Microbial utilization of lipids in lake water

Abstract

This report evaluates the importance of lipids as a source of substrates for metabolism of heterotrophic bacteria based on measurements of uptake of [ 3H]pa1mitic acid and lipase activity in lakes of differing degrees of eutrophication. The highest rates of utilization of lipids by bacteria (i.e. specific and actual rates of uptake of [3H]pa1mitic acid and specific lipase activity) were observed in pelagic water of mesotrophic lake where the highest concentration and the shortest turnover time of natural pool of palmitic acid was found. Lipids in highly eutrophicated lakes were less important for metabolism of aquatic bacteria1 communities. Lipid content in lake water depended on species composition of plankton in the studied lakes.