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Adaptation of aquatic microbial communities to Hg/sup 2 +/ stress

Journal Article · · Appl. Environ. Microbiol.; (United States)
OSTI ID:5379568
The mechanism of adaptation to Hg/sup 2 +/ in four aquatic habitats was studied by correlating microbially mediated Hg/sup 2 +/ volatilization with the adaptive state of the exposed communities. Community diversity, heterotrophic activity, and Hg/sup 2 +/ resistance measurements indicated that adaptation of all four communities was stimulated by preexposure to Hg/sup 2 +/. In saline water communities, adaptation was associated with rapid volatilization after an initial lag period. This mechanism, however, did not promote adaptation in a freshwater sample, in which Hg/sup 2 +/ was volatilized slowly, regardless of the resistance level of the microbial community. Distribution of the mer operon among representative colonies of the communities was not related to adaptation to Hg/sup 2 +/. Thus, although volatilization enabled some microbial communities to sustain their functions in Hg/sup 2 +/-stressed environments, it was not mediated by the genes that serve as a model system in Molecular studies of bacterial resistance to mercurials.
Research Organization:
Environmental Protection Agency, Gulf Breeze, FL
OSTI ID:
5379568
Journal Information:
Appl. Environ. Microbiol.; (United States), Journal Name: Appl. Environ. Microbiol.; (United States) Vol. 53:12; ISSN AEMID
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English