Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Springer Verlag
Résumé : International audience
PurposeMarine mangrove sediments in the Manche-à-Eau lagoon (Guadeloupe, Caribbean Sea) harbor locally extensive, white microbial mats. These mats cover the surface of reduced sediments near the roots of red mangrove trees, Rhizophora mangle, and are mainly composed of sulfur-oxidizing bacteria belonging to the Beggiatoaceae family, with some filamentous cyanobacteria. The goal of this study was to investigate the possible influence of sediment characteristics on the presence of these microbial mats.Materials and methodsFour push cores were collected in April 2013, two from zones with microbial mats and two from zones without mats. Sediment characteristics (grain-size distribution, mineralogy, total organic carbon (TOC) and total nitrogen (TN) contents, atomic TOC/TN ratios, and organic matter (OM) δ13C values) were compared for all four cores.Results and discussionSignificant differences were observed between sediments below microbial mats and those without mats. Sediments with microbial mats contained greater amounts of clay, and higher TOC, TN, and TOC/TN ratios, with lower total carbonate content and δ13C values. The higher clay content most likely results from lower fluid flow velocity near to mangrove roots, while higher TOC/TN ratios and lower δ13C values indicate higher inputs of OM from mangrove trees. These results are consistent with the fact that microbial mats were observed near the roots of mangrove trees, which trap OM from terrestrial vegetation and fine sediments.ConclusionsThe grain-size distribution of sediment particles, the total carbonate content, and the δ13C values are the main parameters discriminating between zones with microbial mats and those without mats. Variations in total carbonate content, which is mainly of biogenic origin, result from conditions that are more favorable for benthic organisms in zones without microbial mats. Variations of the TOC/TN ratios are controlled by the presence of a non-negligible amount of inorganic nitrogen bound to surface clay mineral particles and/or by microbial processes.
ISSN: 1439-0108

hal-01545903
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01545903
DOI : 10.1007/s11368-016-1555-6

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Ocean Drilling Programm
Résumé : This paper provides a summary of postcruise scientific results from Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) Leg 209 available to date, building upon shipboard observations and syntheses summarized in the Leg 209 Initial Results volume. During Leg 209, 19 holes were drilled at 8 sites along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge from 14°43´ to 15°44´N, mainly in residual mantle peridotite intruded by gabbroic rocks, in order to understand the tectonic and structural processes responsible for formation of oceanic lithosphere with abundant residual peridotite exposed on the seafloor coupled with a relatively low proportion of volcanic rocks. Based on proportions of recovered lithologies, the entire area may be underlain by mantle peridotite with ~20%–40% gabbroic intrusions and impregnations. Impregnated peridotites with olivine + two pyroxenes + plagioclase + spinel that apparently formed in equilibrium probably record crystallization from primitive mid-ocean-ridge basalt at pressures of 0.5–0.6 GPa. Metamorphic equilibria record isobaric cooling to ~1100°C at this pressure. Thus, the conductively cooled thermal boundary layer beneath the Mid-Atlantic Ridge in this region is >15 km thick. Combined crystallization and reaction with residual peridotite formed a series of impregnated peridotites recording increasing Na content at nearly constant Mg#; this process could explain some of the variation in fractionation-corrected Na (e.g., Na = 8.0) observed in mid-ocean-ridge basalts. Clinopyroxene textures and compositions record such impregnation processes, and they are particularly well documented for Site 1274. Other Leg 209 gabbroic rocks formed from extensive crystallization of highly evolved melts, indicating that a substantial proportion of melt entering the thermal boundary layer crystallizes entirely beneath the seafloor, with no volcanic equivalent. Alteration of peridotites occurred over a range of temperatures and is the result of three distinct processes: rock-dominated serpentinization with formation of brucite in olivine-rich lithologies, fluid-dominated serpentinization with formation of magnetite and no brucite, and fluid-dominated talc alteration with addition of SiO2 as well as H2O and oxygen. The latter two processes also exhibit detectable trace element metasomatism that is distinct in its character from the igneous impregnation described in the previous paragraph. Microstructures show that most residual peridotites were not ductilely deformed at temperatures less than ~1200°C. Structural and paleomagnetic data require tectonic rotations of relatively undeformed blocks; some rotations probably exceeded 60° around nearly horizontal axes parallel to the rift axis. Rotations occurred along several generations of high-temperature mylonitic shear zones extending deeper than 15 km depth and numerous faults at lower temperature. Early formed shear zones and faults were passively rotated around later features; such a process could have produced low-angle fault surfaces without slip on low-angle faults. This region provides end-member examples of processes that are common at many or most slow-spreading ridges. Osmium isotope ratios indicate an ancient history of depletion for residual peridotites from the 14°–16°N region along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Though depleted Os isotope ratios in peridotite have been reported elsewhere along the global ridge system, the values from this region are among the most depleted. In general, Os isotope ratios from mid-ocean-ridge basalts are systematically more radiogenic than Os isotope ratios from ridge peridotite samples, suggesting a polygenetic heterogeneous source for mid-ocean-ridge basalts. Geochemical studies of zircons from Leg 209 gabbroic rocks and impregnated peridotites, together with other ridge and arc-related zircons, indicate that ridge zircons have systematically lower fractionation-corrected U and Th concentrations compared to arc zircons. This observation provides a tool for interpreting the tectonic provenance of ancient detrital zircons and indicates an arclike provenance for Hadean detrital zircons. Geobiological studies and aerobiological studies were also undertaken during Leg 209. The geobiological work found no measurable microbial enhancement of olivine dissolution rate, possibly because the samples from Leg 209 were sterile. The aerobiological study determined that dust from North Africa, collected from the derrick of the JOIDES Resolution during Leg 209, contains a variety of abundant microorganisms.
Proceedings ODP, scientific results, 209

hal-00407966
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00407966
DOI : 10.2973/odp.proc.sr.209.001.2007

