Effects of access to preen gland secretions on mallard plumage

Preen glands exist in almost every bird species and several non-exclusive functions have been proposed for this gland and the oils that it produces. One function generally admitted is that the oily secretions of the preen gland would provide a waterproofing layer when spread over feathers. Alternatively, several authors have proposed that plumage waterproofness is mostly due to the spatial micro-structure of feathers. The purpose of this study was to examine, by manipulating the access to the preen gland, the effect of the preen oil on the plumage waterproofness and condition. To explore this question, we carried out two independent experiments where we temporarily blocked access to the preen gland secretions with a removable mechanism in one group of captive mallards (Anas platyrhynchos), whilst a second group of birds had access to gland secretions. In a long-term experiment (3 months of treatment) and a short-term experiment (10 days), we measured plumage water retention and condition. After 3 months without access to preen glands, we found a significant decrease of plumage condition and an associated increase in plumage water retention. Moreover, we found a significant correlation between plumage condition and water retention ability. In contrast, after 10 days of treatment, no significant effect was found on plumage condition and water retention. Our study shows that preen oil acts to maintain plumage condition and suggests that feather microstructure is essential to maintain plumage waterproofness.     

Innate humoural immunity is related to eggshell bacterial load of European birds: a comparative analysis

Fitness benefits associated with the development of a costly immune system would include not only self-protection against pathogenic microorganisms but also protection of host offspring if it reduces the probability and the rate of vertical transmission of microorganisms. This possibility predicts a negative relationship between probabilities of vertical transmission of symbionts and level of immune response that we here explore inter-specifically. We estimated eggshell bacterial loads by culturing heterotrophic bacteria, Enterococcus, Staphylococcus and Enterobacteriaceae on the eggshells of 29 species of birds as a proxy of vertical transmission of bacteria from mother to offspring. For this pool of species, we also estimated innate immune response (natural antibody and complement (lysis)) of adults, which constitute the main defence against bacterial infection. Multivariate general linear models revealed the predicted negative association between natural antibodies and density of bacteria on the eggshell of 19 species of birds for which we sampled the eggs in more than one nest. Univariate analyses revealed significant associations for heterotrophic bacteria and for Enterobacteriaceae, a group of bacteria that includes important pathogens of avian embryos. Therefore, these results suggest a possible trans-generational benefit of developing a strong immune system by reducing vertical transmission of pathogens.     

An individual and a sex odor signature in kittiwakes? Study of the semiochemical composition of preen secretion and preen down feathers

The importance of olfaction in birds’ social behavior has long been denied. Avian chemical signaling has thus been relatively unexplored. The black-legged kittiwake provides a particularly appropriate model for investigating this topic. Kittiwakes preferentially mate with genetically dissimilar individuals, but the cues used to assess genetic characteristics remain unknown. As in other vertebrates, their body odors may carry individual and sexual signatures thus potentially reliably signaling individual genetic makeup. Here, we test whether body odors in preen gland secretion and preen down feathers in kittiwakes may provide a sex and an individual signature. Using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry, we found that male and female odors differ quantitatively, suggesting that scent may be one of the multiple cues used by birds to discriminate between sexes. We further detected an individual signature in the volatile and nonvolatile fractions of preen secretion and preen down feathers. These results suggest that kittiwake body odor may function as a signal associated with mate recognition. It further suggests that preen odor might broadcast the genetic makeup of individuals, and could be used in mate choice to assess the genetic compatibility of potential mates.     

Soil and preen waxes influence the expression of carotenoid-based plumage coloration

The signaling function of carotenoid-based plumage is mainly determined by the concentration of pigments in feathers. For this reason, most studies of the proximate control of coloration focus on processes during and preceding moult. In great tits Parus major, past research demonstrates that carotenoid-based plumage coloration honestly indicates male quality and, thus, may be a sexually selected signal. In this study, we investigate how dirt and preen oil influence the coloration of carotenoid-based feathers in the great tit. We collected six feathers from each individual bird; three feathers served as controls while the remaining three feathers were washed with a chloroform/methanol mixture to remove soil and preen waxes. We assessed plumage coloration using digital photography. This cleaning procedure slightly enhanced ornamentation; the experimentally cleaned feathers expressed hues shifted towards shorter wavelengths and expressed brighter overall coloration than control feathers. This is the first experimental study conducted on wild birds demonstrating that, in addition to pigment concentration, the presence of preen waxes and soils on feathers may contribute to variation in coloration.     

