Distribution of Aerobic Bacteria Which Contain Bacteriochlorophyll <i>a</i>

Abstract

Sixteen strains of aerobic bacteria which contain bacteriochlorophyll a were isolated from the samples collected in aerobic marine environments: thalli of Enteromorpha linza, Porphyra sp., Sargussum horneri; beach sand; and the surface seawater from Aburatsubo Inlet. When they occurred, their proportions among the aerobic heterotrophic populations ranged from 0.9 to 1.1% in the seaweed samples and from 1.2 to 6.3% in the beach sand samples and were 0.9% in the seawater sample. The results suggested that the aerobic photopigmented bacteria widely inhabit aerobic marine environments.