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : Understanding the pattern in spatial distribution of soil microbial processes is critical to understand the environmental factors that regulate them as well as to scale up these processes to ecosystem. Soil samples from a I ha tropical rainforest plot (Paracou, French Guiana) were analyzed according a nested sampling approach using different separation distances ranging from 0.4 to 40 m. The variability of substrate induced respiration (SIR) and of denitrification enzyme activity (DEA) was characterized in relation to various soil properties (total C and N contents, NIRS related index of soil organic matter quality, SOMQ and index of tree influence potential, IP). The variability of SIR and DEA was higher than that of environmental properties. The patterns of accumulated variance as a function of distance varied among the soil properties. The variability of SIR and DEA mainly occurred at small (1 m) scale (and at the 10-40 m-scales for SIR), probably reflecting the quality of litter input that results of the influence of local assemblage of different tree species, though changes in the soil N and C contents. Indeed, total soil C and N contents explained the microbial properties at every scale. Coefficients of codispersion showed that neither SOMQ nor IP did correlate with SIR and DEA, and confirmed that total C and N contents explained microbial properties in a scale dependent and complex manner. Such spatial dependency underlines the importance of soil heterogeneity in this tropical forest with implications for sampling strategies when studying the microbial processes and their response to disturbances. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
ISSN: 0016-7061

hal-01032409
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01032409
DOI : 10.1016/j.geoderma.2012.12.009

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Wiley
Résumé : 1. Resource control over abundance, structure and functional diversity of soil microbial communities is a key determinant of soil processes and related ecosystem functioning. Copiotrophic organisms tend to be found in environments which are rich in nutrients, particularly carbon, in contrast to oligotrophs, which survive in much lower carbon concentrations. We hypothesized that microbial biomass, activity and community structure in nutrient-poor soils of an Amazonian rain forest are limited by multiple elements in interaction. We tested this hypothesis with a fertilization experiment by adding C (as cellulose), N (as urea) and P (as phosphate) in all possible combinations to a total of 40 plots of an undisturbed tropical forest in French Guiana. After 2years of fertilization, we measured a 47% higher biomass, a 21% increase in substrate-induced respiration rate and a 5-fold higher rate of decomposition of cellulose paper discs of soil microbial communities that grew in P-fertilized plots compared to plots without P fertilization. These responses were amplified with a simultaneous C fertilization suggesting P and C colimitation of soil micro-organisms at our study site. Moreover, P fertilization modified microbial community structure (PLFAs) to a more copiotrophic bacterial community indicated by a significant decrease in the Gram-positive:Gram-negative ratio. The Fungi:Bacteria ratio increased in N fertilized plots, suggesting that fungi are relatively more limited by N than bacteria. Changes in microbial community structure did not affect rates of general processes such as glucose mineralization and cellulose paper decomposition. In contrast, community level physiological profiles under P fertilization combined with either C or N fertilization or both differed strongly from all other treatments, indicating functionally different microbial communities. While P appears to be the most critical from the three major elements we manipulated, the strongest effects were observed in combination with either supplementary C or N addition in support of multiple element control on soil microbial functioning and community structure. We conclude that the soil microbial community in the studied tropical rain forest and the processes it drives is finely tuned by the relative availability in C, N and P. Any shifts in the relative abundance of these key elements may affect spatial and temporal heterogeneity in microbial community structure, their associated functions and the dynamics of C and nutrients in tropical ecosystems.
ISSN: 0269-8463

hal-01204229
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01204229
DOI : 10.1111/1365-2435.12329
PRODINRA : 311389

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Springer Verlag
Résumé : International audience
Purpose: Marine mangrove sediments in the Manche-à-Eau lagoon (Guadeloupe, Caribbean Sea) harbor locally extensive, white microbial mats. These mats cover the surface of reduced sediments near the roots of red mangrove trees, Rhizophora mangle, and are mainly composed of sulfur-oxidizing bacteria belonging to the Beggiatoaceae family, with some filamentous cyanobacteria. The goal of this study was to investigatethe possible influence of sediment characteristics on the presence of these microbial mats. Materials and methods: Four push cores were collected in April 2013, two from zones with microbial mats and two from zones without mats. Sediment characteristics (grain-size distribution, mineralogy, total organic carbon (TOC) and total nitrogen (TN) contents, atomic TOC/TN ratios, and organic matter (OM) δ13C values) were compared for all four cores.Results and discussion: Significant differences were observed between sediments below microbial mats and those without mats. Sediments with microbial mats contained greater amounts of clay, and higher TOC, TN, and TOC/TN ratios, with lower total carbonate content andδ13C values. The higher clay content most likely results from lower fluid flow velocity near to mangrove roots, while higher TOC/TN ratiosand lower δ13C values indicate higher inputs of OM from mangrove trees. These results are consistent with the fact that microbial mats were observed near the roots of mangrove trees, which trap OM from terrestrial vegetation and fine sediments.Conclusions: The grain-size distribution of sediment particles, the total carbonate content, and the δ13C values are the main parameters discriminating between zones with microbial mats and those without mats. Variations in total carbonate content, which is mainly of biogenic origin, result from conditions that are more favorable for benthic organisms in zones without microbial mats. Variations of the TOC/TN ratios are controlled by the presence of a non-negligible amount of inorganic nitrogen bound to surface clay mineral particles and/or by microbial processes.
ISSN: 1439-0108

hal-01682110
https://hal.univ-antilles.fr/hal-01682110
DOI : 10.1007/s11368-016-1555-6

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Nature Publishing Group
Résumé : International audience
Forest ecosystems have integral roles in climate stability, biodiversity and economic development. Soil stewardship is essential for sustainable forest management. Organic matter (OM) removal and soil compaction are key disturbances associated with forest harvesting, but their impacts on forest ecosystems are not well understood. Because microbiological processes regulate soil ecology and biogeochemistry, microbial community structure might serve as indicator of forest ecosystem status, revealing changes in nutrient and energy flow patterns before they have irreversible effects on long-term soil productivity. We applied massively parallel pyrosequencing of over 4.6 million ribosomal marker sequences to assess the impact of OM removal and soil compaction on bacterial and fungal communities in a field experiment replicated at six forest sites in British Columbia, Canada. More than a decade after harvesting, diversity and structure of soil bacterial and fungal communities remained significantly altered by harvesting disturbances, with individual taxonomic groups responding differentially to varied levels of the disturbances. Plant symbionts, like ectomycorrhizal fungi, and saprobic taxa, such as ascomycetes and actinomycetes, were among the most sensitive to harvesting disturbances. Given their significant ecological roles in forest development, the fate of these taxa might be critical for sustainability of forest ecosystems. Although abundant bacterial populations were ubiquitous, abundant fungal populations often revealed a patchy distribution, consistent with their higher sensitivity to the examined soil disturbances. These results establish a comprehensive inventory of bacterial and fungal community composition in northern coniferous forests and demonstrate the long-term response of their structure to key disturbances associated with forest harvesting. The ISME Journal (2012) 6, 2199-2218; doi:10.1038/ismej.2012.84; published online 2 August 2012
ISSN: 1751-7362

hal-01546179
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01546179
DOI : 10.1038/ismej.2012.84

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Springer Verlag
Résumé : International audience
Standard microbial evolutionary ontology is organized according to a nested hierarchy of entities at various levels of biological organization. It typically detects and defines these entities in relation to the most stable aspects of evolutionary processes, by identifying lineages evolving by a process of vertical inheritance from an ancestral entity. However, recent advances in microbiology indicate that such an ontology has important limitations. The various dynamics detected within microbiological systems reveal that a focus on the most stable entities (or features of entities) over time inevitably underestimates the extent and nature of microbial diversity. These dynamics are not the outcome of the process of vertical descent alone. Other processes, often involving causal interactions between entities from distinct levels of biological organisation, or operating at different time scales, are responsible not only for the destabilisation of pre-existing entities, but also for the emergence and stabilisation of novel entities in the microbial world. In this article we consider microbial entities as more or less stabilised functional wholes, and sketch a network-based ontology that can represent a diverse set of processes including, for example, as well as phylogenetic relations, interactions that stabilise or destabilise the interacting entities, spatial relations, ecological connections, and genetic exchanges. We use this pluralistic framework for evaluating (i) the existing ontological assumptions in evolution (e.g. whether currently recognized entities are adequate for understanding the causes of change and stabilisation in the microbial world), and (ii) for identifying hidden ontological kinds, essentially invisible from within a more limited perspective. We propose to recognize additional classes of entities that provide new insights into the structure of the microbial world, namely ``processually equivalent'' entities, ``processually versatile'' entities, and ``stabilized'' entities.
ISSN: 0169-3867

hal-01544796
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01544796
DOI : 10.1007/s10539-012-9350-2

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD
Résumé : International audience
Symbiosis is a widespread phenomenon in the biosphere. In marine benthic environments breakdown of symbiosis is responsible for coral bleaching and dramatically affects coral reef ecosystems functioning [1]. In the water column, planktonic organisms are key component of pelagic ecosystems and a number of species form mutualistic association with microalgae forming a photosymbiosis [2]. Here we intended to investigate the genetic basis of photosymbiosis, through a transcriptomic approach on marine plankton organisms. We focused more specifically on associations occurring between radiolarian host (protist, zooplankton) and dinoflagellates symbiont (protist, phytoplankton) living inside the host cell. It has recently been highlighted that these holobionts are widespread in oligotrophic open oceans and there are also evidences of their fundamental implication in biogeochemical carbon, silica and strontium cycles [3, 4, 5, 6]. RNA-seq technologies allow obtaining an unprecedented amount of data for unicellular organisms isolated from the environment [7]. The study of such non-model holobionts datasets requires de novo assembly, which implies considerable computational resources and the potential production of chimeric sequences [8, 9].We therefore developed an original strategy aiming at accelerating and improving de novo assembly for holobiont datasets. We chose SIMKA [10] a fast kmer-based method initially developed to estimate the similarity between numerous metagenomic datasets, and which has been recently adapted to extract their common sequences. As our symbionts are identified, we used SIMKA to compare our holobionts transcriptomes to publicly available dinoflagellates transcriptomes [11] generating two datasets, one composed of reads from the symbionts and another with reads from the host (for which no reference data are currently available). Independent assemblies were then performed in parallel, accelerating the study process, and minimizing the proportion of resulting chimeric sequences. Our strategy produced a unique and comprehensive genomic dataset for Radiolaria [12, 13], and offers a pragmatic, large scale, comparison strategy to assemble and study holobionts [9]. Our new sequences obtained from holobionts study will be used for phylogenomics investigation, as reference for environmental metagenomic studies and ultimately to understand and characterize the molecular basis of symbiotic relationships in the plankton.Bibliografic references :[1] Simon K. Davy, Denis Allemand, and Virginia M. Weis. “Cell Biology of Cnidarian-Dinoflagellate Symbiosis”. In: Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews 76.2 (June 1, 2012), pp. 229–261. issn: 1092-2172, 1098- 5557. doi: 10.1128/MMBR.05014-11.[2] Janouškovec, J. et al. “Major transitions in dinoflagellate evolution unveiled by phylotranscriptomics”. in: PNAS 201614842 (2016). doi:10.1073/pnas.1614842114[3] Tristan Biard et al. “In situ imaging reveals the biomass of giant protists in the global ocean”. In: Nature advance online publication (Apr. 20, 2016). issn: 0028-0836. doi: 10.1038/nature17652.[4] Lionel Guidi et al. “Plankton networks driving carbon export in the olig- otrophic ocean”. In: Nature 532.7600 (Apr. 28, 2016), pp. 465–470. issn: 0028-0836. doi: 10.1038/nature16942.[5] Diane K. Stoecker et al. “Acquired phototrophy in aquatic protists”. In: Aquatic Microbial Ecology 57.3 (Nov. 24, 2009), pp. 279–310. doi: 10.3354/ame01340.[6] Johan Decelle et al. “An original mode of symbiosis in open ocean plankton”. In: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 109.44 (Oct. 30, 2012), pp. 18000–18005. issn: 0027-8424, 1091-6490. doi: 10. 1073/pnas.1212303109.[7] Sergio Balzano et al. “Transcriptome analyses to investigate symbiotic relationships between marine protists”. In: Frontiers in Microbiology 6 (Mar. 17, 2015). issn: 1664-302X. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2015.00098.[8] Li, B. et al. “Evaluation of de novo transcriptome assemblies from RNA-Seq data”. In: Genome Biology 15, 553 (2014).[9] Sangwan, N., Xia, F. & Gilbert, J. A. “Recovering complete and draft population genomes from metagenome datasets”. In: Microbiome 4, 8 (2016).[10] Gaëtan Benoit et al. “Multiple comparative metagenomics using mul- tiset k -mer counting”. In: PeerJ Computer Science 2 (Nov. 14, 2016). doi: 10.7717/peerj-cs.94.[11] Patrick J. Keeling et al. “The Marine Microbial Eukaryote Transcriptome Sequencing Project (MMETSP): Illuminating the Functional Diversity of Eukaryotic Life in the Oceans through Transcriptome Sequencing”. In: PLOS Biol 12.6 (June 2014), e1001889. issn: 1545-7885. doi: 10.1371/journal.pbio.1001889.[12] Burki, F. et al. “Evolution of Rhizaria: new insights from phylogenomic analysis of uncultured protists”. In BMC Evolutionary Biology 10, 377 (2010).
International Conference on Holobionts
Paris, France

