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

Une colonne de Winogradsky est un écosystème microbien artificiel auto-organisé pour étudier la diversité microbienne et le métabolisme.Il est construit en remplissant un cylindre de verre à moitié avec des sédiments riches en matières organiques.Le papier déchiqueté est ajouté comme source de carbone, le gypse comme source de sulfate, et le carbonate de calcium comme tampon.La colonne est remplie d’eau et exposée à la lumière.Au fil du temps, des couches microbiennes distinctes se développent dans la colonne, créant des gradients d’oxygène et de soufre.Au sommet, les cyanobactéries effectuent une photosynthèse oxygénique, produisant de l’oxygène et maintenant la zone supérieure aérobie.En dessous, les bactéries chimiotrophiques du soufre utilisent cet oxygène pour oxyder le sulfure d’hydrogène.Dans les zones anoxiques inférieures, les bactéries soufrées violettes et vertes effectuent une photosynthèse anoxygénique, utilisant le sulfure d’hydrogène pour fixer le dioxyde de carbone.Dans les couches anoxiques plus profondes, les bactéries anaérobies telles que les réducteurs de sulfate et les fermenteurs réduisent le sulfate en sulfure d’hydrogène, qui diffuse vers le haut et est utilisé par les bactéries oxydant le soufre, créant un cycle sulfureux vertical.

la colonne winogradsky

The Winogradsky Column

Une colonne de Winogradsky constitue un outil puissant pour étudier l’écologie microbienne et les interactions métaboliques dans un environnement stratifié et autonome. Cet écosystème artificiel, développé par Sergei Winogradsky à la fin du XIXe siècle, reproduit les gradients biogéochimiques complexes trouvés dans les sédiments naturels, permettant aux chercheurs d’observer la succession microbienne et les interactions au fil du temps.La colonne est généralement assemblée dans un cylindre de verre transparent rempli à moitié de sédiments mélangés à de la cellulose (par exemple, du papier déchiqueté), du carbonate de calcium et du gypse. La cellulose sert de source de carbone, le carbonate de calcium agit comme tampon de pH, et le gypse fournit du sulfate. L’espace restant est rempli d’eau de l’étang, et la colonne est scellée pour éviter l’évaporation et la contamination. Il est ensuite placé à la lumière pour favoriser l’activité photosynthétique. En quelques semaines, des gradients chimiques d’oxygène et de soufre se forment, favorisant la formation de zones microbiennes distinctes.La couche la plus haute, exposée à la lumière et à l’oxygène, est dominée par des phototrophes oxygénés tels que les cyanobactéries et les algues. Ces organismes fixent le dioxyde de carbone grâce à l’énergie lumineuse, produisant de l’oxygène comme sous-produit. Juste en dessous, dans la zone microaérophile, des bactéries soufrées incolores oxydent l’hydrogène sulfuré (H₂S) en utilisant l’oxygène limité disponible, formant du soufre élémentaire (S⁰) ou du sulfate (SO₄²⁻).Plus profondément dans la colonne, là où l’oxygène s’épuise, les bactéries non soufrées violettes utilisent la photohétérotrophie, s’appuyant sur des substrats organiques et la lumière pour croître. Encore plus profondément, dans des conditions strictement anoxiques, les bactéries soufrées violettes et vertes effectuent une photosynthèse anoxygénique. Ces organismes utilisent le H₂S comme donneur d’électrons et fixent le CO₂, contribuant ainsi à la production primaire en l’absence d’oxygène.À la base de la colonne, des bactéries anaérobies telles que les bactéries réductrices de sulfate (par exemple, Desulfovibrio spp.) et les fermenteurs décomposent la matière organique. Les réducteurs de sulfate utilisent le sulfate comme accepteur terminal d’électrons, produisant de la H₂S. Ce H₂S diffuse vers le haut, servant de source d’énergie pour les bactéries sulfureuses oxydantes et photosynthétiques dans les couches supérieures, soutenant ainsi un cycle soufré en boucle fermée.La colonne de Winogradsky, par sa structure stratifiée et ses interactions dynamiques, illustre la complexité et l’interdépendance des écosystèmes microbiens, servant de modèle éclairant pour la microbiologie environnementale et le cycle biogéochimique.

La colonne 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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Microbiology

Microbiologie

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Microbial Ecology

Écologie microbienne

KEY TERMS AND CONCEPTS

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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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