| The nitrifying bacteria were found to survive 24 weeks in the absence of ammonium without decreasing their number of cell size. Because H sub(2), CO, and CH sub(4) are present in the marine environment, these substrates were investigated as a possible source of the energy of maintenance for the nitrifying bacteria. super(14)CO and super(14)CH sub(4) were found to be oxidized by the nitrifiers. N-serve was found to inhibit the oxidation of CO. Using the nitrifiers' ability to oxide CO, a method for the determination of the nitrification rate was developed. The ability of nitrifiers to oxidize CO may play a significant role in the cycling of CO sub(2) in the marine environment. Whether CO and CH sub(4) oxidation play a role in the survival of nitrifiers in... |
