Simulating the Environment with a Winogradsky Column

Ana Beatrice L. Coronel, Pamela DC. Garcia, Danielle Carmela S. Moreno and Ma.
Angelica B. Reyes
Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science
University of Santo Tomas, España Blvd., Manila

ABSTRACT
The Winogradsky column is an excellent tool that recreates an ideal microbial
environment for the study of microbial activity in soil, nutrient cycling, microbial
succession and ecology. Various variables can be incorporated and changed to compare
growth rates, microbial populations and ecological diversity. Two set-ups were done in
this experiment wherein both columns had the same content, but one was exposed to
sunlight while the other was not. Seven weeks were allotted for the observations of
changes in the layers of microbial growth.

INTRODUCTION
Microbes are abundant in the environment; thus, it is easy to make small
biospheres for them to live on. A simple and inexpensive set up was designed by Sergie
N. Winogradsky in 1880 that acted as a replica of the microbial environment. It is used to
study microbial activity in soil, nutrient cycling, microbial succession and ecology. This
excellent tool is what we call the Winogradsky column. This column is composed of a
transparent cylindrical container that is filled with few substrates such as soil or mud, and
marine or freshwater that could support microbial growth. It is a complete, self-contained
recycling system, driven only by energy from light. Sunlight is provided to promote the
growth of microorganisms. This set-up can be used to study carbon, nitrogen, sulfur,
phosphorus and other nutrients that undergo cycling between the upper aerobic zone and
the lower anaerobic zone.
Approximately, six to eight weeks was given for layers of microbial growth to be
visible. The stratification of microbial populations in the column is a result of the complex
interaction of microbes with their environment and with one another. In this activity, the
students aimed (1) to create a microbial ecosystem in which complex microbial
communities’ processes affect the surrounding environment, (2) to gain an appreciation
for the diversity of methods microorganisms use to gain energy from oxygen-producing
photosynthesis and bacterial photosynthesis, and (3) to diagram the carbon and sulfur
cycles as it occurs in a Winogradsky column.
 METHODOLOGY
Collection of soil samples
The soil sample used in this experiment was collected from a garden. Meanwhile,
the water sample used was collected from the fish pond from the UST Botanical garden.
Construction of the Winogradsky Column
A neck of a 2.0-liter water bottle was cut and the remaining part of it was used as
the base of the Winogradsky column. A mixture of pounded egg yolk, pulverized egg shell,
shredded newspaper and soil sample was transferred inside the column. It was made
sure that no mixture was left on the side. After which, a sufficient amount of pond water
was added to cover the soil mixture. It was stirred to release any trapped air bubbles
inside the soil. The column was then covered with a cling wrap and was fasten with rubber
bands to make sure that air will not get in. This set up was replicated, but instead, an
aluminum foil cover was added to ensure that no light will penetrate inside. An initial
observation was done, which was followed by a weekly observation.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Table 1. Observations with cover on
Observations Week Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6 Week 7
0
Odors Mud- Garbage- Odor was Odor Faint Faint Intense Intense
like like odor similar to smelled stench stench faint faint
smell the like stench stench
sewers feces
Color of the Light- Light-Gray Gray Mixture Grayish Grayish Grayish Grayish
soil Gray of gray black black black black
and
brown
Condensation None None None None Brown Brown Brown Brown
on plastic
cover
Crust forming None Thin layer Thicker Red- Dark Brown Brown Brown
in the bottle of red crustlayer of brown brown crust to Black to Black
red-brown crust crust crust crust
crust
Film on the None Cloudy Formation Brown Grayish Light Grayish- Grayish-
surface of the appearance of crust with brown brown black
water bubbles with bubbles with crust crust
bubbles bubbles with with
bubbles bubbles
Table 2. Observations with cover off
Observations Week Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6 Week 7
0
Odors Mud- Sewage- Sewage- Foul Foul Less Less Less
like like smell like stench stench intense intense intense
smell smell stench stench stench
Film over None Appearance Light Orange Red Red film Reddish Reddish
surface of of slimy orange film film with green green
the water mold-like film with air- with bubbles film with film with
column surface bubbles bubbles bubbles bubbles
Crust build None Light Thicker Orange Red Reddish Reddish Reddish
up in the orange orange layer orange brown brown brown
column crust layer layer layer layer layer
Macroscopic None Appearance Molds Molds Molds Molds Molds Molds
organisms of molds

Through the weeks, gradients of various nutrients should have formed in the
Winogradsky columns. These gradients influence the positioning of growth of the different
microbes within the columns. Two main categories of microbes namely Aerobic and
Anaerobic bacteria are distinguished with the use of this column. Over time more oxygen
at the top of the column is available than at the bottom. This means that microbes that
can tolerate or produce oxygen will be found at the top (aerobic bacteria). Microbes that
cannot do so will be further down (anaerobic). Similarly, microbes such as cyanobacteria
and algae, that need light to make energy will need to live where they can get light in the
column.
Different colors can help indicate which specific bacteria are present. The column
receiving light is expected to produce a green coloring indicating the presence of aerobic
eukaryal algae or aerobic cyanobacteria. On the other hand, the column covered with foil
should remain dark brown in color due to the absence of light. `

CONCLUSION
The Winogradsky column illustrates the interdependent relationship of
microorganisms with one another and with their environment. In this experiment, where
the set-up was placed in a sunny window at room temperature for 7 weeks, abundance
of different microorganisms was observed. They were seen to occupy distinct layers
where the condition favor their specific activities. Aerobic bacteria such as Cyanobacteria
occupied the upper layer while anaerobic bacteria such as Clostridium occupied the lower
layer.
REFERENCES
(n.a) (2018). Aerobic vs Anaerobic bacteria. Retrieved from
https://biologywise.com/aerobic-vs-anaerobic-bacteria on April 13, 2018.
(n.a) (n.d). Winogradsky column. Retrieved from
http://archive.bio.ed.ac.uk/jdeacon/microbes/winograd.htm on April 13, 2018