Bacterial community structure and the effects of several environmental factors on bacterial community distribution were investigated in the sediment of the macrophyte-dominated and algae-dominated areas in a large, shallow, eutrophic freshwater lake (Lake Taihu, China). Surface sediment samples were collected at 6 sampling sites (3 sites from each of the 2 areas) on 15 February and 15 August 2009. Based on cluster analysis of the DGGE banding patterns, there were significant seasonal variations in the structure of the sediment bacterial community in the macrophyte- and algae-dominated areas, and site-specific variation within an area and between 2 areas. However, there were no significant between-area variations due to the large within-area variation. Analysis of DNA sequences showed that there were differences in the species composition of the sediment bacteria between the macrophyte- and algae-dominated area clone libraries. In the macrophyte-dominated area library, the bacterial community was dominated by Deltaproteobacteria, Verrucomicrobia, Acidobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Gammaproteobacteria, and Betaproteobacteria. OP10 was found in the library of this area but not in the algae-dominated area library. The algae-dominated area library was dominated by Betaproteobacteria, Deltaproteobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria, and Acidobacteria. Cyanobacteria, Alphaproteobacteria, and Planctomycetes were found in this area library but not in the macrophyte-dominated area library. Canonical correspondence analysis demonstrated that total phosphorus and water temperature were the dominant environmental factors affecting bacterial community composition in the sediment.

The effect of decomposition of Microcystis blooms on the sediment bacterial communities was investigated in a 14-day mesocosm experiments under dark and anoxic condition with three differing levels of Microcystis spp. biomass (from 20 to 2000 µg L(-1)) as measured by chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) concentration in the water column. Sediment samples were collected on days 0 and 14 for bacterial community composition (BCC) analysis, based on rapid decreases in the Chl-a concentration of water column. The BCC was determined by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and sequencing of predominant bands. The results showed that after Microcystis decomposition (day 14), the bacterial phylotype diversity in the sediment increased in enclosures with added Microcystis, and the relative abundance of bacteria affiliated with Bacteroidetes and Verrucomicrobia strongly increased. Canonical correspondence analysis showed that organic matter and Chl-a contributed significantly to the changes in sediment bacterial communities during Microcystis decomposition. The present results demonstrate Microcystis decomposition may directly and indirectly influence the BCC of the sediment.