hal-01575069
https://hal.inria.fr/hal-01575069

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé :  
Tree species-rich tropical rainforests are characterized by a highly variable quality of leaf litter input to the soil at small spatial scales. This diverse plant litter is a major source of energy and nutrients for soil microorganisms, particularly in rainforests developed on old and nutrient-impoverished soils. Here we tested the hypothesis that the variability in leaf litter quality produced by a highly diverse tree community determines the spatial variability of the microbial respiration process in the underlying soil. We analyzed a total of 225 litter-soil pairs from an undisturbed Amazonian rainforest in French Guiana using a hierarchical sampling design. The microbial respiration process was assessed using substrateinduced respiration (SIR) and compared to a wide range of quality parameters of the associated litter layer (litter nutrients, carbon forms, stoichiometry, litter mass and pH). The results show that the variability of both litter quality and SIR rates was more important at large than at small scales. SIR rates varied between 1.1 and 4.0 mg g_1 h_1 and were significantly correlated with litter layer quality (up to 50% of the variability explained by the best mixed linear model). Total litter P content was the individual most important factor explaining the observed spatial variation in soil SIR, with higher rates associated to high litter P. SIR rates also correlated positively with total litter N content and with increasing proportions of labile C compounds. However, contrary to our expectation, SIR rates were not related to litter stoichiometry. These data suggest that in the studied Amazonian rainforest, tree canopy composition is an important driver of the microbial respiration process via leaf litter fall, resulting in potentially strong plant-soil feedbacks. .
ISSN: 0038-0717

hal-01032139
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01032139
DOI : 10.1016/j.soilbio.2011.01.018

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : International audience
The Urucum region (Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil) contains Neoproterozoic–Cambrian manganese ore in the layers Mn-1, Mn-2, and Mn-3, which are interbedded with iron formations (IFs) from the Santa Cruz Formation (Jacadigo Group) and surrounded by carbonate rocks from the Bocaina and Tamengo Formations (Corumbá Group). These rocks fill an ancient graben, with sediments from the Santa Cruz Formation overlying fluvial deposits from the Urucum Formation and limestones from the Bocaina and Tamengo Formations deposited in the shallow marginal regions. As the graben deepened, it was flooded with microbe-rich seawater and hydrothermalism began. Iron and manganese precipitated within the pores in arkosic sandstones, thereby forming the clastic Lower Mn-1 ore layer. The remaining manganese was simultaneously deposited on the basin floor with clastic clay and silt from turbidity currents, thereby forming the Upper Mn-1 clastic–chemical ore layer. The sedimentation of Mn-1 and its host IFs was controlled by seawater saturation and homogeneous oxidation, which caused manganese and iron sedimentation and the death of microorganisms, generating mangano-ferriferous sediments with high P, Co and Ni contents. Mn-2 formed during periods of tectonic quiescence through water influxes that carried abundant microbes, Fe(II), Mn(II), and SiO2. Under UV radiation, these microbes oxidized Mn(II) and Fe(II) to form hydroxides and died, thereby forming biomass that was enriched in P, Co and Ni and minor carbonate adjacent to and below the oxycline. These microbes also formed kremydilites, oblate structures that resemble manganese stromatolites, within the biomass and produced CH4 and/or H2 gas bubbles. During early diagenesis, wormlike organisms inhabited the biomass and probably separated iron from manganese to produce cryptomelane microbialites, which agglutinated to form manganese micronodules that coalesced to form the massive layer Mn-2. This process ended with the disappearance of microorganisms and the sedimentation of the IFs, and a new water influx generated layer Mn-3 via the same process. The final seawater upwelling precipitated IFs in the basin depocenter, whereas limestone from the Tamengo Formation was deposited along the basin’s edges. The diagenesis initially transformed the manganese oxides into cryptomelane and then into hollandite.
ISSN: 0169-1368

hal-01684668
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01684668
DOI : 10.1016/j.oregeorev.2017.09.018

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé :  
Microbial-based indicators, such as C and N contents or microbial functions involved in C and N cycles, are currently used to describe the status of soils in disturbed areas. Microbial functions are more accurate indicators but their measurement for studies at the ecosystem level remains problematical because of the huge spatial variability of these processes and, consequently, of the large number of soil samples which must be analyzed. Our goal was to test the capacity of near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) to predict respiration and denitrification but also carbon and nitrogen contents of soils submitted to various procedures of restoration. To achieve this objective, we took advantage of an experiment conducted on a reforestation system established after open-cast gold mining in French Guiana. In this experimental station, plantations of various ages and various soil textures were at our disposal. Our results showed that both plantations and soil texture had a strong impact on the recovery of soil functioning: carbon and nitrogen contents, respiration and denitrification increased with age of plantation and clay content. Calibrations were performed between spectral data and microbial-based indicators using partial least squares regression (PLS). The results showed that C and N contents were accurately predicted. Microbial functions were less precisely predicted with results more accurate on clayey soils than on sandy soils. In clayey soils, perturbed or restored soils and the year of plantation were discriminated very efficiently through principal component analyses of spectral signatures (over 80% of variance explained on the first two axes). Near-infrared spectroscopy may thus be extended to the prediction of functional soil parameters, but the capacity of this method must be strengthened by expending the databases with other soils in other contexts. The possibility of using NIRS provides many opportunities for understanding both the temporal dynamics and the spatial variability of the recovery of key microbial functions during soil restoration.
ISSN: 0929-1393

hal-01032188
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01032188
DOI : 10.1016/j.apsoil.2007.07.001

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Springer Verlag
Résumé : Understanding the ability of ecosystem processes to resist to and to recover from disturbances is critical to sustainable land use. However, the spatial variability of the stability has rarely been addressed. Here, we investigated the functional stability of a soil microbial process for 24 soils collected from adjacent locations from a 0.3 ha tropical rainforest plot in Paracou, French Guiana. The 24 locations were characterized regarding soil chemical and biological (microbial diversity) parameters and forest structure. The corresponding soils were submitted to an experimental transient heat disturbance during a microcosm experiment. The response of the respiration process was followed using substrate-induced respiration (SIR). The response of soil SIR to heat disturbance varied widely between samples. The variability of the SIR response increased just after the disturbance, and a global rather homogeneous decrease in SIR rates was observed 15 and 30 days after. The stability of SIR in response to heat disturbance could not be related to either the genetic or the metabolic diversity of the microbial community. The initial level of SIR before the disturbance was the soil variable that best correlated with the impact of the disturbance: the soil locations with the highest initial SIR rates were the most affected 15 and 30 days after the heat disturbance. Such a heterogeneous response suggests that the response of soil processes to a disturbance will be difficult to assess from only local-scale analyses and highlights the need for spatial explicitness in understanding biogeochemical processes.
ISSN: 1439-0108

hal-01204209
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01204209
DOI : 10.1007/s11368-012-0528-7
PRODINRA : 214444

