Epilithic bacteria in an acid and a calcareous headstream

SUMMARY. 1. Environmental variables and epilithic bacteria on small stones were monitored during summer and winter in Burbage Brook and the River Lathkill, two headstreams in the Derbyshire Peak District.
2. Burbage Brook was usually near-neutral in summer, but acid in winter; the River Lathkill was circumneutral throughout the year.
3. In summer, epilithic bacteria showed few between-stream differences. In winter, however, total bacteria, colony-forming units, per cent chromogenic colony-forming units, per cent viable bacteria, V_max for glucose mineralization and V_max/bacterium were all significantly less in the acid Burbage Brook.
4. Inhibition of epilithic bacteria in Burbage Brook was also observed when pH fell to a low level during a summer spate.
5. Multiple-regression analysis confirmed that epilithic bacteria were less successful at low pH but also suggested that pH was not the only environmental variable to influence epilithic bacteria. Especially notable were positive relationships with density of epilithic chlorophyll a and temperature in Burbage Brook and with chlorophyll a in the River Lathkill.     

Downstream increase in the abundance and heterotrophic activity of suspended bacteria in an intermittent calcareous headstream

SUMMARY. 1. Concentration of total bacteria, and heterotrophic activity (as turnover rate for glucose assimilation), in the water of an intermittent spring-fed calcareous headstream, increased with distance from the source to 1600 m.
2. This increase was gradual rather than stepwise and might be due to release of bacteria from submerged vegetation and the stream bed, and to input of terrestrial bacteria with groundwater.
3. The increment per unit length of stream was greatest in summer when aquatic vegetation was most abundant and discharge was low.
4. When the stream was partly dry, isolated peaks of suspended bacteria occurred and there was no regular downstream increase.
5. A lesser spring which upwelled into a natural basin consistently contained more suspended bacteria than the principal source, which was an artificial culvert.     

Seasonal variation in the abundance and heterotrophic activity of suspended bacteria in two lowland rivers

SUMMARY. 1. Water samples were collected over two years from the Yorkshire Ouse and Yorkshire Derwent and the following were measured: (i) concentration of directly-counted bacteria (free-living and particle-bound), (ii) concentration of colony-forming units, (iii) bacterial heterotrophic activity (turnover rate for glucose assimilation), (iv) specific activity (turnover rate per bacterium), (v) a range of environmental variables.
2. The abundance and activity of suspended bacteria showed similar seasonal periodicities in both rivers.
3. Free-living bacteria were usually more numerous than particle-bound bacteria; low concentration of free-living bacteria and maxima of particle-bound bacteria usually occurred in winter.
4. Concentration of colony-forming units varied irregularly, but lowest levels were found in summer.
5. Turnover rate and turnover rate per bacterium showed distinct summer maxima.
6. Multiple-regression analysis was used to relate bacterial variables to subsets (chosen by factor analysis) of environmental variables; up to 89% of variation in bacterial variables was related to the combined effects of variation by variables in the chosen subsets.     

Quantitative observations on the ability of epiphytic bacteria to contribute to the populations of suspended bacteria in two dissimilar headstreams

SUMMARY. 1. Concentration of suspended bacteria in a calcareous headstream increased linearly from the source to 48 m; this indicated a diffuse origin of bacteria.
2. Drift loss of suspended bacteria and glucose-mineralization capacity from this length of stream were measured, and estimates were also made of the total number and glucose-mineralization capacity of epiphytic bacteria associated with the luxuriant submerged aquatic vegetation.
3. Mean drift loss per day represented 11–12% of total epiphytic bacteria and 8–18% of epiphyte glucose-mineralization capacity, hence the epiphytic population should be well able to sustain the observed downstream losses.
4. In a 90 m length of a contrasting acid, granitic, headstream, in which submerged vegetation was principally a leafy liverwort, there was no downstream change in concentration of suspended bacteria.
5. A substantial population of epiphytic bacteria was found in the acid stream, sufficient for only a 1–2% daily release to produce a doubling in concentration of suspended bacteria; reasons are suggested for the apparent non-release of epiphytes.     

