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The seasonal selection by temperature of heterotrophic bacteria in an intertidal sediment

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Abstract

The seasonal selection by temperature of bacteria in an intertidal sediment was investigated, and a simplified method of demonstrating the temperature adaption of a mixed heterotrophic bacterial population was suggested. The method relied upon counting the bacteria which grew at only two separate incubation-temperatures, and compared favourably with more tedions methods which utilise replicated cultures grown at a large number of incubation temperatures. Using this technique, a temperature adaptation index was calculated for the heterotrophic bacterial population and changes in the value of this index were shown to be correlated with seasonal changes of environmental temperature.

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Author notes

  1. D. B. Nedwell

    Present address: The University of the South Pacific, Suva, Fiji

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Marine Science Laboratories, Menai Bridge, Anglesey, UK

    D. B. Nedwell & G. D. Floodgate

Authors
  1. D. B. Nedwell
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  2. G. D. Floodgate
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Communicated by G. F. Humphrey, Cronulla

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Nedwell, D.B., Floodgate, G.D. The seasonal selection by temperature of heterotrophic bacteria in an intertidal sediment. Marine Biology 11, 306–310 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00352448

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00352448

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