Evaluation of aquatic sediment microcosm and their use in assessing possibleeffects of introduced microorganisms on ecosystem parameters

Article Abstract:

Aquatic sediment microcosms of 20 layered sediment cores were incubated and their ecosystem parameters were compared to those of the source ecosystem. Parameters for both the microcosms and the source ecosystem remained the same for two weeks but small differences were discerned by the third and fourth week. However, these differences were so small, that microcosms can serve as laboratory models for source ecosystems up to four weeks. This ability of microcosm systems to simulate conditions in a source ecosystem can be used to assess the effects of exogenous microorganisms on an aquatic environment.

User Contributions:

Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:

Comment:  (50-4000 characters)

Name:

E-mail:

Security Code:

Thermal gradient gel electrophoresis analysis of bioprotection from pollutant shocks in the activated sludge microbial community

Article Abstract:

Changes in the microbial community found in a highly-complex activates sludge ecosystem after the addition of phenols have been studied through thethermal gradient gel electrophoresis analysis of ribosomal sequences from community DNA. The introduction of phenols decreases the Shannon index of diversity from 1.13 to 0.22 indicating that the microbial community structure has been compromised. The addition of genetically-engineered Pseudomonas sp. strain B13 SN45RE protected the microbial community from further degradation while the nonengineered parental strain B13 did not offer any protection.

User Contributions:

Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:

Comment:  (50-4000 characters)

Name:

E-mail:

Security Code:

Survival and function of a genetically engineered Pseudomonad in an aquatic sediment microcosms

Article Abstract:

A genetically engineered microorganism (GEM), Pseudomonas sp. strain B13 FR1, was created via a constructed ortho cleavage pathway. This organism is capable of degrading chloro- and methylaromatics. The fate and function of of this GEM in aquatic sediments was investigated with the use of a microcosm system model. The genetically engineered Pseudomonad survived in the microcosm system for four weeks and increased the degradation rate of exogenously applied 3-chlorobenzoate and 4-methybenzoate. These results suggest that this GEM is potentially useful for bioremediation.

User Contributions:

Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:

Comment:  (50-4000 characters)

Name:

E-mail:

Security Code: