Effect of water hyacinth on distribution of sulphate-reducing bacteria in sediments of Lake Victoria
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Date
2004
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Water SA
Abstract
The effect of the water hyacinth, Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms-Laub, on the distribution of populations of sulphate-reducing
bacteria (SRB) in sediments from various stations on the shores of Lake Victoria around Mwanza Municipality, Tanzania, was
studied. Lactate-utilising SRB were observed to be the dominant species in sediments covered by the water hyacinth and at the
Mirongo River mouth while acetate-utilising SRB dominated in the offshore open water sediments. Sediments from offshore open
waters had the lowest most probable numbers (MPNs) for all the SRB types investigated, more than 100 times less that observed
in areas covered by the water hyacinth and the Mirongo River mouth. Lactate-utilising SRB were almost absent in sediments from
offshore open waters. A positive correlation between the total populations of SRB and nutrients in sediments was observed. Results
showed that sulphate concentration was very high in sediments underneath the water hyacinth at the lakeshore but was minimal
in sediments from offshore open waters. It is suggested that water hyacinth decomposition formed lactate, which supported large
populations of lactate-utilising SRB.
Description
Keywords
Acetate, Eichhornia crassipes, Formate, Hydrogen sulphide, Lactate, Methanogen, Sulphate-reducing bacteria (SRB)
Citation
Muyodi, F. J., Rubindamayugi, M. S., & Semesi, A. K. (2004). Effect of water hyacinth on distribution of sulphate-reducing bacteria in sediments of Lake Victoria. Water SA, 30(3), 421-425.