Role and impact of anaerobic microbial processes in aquatic systems 1
1987
Blackburn, T.H. (Aarhus Univ., Aarhus C (Denmark). Dept. of Ecology and Genetics)
The penetration of oxygen into sediments is very limited, and as a result sediments are dominated by anaerobic processes, particularly when the organic loading is heavy. Increasing sediment depth is matched by processes that occur at low redox potential. A nitrate zone is followed by sulfate and methane zones, in both of which substrates are supplied to the sulfate-reducing and to the methane-producing bacteria by fermentative bacteria. It is these fermentative bacteria that are the active hydrolyzers of organic detritus. Newly isolated strains of fermentative, sulfate-reducing and methane-producing bacteria are discussed. Knowledge of the range of substrates utilized by the fermenters and the sulfate-reducers has increased greatly in recent years. The methane-producing bacteria appear to be limited in their choice of substrates. Measurement of the rates of carbon mineralization in the nitrate, sulfate, and methane zones is dicussed, followed by a short discussion on N-mineralization. The effect of benthic animals is to increase the rate of nutrient flux between sediment and overlying water.
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