ISSN:
1432-0991
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract The effects of sunlight and the indigenous microbiota onEscherichia coli survival were examined with membrane diffusion chambers deployed in Chesapeake Bay shellfish growing waters. Chambers, fitted with an “upper” UV and visible light-transmitting copolymer film and “lower” semipermeable polycarbonate membrane, were deployed parallel to the water surface to maximize light exposure. Maximum values of a coefficient, kdens, describing changes in culturable cell densities after exposure to sunlight, were 1.7 h−1 and 0.7 h−1 in preliminary tank and in situ experiments, respectively. Mortality and sublethal stress, the latter measured with an electrochemical detection technique, were largest during the first 4 h of exposure. Owing to the light-attenuating properties of Chesapeake Bay water, light-induced cell mortality was significantly reduced at 0.25 m compared with surface exposed cells, and was undetected at 0.5–1.0 m except during seasons of maximal light penetration. Combined exposure to both sunlight and the autochthonous microbiota yielded significantly greater mortality than for either factor alone.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF02090102
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