Surface sediments from Hg contaminated streams Targeted Locus (Loci). uncultured bacterium

The potential effects of the surface water contamination on the microbial community composition in surface stream sediments were determined. Significant correlations were found between the bacterial community and seasonal as well as geochemical factors. The community members within the Proteobacteria phylum that includes sulfate-reducing bacteria and within the Verrucomicrobia phylum showed positive correlation with Hg and MeHg suggesting possible roles of these bacteria in the Hg/MeHg cycle. The streams were located in the Department of Energy reservation in Oak Ridge, TN. They exibit high concentrations of uranium, inorganic mercury [Hg(II)], and methylmercury (MeHg).