Numbers and viability of bacteria in ornithogenic soils of Antarctica (original) (raw)

Summary

Bacteria in ornithogenic soils from Ross Island, Antarctica, were counted by direct observation, and the percentages of viable organisms were assessed by incubation with 3H-glucose and by enumerating numbers of colony-forming units. The effects of incubation times and temperatures, and of storage of the samples, on the uptake of 3H-glucose were determined. Direct counts showed that large total numbers of bacteria were present in samples from occupied penguin colonies and recentlyabandoned sites. The percentages of bacteria metabolizing 3H-glucose increased when incubation was extended from 2 h to 8 h at field (average 4–5°C) or laboratory (average 18.5°C) temperatures to a maximum of 22%; storage of the samples for 31 days had no significant effect. The numbers of colony-forming units (CFU) were less than 0.058% of the direct counts. There were 77 times as many CFU in samples from the abandoned site compared to the inhabited colony. About 10% of the CFU were cocci compared with about 48% visible by direct microscopy. The glucose utilization data indicated that far more of the bacteria were viable than were cultured.

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Authors and Affiliations

1. Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, N. Z. Soil Bureau, Private Bag, Lower Hutt, New Zealand
   Angela J. Ramsay & Ruth E. Stannard

Authors

1. Angela J. Ramsay
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2. Ruth E. Stannard
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Ramsay, A.J., Stannard, R.E. Numbers and viability of bacteria in ornithogenic soils of Antarctica.Polar Biol 5, 195–198 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00446086

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• Received: 14 February 1985
• Accepted: 13 November 1985
• Issue Date: May 1986
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00446086

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