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How r-strategist & K-strategist microorganisms relate to wastewater system MLSS

3/20/2018

2 Comments

 
​Prior to using metagenomics testing in wastewater, most engineers assumed the MLSS microbial had a constant microbial composition. MLSS would contain the fastest growing, best bacteria for a given influent. Occasional environmental or influent shift would alter the biomass, but it would always return to single ideal microbial mix.

With the use of metagenomics testing, Aster Bio has found that systems have a changing microbial makeup depending upon their position on the growth curve. 
Picture
Looking at the difference in K-strategist and r-strategist microorganisms allows use to understand the changes in MLSS composition. r-strategists have the ability to grow rapidly and thrive when “food” is plentiful. Biomass development from lag through log phase growth centers around the population explosion of r-strategists. In wastewater terms, a r-strategist has a fast doubling rate, tolerance to more toxic compounds, and thrives on a range of organics. Once the system reaches steady-state or decline phase growth the microbial population pressures start to favor k-rate strategists. Unlike r-strategists, the k-strategists have lower growth rates and ability to exploit ecological niches. 
2 Comments
Madeleine Gundersen
5/28/2019 11:49:56 pm

Hi, your table about r- and K-strategists appear to be mislabelled. r-strategists are the fast growing, and K-strategists more competitive and slow growing.

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Erik Rumbaugh
5/29/2019 05:54:48 am

Thank you for the comment. In wastewater, we often use kinetic strategists which fast reproducing bacteria and niche strategists for slower growing microbes. When making a chart, I forgot to make my terminology fit with literature. As with overall biology, almost all bacteria are r-strategists.

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    Erik Rumbaugh has been involved in biological waste treatment for over 20 years. He has worked with industrial and municipal wastewater  facilities to ensure optimal performance of their treatment systems. He is a founder of Aster Bio (www.asterbio.com) specializing in biological waste treatment.

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