This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints and Permissions Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Yoon, W. B. Articles by Rosson, R. A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Yoon, W. B. Articles by Rosson, R. A. Agricola Articles by Yoon, W. B. Articles by Rosson, R. A.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Appl Environ Microbiol. 1990 March; 56(3): 595-600
Copyright © 1990, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Improved Method of Enumeration of Attached Bacteria for Study of Fluctuation in the Abundance of Attached and Free-Living Bacteria in Response to Diel Variation in Seawater Turbidity

Won Bae Yoon and Reinhardt A. Rosson^,*

Marine Science Institute, The University of Texas at Austin, Port Aransas, Texas 78373

ABSTRACT

Sample preparation for enumerating attached bacteria in turbid seawater by epifluorescence microscopy was improved by treating samples with a surfactant (Tween 80) followed by sonication. With optimal treatment with Tween 80 (final concentration, 10 ppm [10 µg/ml]) and sonication, as many as 10 times more attached bacteria were enumerated from turbid seawater relative to the number enumerated from an untreated control. Dispersion of bacteria by sonication alone resulted in the enumeration of only 42 to 72% of the attached bacteria. By this technique, fluctuations in the number of attached and free-living bacteria were determined in water from Aransas Pass, Tex., where surface sediments are resuspended on a regular basis by tidal currents. The abundance of attached bacteria increased in proportion to the seawater turbidity that resulted from sediment resuspension. The variation in abundance of free-living bacteria was not directly related to seawater turbidity. However, the magnitude of fluctuation in the abundance of free-living bacteria was related to the extent of turbidity variation during diurnal tides.

^* Corresponding author.

Present address: Center for Great Lakes Studies, The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI 53204.

The University of Texas Marine Science Institute Contribution 763.

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Bekins, B. A., Hostettler, F. D., Herkelrath, W. N., Delin, G. N., Warren, E., Essaid, H. I. (2005). Progression of methanogenic degradation of crude oil in the subsurface. Environmental Geosciences 12: 139-152 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Matsui, G. Y., Ringelberg, D. B., Lovell, C. R. (2004). Sulfate-Reducing Bacteria in Tubes Constructed by the Marine Infaunal Polychaete Diopatra cuprea. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 70: 7053-7065 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Lam, P., Cowen, J. P. (2004). Processing Deep-Sea Particle-Rich Water Samples for Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization: Consideration of Storage Effects, Preservation, and Sonication. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 70: 25-33 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Mourino-Perez, R. R., Worden, A. Z., Azam, F. (2003). Growth of Vibrio cholerae O1 in Red Tide Waters off California. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 69: 6923-6931 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Davies, C. M., Kaucner, C., Deere, D., Ashbolt, N. J. (2003). Recovery and Enumeration of Cryptosporidium parvum from Animal Fecal Matrices. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 69: 2842-2847 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Heidelberg, J. F., Heidelberg, K. B., Colwell, R. R. (2002). Seasonality of Chesapeake Bay Bacterioplankton Species. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 68: 5488-5497 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Riemann, L., Steward, G. F., Azam, F. (2000). Dynamics of Bacterial Community Composition and Activity during a Mesocosm Diatom Bloom. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 66: 578-587 [Abstract] [Full Text]