Relations between suspended bacteria, epiphytic bacteria and submerged vegetation over the spring growing season in a calcareous headstream

SUMMARY. 1. Quantitative observations on suspended bacteria, epiphytic bacteria and submerged vegetation, in a calcareous headstream in North Humberside, were made at regular intervals from January to June 1984.
2. Downstream increase in concentration of suspended bacteria was observed along a 135 m richly-vegetated section but not over a 150 m vegetation-free section, hence there was measurable drift loss of bacteria only from within the vegetated section.
3. The total number of epiphytic bacteria within the vegetated section was estimated from the density of epiphytic bacteria per unit dry weight of submerged vegetation and the total dry weight of submerged vegetation.
4. The total number of epiphytic baeteria within the vegetated section decreased frtim 2.5 × 10¹⁵ in January to 0.8 × l0¹⁵ March before increasing to 4.7 × 10¹⁵ by June. This pattern was related to deerease and subsequent increase in density of epiphytic bacteria per unit dry weight of vegetation. The total dry weight of submerged vegetation inereased throughout the study period.
5. The daily drift loss of bacteria from the vegetated section averaged 53% (range 9–132%) of the total epiphytic bacteria, a loss rate which might reasonably be supported by the epiphyte population.
6. The dimensions and volume of suspended bacteria increased, between the source and the downstream limit of the vegetated section, to resemble those of epiphytic bacteria.
7. The results suggested that released epiphytic bacteria might largely be the source of suspended bacteria in this headstream.     

V max per bacterium and turnover rate per bacterium for glucose mineralization in natural waters

Specific activity of aquatic bacteria, which indicates average heterotrophic activity per bacterial cell, was determined asV _max per bacterium and turnover rate per bacterium for glucose mineralization at different sites (river and estuary) in north Humberside, northeast England.V _max per bacterium ranged from 0.05×10⁻¹³ to 52.2×10⁻¹³ mg/h and turnover rate per bacterium from 0.05×10⁻⁸ to 88.3×10⁻⁸ ml/h. Highest mean values were found at river sites and the lowest at an outer estuary site, although there was considerable variation at each site and ranges from all sites overlapped. Also, ranges ofV _max per bacterium from Humberside sites in general overlapped published ranges for sites in other geographical areas.V _max per bacterium and turnover rate per bacterium were significantly correlated with some environmental variables, which suggests that they are of ecological significance.     

Population dynamics and feeding of mayfly larvae in some acid and alkaline New Zealand streams

SUMMARY. 1. Population dynamics (density, biomass, annual production), gut contents and feeding rates of mayflies ( Deleatidium spp.; Leptophlebiidae) were compared in two naturally acid (mean pH≃4.8). brownwater streams and two alkaline (mean pH 7.5), clearwater streams in South Westland, New Zealand.
2. Mean densities of larvae (range 234–2318 m⁻²) were higher in alkaline streams on most of the six bimonthly sampling dates. Mean biomass (range 0.020–0.376 g larval dry weight (LDW) m⁻²) was always highest at the stable, spring-fed, alkaline site and was lower at the acid sites and another alkaline site where the population was always dominated by small larvae.
3. Annual production was high at the more stable, alkaline site (10.35 gLDW m⁻²) but much lower at the other sites (2.49–3.77 g m⁻²).
4. Gut contents of larvae were dominated by fine (45–75 μm widest diameter) paniculate matter (69–99%), diatoms (up to 21%) and. at one site, filamentous algae (8–13%).
5. Grazing rates of mayflies on epilithon were significantly higher on stones taken from acid than alkaline streams and material grazed from the former contained a higher proportion of inorganic material (87–93% and 61–83% inorganics, respectively).
6. Higher grazing rates may reflect lower quality of epilithic food in acid, brownwater streams, a factor that could contribute to the lower productivity of Deleatidium populations at these sites.     

Heterotrophic activity and biodegradation of labile and refractory compounds by groundwater and stream microbial populations.

The bacteriology and heterotrophic activity of a stream and of nearby groundwater in Marmot Basin, Alberta, Canada, were studied. Acridine orange direct counts indicated that bacterial populations in the groundwater were greater than in the stream. Bacteria that were isolated from the groundwater were similar to species associated with soils. Utilization of labile dissolved organic material as measured by the heterotrophic potential technique with glutamic acid, phenylalanine, and glycolic acid as substrates was generally greater in the groundwater. In addition, specific activity indices for the populations suggested greater metabolic activity per bacterium in the groundwater. 14C-labeled lignocellulose, preferentially labeled in the lignin fraction by feeding Picea engelmannii [14C]phenylalanine, was mineralized by microorganisms in both the groundwater and the stream, but no more than 4% of the added radioactivity was lost as 14CO2 within 960 h. Up to 20% of [3'-14C]cinnamic acid was mineralized by microorganisms in both environments within 500 h. Both microbial populations appear to influence the levels of labile and recalcitrant dissolved organic material in mountain streams.     

