The effect of lithium chloride on heterotrophic bacterial activity

In this study, the effect of the hydrological tracer LiCl was tested on the activity of a natural heterotrophic bacterial assemblage. The effect was a ssessed following the [H-3]-thymidine incorporation by bacteria under three treatments: 1) 400 mg Li+ l(-1) (concentration of the solution intended to be injected into the lake), 2) 5 mug Li+ l(-1) (the expected end concentra tion after dilution), and 3) a control (no LiCl). After 6 h, a significant inhibition (31%) on the incorporation of [H-3]-thymidine was observed at th e highest concentration, but not at the lowest.