THE TEMPERATURE-GROWTH RATE RELATIONSHIPS OF AEROBIC HETEROTROPHIC BACTERIA ISOLATED FROM A SILT-LADEN IMPOUNDMENT

Abstract

The temperature-growth rate responses of bacterial isolates from Wuras Darn, a silt-laden, highly turbid impoundment were described well by Arrhenius equations. Activation energies varied from 10, 15 to 29, 59 kcal moles⁻¹, indicating a varied response to temperature changes. Since Q₁₀ (15 to 25°C) values of more than 3, 0 were generally encountered, most bacterial isolates were very sensitive to changes in temperature. Indications were obtained that increased temperature sensitivity existed for at least some isolates in the lower temperature ranges (<18°C). A quantitative knowledge of the temperature-growth rate relationships of bacteria is needed for successful modeling of aquatic ecosystems with high turbidity and this study provided a first approximation of this information.