Abstract
Aerobic transformation by microbial organisms is a dissipation process of pesticides in surface water, but the corresponding information is much less available as compared with their microbial degradation in soil. Bacteria freely floating in water or associated with suspended particles are the key microorganisms degrading pesticides; their species and populations, however, depend on sites and seasons. The various factors related to pesticide properties, experimental conditions and characteristics of surface water are involved in the complex control of microbial processes. Bottom sediment and macrophytes with associated biofilms not only act as sink for pesticides but also provide the habitat for both bacteria and fungi that degrade pesticides. More understanding of each factor is necessary to utilize laboratory biodegradation data for the refined assessment of pesticide behavior in surface water.
