Adaptation and Resistance of Ecosystems to Stress
Abstract
This research employs naturally-derived, microbial microcosms to evaluate the ability of aquatic communities to adapt to stress. A series of laboratory toxicity tests have been conducted examining structural and functional responses of microbial communities to a sequence of stresses. Tentative conclusions from early research suggest that there is no detectable acclimation at the community level after low level cadmium exposure. More severe stress appears to be necessary to produce detectable increases in tolerance to subsequent stress. Acclimation was observed for net daily metabolism of communities developed in zinc and subsequently exposed to zinc, for gross primary production and respiration in communities colonized in zinc and then exposed to cadmium, and for species richness of communities colonized in zinc and then explosed to acidic pH.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 30, 1989
- Accession Number
- ADA212999
Entities
People
- B. R. Niederlehner
- John Cairns Jr.
Organizations
- Virginia Tech