MARINE BACTERIA OF CARDIGAN BAY. I. BACTERIA OF AN OFF-SHORE AREA

SUMMARY: A study of marine bacteria from a fixed off-shore area in Cardigan Bay showed there was little significance in the variation between numbers from different levels within 8 fathoms deep. There was a suggestion of seasonal variation in surface water in colony counts at 15–18°. In general, the bacterial content was highest over the summer months, but showed little direct correlation with temperature, pH or light.
Strains were mainly obligate halophytes and small Gram-negative rods predominated (96%). Nearly 50% of strains isolated liquefied gelatin; otherwise, biochemical reactions were weak. The proportion of pigmented strains was low.
Alien bacteria were present in irregularly varying numbers in all samples and showed no seasonal variation. Coli-aerogenes strains were recorded in small numbers, at all depths and in all seasons, but Bact. coli type I only rarely occurred.