Change in community structure of sulfate-reducing bacteria in seasonally hypoxic bay sediments

To reveal the seasonal changes of SRB community structure in response to the availability of bottom water DO, we conducted a terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) analysis of dissimilatory sulfite reductase (dsrA) genes in the surface sediment of a seasonally hypoxic enclosed bay (Omura Bay) for three consecutive years. In addition, 16S ribosomal RNA gene amplicon pyrosequencing was also used to investigate bacterial communities in surface sediment. The present study examined stability of the SRB community structure and diversity at the surface sediment in relation to the availability of DO conditions in bottom water.