The Effects of Natural and Anthropogenic Factors on Microbes : DECOMPOSING THE emergent MACROPHYTE SCIRPUS LACUSTRIS IN PRAIRIE AQUATIC SYSTEMS

In this work, the effects of environmental factors such as temperature and ultraviolet radiation and also of the antibiotic tetracycline on the microbial decomposition of Scirpus lacustris, an emergent macrophyte, were measured.Six journal articles emerged from the present work. First, the 1st record of rates of removal of carbon by fungi from decaying plant material as measured over a season in plants that were standing dead and in Scirpus that was submerged in water and in various temperature models. Second, the optimal conditions required to extract ergosterol, a compound largely attributed to living fungi. Third, the determination of ergosterol by HPLC-UV and mass spectrometry analysis. Four, also for the first time, the rate of decay and adsorption of tetracycline in distilled, river and pond water. Five, showing the very low concentrations,parts per billion, that can disrupt the metabolism of bacteria in river and pond water as measured by the uptake of ritiated leucine. Six, using laser microscopy, also for the first time, and flourescent probes, to measure decompositional processes on Scirpus lacustris stems.