Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Taxonomy and distribution of surface microlayer bacteria from two estuarine sites

  • Short Papers and Notes
  • Published:
Estuaries Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The surface microlayer population of two estuarine sites was sampled to determine the numbers of bacteria present. Random isolates from one site were examined taxonomically, with subsurface and sediment samples taken for comparison. There were 130 to 5000 times more bacterial cells per ml in the surface microlayer as compared to the subsurface water, agreeing with the observations of other investigators. The surface population was found to be different taxonomically from the subsurface and sediment isolates. Pseudomonads predominated among the surface isolates while ca. onethird of the subsurface isolates werePseudomonas species.Alcaligenes species were found only in the subsurface population and comprised nearly one-half of these isolates. The majority of the surface and subsurface bacteria required no salts for growth, whereas most of the sediment bacterial isolates required either Na+ or Mg++.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Literature Cited

  • Baumann, P. 1968. Isolation ofAcinetobacter from soil and water.J. Bacteriol. 96:39–42.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • —,M. Doudoroff, andR. Y. Stanier. 1968a. Study of theMoraxella group. I. GenusMoraxella andNeisseria catarrhalis group.J. Bacteriol. 95:48–73.

    Google Scholar 

  • ——, and—. 1968b. A study of theMoraxella group. II. Oxidative-negative species (GenusAcinetobacter).J. Bacteriol. 95:1520–1541.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Baumann, L., P. Baumann, M. Mandel, andR. D. Allen. 1972. Taxonomy of aerobic marine eubacteria.J. Bacteriol. 110:402–429.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Buchanan, R. E., andN. E. Gibbons (eds.) 1974. Bergey's Manual of Determinative Bacteriology, 8th ed. The Williams & Wilkins Co., Baltimore.

    Google Scholar 

  • Colwell, R. R. 1962. The bacterial flora of Puget Sound fish.J. Appl. Bact. 25:147–158.

    Google Scholar 

  • Colwell, R. R., J. D. Walker, and J. D. Nelson, Jr. 1973. Microbial ecology and the problem of petroleum degradation in Chesapeake Bay. Center for Wetland Resources. LSU-SG-73-01.

  • —, andW. J. Wiebe. 1970. “Coire” characteristics for use in classifying aerobic, heterotrophic bacteria by numerical taxonomy.Bull. Georgia Acad. Sci. 28: 165–185.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crow, S. A., D. G. Ahearn, W. L. Cook, andA. W. Bourquin. 1975. Densities of bacteria and fungi in coastal surface films as determined by a membrane-adsorption procedure.Limnol. Oceanogr. 20:644–646.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • —,W.L. Cook, D. G. Ahearn, andA. W. Bourquin. 1976. Microbial populations in coastal surface slicks, p 93–98.In J. M. Sharpley and A. M. Kaplan (eds.), Proceedings of the Thrid International Biodegradation Symposium. Applied Science Publishers, Ltd. London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Henriksen, S. D. 1973.Moraxella, Acinetobacter, and theMimeae.Bacteriol. Rev. 37:522–561.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kaneko, T., andR. R. Colwell. 1973. Ecology ofVibrio parahaemolyticus in Chesapeake Bay.J. Bacteriol. 113:24–32.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • —, and—. 1975. Incidence ofVibrio parahaemolyticus in Chesapeake Bay.Appl. Microbiol. 30:251–257.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pagel, J. E., andP. L. Seyfried. 1976. Numerical taxonomy of aquaticAcinetobacter isolates.J. Gen. Microbiol. 95:220–232.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pfister, R. M., andP. R. Burkholder. 1965. Numerical taxonomy of some bacteria isolated from Antarctic and tropical sea-waters.J. Bacteriol. 90:863–872.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Reichelt, J. L., andP. Baumann. 1973. Effect of sodium chloride on growth of heterotrophic marine bacteria.Arch. Microbiol. 97:329–345.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shapiro, A., D. Dilello, M. C. Loudis, D. E. Keller, andS. H. Hutner. 1977. Minimal requirements in defined media for improved growth of some radioresistant pink tetra-cocci.Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 33: 1129–1133.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shewan, J. M., G. Hobbs, andW. Hodgkiss. 1960. A determinative scheme for the identification of certain genera of gram-negative bacteria, with special reference to the Pseudomonadaceae.J. Appl. Bact. 23(3): 379–390.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sieburth, J. McN. 1971. Distribution and activity of oceanic bacteria.Deep-Sea Res 18:1111–1121.

    Google Scholar 

  • —,P. Willis, K. M. Johnson, C. M. Burney, D. M. Lavoie, K. R. Hsnga, D. A. Caron, F. W. French III,P. W. Johnson, andP. G. Davis. 1976. Dissolved organic matters and heterotrophic microneuston in the surface microlayers of the North Atlantic.Science 195: 1415–1418.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Williams, P. M. 1967. Sea surface chemistry: organic carbon and organic and inorganic nitrogen and phosphorous in surface films and subsurface waters.Deep-Sea Res. 14:791–800.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wood, E. J. F. 1953. Heterotrophic bacteria in marine environments of Eastern Australia.Aust. J. Mar. Freshw. Res. 4:160–200.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. William C. Fehon

    Present address: Academy of the New Church, 19009, Bryn Athyn, Pa

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 28223, Charlotte, N. C.

    William C. Fehon & James D. Oliver

Authors
  1. William C. Fehon
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. James D. Oliver
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Submitted to the Biology Dept. of UNCC in partial fulfillment of the M.S. Degree.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Fehon, W.C., Oliver, J.D. Taxonomy and distribution of surface microlayer bacteria from two estuarine sites. Estuaries 2, 194–197 (1979). https://doi.org/10.2307/1351735

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/1351735

Keywords

Search

Navigation