Direct comparison of phosphate uptake by adnate and loosely attached microalgae within an intact biofilm matrix

Journal Article · Sat Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1990 · Applied and Environmental Microbiology; (USA)

OSTI ID:6283572

Burkholder, J M; Wetzel, R G ^[1]; Klomparens, K L ^[2]

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1. Michigan State Univ., Hickory Corners (USA)
2. Michigan State Univ., East Lansing (USA)

We report a direct comparison of phosphate uptake by adnate and loosely attached microalgae in an intact biofilm matrix, with resolution at the level of individual cells. Track scanning electron microscope autoradiography enabled assay of ({sup 33}P)phosphate uptake from the overlying water by adnate algae left undisturbed on mature leaves of the macrophyte Potamogeton illinoensis or on artificial plant mimics. The epiphyte communities developed in either phosphate-poor or moderately phosphate-enriched water, and they were assayed on both natural and artificial plants. All adnate taxa examined from both natural and artificial plants in both habitats took up significantly less radiolabel when assayed beneath the overlying matrix than when they were exposed to the water upon removal of the overstory material. Track scanning electron microscope autoradiography and track light microscope autoradiography were intercalibrated to enable comparison of ({sup 33}P)phosphate uptake by adnate and loosely attached components of the epiphyte matrix. Loosley attached cells on substrata from both habitats took up significantly more radiolabel than did underlying adnate cells, indicating that access to phosphate supplies from the water depended on the position of microbial cells in the matrix. In this short-term assay, the adnate microalgae were relatively isolated from the water column nutrient source.

• OSTI ID: 6283572
• Journal Information: Applied and Environmental Microbiology; (USA), Journal Name: Applied and Environmental Microbiology; (USA) Vol. 56:9; ISSN 0099-2240; ISSN AEMID
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540120 -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
550501* -- Metabolism-- Tracer Techniques
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ALGAE
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
AUTORADIOGRAPHY
BENTHOS
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
HABITAT
ISOTOPES
LIGHT NUCLEI
METABOLISM
MICROSCOPY
NUCLEI
NUTRIENTS
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHOSPHATES
PHOSPHORUS 33
PHOSPHORUS COMPOUNDS
PHOSPHORUS ISOTOPES
PLANTS
RADIOISOTOPES
SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
UPTAKE