Determining Microbial Kinetic Parameters Using Nonlinear Regression Analysis

Abstract

Microbial ecologists, and biologists in general, have come to appreciate the power of the quantitative approach in their research. It is no longer enough to describe the organisms that occupy a given habitat; the rates at which they carry out metabolic functions of ecological importance must be estimated. Only when quantitative information of metabolic activities is coupled with knowledge of organismal types can our understanding of the concerted actions of the members of a community be considered complete.