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Introduction
During the first
3 years of this project (1998-2000), we focused on determining the
geographical distribution of RLMO communities in Yellowstone. In 2002, we published a major paper that
described 5 RLMO communities (Spray, Shoshone, Fairy, Hillside,
and Witch - see below). For a pdf link
to this paper, click HERE. DNA comparison of these communities
revealed that the red bacteria (new members of the Chloroflexi phylum) were
not only genetically diverse but also that variation occurred in a
site-specific manner (i.e. there was one unique cluster who lived at Hillside
Spring, a different unique cluster at Fairy – and so on). This can be shown in the following diagram,
an adaptation of 2 of the figures in the 2002 paper (Fig. 1 and 2).
Adapted
Figure Legend
The
phylogenetic tree (left) compares new RLMO-derived DNA sequences with a
background “control” set of Chloroflexi members. The middle color bar schematically
illustrates the data (top to bottom):
gray = a non-photosynthetic Chloroflexi called Thermomicrobium
(control sequence/outgroup);
salmon/red = all Spray sequences; magenta/red = all Shoshone sequences; maroon/red = all Fairy sequences; red = all Witch- and Hillside
sequences. Within the Witch/Hillside
cluster is the only other known red Chloroflexi called Roseiflexus (a
control sequence, from Japan);
orange = unique orange Chloroflexi called Heliothrix (control
sequence, from Oregon); green = several representative
photosynthetic green Chloroflexi (control sequences, from various parts of
the world). The photographs (right)
show the RLMO communities (both the whole site and a mat core) where different
clusters on the tree were isolated from (top to bottom): Spray, Shoshone, Fairy, Witch, and Hillside.
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