Los metanótrofos son microorganismos con un importante rol en la biogeoquímica del metano en el océano. La enzima metano monooxigenasa soluble (MMOs) es la encargada de realizar la primera oxidación catabólica del metano, pero además es activa sobre compuestos aromáticos policíclicos y una gran variedad de substancias derivadas del petróleo consideradas como contaminantes. Muestras de sedimento fueron incubadas en medio líquido específico con sales minerales de nitrato (NMS) y en presencia de metano como única fuente de carbono para determinar la actividad de MMOs de la comunidad de metanotrófos presentes en esta matriz ambiental. Las muestras fueron obtenidas desde un área con una emanación visible de metano (Isla Mocha) y de dos áreas sin emanación...
We report for the frst time the presence of flamentous fungi in the water column and sediment in the coastal upwelling ecosystem off central Chile, using molecular tools and epifuorescence microscopy. Positive amplifcations of SSU 18s rDNA with specifc fungal primers were obtained for surface waters and sediments of this coastal ecosystem. Molecular richness obtained from denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis showed a higher number of fungal genotypes in nearshore than offshore sites and in summer than winter. Fungal structures identifed by epifuorescence microscopy in the water column were present as individual flaments or as aggregates of hyphae. We show for the frst time vertical water column profles of fungal biomass in the marine ecosystem. Fungal...
Most microbial reactions are in one way or another associated to decomposition of organic matter, and occurs under two general conditions: in the presence and in the absence of oxygen. Here, we will examine current information on the biogeochemical reactions in the area of the oxygen minimum zone off Chile. The aim of this presentation is to examine mechanisms of processing of organic matter under upwelling and O2 depletion.
