Environmental effects testing with quantitative microbial analysis: Chemical signatures correlated within situbiofilm analysis by FT/IR

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Abstract
Chemical measures for the biomass, community structure, nutritional status, and metabolic activities of the microbiota have shown a remarkable responsiveness to changes in the bulk fluid physical and chemical properties, the chemistry, biodegradability, and microtopology of the surfaces, as well as biological factors such as predation. Chemical analysis of the microbiota (bacteria, algae, fungi, protozoa, and micrometazoa with their extracellular products <0.5mm in diameter) does not require quantitative release of the organisms from surfaces or that the organisms are able to form colonies in subcultures. The sensitivity of the microbiota to changes in their habitat suggests that these chemical measures could provide a quantitative method for environmental effects testing. Changes in the marine benthic microbiota exposure to xenobiotics at the ug/l level or oil and gas well‐drilling fluids demonstrate this sensitivity. These analyses do not destroy the vital interactions within microcolonies of mixed physiological types that characterize many environments. The chemical measures are destructive. Non‐destructive analysis of biofilms of areas in the size range of microcolonies by Fourier transforming infrared spectrometry may ultimately provide the most effective method for environmental effects testing.

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