Adaptation of Aquatic Microbial Communities to Pollutant Stress

摘要

Adaptation to biodegradation of p-nitrophenol and to volatilization of Hg2+ are examples of the role the process plays in removal of environmental pollutants and in maintaining active microbial communities in impacted ecosystems. A molecular mechanism of adaptation to Hg2+ is suggested by the enrichment of mercury resistance (mer) genes in some communities upon exposure to mercury.