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Physiological characteristics of cyanobacteria in pulp and paper waste-treatment systems

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Abstract

An investigation was made into the physiological characteristics of the extensive cyanobacterial communities in pulp and paper secondary waste-treatment systems, including the capacity of isolates to biodegrade organic contaminants in these systems. Although pulp and paper waste-treatment systems were found to be severely light-limited, photosynthesis-irradiance curves indicated that shade-adapted cyanobacterial communities could fix conspicuous amounts of inorganic carbon via photosynthesis. Of 21 cyanobacterial strains isolated from pulp and paper waste-treatment systems located in 4 countries, all except one were capable of glucose uptake in the light, and 19 also showed uptake in the dark. In the 6 species tested, glucose and acetate addition stimulated growth in low light in all except one species. Aphanocapsa rivularis grew equally well on glucose and acetate in the dark but Pseudanabaena sp. grew well on acetate, and minimally on glucose. Growth stimulation by glucose and acetate in these two strains was greater in low than in high light. Pseudanabaena sp. and Phormidium animale both accumulated 2,4-dichlorophenol and 3-chlorobenzoate but showed minimal mineralization to CO2. None of the four species tested could accumulate or degrade phenol or dichloroacetate. It is concluded that, depending on the light conditions, cyanobacteria contribute organic carbon in photosynthesis, and/or remove small organic molecules during mixotrophic and heterotrophic growth but are not important degraders of contaminants in these waste treatment systems.

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Author notes

  1. A.E. Kirkwood

    Present address: Department of Botany, Oklahoma State University, 104 LSE, Stillwater, 74078, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Life Sciences, University of Toronto at Scarborough, 1265 Military Trail, Toronto, M1C 1A4

    A.E. Kirkwood

  2. Division of Life Sciences, University of Toronto at Scarborough, 1265 Military Trail, Toronto, M1C 1A4, Canada

    C. Nalewajko & R.R. Fulthorpe

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  1. A.E. Kirkwood
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  2. C. Nalewajko
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  3. R.R. Fulthorpe
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Kirkwood, A., Nalewajko, C. & Fulthorpe, R. Physiological characteristics of cyanobacteria in pulp and paper waste-treatment systems. Journal of Applied Phycology 15, 325–335 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1025181116714

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