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Appl Environ Microbiol. 1985 August; 50(2): 315-322
Copyright © 1985, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Microbial Decomposition of Cellulose in Acidifying Lakes of South-Central Ontario

Judith F. M. Hoeniger

Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 1A8, Canada

ABSTRACT

The rate of cellulose breakdown and density of bacterial populations were measured in the epilimnetic sediments and water columns of lakes in central Ontario that differ in pH, alkalinity, and nutrient status and are particularly sensitive to acidic inputs from atmospheric decomposition. There was no significant difference in decomposition rate in either oxic or anoxic sediment when mean epilimnetic pHs were in the range 5.5 to 6.9. The importance of these findings for the breakdown of autochthonous detritus in Canadian Shield lakes is discussed. Furthermore, the results of these experiments, in which dyed strips of cellophane (regenerated cellulose) were used as substrate, were compared with results of earlier decomposition studies carried out with coarse litter (leaves, twigs). Acridine orange direct counts of bacteria in the top 1 cm of sediment ranged from 5.5 x 108 to 1.0 x 109 per g and in planktonic water samples from 1.1 x 106 to 1.8 x 106 per ml. Bacterial densities were significantly higher in both the shallow sediment (P < 0.01) and the water column (P < 0.05) of dystrophic lakes than at these sites in oligotrophic lakes.

Appl Environ Microbiol. 1985 August; 50(2): 315-322
Copyright © 1985, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Lynd, L. R., Weimer, P. J., van Zyl, W. H., Pretorius, I. S. (2002). Microbial Cellulose Utilization: Fundamentals and Biotechnology. Microbiol. Mol. Biol. Rev. 66: 506-577 [Abstract] [Full Text]  


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