1) and the community compositions reflected this change in geochemical conditions. Several novel lineages were identified within the archaeal Thermoplasmatales order associated with the pyrite slump, and the Red Pool (pH 1.4) contained the only population of Acidithiobacillus. Relatively small populations of Sulfobacillus spp. and Acidithiobacillus caldus may metabolize elemental sulfur as an intermediate species in the oxidation of pyritic sulfide to sulfate. Experiments show that elemental sulfur which forms on pyrite surfaces is resistant to most oxidants; its solublization by unattached cells may indicate involvement of a microbially derived electron shuttle. The detachment of thiosulfate (S2O32-) as a leaving group in pyrite oxidation should result in the formation and persistence of tetrathionate in low pH ferric iron-rich AMD solutions. However, tetrathionate is not observed. Although a S2O32--like species may form as a surface-bound intermediate, data suggest that Fe3+ oxidizes the majority of sulfur to sulfate on the surface of pyrite. This may explain why microorganisms that can utilize intermediate sulfur species are scarce compared to Fe-oxidizing taxa at the Richmond Mine site."/>
From: Acid mine drainage biogeochemistry at Iron Mountain, California
Mine site | Clones in Fig. 7 | Closest match | Similarity | Classification | No. of clones |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
01IM1-A drift "red pool" | n.i. | Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans | 99% | Gammaproteobacteria | 21 |
BA33 | Bond clone BA29 (Leptosprillum group III) | 97% | Nitrospira | 7 | |
BA24 | Leptospirillum ferriphilum | Nitrospira | 4 | ||
BA39 | Leptospirillum ferrooxidans strain 49879 | 99% | Nitrospira | 3 | |
BA8 | Sulfobacillus sp. Frasl, AF213055 | 94% | Bacillales | 3 | |
BA9, BA31, BA71 | Iron Mountain Bond clone BA71 | 99% | Deltaproteobacteria | 3 | |
BA2 | Uncultured eubacterium WD247, AJ292581 | 95% | Acidobacteria | 1 | |
A drift slump | AS 10 | Uncultured coal refuse clone ARCP1-21 | 96% | B plasma, Thermoplasmales | 6 |
AS1, AS7 | Uncultured coal refuse clone ARCP1-21 | 93% and 95% | Cplasma, Thermoplasmales | 5 | |
AS4 | Uncultured coal refuse clone ARCP1-27 | 98% | Dplasma, Thermoplasmales | 4 | |
AS9 | Bond clone BA29 (Leptosprillum group III) | 98% | Nitrospira | 7 | |
AS6 | Iron Mountain Bond clone BA18 | 98% | Deltaproteobacteria | 3 | |
n.i. | Iron Mountain Bond clone BA71 | 99% | Deltaproteobacteria | 1 | |
n.i. | Leptospirillum ferriphilum | 97% | Nitrospira | 2 | |
Several (Ref. 38) | Ferroplasma acidarmanus | >98% | Thermoplasmales | 1 | |
A drift slime streamers | Several (Ref. 38) | Ferroplasma acidarmanus | >98% | Thermoplasmales | 20 |
ASL9 | Bond clone BA29 (Leptosprillum group III) | 98% | Nitrospira | 18 | |
ASL1, ASL32 | Uncultured coal refuse clone ARCP1-28 | 97% and 98% | Aplasma, Thermoplasmales | 8 | |
ASL8 | Rheims clone TM214 | 91% | Actinobacteria | 3 | |
ASM | Ferromicrobium acidophilum | 98% | Actinobacteria | 1 | |
Baker et al. (Ref. 52) | Endosymbiont of Acanthamoeba sp. TUMK23 | 92% | Alphaproteobacteria | 2 | |
01IMA1 (A drift weir) | Several (Ref. 38) | Ferroplasma acidarmanus | >98% | Thermoplasmales | 14 |
AW1, AW4 | Bond clone BA29 (Leptosprillum group III) | 98% and 99% | Nitrospira | 13 | |
Baker et al. (Ref. 52) | Endosymbiont of Acanthamoeba sp. TUMK23 | 92% | Alphaproteobacteria | 2 | |
n.i. | Sulfobacillus sp. Frasl, AF213055 | 94% | Bacillales | 1 | |
01IM1B1 (B drift weir) | Several (Ref. 38) | Ferroplasma acidarmanus | >98% | Thermoplasmales | 26 |
n.i. | Bond clone BA29 (Leptosprillum group III) | 98% | Nitrospira | 21 | |
n.i. | Sulfobacillus sp. Frasl, AF213055 | 94% | Bacillales | 2 | |
BW7 | Sulfobacillus disulfoxidans SD-11, U34974 | 99% | Bacillales | 1 | |
01IM1C1 (C drift weir) | n.i. | Bond clone BA29 (Leptosprillum group III) | 98% | Nitrospira | 18 |
Several (Ref. 38) | Ferroplasma acidarmanus | >98% | Thermoplasmales | 13 | |
n.i. | Sulfobacillus sp. Frasl, AF213055 | 94% | Bacillales | 5 |