Investigation of bacterioplankton in the loess-containing Lake Khanka

Some characteristics of bacterioplankton-generation time, daily (P) and spe cific (P/B) bacterioplankton production, and bacterial metabolic coefficien t K-2-in the loess-containing Lake Khanka were determined using five modifi cations of the bacterial-count procedure with the fluorescent dyes fluoresc amin and erythrosin. Experiments showed that the organomineral complex (OMC ) in this lake is broken down by chemoorganoheterotrophic bacteria. The inc rease in the loess content of the lake water intensified bacterial growth a nd the cycles of potassium, silicon, and other biogenic elements. The addit ion of starch to a loess suspension activated the breakdown of OMC due to t he adsorption of starch on the OMC/water interface and stimulation of the m etabolism of attached bacteria.