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

Uma coluna de Winogradsky é um ecossistema microbiano artificial auto-organizado para estudar a diversidade microbiana e o metabolismo.Ele é construído preenchendo um cilindro de vidro até a metade com sedimentos ricos em matéria orgânica.Papel triturado é adicionado como fonte de carbono, gesso como fonte de sulfato e carbonato de cálcio como tampão.A coluna é preenchida com água e exposta à luz.Com o tempo, camadas microbianas distintas se desenvolvem na coluna, criando gradientes de oxigênio e enxofre.No topo, as cianobactérias realizam fotossíntese oxigênica, produzindo oxigênio e mantendo a zona superior aeróbica.Abaixo disso, bactérias quimiolitótrofas de enxofre usam esse oxigênio para oxidar o sulfeto de hidrogênio.Nas zonas anóxicas inferiores, bactérias de enxofre roxo e verde realizam fotossíntese anoxigênica, usando sulfeto de hidrogênio para fixar dióxido de carbono.Nas camadas anóxicas mais profundas, bactérias anaeróbias como redutores de sulfato e fermentadores reduzem o sulfato a sulfeto de hidrogênio, que se difunde para cima e é usado por bactérias oxidantes de enxofre, criando um ciclo vertical de enxofre.

a coluna winogradsky

The Winogradsky Column

Uma coluna de Winogradsky oferece uma ferramenta poderosa para estudar a ecologia microbiana e as interações metabólicas em um ambiente estratificado e autônomo. Esse ecossistema artificial, desenvolvido por Sergei Winogradsky no final do século XIX, replica os complexos gradientes biogeoquímicos encontrados em sedimentos naturais, permitindo que os pesquisadores observem a sucessão microbiana e as interações ao longo do tempo.A coluna é tipicamente montada em um cilindro de vidro transparente preenchido até a metade com sedimento misturado com celulose (por exemplo, papel triturado), carbonato de cálcio e gesso. A celulose serve como fonte de carbono, o carbonato de cálcio atua como um amortecedor de pH e o gesso fornece sulfato. O espaço restante é preenchido com água do lago, e a coluna é vedada para evitar evaporação e contaminação. Depois, é colocado na luz para promover a atividade fotossintética. Em poucas semanas, gradientes químicos de oxigênio e enxofre se desenvolvem, impulsionando a formação de zonas microbianas distintas.A camada mais superficial, exposta à luz e ao oxigênio, é dominada por fotótrofos oxigénicos, como cianobactérias e algas. Esses organismos fixam dióxido de carbono usando energia luminosa, produzindo oxigênio como subproduto. Logo abaixo, na zona microaerofílica, bactérias de enxofre incolor oxidam o sulfeto de hidrogênio (H₂S) usando o oxigênio limitado disponível, formando enxofre elementar (S⁰) ou sulfato (SO₄²⁻).Mais fundo na coluna, onde o oxigênio se esgota, bactérias roxas não sulfurosas usam foto-heterotrofia, dependendo de substratos orgânicos e luz para crescer. Ainda mais profundamente, em condições estritamente anóxicas, bactérias de enxofre roxo e verde realizam fotossíntese anoxigênica. Esses organismos utilizam H₂S como doador de elétrons e fixam CO₂, contribuindo para a produção primária na ausência de oxigênio.Na base da coluna, bactérias anaeróbias como as redutoras de sulfato (por exemplo, Desulfovibrio spp.) e fermentadores decompõem matéria orgânica. Redutores de sulfato usam sulfato como aceitador terminal de elétrons, produzindo H₂S. Esse H₂S difunde para cima, servindo como fonte de energia para bactérias oxidantes de enxofre e fotossintéticas nas camadas superiores, sustentando assim um ciclo de enxofre em circuito fechado.A coluna Winogradsky, por meio de sua estrutura estratificada e interações dinâmicas, exemplifica a complexidade e interdependência dos ecossistemas microbianos, servindo como um modelo perspicaz para a microbiologia ambiental e o ciclo biogeoquímico.

A Coluna 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

JoVE Core

Microbiology

Microbiologia

Unit

Unidade

Microbial Ecology

Ecologia Microbiana

KEY TERMS AND CONCEPTS

TERMOS E CONCEITOS-CHAVE

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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methods to assess microbial communities

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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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