Tracing viable bacteria in Wadden Sea sediments using phospholipid analysis

This thesis describes a protocol that was developed to analyse different types of lipids from bacteria and sediments. Special emphasis was placed on the analysis of intact phospholipids by HPLC-ESI-MS/MS, because phospholipids appear to be suitable biomarkers to trace viable bacteria. The specificity of phospholipids as biomarkers was tested by investigating the lipid composition of 30 different strains of sulfate-reducing bacteria. A sediment core with a length of 55 cm, studied in this thesis work, was taken from an intertidal flat close to Neuharlingersiel (NW Germany). Results from geochemical investigations were compared to data obtained by microbiological techniques. Highest amounts of phospholipids as well as of other types of glycerides were measured and decreased rapidly within the upper few centimetres. Nevertheless, intact phospholipids could still be detected at a sediment depth of 50 cm indicating the presence of intact cells.

Level thesis:degree_level

thesis.doctoral

Grantor dc:publisher

Universität Oldenburg

Year

2001

Author dc:creator

• Rütters, Heike

• [Keine Schlagwörter von Autor/in vergeben.]

Repository record source_url

http://oops.uni-oldenburg.de/347

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:oops.uni-oldenburg.de:347