Microbial decomposition

International audienceWithin aquatic ecosystems, microbial decomposition of organic matter plays a prominent role in the energy and mass transformation processes (Jorgensen, 1983a). Organic waste water discharge in a river results in dissolved oxygen uptake, either directly by chemical oxidation of the reducing pollutants (see Chap. 10), or by their metabolism by microorganisms, i.e. their biodégradation. Raising the temperature of rivers reduces oxygen solubility and accelerates the kinetics of chemical and microbiological oxygen and polluting load reduction...