Gaseous hydrocarbons associated with black layer induced by the interaction of cyanobacteria and Desulfovibrio desulfuricans

Abstract

Black layer is a condition of high-sand-content golf greens that results in a subsurface blackened layer in the sand produced by sulfate-reducing bacteria. Black layer can be the product of an interaction of cyanobacteria and sulfate-reducing bacteria and may or may not be toxic to the grass growing on the sand. The organic byproducts of the cyanobacteria coat and plug the sand thereby creating an anoxic environment for development of the sulfate- reducing bacteria. The present study was initiated to determine the range of gaseous hydrocarbons evolved from black layered sand produced by the interaction of two genera of cyanobacteria, Nostoc and Oscillatoria, and Desulfovibrio desulfuricans. The gaseous hydrocarbons measured included methane, ethane, ethylene, and propylene. In nonblackened sand, Nostoc evolved the highest levels of these gases, Oscillatoria evolved relatively low levels except for propylene, and D. desulfuricans evolved the smallest quantities of the gases. When the cyanobacteria and D. desulfuricans were combined to develop black layered sand some changes occurred in the evolution of the gases. Evolution of the gases from Nostoc + D. desulfuricans decreased or remained the same relative to Nostoc alone, and increased relative to D. desulfuricans alone. Except for propylene evolution, gases from Oscillatoria + D. desulfuricans increased relative to Oscillatoria or D. desulfuricans alone. Propylene evolution from Oscillatoria + D. desulfuricans remained unchanged relative to Oscillatoria alone, but increased relative to D. desulfuricans alone. The gases measured are discussed relative to the organisms observed and the conditions of the study.