A note on the attachment rate of suspended bacteria to submerged aquatic plants in a calcareous stream

The density of epiphytic bacteria on leaflets of laboratory-grown Apium nodiflorum , immersed in calcareous stream water, increased linearly with time over 10 h, both in the laboratory and in the field. This increase was probably due to attachment of suspended bacteria. The rate of attachment to leaflets of plants, immersed in a stream at different concentrations of suspended bacteria, was linearly related to the concentration of suspended bacteria. The attachment rate, relative to concentration, was 1.7 × 10⁴ bacteria/cm²/h for each 10⁵ bacteria/ml in the surrounding water.     

Genetic differentiation in Plantago major: Ca2+- and Mg2+-stimulated ATPases from roots and their role in phenotypic adaptation

The Mg²⁺- and Ca²⁺-stimulated ATPase activities of the microsomal fractions of the roots of four inbred lines of Plantago major L. were followed at two levels of mineral nutrition. In addition the response of a transfer of plants from one condition to the other was studied. Kinetic properties of the ATPases (K_m and V_max) were calculated and used to differentiate between genetic differences among the inbred lines and the plasticity within each inbred line. The V_max values of the ATPase activity differed significantly between the lines and were directly related to seed number per capsule (low V_max→ 11 seeds per capsule, high V_max→ 33 seeds per capsule). In addition, the V_max values of the ATPase acitivty may be related to ecological strategy. Plasticity of enzyme activity is expressed in differences in the V_max values of the ATPase activity, as a response to nutritional level or changes of the strength of the nutrient solution. Differences in this plasticity in the four selected lines and in rapidity of response to a change in mineral nutrition were directly related to the ecological strategy. These results are discussed in relation to the strategy of the genotypes for survival in the field. The presence of plasticity in line 4 (ssp. pleiospema ) makes this genotype behave like an annual plant, following a ruderal strategy. The absence of plasticity in line 1 (ssp. major ) fits a more competitive strategy.     

Seasonality and spatial variation in abundance, biomass and activity of heterotrophic bacterioplankton in relation to some biotic and abiotic variables in an Ethiopian rift-valley lake (Awassa)

SUMMARY. I. Seasonality and spatial variation in abundance, biomass and activity of heterotrophic bacterioplankton was studied in a tropical freshwater lake. Variation in phytoplankton biomass and production, and several other limnological parameters, were also quantified.
2. Bacterial number and biomass fluctuated between 3.88–8.33×10⁶ ml⁻¹ and 68–125 mg C m⁻³, respectively. No spatial variation was observed in these bacterial variables, although other limnological parameters showed vertical variation.
3. Seasonal and vertical variation of heterotrophic bacterial activity were estimated from oxygen consumption, ¹⁴CO₂dark uptake and plate counts of colony forming units. All three methods showed vertical heterogeneity, with higher activity in the hypolimnion during the long stratification period (February May). Oxygen consumption rate and plate counts showed seasonality.
4. In spite of the low seasonality of climate in the tropics, several biological, chemical and physical variables were correlated with changes in bacterial variables. Wind and rainfall, and their effects on stratification and mixing, vertical distribution of nutrients and rate of primary production appeared to be the important parameters affecting heterotrophic bacterioplankton.     

Microbial utilization of lipids in lake water

Abstract: This report evaluates the importance of lipids as a source of substrates for metabolism of heterotrophic bacteria based on measurements of uptake of [³H]palmitic acid and lipase activity in lakes of differing degrees of eutrophication. The highest rates of utilization of lipids by bacteria (i.e. specific and actual rates of uptake of [³H]palmitic acid and specific lipase activity) were observed in pelagic water of mesotrophic lake where the highest concentration and the shortest turnover time of natural pool of palmitic acid was found. Lipids in highly eutrophicated lakes were less important for metabolism of aquatic bacterial communities. Lipid content in lake water depended on species composition of plankton in the studied lakes.     

