Abstract
The relationship between the physiological group of gelatinolytic bacteria and the abundance of heterotrophic bacteria in freshwater ecosystems was described, based on analysis of 1082 different freshwater samples collected in Croatia. Percentages of gelatinolytic bacteria among the population of heterotrophic bacteria showed a significant negative correlation with the abundance of heterotrophic bacteria. The relation between the physiological group (gelatinolytic bacteria) and heterotrophic bacteria can be considered to be an indicator of the pollution degree of freshwaters. A high relative content of gelatinolytic bacteria (>76 %) always indicates the colony-forming units of heterotrophic bacteria <1000/mL, which corresponds to the high water quality; gelatinolytic bacteria <11 % indicate polluted waters. Isolated strains of aerobically grown gelatinolytic bacteria were Gram-negative rod-shaped or Gram-positive endospore-forming rod-shaped cells.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
APHA:Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater, 19th ed. APHA-AWWA-WPCF, New York 1995.
Blanco A.R., La Terra Mule S., Babini G., Garbisa S., Enea V., Rusciano D.: (-)-Epigallocatechin-3-gallatc inhibits gelatinase activity of some bacterial isolates from ocular infection, and limits their invasion through gelatin.Biochim.Biophys.Acta 1620, 273–281 (2003).
De Clerck E., De Vos P.: Study of the bacterial load in a gelatin production process focused onBacillus and related endosporeforming genera.Syst.Appl.Microbiol. 25, 611–617 (2002).
Holt J.G., Krieg N.R., Sneath P.H.A., Staley J.T., Williams S.T.:Bergey’s Manual of Determinative Bacteriology, p. 787. Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore 1994.
Metwali R.M.: Water quality of some wells in Taiz City (Yemen Republic) and its surroundings.Folia Microbiol.48, 90–94 (2003).
Rodina A.G.:Methods in Aquatic Microbiology, p. 461. University Park Press, Baltimore 1972.
Simbert R.M., Krieg N.R.: Phenotypic characterization, pp. 607–654 in P. Gerhard, R.G.E. Murray, W.A. Wood, N.R. Krieg (Eds):Methods for General and Molecular Bacteriology. American Society for Microbiology, Washington (DC) 1994.
StatSoft, Inc.: Statistica (data analysis software system) version 6.0 (2001).
Stilinovic B.: The application of the replica technique in investigations of physiological groups of bacteria in surface waters.Acta Bot. Croat. 38, 71–77 (1979a).
Stilinovic B.: The presence of some physiological groups of bacteria in surface waters of different quality, pp. 335–343 in2nd Congr. Yugoslavian Ecologists. Association of Ecological Societies of Yugoslavia, Zagreb 1979b.
Stilinović B., Futač N.: Bacteriological characteristics of the River Sava from Krško to Galdovo.Acta Biol. 48, 35–47 (1983).
Wahlström G., Danilov R.A.: Phytoplankton successions under ice cover in four lakes located in north-eastern Sweden: effects of liming.Folia Microbiol. 48, 379–384 (2003).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Stilinović, B., Hrenović, J. Percentage of gelatinolytic bacteria among heterotrophic bacteria as indicator of water quality. Folia Microbiol 49, 53–58 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02931646
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02931646