Microbial Community and Environmental Factors Affecting Copper Complexation in a Navy Harbor
Abstract
LONG-TERM GOAL. Our long term goal is to understand the interactions between microorganisms and trace metals in estuaries that are heavily utilized by Naval operations. We are particularly interested in the production of high-affinity, copper-complexing ligands by microbial populations in response to elevated copper concentrations. OBJECTIVES. Strong, dissolved, copper-complexing ligands are known to control copper speciation and bioavailability in most marine waters. We are testing the hypothesis that metal-responsive production of such ligands occurs in the Elizabeth River estuary, and that picoplankton and bacterioplankton produce the ligands. Recent studies utilizing cultures of marine picoplankton (Synechococcus) and bacterioplankton (Vibrio) have demonstrated that, when the cultures are exposed to elevated copper concentrations, these microbes produce copper-complexing ligands having copper-binding strengths similar to those found in marine waters. The primary objective of our study is to extend these observations to field conditions and natural assemblages of estuarine microorganisms in a Navy harbor. An additional objective is isolation and further characterization of the strong, coppercomplexing ligands produced by microbes.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 30, 1999
- Accession Number
- ADA629716
Entities
People
- Andrew S. Gordon
- John R. Donat
Organizations
- Old Dominion University