| Abstract: | Fate and effect of copper and cadmium on the degradation of chitin were studied in sediment microcosms. Artificial sediment was spiked with metals, and metal partitioning between sediment components, overlying water and bacteria was described. Most of the added metals were bound to sediment particles. Remarkable metal enrichments were found on Fe-oxide, Mn-oxide, and chitin. In sediments containing the nominal concentration of 100 mg/kg Cu, the chitin-degrading bacteria Cytophaga johnsonae showed a significant decrease in N-acetylglucoseaminidase activity. Toxicity of copper was attributed to free ions in the overlying water. The bacteria were more sensitive to copper than to cadmium. Inhibitory effects of cadmium were primarily caused by sediment-associated cadmium. |
