Effect of feeding and sludge age on acclimated bacterial community and fate of slowly biodegradable substrate

► Pulse feeding induced total conversion of starch to glycogen. ► Simultaneous storage and direct growth was sustained under continuous feeding. ► Sludge age exerted no effect to the nature of starch utilization. ► Starch selected Actinobacteria as the dominant species responsible for storage. ► Higher sludge age favoured filamentous growth with no effect on settling properties.