Detrital microbial community development and phosphorus dynamics in a stream ecosystem

Technical Report · Sun Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1986

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5691641· OSTI ID:5691641

Perkins, R. E.; Elwood, J. W.; Sayler, G. S.

Detrital microbial community development and phosphorus dynamics in a lotic system were investigated in non-recirculating laboratory streams contains leaf detritus. Temporal patterns of microbial colonization, as determined by scanning electron microscopy, indicate leaf species dependency and that bacteria were the first colonizers followed by fungi. An extensive glycocalyx layer developed. Phosphorus incorporation rates of both the whole community and intracellular components were determined by time-course measurements of /sup 33/PO/sub 4/ or /sup 32/PO/sub 4/. Phosphorus turnover rates were determined by a sequential double-labeling procedure using /sup 33/PO/sub 4/ and /sup 32/PO/sub 4/, in which the microbiota were labeled with /sup 33/P until in isotopic equilibrium, then /sup 32/P was added. The turnover rate was determined by time-course measurements of the ratio /sup 32/P to /sup 33/P. Snail grazing resulted in an increase in phosphorus metabolism per unit microbial biomass; however, per unit area of leaf surface no increase was observed. Grazing also caused a two-fold reduction in microbial biomass. The results indicate that microbiota associated with decomposing leaves slowly recycle phosphorus, are slowly growing, and have a low metabolic activity. The spiraling length is shortened by microbiota on a short-term basis; however, it may increase on a long-term basis due to hydrological transport of detritus downstream.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-84OR21400
• OSTI ID: 5691641
• Report Number(s): ORNL/TM-9920; ON: DE86012605
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

520101* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Basic Studies-- Radiometric Techniques-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BIODEGRADATION
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COMMUNITIES
DATA
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
DECOMPOSITION
DETRITUS
ECOSYSTEMS
ELEMENTS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
INFORMATION
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
ISOTOPES
LEAVES
LIGHT NUCLEI
MICROORGANISMS
MINERAL CYCLING
NONMETALS
NUCLEI
NUMERICAL DATA
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
ODD-ODD NUCLEI
PHOSPHORUS
PHOSPHORUS 32
PHOSPHORUS 33
PHOSPHORUS ISOTOPES
RADIOISOTOPES
STREAMS
SURFACE WATERS
TRACER TECHNIQUES