The impact of industrial contamination on microbial chlorobenzoate degradation in the Niagara watershed

• Published in: Microbial ecology Vol. 33; no. 1; pp. 59 - 68
• Main Authors: Peel, M. C., R. C. Wyndham
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Springer-Verlag New York Inc 1997; Springer
• Subjects: Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied ecology; Bacteria; Batch cell culture techniques; biodegradacion; biodegradation; Biodegradation of pollutants; Biological and medical sciences; Biotechnology; contaminantes; Creeks; Cultural enrichment; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Environment and pollution; Fresh water environment; Freshwater; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Groundwater; Industrial applications and implications. Economical aspects; Isomers; polluant; pollutants; pollution de l' eau; polucion del agua; Sediments; Streams; water pollution; Water samples; Watersheds; Canada; North America; Ontario; America; USA, New York, Niagara R; Canada, Ontario; North America, Niagara R; Biodegradation; Freshwater environment; Microbial activity; Pollutant; Ecotoxicology; Seasonal variation; Bacteria; Aromatic compound; Water pollution; Metabolism; Microbial community; Chemical contamination
• ISSN: 0095-3628; 1432-184X
• DOI: 10.1007/s002489900008

The ability of the indigenous microbial community from three streams in the Niagara River watershed to degrade chlorobenzoate congeners was studied over a two-year period using culture enrichment techniques. Sediment enrichments from Bloody Run Creek and Devil's Hole Creek, which were shown to be contaminated by groundwater run-off from the Hyde Park chemical landfill site, consistently showed a higher frequency of complete microbial degradation of 3-chloro-, 4-chloro-, and 3,4-dichlorobenzoate when compared to enrichments from control samples of Fish Creek, a tributary that is not effected by Hyde Park. The isomer showing the most frequent degradation in all sediment enrichments was 4-chlorobenzoate. Seasonal variations were observed for 3-chlorobenzoate degradation, only. Year-to-year variations in microbial chlorobenzoate degradation were noted for 4-chloro- and 3,4-dichlorobenzoate enrichments. Although 4 degrees C batch culture enrichments consistently showed less frequent degradation of chlorobenzoates during all seasons sampled, some sites showed complete degradation at this temperature. This suggests that the culturable microbial consortia responsible for chlorobenzoate degradation include facultative psychrophiles. Phosphorous nutrient limitations in all streams limited the microbial degradation potential in situ.