Individual methanogenic granules are whole-ecosystem replicates with reproducible responses to environmental cues.

Background: In this study, individual methanogenic (anaerobic), granular biofilms were used as true community replicates to assess whole-microbial-community responses to environmental cues. The aggregates were sourced from a lab-scale, engineered, biological wastewater treatment system, were size-separated, and the largest granules were individually subjected to controlled environmental cues in micro-batch reactors (μBRs).

Results: Individual granules were identical with respect to the structure of the active community based on cDNA analysis. Additionally, it was observed that the active microbial community of individual granules, at the depth of 16S rRNA gene sequencing, produced reproducible responses to environmental changes in pH, temperature, substrate, and trace-metal supplementation. We identified resilient and susceptible taxa associated with each environmental condition tested, as well as selected specialists, whose niche preferences span the entire trophic chain required for the complete anaerobic degradation of organic matter.

Conclusions: We found that single anaerobic granules can be considered highly-replicated whole-ecosystems with potential usefulness for the field of microbial ecology. Additionally, they act as the smallest whole-community unit within the meta-community of an engineered bioreactor. When subjected to various environmental cues, anaerobic granules responded reproducibly allowing for rare or unique opportunities for high-throughput studies testing whole-community responses to a wide range of environmental conditions.