Résumé : Bacteriological study of abyssal sediments: During the Demeraby mission of the N/O Jean Charcot in the western Atlantic Ocean, a study of the microflora of the digestive tracts of echinoderms (Holothuroidea of various genera, Asteroidea, Echinoidea) was compared with that of the surrounding sediment. The bacterial concentration observed in the digestive tracts of all the animals studied is higher than that in the surrounding sediments. The largest numbers were always found in the most anterior part of the digestive tracts of the holothurians. In some cases, the increase is considerable (7.10 versus 5.2. 10 cells per millilitre): It indicates a proliferation of bacterial cells in the anterior part of the digestive tract. As the sediment moves through the digestive tract, the bacterial level progressively decreases. In the most posterior part, the concentration is, however, always clearly greater than that in the surrounding sediment. In the case of the holothurian of the genus Deima, analysis according to the Adamsonian principle of comparison shows that the microflora isolated from the various parts of the digestive tract is composed of taxonomic groups showing little resemblance to those isolated from the sediment. In the case of the holothurian of the genus Pseudostichopus, no specialisation of the microflora from digestive tract contents appears with respect to that of the ingested sediment. Examination of metabolic activities suggests a juxtaposition of two types of communities: Free sediment - sediment in transit that complement one other in their enzymatic and nutritional behaviour Indeed, the strains of free sediment seem to be rather suitable for hydrolysing and using carbohydrates, while those of enteric communities prefer the hydrolysis of lipids and proteins and the assimilation of fatty acids, dicarboxylic acids, hydroxylic acids and certain amino acids. Moreover, the enteric microflorae possess a greater nutritional versatility that, linked with its total numbers, has a sizeable catabolic potential. .../... -2- Measurements of heterotrophic activity done by means of 14 C glucose tracers make it possible to show that the metabolic activities of the bacterial communities of superficial abyssal sediments vary according to zones. In the Amazon Cone, a clear glucose mineralization gradient over a distance of a few kilometres can be observed. In the abyssal plain of Demerara heterotrophic activities are slowed in relation to those of the superficial sediments of the Cone of the Amazon, even though the bacterial numbers and the depths are of the same order of magnitude in the two zones. The abundant microflorae associated with the various divisions of digestive tract contents of the Deima abyssal holothurian manifest little metabolic activity as regards the glucose. However, the bacterial communities of Pseudostichopus and Psychropotes manifest very strong heterotrophic activities, increasing from the oesophagus towards the cloaca. Current results are too fragmentary to allow us to observe possible physiological specialisation of enteric bacterial communities enabling the facilitation of digestion processes in the host. Conclusion: In the abyssal environment, characterised by poorly developed bacterial communities, microflorae associated with the digestive tract contents of echinoderms have considerably greater cellular concentrations. By means of their enzymatic equipment, these enteric communities, which complement those of the free microflorae of superficial sediments, can participate in the transformation of organic matter in the abyssal area. Study of the dynamics of microbial communities and their heterotrophic activities in shellfish farms: From experiments done on the water in the Arcachon basin, trials to quantify and describe the reactivity potential of bacterial communities were performed. Bacterial communities were defined by direct counts, counts after setting them up for cultivation, structure and diversity of these communities, dosage of AMP, ADP, ATP. Two opposite ecological conditions were considered: Autumn conditions (high temperature) and a winter conditions (low temperature). Tubs of sea water of 6 and 60 litres were enriched either with ammonium chloride or a mixture of amino acids, at about 500 uAtg N.L. The experiments lasted 24 hours, with sampling every 3 hours. The autumn community reacted rapidly (6 hours), the response to the enrichment in organic nitrogen being the highest. The structure of the community has unstable immature stages. On the contrary, during the winter experiment, no response could be perceived. This may mean that the latency phase is greater than 24 hours. The structure of this community has mature stages. In conclusion, bacterial communities react in the same way as macroscopic communities. Stable communities are diversified and correspond to mature stages of the ecosystem; the immature stages are unstable and less diversified. This type of experiment has made it possible to bring to light the rapidity of response of bacterial populations, and can be used to define the stability of a bacterial community in a precise biotope.
ETUDE BACTERIOLOGIQUE DES SEDIMENTS ABYSSAUX RESUME Au cours de la mission DEMERABY du n/o Jean CHARCOT en atlantique occidental , une étude de la microflore des tractus digestifs d'Echinodermes (Holothurides de différents genres, Astérides, Echinides) a été comparée à celle du sédiment environnant. La concentration bactérienne observée dans les tractus digestifs de tous les animaux étudiés est supérieure à celle des sédiments environnants. Les effectifs les plus importants sont toujours observés dans la partie la plus antérieure des tractus digestifs des holothuries. Dans certains cas, l'accroissement est considérable (7.10 contre 5,2. 10 cellules/ml) : il indique une prolifération des cellules bactériennes dans la partie antérieure du tractus digestif. Au.cours de la progression du sédiment dans le tractus digestif, la charge bactérienne décroit progressivement. Dans la partie la plus postérieure, la concentration est cependant toujours nettement supérieure à celle du sédiment environnant-. Dans le cas d'une holothurie du genre Deima, l'analyse selon le principe adansonien de comparaison montre que la microflore isolée des différentes parties du tractus digestif est constituée de groupes taxonomiques présentant peu de ressemblance avec ceux isolés du sédiment. Dans le cas d'une holothurie du genre Pseudostichopus il n'apparait pas de spécialisation de la microflore du contenu du tractus digestif par rapport à celle du sédiment ingéré. ¿ ¿ . L'étude des activités métaboliques suggère une juxtaposition de deux types de communautés : sédiment libre-sédiment en transit qui se complètent dans leur comportement enzymatique et nutritionnel. En effet les souches du sédiment libre semblent être plutôt aptes à hydrolyser et à utiliser les glucides, tandis que celles des communautés entériques portent leur préférence sur l'hydrolyse des lipides et protéines et 1'assimilation des acides gras, acides dicarboxyl iques, hydro'xy-acides et certains acides aminés. D'autre part les microflores entériques possèdent une versatilité nutritionnelle plus importante qui, liée à leurs effectifs, offre une potentialité catabolique non négligeable. .../... -2- Les mesures d'activité hétérotrophe effectuées au moyen de traceurs glucose 14 C permettent de montrer que les activités métaboliques des communautés bactériennes des sédiments abyssaux superficiels varient selon les zones. Dans le Cone de l'Amazone on observe un net gradient de minéralisation du glucose sur une distance de quelques kilomètres. Dans la plaine abyssale de Demerara les activités hétérotrophessont ralenties par rapport à celles des sédiments superficiels du Cone de l'Amazone, bien que les effectifs bactériens et les profondeurs soient du même ordre de grandeur dans ces deux zones. Les abondantes microflores associées aux différentes fractions du contenu du tractus digestif de l'holothurie abyssale Deima ne manifestent que peu d'activités métaboliques vis à vis du glucose. Par contre les communautés . bactériennes de Pseudostichopus et P syahropotes manifestent des activités hétérotrophes très fortes, croissant de 1'oesophage vers le cloaque. Les résultats actuels sont trop fragmentaires pour permettre d'observer une éventuelle spécialisation physiologique des communautés bactériennes entëriques permettant de faciliter les processus de digestion chez l'hôte. Conclusion: dans le milieu abyssal, caractérisé par des communautés bactériennes faiblement développées, les microflores associées aux contenus de tractus digestif des Echinodermes présentent des concentrations cellulaires considérablement plus importantes. Par leurs équipements enzymâtiques ces communautés entëriques complémentaires de ceux des microflores libres des sédiments superficiels, peuvent participer à la transformation des matières organiques du domaine abyssal. ETUDE DE LA DYNAMIQUE DES COMMUNAUTES MICROBIENNES ET DE LEURS ACTIVITES HETEROTROPHES DANS LES PARCS CONCHYLICOLES RESUME A partir d'expérimentations effectuées sur l'eau du bassin d'Arcachon, des essais de quantification et qualification du potentiel de réactivité des communautés bactériennes ont été effectuées. Les communautés bactériennes ont été définies par comptage directs, comptages après mise en culture, structure et diversité de ces communautés, dosage des AMP, ADP, ATP. Deux situations écologiques opposées ont étées considérées . Une situation automnale (température élevée) et une situation hivernale (température faible). Des bacs d'eau de mer de 6 et 60 litres ont été enrichis , soit avec du chlorure d'ammonium, soit avec un mélange d'acides aminés, à environ 500 uAtg N.l" . Les expériences ont duré 24 heures, avec des prélèvements toutes les 3 heures. La communauté automnale réagit rapidement (6 heures), la ' réponse à l'enrichissement en azote organique étant la plus importante. La structure de la communauté présente des stades immatures instables. Au contraire, au cours de l'expérimentation hivernale, aucune réponse n'a pu être perçue. Ceci peut signifier que la phase de latence est supérieure à 24 heures. La structure . de cette communauté présente des stades matures. En Conclusion, les communautés bactériennes réagissent de la même façon que les communautés macroscopiques. Les communautés stables sont diversifiées et correspondent à des stades matures de l'écosystème, les stades immatures sont instables et moins diversifiés. Ce type d'expérience a permi de mettre en évidence la rapidité de réponse des populations bactériennes, et peut être utilisé pour définir la stabilité d'une communauté bactérienne dans un biotope précis.