Size of Suspended Bacterial Cells and Association of Heterotrophic Activity with Size Fractions of Particles in Estuarine and Coastal Waters

The size of bacteria and the size distribution of heterotrophic activity were examined in estuarine, neritic, and coastal waters. The data indicated the small size of suspended marine bacteria and the predominance of free-living cells in numerical abundance and in the incorporation of dissolved amino acids. The average per-cell volume of suspended marine bacteria in all environments was less than 0.1 μm³. Cell volume ranged from 0.072 to 0.096 μm³ at salinities of 0 to 34.3‰ in the Newport River estuary, N.C., and from 0.078 to 0.096 μm³ in diverse areas of the Gulf of Mexico. Thus, the free-living bacteria were too small to be susceptible to predation by copepods. In the Newport River estuary, ca. 93 to 99% of the total number of cells and 75 to 97% of incorporated tritium (from ³H-labeled mixed amino acids) retained by a 0.2-μm-pore-size filter passed through a 3.0-μm-pore-size filter. Although the amino acid turnover rate per cell was higher for the bacteria in the >3.0-μm size fraction than in the <3.0-μm size fraction, the small number of bacteria associated with the >3.0-μm size particles resulted in the low relative contribution of attached bacteria to total heterotrophic activity in the estuary. For coastal and neritic samples, collected off the coast of Georgia and northeast Florida and in the plume of the Mississippi River, 56 to 98% of incorporated label passed through a 3.0-μm-pore-size filter. The greatest activity in the >3.0-μm fraction in the Georgia Bight was at nearshore stations and in the bottom samples. Our data were consistent with the hypothesis that resuspension of bottom material is an important factor in influencing the proportion of heterotrophic activity attributable to particle-associated bacteria.     

The metabolism of organic matter in the hyporheic zone of a mountain stream, and its spatial distribution

Community respiration in hyporheic sediments (HCR) was studied in a characteristic riffle-pool-sequence of a mountain stream. HCR activity at the riffle site strongly exceeded that at the corresponding pool site with a mean ratio of 5.3. The vertical distribution of HCR activity was homogeneous in the pool, while there was a distinct maximum in the uppermost layer in the riffle. Similarly, the spatial distribution of certain fractions of particulate organic matter (POM), and their turnover, was largely determined by stream morphology. Mean annual HCR per unit area of stream bed was estimated as 1.71 g O₂ m⁻² d⁻¹. Hence, HCR contributes significantly to total heterotrophic activity in streams, thus enhancing the relative importance of heterotrophic processes in running waters containing hyporheic zones.     

Effect of primary producers on the heterotrophic metabolism of a stream biofilm

1. ,The influence of benthic algae on heterotrophic metabolism in a forested Mediterranean stream was investigated. Bacterial density and ectoenzymatic activities, as well as algal biomass (chlorophyll- a ) and metabolism (the rate of ¹⁴C incorporation), were measured during colonization over 60 days of artificial substrata (clay tiles) under light and dark conditions.
2. ,Chlorophyll- a and the rate of ¹⁴C incorporation were significantly higher in light-grown than in dark-grown biofilms. Bacterial density and ectoenzymatic activity (especially β-glucosidase) were also significantly higher in light-grown biofilms.
3. ,Regressions of chlorophyll- a and ¹⁴C incorporation values on the ectoenzymatic activities were significant. The slopes of regression lines obtained for dark-grown biofilms were significantly higher than those obtained for light -grown biofilms.
4. ,The differences in the slope (of the regression lines) between dark and light-grown biofilms suggest that the response of the heterotrophs is faster in biofilms with low algal biomass accrual and slows down when algal biomass is increased.
5. ,It is concluded that algal accumulation in the epilithic biofilm influences the use of organic matter by the heterotrophic community by increasing the amount of organic substrate available for bacteria.     

Breakdown of tussock grass in streams along a gradient of agricultural development in New Zealand

