Winogradsky Column Flashcards
are present in many types of environments and
play significant roles in the ecosystem dating back at least 3.5 million years from the
formation of life on Earth.
what domains
bacteria and archaea
functional groups of domain bacteria and archaea
oxygenic
anoxygenic phototrophs
chemoautotrophs
litothrohs
Winogradsky Column named after
Sergei Winogradsky
Father of Soil Microbiology
Sergei winogradsky
label of A
shredded papper
B bottle
raw egg yoldk
C-D
paper and egg yolk
E
plain mud
add one ___(compacted) of shredded paper;
teaspoon
___of raw egg yolk
1/3
Place Bottle___in a dark cabinet, while the four other bottles near a very
sunny window where there is less disturbance. Avoid direct sunlight
plain mud
- How do you think adding newspaper and egg yolk will affect the microbes that grow in the Winogradsky column?
Adding newspaper and egg yolk to a Winogradsky column can introduce new nutrients and alter the microbial community dynamics within the column.
consists of cellulose, which serves as a carbon source for certain microorganisms
newspaper
organisms that can break down the cellulose into simpler sugars that other microbes can utilize
Clostridium and Cellulomona
is rich in lipids (fats) and proteins.
egg yolk
The lipids can promote the growth of lipid-degrading microorganisms, such as
pseudomonas
bacillus
The proteins in the egg yolk can be broken down by proteolytic bacteria, such as
proteus
bacteroides
- How does sunlight affect the growth of microorganisms in the Winogradsky column? What will be the difference when the column is not exposed to sunlight?
Sunlight plays a significant role in the growth and development of microorganisms within a Winogradsky column, primarily through its effects on photosynthetic bacteria and the overall microbial ecosystem.
without sunlight, this can happen (3)
Reduced Photosynthesis
Altered Microbial Composition
Lower Metabolic Activity
typical color layers in a winogradsky column
green
red/purple
brown
black
white
pink
green layer is for
Green Sulfur Bacteria (e.g., Chlorobium species)
These bacteria perform photosynthesis using sulfur compounds, giving them a greenish color.
green sulfur bacteria
red/purple layer is for
purple sulfur bacteria e.g., Chromatium species) and Purple Non-Sulfur Bacteria (e.g., Rhodobacter species)
These bacteria also perform photosynthesis but utilize different sulfur or organic compounds, resulting in red or purple pigmentation.
purple sulfur bacteria
brown layer is for
Iron-oxidizing bacteria (e.g., Gallionella species)
These bacteria oxidize iron, leading to the formation of brownish ferric iron compounds
iron oxidizing layer
black layer is for
Sulfate-reducing bacteria (e.g., Desulfovibrio species)
These bacteria reduce sulfate to hydrogen sulfide, which reacts with iron to form black iron sulfide precipitates.
sulfate reducing bacteria
white layer is for
sulfur oxiziding bacteria (e.g., Beggiatoa species)
These bacteria oxidize sulfur compounds, often forming white sulfur deposits.
sulfur oxizding bacteria (beggiatoia)
pink layer is for
Anoxygenic photosynthetic bacteria (e.g., Rhodospirillum species)
hese bacteria perform photosynthesis without producing oxygen, often resulting in pink or reddish coloration.
anoxygenic photosnthesis
