Summary Desulfitobacterium hafniense Y51 has been widely used in investigations of perchloroethylene (PCE) biodegradation, but limited information exists on its other physiological capabilities. We investigated how D. hafniense Y51 confronts the debilitating limitations of not having enough electron donor (lactate), or electron acceptor (fumarate) during cultivation in chemostats. The residual concentrations of the substrates...

Summary Geobacteraceae dominate many iron‐reducing subsurface environments and are associated with biodegradation of organic pollutants. In order to enhance the understanding of the environmental role played by Geobacteraceae , the physiology of Geobacter metallireducens was investigated at the low growth rates found in its subsurface habitat. Cultivation in retentostats (a continuous culturing device with biomass retention) u...

Summary Identification of the functional groups of microorganisms that are predominantly in control of fluxes through, and concentrations in, microbial networks would benefit microbial ecology and environmental biotechnology: the properties of those controlling microorganisms could be studied or monitored specifically or their activity could be modulated in attempts to manipulate the behaviour of such networks. Herein we prese...