Distribution of bacteria with nitrilotriacetate-degrading potential in an estuarine environment

Abstract

Attempts to isolate estuarine bacteria capable of metabolizing nitrilotriacetate (NTA) as a sole carbon source from areas within Escambia Bay, Fla., were unsuccessful; however, bacteria from freshwater streams and from estuarine surface microlayers were easily adapted to degradation of NTA in freshwater medium. A Pseudomonas sp. strain (ATCC 29600), capable of growth on NTA as a sole carbon source, metabolized NTA at a reduced rate in a saline medium (15‰), compared with a freshwater medium (0 to 15‰). Microorganisms capable of degrading NTA exist in estuarine surface microlayers and in fresh subsurface waters just before entering the estuary; these data indicate an interference with NTA catabolism by some unknown factors of the estuarine environment rather than an absence of potential NTA degrading bacteria.