AME 58:303-310 (2010)  -  DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/ame01371

ABSTRACT: With the ability of photoheterotrophic metabolism, aerobic anoxygenic phototrophic (AAP) bacteria are an important bacterial group in the marine microbial community. We investigated the diel variations of AAP bacteria in the coral reef water of the South China Sea, and report, for the first time, the frequency of dividing cells (FDC) of AAP bacteria. Our results showed that AAP bacterial abundance ranged from 1.54 × 10⁴ ± 3.21 × 10² to 3.59 × 10⁴ ± 3.04 × 10³ cells ml^–1. The diel pattern of AAP bacterial abundance had 2 peak values, one at night around 21:00 h and the other in the daytime at around 9:00 h. Tidal current and light were the primary factors controlling the diel variations of AAP bacteria in this area during our study period. FDC values in AAP and total bacteria were both higher during the night than during the day. The FDC values in AAP bacteria (3.53 ± 1.09 to 9.43 ± 0.80%) were significantly higher than those in total bacteria (1.06 ± 0.06 to 3.14 ± 1.38%), indicating higher growth rate of AAP bacteria than total bacteria in the study area.

KEY WORDS: Aerobic anoxygenic phototrophic (AAP) bacteria · Diel variation · Frequency of dividing cells · FDC · Abundance

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Cite this article as: Liu R, Zhang Y, Jiao N (2010) Diel variations in frequency of dividing cells and abundance of aerobic anoxygenic phototrophic bacteria in a coral reef system of the South China Sea. Aquat Microb Ecol 58:303-310. https://doi.org/10.3354/ame01371 Export citation Share:    Facebook - - linkedIn