Results from the Winogradsky Column Study

SES: Microbial Methods In Ecology, 1999

In the Microbial Methods In Ecology Course, students constructed Winogradsky columns from sandy sediments and water that were collected from Little Sippewisset estuary located in Falmouth, MA, except for column 8, which was collected from a freshwater pond. These columns served as 1) a source of microorganisms for labs on general microbial methods, such as bacterial productivity, and 2) model systems to study sediment-water biogeochemistry and microbial biogeochemical diversity. Presented below are some of the student results involving these columns.

Columns

Columns were constructed from soda bottles (20 cm x 7 cm) and fitted with 5 luer lock sample ports and stopcocks (Cole-Parmer). All columns (except 7) were filled approximately 3/4 full with sediments, and topped with estuarine water, except Col. 8 in which freshwater sediments and water were used (see treatments). Columns were placed in the laboratory near a SW-facing window. Pictures were taken 6 weeks after initialization (9 Sep - 19 Oct 1999).

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Column 1

Column 2

Column 3

Column 4

Column 5

Column 6

Column 7

Column 8

Profiles of hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) and methane (CH₄) versus depth.

Depth is measured from the lip of the column down. Methane was measured on a gas chromatogram and a spectrophotometric method was used to measure H₂S concentration.

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Column 1		Column 3	Column 4
Column 5		Column 7	Column 8

Other Information:

Visual Observations