The effect of metapleural gland secretion on the growth of a mutualistic bacterium on the cuticle of leaf-cutting ants

In Acromyrmex octospinosus leaf-cutting ants the metapleural glands produce an array of antibiotic compounds that serve as a general defence against unwanted microbes on the cuticle. Leaf-cutting ants also grow mutualistic Pseudonocardiaceae bacteria on their cuticle that produce antibiotics controlling a microfungal parasite of their fungus gardens. Interaction between this bacterium and gland secretion therefore seems unavoidable. We document the typical development of bacterial growth on the cuticle of young major workers, show that growth starts a few days after eclosion, and that the maximal cover is reached after 2–3 weeks and gradually declines when workers mature. Experimental closure of the metapleural glands had no effect on the initial exponential growth phase of the bacterium, but significantly reduced the cover during the decline phase. The age-dependent abundance of the bacterium and its partial dependence on metapleural gland secretion support the hypothesis that the abundance of this mutualist is actively regulated.     

Do feather-degrading bacteria actually degrade feather colour? No significant effects of plumage microbiome modifications on feather colouration in wild great tits

Parasites are known to exert selective pressures on host life history traits since the energy and nutrients needed to mount an immune response are no longer available to invest in other functions. Bird feathers harbour numerous microorganisms, some of which are able to degrade feather keratin (keratinolytic microorganisms) and affect feather integrity and colouration in vitro. Although named “feather-degrading” microorganisms, experimental evidence for their effects on feathers of free-living birds is still lacking. Here, we tested whether (i) keratinolytic microorganisms can degrade feathers in vivo and thus modify the colour of feathers during the nesting period and (ii) whether feather microorganisms have a long-term effect on the investment in colouration of newly moulted feathers. We designed treatments to either favour or inhibit bacterial growth, thus experimentally modifying plumage bacterial communities, in a wild breeding population of great tits (Parus major). Our analyses revealed no significant effects of the treatments on feather colours. Moreover, we found that differences in bacterial exposure during nesting did not significantly affect the colouration of newly moulted feathers. Our results suggest that significant feather degradation obtained during in vitro studies could have led to an overestimation of the potential of keratinolytic microorganisms to shape feather colouration in free-living birds.     

Hoopoes color their eggs with antimicrobial uropygial secretions

Uropygial gland secretions are used as cosmetics by some species of birds to color and enhance properties of feathers and teguments, which may signal individual quality. Uropygial secretions also reach eggshells during incubation and, therefore, may influence the coloration of birds’ eggs, a trait that has attracted the attention of evolutionary biologists for more than one century. The color of hoopoe eggs typically changes along incubation, from bluish-gray to greenish-brown. Here, we test experimentally the hypothesis that dark uropygial secretion of females is responsible for such drastic color change. Moreover, since uropygial secretion of hoopoes has antimicrobial properties, we also explore the association between color and antimicrobial activity of the uropygial secretion of females. We found that eggs stayed bluish-gray in nests where female access to the uropygial secretion was experimentally blocked. Furthermore, experimental eggs that were maintained in incubators and manually smeared with uropygial secretion experienced similar color changes that naturally incubated eggs did, while control eggs that were not in contact with the secretions did not experience such color changes. All these results strongly support the hypothesis that female hoopoes use their uropygial gland secretion to color the eggs. Moreover, saturation of the uropygial secretion was associated with antimicrobial activity against Bacillus licheniformis. Given the known antimicrobial potential of uropygial secretions of birds, this finding opens the possibility that in scenarios of sexual selection, hoopoes in particular and birds in general signal antimicrobial properties of their uropygial secretion by mean of changes in egg coloration along incubation.     

