Microbial community structure in sediments of a polluted bay as determined by phospholipid ester-linked fatty acids

Abstract

Phospholipid ester-linked fatty acid (PLFA) composition in sediments were determined in order to understand the microbial community structure in a polluted bay. The PLFA pattern in sediments revealed the presence of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, the composition of which differed among the stations. The community structure in sediments, as characterized by the composition of PLFA showed an absence of polyunsaturated fatty acids, except 18:2, signature fatty acids of microeukaryotes and a greater proportion of bacterial biomarker fatty acids. The results of Tukey's honestly significant difference test showed distinctive differences in the PLFA among the stations and also shifts in the microbial community structure in the bay. The significant patterns of PLFA in sediments with the virtual absence of lipid biomarkers for microeukaryotes and the relatively high proportions of bacterial biomarkers indicate the prokaryotic consortium responsive to organic contamination.