Abstract
AbstractThe effect of nonylphenols (NPs) on the sediment microbial population was investigated in laboratory experiments. Adaptation of sediment microorganisms to NP contamination proceeds through the evolution of NP‐tolerant populations and the reduction of stress by biodegradation of NPs. The amount of bacteria that is able to degrade NPs in contaminated sediments was positively correlated with the total heterotrophic bacteria counts, indicating that the pattern of change was associated with NPs. The disappearance of NPs from the sediments by microbial degradation demonstrated a half‐life of 43–71 days. NP contamination resulted in decreased sediment microbial diversity. A decrease in both the Shannon diversity index and Pielou evenness index together with an increase in Simpson's dominance index were common change patterns observed across NP‐contaminated sediment samples. The observed changes in microbial diversity were sustainable. There was a very slow re‐establishment of the original diversity, particularly in the fungal community of NP‐contaminated sediments.
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