Assessing niche separation in coexisting Limnohabitans strains through interactions with a competitor, viruses, and a bacterivore

0343448 - BC 2012 RIV US eng J - Journal Article
Šimek, Karel - Kasalický, Vojtěch - Horňák, Karel - Hahn, M.W. - Weinbauer, M.G.
Assessing niche separation in coexisting Limnohabitans strains through interactions with a competitor, viruses, and a bacterivore.
Applied and Environmental Microbiology. Roč. 76, č. 5 (2010), s. 1406-1416. ISSN 0099-2240. E-ISSN 1098-5336
R&D Projects: GA ČR(CZ) GA206/08/0015; GA MŠMT(CZ) MEB060702
Institutional research plan: CEZ:AV0Z60170517
Keywords : betaproteobacterial isolates * genus Limnohabitans * virus and grazer manipulation * growth competition * bacterial mortality sources
Subject RIV: EE - Microbiology, Virology
Impact factor: 3.778, year: 2010

We assessed niche separation in two closely related (99.1% 16S rRNA similarity) bacterial strains from the genus Limnohabitans. The two strains, designated B4 and D5, were isolated concurrently from a freshwater reservoir. Differences between the strains were examined through monitoring interactions with a bacterial competitor, Flectobacillus (FL), and virus- and predator-induced mortality. The mortality factors and competition between the strains significantly affected their population dynamics. While strains B4 and FL appeared vulnerable to environmental viruses, strain D5 did not. Predator-induced mortality had the greatest impact on FL, followed by that on D5 and then B4. The virus vulnerable B4 strain had smaller cells, but it was less subject to grazing. In contrast, the virus-resistant D5, with slightly larger grazing-vulnerable cells, was competitive with FL. Thus our data suggest contrasting ecophysiology and partial niche separation in two coexisting Limnohabitans strains.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0185927