Respiration and Carbon Balance of the Bacterium Pseudomonas sp., a Protozoan Tetrahymena thermophila, and a Fungus Trichoderma viride in a Food Chain System with Glass Beads

Abstract

The respiration rates per unit of microbial biomass (qCO₂) of live cells were evaluated in inorganic medium using glass beads to which glucose was added at a rate of 50 μg C vial^-1 day^-1. The qCO₂ of live cells (g CO₂-C (g biomass-C)^-1 day^-1) was 0.23 in a pure culture of bacteria, 0.67 in a mixed culture of bacteria and protozoa, 0.16 in a mixed culture of bacteria and fungi, and 0.20 in a mixed culture of bacteria, protozoa and fungi. A culture system containing glass beads is a useful tool to estimate qCO₂ of live cells.