Abstract

Several tests were carried out to enable evaluation of the precision with which sandy sediment bacteria could be enumerated. This represented the first attempt to place direct epifluorescence counts of benthic bacteria on a quantitative, rather than relative, ground. The tests combined in situ radioisotope ([³H], [¹⁴C]) labeling of sediment bacteria, bacterial dislodgment by ultrasonic treatment, and bacterial enumeration via fluorescent staining. The results provided direct and indirect evidence that the employed protocol for bacterial enumeration accounted for 88 to 98% of all bacteria present in sediments. The identified approach thus allowed for a rather complete quantification of sediment bacteria. Since this protocol was more effective that the alternative techniques used in earlier studies, sediment bacteria may have been repeatedly undercounted in the past.

Notes

Originally published in Marine Ecology Progress Series 151 (1997), pp.11-16. doi:10.3354/meps151011

Keywords

bacteria, sediment, enumeration, epifluorescence, radioactive labeling

Subject Categories

Microorganisms - Counting, Marine sediments - Microbiology

Disciplines

Bacteriology | Marine Biology

Publisher

Inter-Research

Publication Date

5-22-1997

Rights Information

Copyright 1997

Rights Holder

Inter-Research


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