Droits : info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/1981/rapport-1926.pdf
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00000/1926/

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : In the context of an ongoing monitoring study on the impacts of gold-mining activities on critical ecosystem processes, we explored the use of soil Denitrifying Enzyme Activity (DEA) and Substrate Induced Respiration (SIR) as ecosystem indicators in tropical rainforests of French Guiana. We also propose DEA/SIR ratio as ecosystem attribute able to describe the state of an ecosystem and to reflect changes in ecological processes. With this purpose, we measured SIR, DEA and DEA/SIR ratio in five gold-mining areas and five surrounding natural reference rainforests. We also measured indicators in two conditions of spontaneous regeneration of vegetation (stratified or not) and two conditions of soil rehabilitation (prior preparation of soils or not). We showed a high variability of DEA, SIR and DEA/SIR ratio in the natural reference forests. This pointed out the necessity to identify relevant reference systems - i.e. proving a close match in all relevant ecological dimensions - to compare with closed perturbed systems in order to assess the levels of alterations after disturbances. Results showed a high impact of gold mine on microbial processes with a strong decrease of DEA (10-fold lower), SIR (2-fold lower) and DEA/SIR ratio (8-fold lower) in perturbed areas in comparison with natural reference forests. The type of spontaneous vegetation (stratified or not) influenced the values of indicators as well as prior rehabilitation of soils, demonstrating the capacity of DEA. SIR and DEA/SIR ratio to respond in proportion to the perturbation (robustness) and to the different levels of restoration (sensitivity). The systematic decrease of the ratio DEA/SIR observed in the studied perturbed situations demonstrates clearly that the structure of microbial communities has been also modified. The ratio DEA/SIR proved to be robust and sensitive, and able to describe in fairly fine way changes of soil microbial communities in terms of structure and function in gold mine areas and during processes of restoration. We propose to use DEA, SIR and DEA/SIR ratio as bioindicators of both structural and functional aspects of C and N cycling in soils. Together with others bioindicators based on key supporting functions in soils, these indicators should accurately evaluate the ecological potential of natural ecosystems and the levels of degradation in case of land-use changes. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
ISSN: 1470-160X

hal-01190730
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01190730
DOI : 10.1016/j.ecolind.2012.01.021
PRODINRA : 213639

