Abstract
Estimating microbial standing crops and microbial production in natural habitats has been difficult for microbial ecologists. The present paper describes a simple spectrophotometric assay based on the hydrolysis of fluorescein diacetate which estimates well the standing crops of microbial cells on coniferous needles and twigs. A technique is also presented for correlating optical density readings with actual dry weights of microbial cells epiphytic on needles, and thus for standardizing the assay. The assay shows promise of broad applicability to other microbial habitats.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ausmus, B. S.: The use of ATP assay in terrestrial decomposition studies. Bull. Ecol. Res. Commit. (Stockholm)17, 223–234 (1973)
Bernstein, M. E., and G. Carroll: Microbial production on Douglas fir needle surfaces. Microb. Ecol.4, 41–52 (1977)
Blanchette, R. A., and C. G. Shaw: Associations among bacteria, yeasts, and basidiomycetes during wood decay. Phytopathol.68, 631–637 (1978)
Carroll, G. C., L. H. Pike, J. R. Perkins, and M. A. Sherwood: Biomass and distribution patterns of conifer twig microepiphytes in a Douglas fir forest. Can. J. Bot.58, 624–630 (1980)
Carroll, G. C.: Needle microepiphytes in a Douglas fir canopy: biomass and distribution patterns. Can. J. Bot.57, 1000–1007 (1979)
Franklin, J. F., and C. T. Dymess: Natural Vegetation of Oregon and Washington. U.S. Dept. Agricul. For. Serv. Gen. Tech. Rept. PNW-8, Portland (1973)
Holm-Hansen, O.: The use of ATP determinations in ecological studies. Bull. Ecol. Res. Commit. (Stockh.)17, 215–222 (1973)
Hubbard, J. S.: Radiorespirometric methods in measurement of metabolic activities in soil. Bull. Ecol. Res. Commit. (Stockh.)17, 199–206 (1973)
Jones, P. C. T., and J. E. Mollison: A technique for the quantitative estimation of soil microorganisms. J. Gen. Microbiol.2, 54–68 (1948)
Oades, J. M., and D. S. Jenkinson: The ATP content of the soil microbial biomass. Soil Biol. Biochem.11, 201–204 (1979)
Seitz, L. M., H. E. Mohr, R. Burroughs, and D. B. Sauer: Ergosterol as an indicator of fungal invasion in grains. Cereal Chem.54, 1207–1217 (1978)
Seitz, L. M., D. B. Sauer, R. Burroughs, H. E. Mohr, and J. D. Hubbard: Ergosterol as a measure of fungal growth. Phytopathol.69, 1202–1203 (1979)
Skujins, J.: Dehydrogenase: an indicator of biological activities in arid soils. Bull. Ecol. Res. Commit. (Stockh.)17, 235–241 (1973)
Söderström, B. E.: Vital staining of fungi in pure cultures and in soil with fluorescein diacetate. Soil Biol. Biochem.9, 59–63 (1977)
Söderström, B. E.: Some problems in assessing the fluorescein diacetate active fungal biomass in the soil. Soil Biol. Biochem.11, 147–148 (1979)
Swift, M. J.: The estimation of mycelial biomass by determination of the hexosamine content of wood tissue decayed by fungi. Soil Biol. Biochem.5, 321–332 (1973)
Visser, S., and D. Parkinson: Fungal succession on aspen poplar leaf litter. Can. J. Bot.53, 1640–1651 (1975)
Waid, J. S., K. J. Preston, and P. J. Harris: A method to detect metabolically-active microorganisms in leaf litter habitats. Soil Biol. Biochem.3, 235–241 (1971)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Swisher, R., Carroll, G.C. Fluorescein diacetate hydrolysis as an estimator of microbial biomass on coniferous needle surfaces. Microb Ecol 6, 217–226 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02010387
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02010387