Aquatic Sciences Meeting, Albuquerque 2001

SS14 Microbial Diversity (Disciplinary Connections)

Date: Monday, February 12, 2001, Time: 3:00:00 PM

Location: Brazos

Kolber, Z, S, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, USA, zkolber@imcs.rutgers.edu

Vetriani, C, , Rutgers University, New Brunswick, USA, vetriani@imcs.rutgers.edu

DETECTION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF AEROBIC ANOXYGENIC PHOTOSYNTHETIC BACTERIA IN THE UPPER OCEAN

Biophysical signal indicative of bacterial photosynthetic electron transport was observed in the surface waters of tropical Pacific and coastal North Atlantic, as well as throughout the euphotic zone of temperate Eastern acific. This signal correlates with BChla distribution and with the epifluorescence infrared cell counts. Our data indicate that the AAP's represent upward of 8% of total microbial community in the upper ocean, and they contribute to up to 5% of the total photosynthetic electron ransport. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA genes from AAP's isolated from the coastal North Atlantic and Northeastern Pacific identified them as members of the Erythrobacter group within the alpha subdivision of the Proteobacteria. We will discuss the possibility of developing molecular markers for detection and characterization of these AAP's in the upper ocean.

This Session Listing

Aquatic Sciences Meeting, Albuquerque 2001

Quicklinks