Summary 1. We measured the breakdown rate of tussock grass in 12 New Zealand streams in catchments that provided a gradient of agricultural development. We also examined the microbial and invertebrate communities associated with decomposing tussock litter.
2. Pristine streams in the study had low concentrations of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (<10  μ g L⁻¹) and dissolved reactive phosphate (<3  μ g L⁻¹), whereas streams in the most developed catchments had high concentrations of nitrate (>2500  μ g L⁻¹) and phosphate (35  μ g L⁻¹), as well as greater amounts of suspended sediment and fine sediment covering the streambed.
3. Breakdown rate and microbial respiration were significantly related across the sites, and both were positively related to concentrations of nitrate and phosphate. Fungal biomass, measured as ergosterol, was positively related to microbial respiration and was also higher at sites with higher concentrations of nutrients. Total and shredding invertebrates were most abundant at the sites with high nutrient concentrations, but abundance of shredding invertebrates was not significantly related to breakdown rate. Amphipods were the most common shredding invertebrate at most sites, but probably did not contribute greatly to high rates of breakdown in streams in agricultural catchments.
4. With the exception of one site, nutrients from agricultural development appeared to have larger positive effects on litter breakdown than negative effects from sedimentation. Litter breakdown can serve as a functional measure of ecosystem health in streams, but caution should be exercised when a stress, such as land use, can have both positive (nutrients) and negative (sedimentation) effects.     

Root Morphology and Zn^2＋ Uptake Kinetics of the Zn Hyperaccumulator of Sedum alfredii Hance

Root morphology and Zn^2＋ uptake kinetics of the hyperaccumulating ecotype （HE） and nonhyperaccumulating ecotype （NHE） of Sedum alfredii Hance were investigated using hydroponic methods and the radiotracer flux technique. The results indicate that root length, root surface area, and root volume of NHE decreased significantly with increasing Zn^2＋ concentration in growth media, whereas the root growth of HE was not adversely affected, and was even promoted, by 500μmol/L Zn^2＋. The concentrations of Zn^2＋ in both ecotypes of S. alfredii were positively correlated with root length, root surface area and root volumes, but no such correlation was found for root diameter. The uptake kinetics for ^65Zn^2＋ in roots of both ecotypes of S. alfredii were characterized by a rapid linear phase during the first 6 h and a slower linear phase during the subsequent period of investigation. The concentration-dependent uptake kinetics of the two ecotypes of S. alfredii could be characterized by the Michaelis-Menten equation, with the Vmax for ^65Zn^2＋ influx being threefold greater in HE compared with NHE, indicating that enhanced absorption into the root was one of the mechanisms involved in Zn hyperaccumulation. A significantly larger Vmax value suggested that there was a higher density of Zn transporters per unit membrane area in HE roots.     

The influence of copper exposure on predator-prey interactions in aquatic insect communities

SUMMARY. 1. Vulnerability of two species of net-spinning caddisflies (Chimarra sp. and Hydropsyche morosa) to predation by the stonefly, Paragnetina media , was significantly greater in experimental streams dosed with copper (target concentration=6 μg 1^-1) than in control streams.
2. Results of stomach analyses showed that Hydropsychidae was the major component of stonefly diets in experimental streams and that the number of Hydropsychidae per stonefly gut was significantly greater in dosed streams than controls.
3. Since these results could not be predicted using single species bioassays, we suggest that such simple tests be supplemented with more environmentally realistic procedures that account for species interactions.     

Non-toxic isolates of Bacillus thuringiensis producing parasporal inclusions with unusual protein components

Glucose mineralization rate by epilithon from some (calcareous) streams increased with increase in added glucose concentration and a straight line relationship was established. With epilithon from other (acid) streams, saturation was achieved hence V _max could be estimated by incubation at a single substrate concentration.     

Microbial growth and detritus transformations during decomposition of leaf litter in a stream

SUMMARY. 1. Despite the widely accepted importance of bacteria and fungi in degrading detritus in aquatic ecosystems there is still very little quantitative information on the abundance and dynamics of these microorganisms. Using epifluorescent microscopy, we measured the biomass of bacteria and fungi during decomposition of three types of leaf detritus. Bacterial production was determined from the rate of incorporation of ³H-thymidine into DNA.
2. The transformation of leaf carbon into dissolved organic carbon and fine particulate organic carbon was followed in order to compare the amounts of leaf material that were converted into these 'end-products' of decomposition versus the amount converted into microbial biomass.
3. The amount of microbial carbon in the leaf-detritus complex never exceeded 5.2% of the total carbon, and fungal biomass was always much greater than bacterial biomass. Despite the greater standing stock of fungi, the rapid turnover of bacteria (doubling about once per day) implies that their role in degrading leaf litter or as a food source for detritivores might be as great as for fungi.
4. Removal of microbial biomass from leaf litter may occur as release of fungal spores and consumption or shedding of bacterial biomass. Fungal spores can be a significant part of the fine particulate organic carbon released from leaf detritus and potentially represent an important food resource for filter-feeding organisms.