An Alternative Microbiological Validation for an Online Water Bioburden Analyzer.

Background: The Mettler-Toledo 7000RMS analyzer is a bio-fluorescent particle counter (BFPC) used to monitor real-time bioburden results from purified water (PW).

Objective: Validation of the analyzer using 13 microorganisms and a low-intensity, fluorescent, polystyrene bead.

Methods: During the execution of the validation, a laboratory water system that met PW quality standards was connected to the 7000RMS, and a syringe pump was used to introduce various concentrations of microorganisms and fluorescent polystyrene beads to the analyzer.

High-efficiency methane capture by living fungi and dried fungal hyphae (necromass).

Fungi can hasten microbial degradation of hydrophobic compounds by enhancing capture and dissolution into biofilms. For methane (CH ) released from natural soils and agricultural systems, prokaryotes are ultimately responsible for oxidation and degradation; however, in many cases Henry's law of gas dissolution, not oxidation, is rate-limiting. Given that fungi can improve capture and bioremediation of other hydrophobic compounds (e.

Signature wood modifications reveal decomposer community history.

Correlating plant litter decay rates with initial tissue traits (e.g. C, N contents) is common practice, but in woody litter, predictive relationships are often weak.