Index >> Microbes and Hydrosphere>>Recent Aspects of water Pollution

As the algae use oxygen of water for respiration, oxygen depletion occurs. Nutrient depletion also occurs leading to death of algae and other phytoplanktons. This in turn leads to the death of zooplanktons and fishes. Thus eutrophication leads to complete depletion of living forms in an ecosystem.

Biofilm formation Biofilm or microbial film is caused by adhesion of bacteria to surfaces. Biofilm consists of accumulation of cells, extracellular products, inorganic and organic debris.

Microorganisms in biofilm include:

Gallionella Iron oxidising bacterium

Pedomicrobium manganicum Manganese oxidising bacterium .

Bioaugmentation Many low molecular weight compounds are not metabolised efficiently by natural microorganisms. Such compounds are known as recalcitrant chemicals. Recalcitrant chemicals include solvents, pesticides, herbicides etc. Some microbes are capable of metabolising these compounds. The introduction of microbes into a contaminated environment to bring out detoxification is termed as bioaugmentation. It is used in detoxification of halogenated compounds like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Organisms like Micrococcus, Corynebacterium, Nocardia and Penicillium are capable of hydrocarbon degradation. They are used to degrade oil in industrial wastes, oil spills in oceans and in oil-soaked soil near refineries.