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Appl Environ Microbiol. 1985 September; 50(3): 580-588
Copyright © 1985, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Characterization of Subsurface Bacteria Associated with Two Shallow Aquifers in Oklahoma

David L. Balkwill* and William C. Ghiorse

2 Department of Biological Science, The Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida 32306, 1 and Department of Microbiology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 148532

ABSTRACT

The bacterial microflora of two shallow aquifers (saturated subsurface zones) in Oklahoma was characterized by direct observation with light and electron microscopy, by plating, and by examination of colony morphology and distribution. Isolated bacterial strains were also examined. Total cell counts varied only slightly (2.9 x 106 to 9.8 x 106 g [dry wt]–1) from sample to sample, whereas colony counts varied widely (6.3 x 102 to 6.5 x 106 CFU g [dry wt]–1). Colony counts on nutritionally rich media were lower than on low-nutrient media, especially in samples from the saturated zone. The variety of colony types growing on nutritionally rich media decreased with increasing depth and saturation. Colony counts of anaerobic bacteria also decreased with depth but were at least 100-fold lower than aerobic counts on most media. Cell morphologies of bacteria grown aerobically on plates included short rods, cocci, and actinomycete-like forms. Direct light microscopic observation of sediments revealed short, rod-shaped, and coccoid bacterial cells; endospores, actinomycete spores, and eucaryotic forms were not observed by light microscopy. Electron microscopic observation of bacteria released from the samples revealed that 85 to 90% of them were coccoid, gram-positive, Arthrobacter-like organisms, some of which were dividing or contained completed division septa; other types of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria were present in lower numbers. Isolated bacterial strains were able to grow on both nutritionally rich and low-nutrient media. A higher proportion of gram-negative organisms was isolated than gram-positive organisms. Most of the isolates were capable of storing polyphosphate, poly-ß-hydroxybutyrate, or polysaccharide. The results of this study suggest that the microbial population of these two shallow aquifers is dominated by aerobic, nutritionally versatile bacteria that can subsist on low concentrations of organic compounds without forming specialized resting cells. Other types of microorganisms, such as facultatively anaerobic bacteria and microeucaryotes, may also be present, but they represent only a small fraction of the microflora.

FOOTNOTES

* Corresponding author.

Appl Environ Microbiol. 1985 September; 50(3): 580-588
Copyright © 1985, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



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