Microbial Interactions in Continuous Culture

Abstract

Publisher Summary Mixed culture phenomena are not merely composites of the pure culture behavior of the organisms present. The performance of a complex microbial process depends on interactions between its species and strains. Microorganisms have vastly different nutritional requirements. They exhibit a wide range of growth rates and thrive at various conditions of pH, temperature, ionic strength, and the like. In spite of this diversity, species persist in nature throughout times of hardship and can flourish when favorable conditions occur. Thus the occurrence of unusual physical or chemical conditions or of rare nutritional circumstances leads to population changes in which different species achieve predominance so that relatively efficient microbial processes can continue. This adaptability of mixed populations is a key to the study of the microbiology of natural environments. Understanding of the mechanisms underlying this adaptation must come from investigations of population dynamics and microbial interactions.