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : International audience
The biogeochemistry of sulfur and carbon during early-diagenetic processes within organic-rich marine mangrove sediments was studied in the “Manche à Eau” lagoon, Guadeloupe, West Indies. These sediments are characterized by a total organic carbon content (TOC) mostly above 11 wt%, δ13CTOC below − 25‰ VPDB and C/Nmolar ratios exceeding 15. Rates of mangrove-derived organic carbon accumulation vary between ~ 200 and 400 gOC·m− 2·yr− 1, with highest rates at the shore of the lagoon. On the lagoon border, where colorless filamentous sulfur-oxidizing bacteria colonize the sediments, active sulfate reduction within the upper 20 cm, with a net removal rate of ~ 0.5 μmol·cm− 3·d− 1, is assumed to be essentially driven by organic carbon oxidation. This is expressed by relatively low apparent sulfur isotope fractionation (34εnet = − 33‰) and a gentle δ18O/δ34Ssulfate apparent slope of 0.36 ± 0.03 (2s). Further inside the lagoon, in the absence of sulfur-oxidizing bacteria, higher apparent sulfur isotope fractionation and a steeper δ18O/δ34Ssulfate slope (0.67 ± 0.20) suggest an overall lower sulfate removal rate that may be coupled to minor sulfur disproportionation. Spatial and vertical variation in sulfur cycling, reflected by oxygen and sulfur isotopic characteristics, seem to be mainly controlled by unsteady to relatively steady organic matter deposition and its reactivity. In all sediments, δ34S values of pyrite are positively correlated with the TOC/TS ratio and negatively correlated with δ13CTOC; suggesting a primary control of the quantity and quality of organic matter on the pyrite isotope records, despite potential iron-limiting conditions for the most active sites. Our results provide insights into the role of organic carbon input on sulfur cycling; stimulating sulfate reduction and in turn the presence of sulfur-oxidizing microbial mats, resulting in an intense cycling of both carbon and sulfur in these marine mangrove sediments.
ISSN: 0009-2541

hal-01507696
https://hal-univ-rennes1.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01507696
https://hal-univ-rennes1.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01507696/document
https://hal-univ-rennes1.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01507696/file/Cr%C3%A9mi%C3%A8re%20et%20al.%20-%20Sulfur%20diagenesis%20under%20rapid%20accumulation%20of%20orga.pdf
DOI : 10.1016/j.chemgeo.2017.02.017

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé :  
Previous studies in lowland tropical rainforests of French Guiana showed that, among non-N2-fixing trees, two groups of late successional species contrasting in their leaf 15N natural abundance coexist, suggesting two different main ways of nitrogen acquisition. Two abundant late-successional species typically co-occurring in rainforests in French Guiana, namely Eperua falcata and Dicorynia guianensis, were chosen as representative of each group. Stable isotope techniques and measurements of potentials of microbial N transformation were performed to assess to what extent leaf 15N natural abundance of these species could be related to (i) d15N signatures of soil mineral N sources and (ii) the capacity of soil to express nitrification and denitrification (both processes being directly involved in the balance between NH4 + and NO3 - ). Soil d15N-NH4 + was roughly similar to leaf d15N of D. guianensis (around 3.5%), suggesting a preferential use of NH4 +, whereas in E. falcata, leaf d15N values were closer to root d15N-NO3 _ values (0.2 and _2.0%, respectively), suggesting a preferential use of NO3 _. These differences in N source utilization were not accompanied by differences in availability in soil NO3 _ or in intensity of microbial functions responsible for soil N mineral evolution. However, (i) under both tree species, these functions showed clear spatial partitioning, with denitrification occurring potentially in soil and nitrification in the litter layer, and (ii) E. falcata fine roots colonized the litter layer much more strongly than D. guianensis fine roots. This strongly suggests that (i) the contrasted leaf d15N values found in the two late-successional species reveal distinct N acquisition strategies and (ii) the ability of roots to predominantly exploit the litter layer (E. falcata) or the soil (D. guianensis) may constitute an important explanation of the observed differences. A complementarity between tree species, based on mineral N resource partitioning (itself resulting from a spatially structured location of the microbial functions responsible for the balance between NH4 + and NO3 - ), can thus be supposed.
ISSN: 0038-0717

hal-01032035
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01032035
DOI : 10.1016/j.soilbio.2007.09.011

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD
Résumé :   Diplôme : Master Recherche
il s'agit d'un type de produit dont les métadonnées ne correspondent pas aux métadonnées attendues dans les autres types de produit : DISSERTATION
Notre étude porte sur la caractérisation à l'échelle de l'hectare de la variabilité spatiale (1) du fonctionnement microbien du sol et (2) de sa stabilité (i.e. de sa réponse à un stress). Elle a été menée sur une forêt tropicale humide (forêt primaire) proche de Kourou en Guyane (site de Paracou). Les indicateurs fonctionnels utilisés sont les potentiels d'activités respiratoires (RP) et dénitrifiantes (OP). La variabilité spatiale du fonctionnement microbien du sol a fait l'objet d'un nombre important d'études mais très peu d'entre elles ont concerné ce type d'écosystème. Un autre aspect novateur réside dans la recherche de la variabilité spatiale de la stabilité du fonctionnement. A notre connaissance, il s'agit de la première étude de ce type en milieu tropical comme en milieu tempéré. Les principales conclusions sont les suivantes : (1) à l'échelle 10m (grille principale) les coefficients de variation (CV) des potentiels de fonction sont similaires pour les 2 processus et élevés (RP : 53% ; OP : 54%) au regard des valeurs de la littérature sur des milieux tempérés, mais RP et OP présentent des variabilités spatiales différentes à des échelles inférieures ; (2) l'utilisation d'un indice de densité locale (ID) des arbres n'a pas permis de mettre en évidence une corrélation entre les répartitions spatiales de la végétation et du fonctionnement microbien du sol. De même, aucun déterminisme clair de l'intensitè des potentiels microbiens n'a pu être dégagé par la prise en compte de la variabilité des caractéristiques physico-chimiques du sol; (3) un stress thermique génère à très court terme (résistance) un accroissement de la spatialisation du potentiel de respiration. A plus long terme, la variabilité inter-échantillons s'atténue pour retrouver ses valeurs initiales et, (4) l'activité originelle (avant stress) n'est pas corrélée avec la résistance et est négativement corrélée aux valeurs observées 15 et 30 jours après le stress. Outre son intérêt intrinsèque, cette étude vise à se doter de données de « cadrage » sur la forêt primaire (non perturbée) qui nous permettront d'accéder à de meilleures évaluations et compréhensions des mécanismes impliqués dans la réponse des écosystèmes tropicaux à l'anthropisation lors de projets en cours. Un exemple de ce type d'application est brièvement décrit.
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01189259

hal-01189259
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01189259
PRODINRA : 20250

