Abstract
The ciliateUronema nigricans was found to acquire tolerance to mercury after being fed mercury-laden bacteria followed by exposure of washed suspensions of these ciliates to various concentrations of mercury in solution. Significant differences in percent mortality were observed for ciliates fed mercury-laden bacteria compared with control suspensions fed mercury-free bacteria. The phenomenon of acquired mercury tolerance was demonstrated within a single generation time. Ciliates fed mercury-free bacteria and subsequently exposed to increasing levels of mercury in solution showed an elevated tolerance to concentrations which, on initial testing, resulted in mortality of 83% of the ciliate population. The effect of ingesting mercury-laden bacteria on growth rate ofUronema was examined, and results showed no significant differences in growth rates of both 3- and 14-day-old cultures of protozoa that had been fed mercury-laden and mercury-free bacteria under controlled conditions.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Berk, S. G., D. C. Brownlee, D. R. Heinle, H. J. Kling, and R. R. Colwell: Ciliates as a food source for marine planktonic copepods. Microbial Ecol.4, 27–40 (1977)
Brinckman, F. E., K. L. Jewett, W. R. Blair, W. P. Iverson, and C. Huey: Mercury distribution in the Chesapeake Bay. In P. A. Krenkel (ed.): Progress in Water Technology, pp. 251–252. Pergamon Press, New York (1974)
Burbanck, W. D., and D. M. Spoon: The use of sessile ciliates collected in plastic Petri dishes for rapid assessment of water pollution. J. Protozool.14, 739–744 (1967)
Carter, J. W., and I. L. Cameron: Toxicity bioassay of heavy metals in water usingTetrahymena pyriformis. Water Res.7, 951–961 (1973)
Clark, D. L., A. A. Weiss, and S. Silver: Mercury and organo-mercurial resistances determined by plasmids inPsuedomonas. J. Bacteriol.132, 186–196 (1977)
Curds, C. R.: The role of protozoa in the activated-sludge process. Am. Zool.13, 161–169 (1973)
Curds, C. R., and G. Fey: The effect of ciliated protozoa on the fate ofEscherichia coli in the activated sludge process. Water Res.3, 853–867 (1969)
Davies, A. G.: An assessment of the basis of mercury tolerance inDunaliella tertiolecta. J. Mar. Biol. Assoc. U. K.56, 39–57 (1976)
Gray, J. S., and R. T. Ventilla: Pollution effects on micro and meiofauna of sand. Mar. Pollut. Bull.2, 39–43 (1971)
Gray, J. S., and R. T. Ventilla: Growth rates of sediment living marine protozoan as a toxicity indicator for heavy metals. Ambio2, 118–121 (1973)
Hamilton, R. D., and J. E. Preslan: Cultural characteristics of a pelagic marine hymenostome ciliate,Uronema sp. J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol.4, 90–99 (1969)
Heinle, D. R., R. P. Harris, J. F. Ustach, and D. A. Flemer: Detritus as food for estuarine copepods. Mar. Biol.40, 341–353 (1977)
Izaki, K.: Enzymatic reduction of mercurous ions inEscherichia coli bearing R factor. J. Bacteriol.131, 696–698 (1977)
Johannes, R. E.: Influence of marine protozoa on nutrient regeneration. Liminol. Oceanogr.10, 434–442 (1965)
Jollos, V.: Dauermodifikationen und Mutationen bei Protozoen. Arch. Protistenk.83, 197–219 (1934)
Mills, A. L., and R. R. Colwell: Microbial effects of metal ions in Chesapeake Bay water and sediment. Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol.18, 99–103 (1977)
Mills, W. L.: Mercury toxicity to selected protozoa. J. Protozool.20, 497 (1973)
Nelson, J. D., Jr., and R. R. Colwell: Ecology of mercury-resistant bacteria in Chesapeake Bay. Microbial Ecol.1, 191–218 (1975)
Parrish, K. M., and R. A. Carr: Transport of mercury through a laboratory two-level marine food chain. Mar. Pollut. Bull.7, 90–91 (1976)
Persoone, G., and G. Uyttersprot: The influence of inorganic and organic pollutants on the rate of reproduction of a marine hypotrichous ciliate:Euplotes vannus Müller. Rev. Int. Oceanogr. Med.37, 125–151 (1975)
Sartory, D. P., and B. J. Lloyd: The toxic effects of selected heavy metals on unadapted populations ofVorticella convallaria var similis. Water Res.10, 1123–1127 (1976)
Summers, A. O., and L. I. Sugarman: Cell-free mercury (II)-reducing activity in a plasmidbearing strain ofEscherichia coli. J. Bacteriol.119, 242–249 (1974)
Thrasher, J. D.: The effects of mercuric compounds on dividing cells. In A. M. Zimmerman, G. M. Padilla, and I. L. Cameron (eds.): Drugs and the Cell Cycle, pp. 25–48. Academic Press, New York (1973)
Tingle, L. E., W. A. Pavlat, and I. L. Cameron: Sublethal cytotoxic effects of mercuric chloride on the ciliateTetrahymena pyriformis. J. Protozool.20, 301–304 (1973)
Vaituzis, L., J. D. Nelson, L. W. Wan, and R. R. Colwell: Effects of mercuric chloride on growth and morphology of selected strains of mercury-resistant bacteria. Appl. Microbiol.29, 275–286 (1975)
Weiss, A. A., S. D. Murphy, and S. Silver: Mercury and organomercurial resistances determined by plasmids inStaphylococcus aureus. J. Bacteriol.132, 197–208 (1977)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Berk, S.G., Mills, A.L., Hendricks, D.L. et al. Effects of ingesting mercury-containing bacteria on mercury tolerance and growth rates of ciliates. Microb Ecol 4, 319–330 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02013275
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02013275