Isolation and Characterization of Copper Tolerant Microorganisms in the Sediment of Sherwood Millpond, Westport, Connecticut
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Authors
John, John K.
Issue Date
1986-08-25
Type
Thesis
Language
en_US
Keywords
Alcaligenes , Bacillus , Freshwater pond , Klebsiella , Microorganism , Pseudomonas , Sediment
Alternative Title
Abstract
The sediment of a freshwater pond (Sherwood Millpond) was examined for copper content and for the presence of microorganisms tolerant to copper. An enrichment culture technique was employed to isolate copper tolerant microorganisms. Distribution of copper in the sediment core was proportional to the organic matter found in the sediment. A maximum of 78 ug Cu/g of sediment was measured at a depth of 23 cm where the organic matter concentration was 45 mg/g of sediment. A number of microorganisms tolerant to copper were isolated from the surface core of the sediment. They included species of Alcaligenes, Bacillus, Pseudomonas, and Klebsiella. Of these, one isolate (identified as Alcaligenes sp.) appeared to be tolerant to Cu+2 concentrations up to 1 M. The ability of this isolate to complex metal ions with its cellular constituents allowed adsorption and subsequent detoxification of metal ions. The site of adsorption of Cu+2 was thought to be outside the cell due to an increase in the size of the cell. The pH of the medium increased proportionally with bacterial growth which in turn enhanced Cu+2 adsorption. These findings suggest that the presence of copper tolerant microorganisms in metal-laden sediment reduces the toxicity of copper to other microorganisms. The role these copper tolerant microorganisms play may be that of a buffer, stabilizing metal concentrations for other less tolerant microorganisms.
Description
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Citation
J.K. John, "Isolation and Characterization of Copper Tolerant Microorganisms in the Sediment of Sherwood Millpond, Westport, Connecticut", Thesis, School of Arts & Sciences, Univ. of Bridgeport, Bridgeport, CT, 1986.