Do feather-degrading bacteria affect sexually selected plumage color?

Models of parasite-mediated sexual selection propose that males with more elaborate sexual traits will have fewer parasites. These models have generally been tested using metazoan or protozoan parasites of the blood, gut, or integument. Fewer studies have examined sexual ornaments in relation to bacterial infections. While most surface bacteria are harmless or beneficial, feather-degrading bacteria may have detrimental effects. In this study, we examined the relationships between overall bacterial load, feather-degrading bacterial load, and sexually selected carotenoid-based plumage color in a wild population of house finches (Carpodacus mexicanus). We found that males with the redder plumage preferred by females had similar overall bacterial loads, but lower feather-degrading bacterial loads, than males with less red plumage. These data suggest that plumage color can signal abundance of feather-degrading bacteria to potential mates. It remains unclear whether feather-degrading bacteria directly or indirectly affect plumage color, but the observed correlations suggest that feather-degrading bacteria may play some role in sexual selection.     

不同硝化负荷MBR去除类固醇雌激素的研究

以雌酮(E1)和17α-乙炔基雌二醇(EE2)2种典型类固醇雌激素为研究对象,考察了不同硝化负荷好氧MBR对其的去除特性.结果表明,硝化负荷为6.19,0.35,10.58mg/(gMLSS·d)的MBR对E1平均去除率分别为72.33%、64.06%和71.77%,去除负荷分别为29.98,23.06,27.66mg/(gMLSS·d);对EE2平均去除率分别为55.40%、42.87%和58.90%,去除负荷分别为22.39,16.54,23.58mg/(gMLSS·d).E1去除效果均优于EE2.MBR硝化负荷与氨氧化细菌之间有较好的线性关系;而SEs去除负荷与氨氧化细菌及硝化负荷之间不满足线性关系.硝化负荷为0.35mg/(gMLSS·d)时,SEs去除负荷较低,硝化负荷达到6.19mg/(gMLSS·d)时,SEs的去除负荷显著提高,而当硝化负荷增加到10.58mg/(gMLSS·d)时,SEs去除负荷不再有效提高.     

陕北石油污染土壤微生物种群变化及影响因素

采集陕北地区10个产油区县的石油污染土壤和洁净土壤,利用化学分析法和分子生物学技术对土壤理化性质和细菌群落结构进行测定,采用Pearson相关性分析和冗余分析研究石油污染对土壤理化性质、微生物种群分布和多样性的影响.结果表明,与未受污染土壤相比,石油污染土壤的NO₃^--N、总有机碳、全碳、全硫含量和碳氮比增加,pH值减小;土壤细菌群落均匀度明显降低,丰富度无明显变化.不同地区土壤受到石油污染后,一些优势细菌的相对丰度变化明显.变形菌门（Proteobacteria）和绿弯菌门（Chloroflexi）的相对丰度变化与石油烃含量呈显著正相关,Candidatus Saccharibacteria的相对丰度变化与石油烃含量呈极显著负相关.定边、靖边、子长、绥德、吴起、安塞和富县石油污染土壤中假单胞菌属（Pseudomonas）、诺卡氏菌属（Nocardioides）、节杆菌属（Arthrobacter）、不动杆菌属（Acinetobacter）、Alkanindiges、Gaiella和Gp4相对丰度显著增加;定边、靖边、子长和绥德石油污染土壤中Ohtaekwangia、假诺卡氏菌属（Pseudonocardia）、Ramlibacter、Sacchariacteria_genera_incertae_sedis相对丰度显著降低.假单胞菌属（Pseudomonas）、诺卡氏菌属（Nocardioides）、节杆菌属（Arthrobacter）和Alkanindiges为陕北地区石油污染土壤中的主要“嗜油菌”.土壤pH值、含水率、总石油烃和总有机碳等理化性质是影响陕北油田区石油污染土壤微生物种群结构的关键因素.     

