan el dióxido de carbono usando energía lumínica, produciendo osígeno como subproducto. Justo debajo, en la zona microaerofílica, bacterias incoloras de azufre oxidan sulfuro de hidrógeno (H₂S) utilizando el osígeno limitado disponible, formando azufre elemental (S⁰) o sulfato (SO₄²⁻).Más adentro de la columna, donde el oído se agota, las bacterias no azufre púrpuras utilizan fotoheterotrofia, confiando en sustratos orgánicos y luz para crecer. Aún más profundo, en condiciones estrictamente anóxicas, las bacterias de azufre púrpura y verde realizan fotosíntesis anoxígena. Estos organismos utilizan H₂S como donador de electrones y fijan CO₂, contribuyendo a la producción primaria en ausencia de oxígeno.En la base de la columna, bacterias anaeróbias como las reductoras de sulfato (por ejemplo, Desulfovibrio spp.) y los fermentadores descomponen materia orgánica. Los reductores de sulfato utilizan el sulfato como aceptor terminal de electrones, produciendo H₂S. Este H₂S se difunde hacia arriba, sirviendo como fuente de energía para bacterias oxidantes de azufre y fotosintéticas en las capas superiores, manteniendo así un ciclo de azufre en lazo cerrado.La columna de Winogradsky, a través de su estructura estratificada e interacciones dinámicas, ejemplifica la complejidad e interdependencia de los ecosistemas microbianos, sirviendo como un modelo perspicaz para la microbiología ambiental y el ciclo biogeoquímico.

La columna Winogradsky

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

Educación

JoVE Core

Microbiology

Microbiología

Unit

Unidad

Microbial Ecology

Ecología microbiana

KEY TERMS AND CONCEPTS

TÉRMINOS Y CONCEPTOS CLAVE

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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