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. 2002 Nov;68(11):5498-507.
doi: 10.1128/AEM.68.11.5498-5507.2002.

Bacteria of the gamma-subclass Proteobacteria associated with zooplankton in Chesapeake Bay

J F Heidelberg  1 , K B Heidelberg, R R Colwell
Affiliations

Bacteria of the gamma-subclass Proteobacteria associated with zooplankton in Chesapeake Bay

J F Heidelberg et al. Appl Environ Microbiol. 2002 Nov.

Abstract

The seasonal abundance of gamma-subclass Proteobacteria, Vibrio-Photobacterium, Vibrio cholerae-Vibrio mimicus, Vibrio cincinnatiensis, and Vibrio vulnificus in the Choptank River of Chesapeake Bay associated with zooplankton was monitored from April to December 1996. Large (>202- microm) and small (64- to 202- microm) size classes of zooplankton were collected, and the bacteria associated with each of the zooplankton size classes were enumerated by fluorescent oligonucleotide direct count. Large populations of bacteria were found to be associated with both the large and small size classes of zooplankton. Also, the species of bacteria associated with the zooplankton showed seasonal abundance, with the largest numbers occurring in the early spring and again in the summer, when zooplankton total numbers were correspondingly large. Approximately 0.01 to 40.0% of the total water column bacteria were associated with zooplankton, with the percentage of the total water column bacteria population associated with zooplankton varying by season. A taxonomically diverse group of bacteria was associated with zooplankton, and a larger proportion was found in and on zooplankton during the cooler months of the year, with selected taxa comprising a larger percent of the Bacteria in the summer. V. cholerae-V. mimicus and V. vulnificus comprised the bulk of the large and small zooplankton-associated Vibrio-Photobacterium species. In contrast, V. cincinnatiensis accounted for less than 0.1 to 3%. It is concluded that water column and zooplankton bacterial populations vary independently with respect to species composition since no correlation was observed between taxa occurring with highest frequency in the water column and those in association with zooplankton.

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Figures

FIG. 1.
FIG. 1.
Composition of >202-μm zooplankton. (A) Number of zooplankton per cubic meter of CRW; (B) surface area of zooplankton per cubic meter of CRW.
FIG. 2.
FIG. 2.
Composition of 64- to 202-μm zooplankton. (A) Number of zooplankton per cubic meter of CRW; (B) surface area of zooplankton per cubic meter of CRW.
FIG. 3.
FIG. 3.
Number of bacteria associated with >202-μm zooplankton per cubic meter of CRW. EUB, Bacteria; GAM, γ-Proteobacteria; Vib/Pho, Vibrio-Photobacterium; Vvul, V. vulnificus; Vcho/mim, V. cholerae-V. mimicus; Vcinc, V. cincinnatiensis. Shaded areas represent the number of cells per square millimeter of surface area; bars represent the number of cells per zooplankter.
FIG. 4.
FIG. 4.
Percentage of total bacteria associated with >202-μm zooplankton. Results are given as number of cells per zooplankter. EUB, Bacteria; GAM, γ-Proteobacteria; Vib/Pho, Vibrio-Photobacterium; Vvul, V. vulnificus; Vcho/mim, V. cholerae-V. mimicus; Vcinc, V. cincinnatiensis.
FIG. 5.
FIG. 5.
Percentage of total Vibrio-Photobacterium associated with >202-μm zooplankton; Vvul, V. vulnificus; Vcho/mim, V. cholerae-V. mimicus; Vcinc, V. cincinnatiensis.
FIG. 6.
FIG. 6.
Bacterial cells associated with 64- to 202-μm zooplankton per cubic meter of CRW. EUB, Bacteria; GAM, γ-Proteobacteria; Vib/Pho, Vibrio-Photobacterium; Vvul, V. vulnificus; Vcho/mim, V. cholerae-V. mimicus; Vcinc, V. cincinnatiensis. Shaded areas represent the number of cells per square millimeter of surface area; bars represent the number of cells per zooplankter.
FIG. 7.
FIG. 7.
Percentage of total bacterial cells associated with 64- to 202-μm zooplankton. GAM, γ-Proteobacteria; Vib/Pho, Vibrio-Photobacterium; Vvul, V. vulnificus; Vcho/mim, V. cholerae-V. mimicus.
FIG. 8.
FIG. 8.
Percentage of total Vibrio-Photobacterium associated with 64- to 202-μm zooplankton. Vvul, vulnificus; Vcho/mim, V. cholerae-V. mimicus; Vcinc, V. cincinnatiensis.
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