Microbial flora, distribution

The preceding discussion has placed emphasis on the role of lipid in the sequestering of essentially hydrophobic xenobiotics in biota. It should, however, be noted that other biomolecules may be involved. For example, in a microcosm study using relatively high concentrations of 14C-labeled trifluo-roacetate, it was shown that in leaves of jewelweed (Impatiens capensis), in oli-gochaetes, and in the microbial flora the substrate was distributed more extensively in protein than in lipid (Standley and Bott 1998). It seems plausible to attribute these results to specific reaction with amino acid side chains in the proteins. 

The microbial flora of the skin is part of any risk/beneflt consideration for use of topical antimicrobials. Mainly aerobic microorganisms are distributed over the surface of the body and are very numerous in particular areas of the body, including groin, axillae, and under flngernails and nail folds. The bacterial count on the skin seems to maintain an equilibrium between removal, death, and repop-... 

The skin has a microbial flora all of the time, but it changes in variety and numbers determined by many factors such as climate, season, sex, and age. As we have discussed, part of this flora is hidden from direct access, while part is easily acquired and removed. Many imagine and picture the skin with the flora evenly distributed over the surface. This is clearly not the case not only is a fraction of the flora hidden, but that portion distributed on the skin surface exists in microcolonies of different sizes and not in a unicellular, even fashion, nor are the microcolonies evenly distributed. 

Similar types of botanical remains are found in all different types (ranks) of coal. But, as anticipated because of local and regional variations in the distribution of floral species (i.e., site specificity), the relative amounts can vary considerably from one site to another (Stutzer, 1940). In addition to variations in the types of flora, there is also the potential for regional variations in the physical maturation conditions (Table 3.1) these include differences such as variations in the oxygen content of the water as well as acidity/alkalinity and the presence (or absence) of microbial life forms. Variations of the plant forms (Table 3.2) due to climatic differences between the geological eras/ periods would also play a role in determining the chemical nature of the constituents of the prenatal coal (Bend et al., 1991 Bend, 1992 Speight, 2007). 

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