Combined autoradiography and immunofluorescence for estimation of single cell activity by ammonium-oxidizing bacteria

Journal Article · Thu Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1984 · Limnol. Oceanogr.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.4319/lo.1984.29.2.0402· OSTI ID:6538646

Ward, B B

Immunofluorescence and /sup 14/CO/sub 2/ autoradiography were used for simultaneously enumerating and assaying the autotrophic activity of ammonium-oxidizing bacteria in seawater. Relative activity (/sup 14/CO/sub 2/ assimilation as measured by autoradiography) and abundance were measured in simulated in situ incubations at seven stations in the primary NO/sub 2//sup -/ maximum region of the Northeast Pacific Ocean. More than 10/sup 4/ cells liter/sup -1/ were present; relative activity often showed a peak near the surface and an increase in the NO/sub 2//sup -/ max region below the photic zone. The method permits assessment of individual cell activity; most cells at all depths were active in CO/sub 2/ assimilation, usually at low and quite variable levels. There were no differences in relative activity between samples incubated under simulated in situ conditions and in the dark. Relative activity was positively correlated with the abundance of ammonium-oxidizing bacteria, temperature, total dark CO/sub 2/ assimilation (as measured by liquid scintillation counting of replicate samples), and pheopigment concentration, and negatively correlated with oxygen concentration.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Washington, Seattle
• DOE Contract Number: AT06-76EV75026
• OSTI ID: 6538646
• Journal Information: Limnol. Oceanogr.; (United States), Journal Name: Limnol. Oceanogr.; (United States) Vol. 29:2; ISSN LIOCA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550701* -- Microbiology-- Tracer Techniques
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
AMMONIUM COMPOUNDS
AUTORADIOGRAPHY
BACTERIA
CARBON 14 COMPOUNDS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON DIOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
METABOLISM
MICROORGANISMS
NITRIFICATION
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN DIOXIDE
NITROGEN OXIDES
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
SEAWATER
TRACER TECHNIQUES
WATER