Influence of wastewater treatment on the microbial ecology of a large, temperate river system - the Danube River
- Author(s)
- B. Hoch, B. Berger, G. Kavka, G. J. Herndl
- Abstract
Bacterial abundance as determined by epifluorescence microscopy was compared with plate counts of total heterotrophic bacteria. Significantly higher values were obtained at the stations downstream from the sewage influx only for faecal coliforms and faecal streptococci, for glucuronidase activity and bacterial biovolume. Strong seasonal dependence was detectable for nitrate with high concentrations during the winter and low concentrations during summer. A distinct spring phytoplankton bloom was noticeable in the river reaching chl a concentrations of ≃70 μg l-1; during the remaining seasons chl a concentrations were <20 μg l-1. It is concluded that the heterotrophic bacterial community is not significantly affected by the input of treated sewage but faecal contamination is readily detectable over a comparatively long reach of 30 km.
- Organisation(s)
- University Sport Institute, Functional and Evolutionary Ecology
- Journal
- Hydrobiologia
- Volume
- 321
- Pages
- 205-218
- No. of pages
- 14
- ISSN
- 0018-8158
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00143751
- Publication date
- 01-1996
- Peer reviewed
- Yes
- Austrian Fields of Science 2012
- 106020 Limnology
- ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Aquatic Science
- Portal url
- https://ucris.univie.ac.at/portal/en/publications/influence-of-wastewater-treatment-on-the-microbial-ecology-of-a-large-temperate-river-system--the-danube-river(e453e314-9b8d-4111-9e61-6cc0c0f967ea).html