Metabolic changes associated with biofilm formation in an undisturbed Mediterranean stream
✍ Scribed by Sergi Sabater; Anna M. Romaní
- Publisher
- Springer
- Year
- 1996
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 636 KB
- Volume
- 335
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 1573-5141
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✦ Synopsis
Respiratory activity (ETS), ectoenzymatic activity (/3-glucosidase and 13-xylosidase) and photosynthetic 14 Cbicarbonate incorporation in the biofilm were measured in a shaded stream during a colonization sequence (43 days) on artificial substrates (unglazed clay tiles) and compared with older (aged) tiles . In the first five days bacterial densities and ectoenzyme activities showed a sharp increase . After two weeks, algal density, chlorophyll and productivity increased moderately . Chlorophyll did not reach similar values to those of the aged biofilms until the last day of colonization . Photosynthetic activity seemed to be relevant to the heterotrophs metabolism during substrate colonization, as could be deduced from the significant correlation between Q-glucosidase and 14 C-bicarbonate incorporation, algal cell densities and chlorophyll . Respiratory activity (ETS) decreased in the older biofilms, accordingly to their higher algal and bacterial density . Younger biofilms (up to 8 days old) showed higher ETS activity per cell, indicating a fast response of microorganisms to substrate availability .