Effects of simulated acid rain on the cyanobacterial diazotroph Tolypothrix sp

Thesis/Dissertation · Fri Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1982

OSTI ID:5929252

Olsen, E W

This study consisted of four experiments. 1) Tolypothrix was incubated in aqueous HSO/sub 3//sup -/ solutions at concentrations 0-10 ppm adjusted to pH 7.2 to 3.0 with H/sub 2/SO/sub 4/. The effects on nitrogen (C/sub 2/H/sub 2/) fixation, net photosynthesis and respiration were measured. 2) Tolypothrix was grown for seven days in liquid culture adjusted to pH 6.5-4.0 with either HNO/sub 3/ or H/sub 2/SO/sub 4/. The effects on nitrogen (C/sub 2/H/sub 2/) fixation, net photosynthesis, respiration, growth rate, chlorophyll a, and phycocyanin were determined. 3) Soils were inoculated with Tolypothrix and sprayed with dilute medium adjusted to pH 6.0-2.0 with either HNO/sub 3/ or H/sub 2/SO/sub 4/. The effects on nitrogen (C/sub 2/H/sub 2/) fixation and chlorophyll a were measured. 4) Agropyron smithii seeds were planted in Tolypothrix-inoculated and noninoculated soils. Germination rates, biomass and nitrogen content of the grass were measured. Nitrogen (C/sub 2/H/sub 2/) fixation was the most sensitive parameter to changes in pH and HSO/sub 3//sup -/ concentration. Net photosynthesis and respiration were less sensitive. However, there was no measureable O/sub 2/ evolution or consumption at pH 4.0 and pH 3.0. Nitrogen (C/sub 2/H/sub 2/) fixation rates declined over the 7-day incubation period at all pHs, going to zero at pH 5.0 and 4.5, as did net photosynthesis. Whereas, respiration rates remained fairly constant at pH 6.0 and increased over time at pH 5.5 and below. Tolypothrix exhibited the typical logarithmic growth curve only at pH 6.0 and pH 5.5 at pH 5.0 and pH 5.5 the optical density of the cultures remained constant during the seven-day period.

• OSTI ID: 5929252
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560302* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Microorganisms-- (-1987)
560303 -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Plants-- (-1987)
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ACID RAIN
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHLOROPHYLL
CYANOBACTERIA
GRASS
GROWTH
HETEROCYCLIC ACIDS
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INORGANIC ACIDS
MICROORGANISMS
NITRIC ACID
NITROGEN FIXATION
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
PH VALUE
PHOTOCHEMICAL REACTIONS
PHOTOSYNTHESIS
PHYTOCHROMES
PIGMENTS
PLANT GROWTH
PLANTS
PORPHYRINS
RAIN
RESPIRATION
SIMULATION
SOILS
SULFURIC ACID
SYNTHESIS
TOXICITY