Adaptation of Natural Microbial mmunities to Degradation of Xenobiotic Compounds: Effects of Concentration, Exposure Time, Inoculum, and Chemical Structure

摘要

Adaptation of microbial populations to degrade xenobiotic compounds faster after exposure to the compound was studied in eco-cores. Radiolabeled test compounds were added to cores that contained natural water and sediment samples. Adaptation was detected by comparing mineralization rates or disappearance of parent compound in pre-exposed and unexposed cores. Microbial populations in pre-exposed cores from a number of freshwater sampling sites adapted to degrade p-nitrophenol faster; populations from estuarine or marine sites did not show any increase in rates of degradation as a result of pre-exposure.