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD
Résumé : Processes that occur within and across the oceanic crust–in particular along mid-ocean ridges and oceanic spreading centers—play a huge role in the dynamics of the Earth. The largest fluxes of heat and material between the Earth's mantle, crust, and seawater occur via magmatic, tectonic, and hydrothermal processes along oceanic spreading centers and their vast flanks. Roughly two thirds of the Earth's surface is accreted through magmatic and tectonic processes along mid-ocean ridges, and subduction of this ocean crust in turn influences mantle compositions. Exchange of elements between ocean crust and seawater strongly influences seawater compositions and leaves a geologic record of fluid-rock reactions in altered ocean crust. Some of these reactions contribute energy to microbial activity of a largely unexplored biosphere. The dynamics of ridge and ocean crustal processes therefore have enormous implications for thermal, chemical, and biological exchanges between the solid Earth and the hydrosphere.
EOS

hal-00564842
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00564842
DOI : 10.1029/2010EO150001

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD BioMed Central
Résumé : International audience
Background: Increasingly, similarity networks are being used for evolutionary analyses of molecular datasets. These networks are very useful, in particular for the analysis of gene sharing, lateral gene transfer and for the detection of distant homologs. Currently, such analyses require some computer programming skills due to the limited availability of user-friendly freely distributed software. Consequently, although appealing, the construction and analyses of these networks remain less familiar to biologists than do phylogenetic approaches. Results: In order to ease the use of similarity networks in the community of evolutionary biologists, we introduce a software program, EGN, that runs under Linux or MacOSX. EGN automates the reconstruction of gene and genome networks from nucleic and proteic sequences. EGN also implements statistics describing genetic diversity in these samples, for various user-defined thresholds of similarities. In the interest of studying the complexity of evolutionary processes affecting microbial evolution, we applied EGN to a dataset of 571,044 proteic sequences from the three domains of life and from mobile elements. We observed that, in Borrelia, plasmids play a different role than in most other eubacteria. Rather than being genetic couriers involved in lateral gene transfer, Borrelia's plasmids and their genes act as private genetic goods, that contribute to the creation of genetic diversity within their parasitic hosts. Conclusion: EGN can be used for constructing, analyzing, and mining molecular datasets in evolutionary studies. The program can help increase our knowledge of the processes through which genes from distinct sources and/or from multiple genomes co-evolve in lineages of cellular organisms.
ISSN: 1471-2148

hal-01544799
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01544799
DOI : 10.1186/1471-2148-13-146

Résumé : Les biofilms électroactifs (EA) sont des consortia bactériens mono ou pluri-espèces, qui ont la faculté d’échanger des électrons provenant de leur métabolisme avec les surfaces solides conductrices des électrodes. Cette découverte est à l’origine d’un nouveau dispositif énergétique : la pile à combustible microbienne (PACM). Depuis les années 2000, la littérature scientifique sur les biofilms EA et sur les PACM explose, notamment grâce à la découverte de bactéries capables de transférer par voie directe – par des pili ou protéines transmembranaires – des électrons vers les électrodes. Plusieurs sources de bactéries EA ont été à ce jour découvertes, allant de cultures pures à des communautés bactériennes plus complexes. Ces dernières sont issues de milieux aqueux naturels (milieux marins ou d’eau douce), industriels ou urbains (effluents d’industrie, eaux usées domestiques). La plupart de ces sources bactériennes proviennent d’environnements de climat tempéré. Dans ce travail de thèse, plusieurs sols de milieux humides de la Guyane ont été identifiés comme étant de sources de bactéries EA. Les expériences menées sous potentiel d’électrode imposé et constant ont permis d’étudier l’adhésion à la surface d’électrode des biofilms EA issus de la flore endogène des milieux sélectionnés. La formation de bioanodes et de biocathodes a été possible en présence respectivement d’acétate et d’oxygène dans les milieux. Une étude par voltammétrie cyclique a mis en évidence les pics d’oxydo-réduction en lien avec les échanges électroniques du biofilm EA et de l’électrode. En optimisant la procédure de formation des biofilms EA par chronoampérométrie (surface d’électrode plus importante, apport en continu et progressif du substrat), une densité de courant maximale de 12 A/m2 et un rendement faradique de 24 % ont été obtenus. Une autre méthode pour former des biofilms EA à partir d’un milieu choisi, la mangrove, a consisté à utiliser deux prototypes de PACM : une pile à compartiment unique et à cathode à air, et une pile benthique. Dans les deux cas, les biofilms EA ont pu être formés et étudiés, complétant certaines observations faites sous potentiel imposé. La PACM benthique s’est avérée être la plus proche d’une application à grande échelle puisqu’elle a été complètement autonome : anode et cathode utilisant uniquement le milieu pour fonctionner. Elle a pu être étudiée en laboratoire comme sur le terrain.
Electroactive biofilms (EA) are mono or multi-species bacterial consortia, which have the ability to exchange electrons from their metabolism with solid surfaces of conductive electrodes. This discovery is the basis for a device of energy production: microbial fuel cell (MFC). Since the 2000s, the scientific literature on EA biofilms and MFC explodes, thanks to the discovery of bacteria that are able to transfer directly – by pili or trans-membrane proteins – electrons to electrodes. Several sources of EA bacteria were discovered to date, ranging from pure cultures to more complex bacterial communities. Those last are from natural (marine and freshwater), industrial or urban (industrial effluents, domestic wastewater) aqueous environments. However, the vast majority of these are from temperate environments.In this thesis, several wetland soils of French Guiana have been identified as sources of EA bacteria. Experiments under poised and constant electrode potential were used to examine adherence to the electrode surface of EA biofilms from the endogenous flora of selected environments. Formation of bioanodes and biocathodes was possible in the presence respectively of acetate and oxygen in the media. A study by cyclic voltammetry showed the redox peaks related to electronic exchanges between EA biofilm and electrode. By optimizing the process of EA biofilm formation by chronoamperometry (larger electrode surface, providing continuous and progressive substrate), a maximum current density of 12 A/m2 and a coulombic efficiency of 24% were obtained.Another method to form EA biofilms from a chosen medium (mangrove) was to use two MFC prototypes: a single compartment and air cathode one, and a benthic one. In both cases, the EA biofilms have been trained and studied supplementing certain observations made under poised polarization. MFC benthic proved to be the closest to a wide application since it was completely autonomous, anode and cathode only using the medium to function. It has been studied in the laboratory and in the field.

http://www.theses.fr/2012AGUY0560/document