Microbial action on particulate chitin was analyzed in an eastcentral Indiana borrow pit lake. Experiments were conducted to determine the effects of water depth, particle size, mesh size of nylon bag containing chitin, and season on the decomposition process. The majority of chitinolytic bacteria isolated were classified as actinomycetes and pseudomonads. Results indicate that the sediment-water interface is the most active site of chitin mineralization in the lake environment. The samples seeded during summer showed the fastest rate of decomposition with greater than 50% weight loss after two weeks and greater than 95% weight loss after 7 weeks incubation in situ. The highest rate of decomposition (43.6 mg/g/day) occurred during this period. Samples seeded during the spring showed considerably slower activity with only a 25`o weight loss after 9 weeks incubation in situ. Fall samples showed a 30% weight loss after 9 weeks incubation in situ. The rate of degradation was highly correlated with water temperature. Significantly higher rates were-.noted with smaller particle size but no significant difference was evidenced with varying mesh size fran 10 to 100 in. The majority of chitinolytic bacteria isolated were Gram negative; Pseudanonas, Chranobacterium, Flavobacterium, and Serratia spp. Gram positive organisms showing chitin hydrolysis were predominantly actinomycetes. An active chitinolytic culture of Pseudcmonas sp. was used for enzyme studies. This culture was purified using (NH4)2SO4 precipitation, anion exchange chromatography and hydroxylapatite chromatography.Ball State UniversityMuncie, IN 47306
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:BSU/oai:cardinalscholar.bsu.edu:handle/182868 |
| Date | 03 June 2011 |
| Creators | Rux, Toni |
| Contributors | Warnes, Carl E. |
| Source Sets | Ball State University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Format | vii, 57 leaves : ill. ; 28 cm. |
| Source | Virtual Press |
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