Stable isotopes and biomarkers in microbial ecology

• Published in: FEMS microbiology ecology Vol. 40; no. 2; pp. 85 - 95
• Main Authors: Boschker, H.T.S., Middelburg, J.J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.05.2002; Blackwell; Oxford University Press
• Subjects: 13C labelling; 13C natural abundance; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Bacteria; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarker; Biomarkers; Ecological monitoring; Ecology; Food chains; Food webs; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gas chromatography; Gas chromatography‐combustion–isotope ratio mass spectrometry; General aspects; Isotope ratios; Isotopes; Mass spectrometry; Mass spectroscopy; Methanotrophic bacteria; Microbial ecology; Microbiology; Microorganisms; Organic matter; Phospholipid‐derived fatty acid; Stable isotope analysis; Stable isotopes; Substrates; Stable isotope analysis; Phospholipid-derived fatty acid; Biomarker; C natural abundance; Gas chromatography-combustion–isotope ratio mass spectrometry; C labelling; Isotopic analysis; Gas chromatography; Analysis method; Isotope labelling; Microbiology; Biological marker; Phospholipid; Ecology; Review; Fatty acids; Mass spectrometry
• ISSN: 0168-6496; 1574-6941; 1574-6941
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-6941.2002.tb00940.x

Abstract The use of biomarkers in combination with stable isotope analysis is a new approach in microbial ecology and a number of papers on a variety of subjects have appeared. We will first discuss the techniques for analysing stable isotopes in biomarkers, primarily gas chromatography-combustion–isotope ratio mass spectrometry, and then describe a number of applications in microbial ecology based on 13C. Natural abundance isotope ratios of biomarkers can be used to study organic matter sources utilised by microorganisms in complex ecosystems and for identifying specific groups of bacteria like methanotrophs. Addition of labelled substrates in combination with biomarker analysis enables direct identification of microbes involved in specific processes and also allows for the incorporation of bacteria into food web studies. We believe that the full potential of the technique in microbial ecology has just started to be exploited.