LE3 .A278 2001

2001

Bell, Colin

Acadia University

Master of Science

Masters

Biology

Biology

The effect of low incubation temperatures on Biolog Community Level Physiological Profiles (CLPP) was investigated by performing CLPPs at 6 and 15C. Samples were obtained from the Cornwallis River (45 05'N, 63 35'W) and standardized to an initial density of approximately 106 cells/ml (AODC). A preliminary comparison of GN plates with SFN plates (which lack tetrazolium dye) confirmed that the dye chemistry worked at low temperature. Various reference points from Adjusted Optical Density (AOD) and Average Well Colour Development (AWCD) values were calculated for each plate in addition to kinetic parameters of lag and slope. Lag, an early measurement, may reveal subtle community differences prior to sample enrichment. Slope is not favorable when measuring temperature effects on CLPPs, as this parameter emphasizes the large differences in rate of colour development simply due to thermodynamics. Additional information was gathered on the thermodynamic effects of substrates using Arrhenius plots. Similar experiments were performed to compare summer and winter samples incubated at 15C. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)

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