Biology of Aquatic Systems

Reproduction is by binary fission, meaning a cell divides into two new cells, each of which matures and divides again. Fission takes place every 1,530 mill under ideal conditions. Ideal conditions mean that the growth environment has abundant food, oxygen, and essential nutrients. 

Bacteria are named according to a binomial system. The first word is the genus and the second is the species name. The most frequently referred to bacterium in the sanitary field is Escherichia coli. E. coli is a common coliform that can be used as an indicator of water s bacteriological quality. Under a microscope and magnified 1,000 times, cells appear as individual short rods. 

The second subgroup are anaerobes, which oxidize organics in the absence of dissolved oxygen. This is accomplished by using the oxygen which is found in other compounds (such as nitrate and sulfate). Anaerobic behavior can be described by the following reactions  

Organics Organic + S + COj + HjO + Energy and that the organic acids undergo further reaction Organic Acids - CH4 + COj + Energy 

Facultative bacteria comprise the last group and use free dissolved oxygen when 

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