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Heterotrophic —uses organic compounds as both their carbon and Cryptosporidium—This forms a thick-walled oocyst in the
energy source. A large number of wastewater bacteria are environment and can survive for long periods of time. The oocyst is
heterotrophic. spherical with a diameter of 4 to 6 μm. Cryptosporidium oocysts are
Classification by oxygen requirement present in small numbers in surface waters.
1. Aerobic—requires oxygen for growth and survival.
2. Anaerobic—grows in absence of oxygen. They cannot survive in Algae are autotrophic, photosynthetic eukaryotic plants. One
presence of oxygen. exception is the blue-green algae or cyanobacter, which is prokaryotic
3. Facultative—can grow both in presence or absence of oxygen. and produces toxins that are harmful to fish and birds, e.g. Anabena.
Classification by temperature
1. Cryophilic or psychrophilic—grows at temperatures below 20°C, ALGAE
usually between 12°C and 18°C. Algae are autotrophic. They use sunlight as their energy source, and
2. Mesophilic—grows between 25°C and 40°C, optimum at 35°C. carbon dioxide or bicarbonates as their carbon source. The oxygen
3. Thermophilic—grows between 50°C and 75°C, optimum at 55°C. that is produced during photosynthesis replenishes the dissolved
oxygen content of the water. They are often used in aerobic oxidation
Growth is not limited to these temperature ranges only. Bacteria will ponds, since they can produce the oxygen necessary for aerobic
grow at slower rates at other temperatures and can survive over a bacteria. Algae are important primary producers in the aquatic food
wide range of temperatures. chain
Fungi Dilution is a process whereby the concentration of pollutants is
Fungi are multicellular, nonphotosynthetic, heterotrophic eukaryotes. reduced due to mixing of a small volume of polluted water with a large
Most are obligate or facultative aerobes. They can reproduce sexually body of water, e.g. a stream or river. This usually happens when
or asexually by fission, budding, or spore formation. wastewater is discharged into a stream.