Bioaugmentation and quorum sensing disruption as solutions to increase nitrate removal in sequencing batch reactors treating nitrate-rich wastewater

Bioaugmentation of denitrifying bacteria can serve as a promising technique to improve nutrient removal during wastewater treatment. While denitrification inhibition by bacterial quorum sensing (QS) in Pseudomonas aeruginosa has been indicated, the application of bacterial QS disruption to improve nitrate removal from wastewater has not been investigated. In this study, the effect of bioaugmentation of P. aeruginosa SD-1 on nitrate removal in sequencing batch reactors that treat nitrate rich wastewater was assessed. Additionally, the potential of a quorum sensing inhibitor (QSI) to improve denitrification following bacterial bioaugmentation was evaluated. Curcumin, a natural plant extract, was used as a QSI. The chemical oxygen demand (COD) and initial nitrate concentration of the influent were 700±20 mg/L and 200±10 mg/L respectively, and their respective concentrations in the effluent were 56.9±3.2 mg/L and 9.0±3.2 mg/L. Thus, the results revealed that bioaugmentation of P. aeruginosa SD-1 resulted in an increased nitrate removal to 82%±1%. Further, nitrate was almost completely removed following the addition of the QSI, and activities of nitrate reductase and nitrite reductase increased by 88%±2% and 74%±2% respectively. The nitrogen mass balance indicated that aerobic denitrification was employed as the main pathway for nitrogen removal in the reactors. The results imply that bioaugmentation and modulation of QS in denitrifying bacteria, through the use of a QSI, can enhance nitrate removal during wastewater treatment.     

ABR-MBR组合工艺短程硝化过程的微生物种群

采用Miseq高通量测序技术研究氨氮进水负荷对ABR-MBR组合工艺MBR池中微生物种群的丰度及优势菌群的影响.结果表明,温度为28~32℃、pH值为7.1~7.4、DO为0.5~1mg/L并逐步提高氨氮进水负荷的条件下,可以使氨氧化菌（AOB）大量富集,并抑制亚硝酸盐氧化菌（NOB）的活性,从而实现短程硝化的稳定运行.在氨氮进水负荷为0.94kg/（m³·d）时,平均亚硝酸盐积累率达到60%以上,氨氮去除率稳定在90%.在系统运行过程中,变形菌门是系统中的优势菌门,Nitrosomonas的相对丰度由4.97%升至22.56%,硝化螺菌属的相对丰度为0.06%~2.12%.因此,ABR-MBR组合工艺短程硝化过程中亚硝酸盐积累率与AOB的活性、相对丰度密切相关,即AOB的大量富集可以有效实现短程硝化,而NOB的小幅度增长不会影响短程硝化的实现.系统中微生物种群的多样性和功能微生物的结构稳定性保证了ABR-MBR工艺具有稳定和较好的处理效果.     

添加猪粪对不同施肥历史土壤细菌群落的影响

为探讨粪肥携带的微生物对土壤微生物的影响，以长期施用粪肥和化肥的土壤为研究对象，耦合传统微生物学培养方法和现代分子微生物学方法，分析了猪粪和灭菌猪粪对2种土壤的细菌数量、群落结构和热代谢活性的影响.结果表明，以9.0t/hm²的用量施入时，猪粪和灭菌猪粪对两种土壤中的可培养细菌数量以及细菌16S-rRNA拷贝数均无明显影响；土壤中的土著微生物对猪粪携带的外源细菌在土壤中定殖具有明显的抑制作用，将2种土壤灭菌后添加猪粪，可培养细菌平均数量较未灭菌土壤分别增加45.96和96.21倍.粪肥输入的化学物质未导致土壤细菌群落结构和相对丰度发生明显变化；而粪肥输入的外源细菌Marinilabiaceae、Porphyromonadaceae、Bacteroidale和Pseudomonadaceae则可以在长期施用化肥的土壤中定殖并对相应的细菌丰度造成影响，但是在长期施用粪肥的土壤中，这些细菌在最开始就被抑制.添加粪肥提高了长期施用化肥土壤的微生物热代谢活性，但对长期施用粪肥的土壤无明显影响.长期施用化肥的土壤受粪源细菌的影响较大，而长期施用粪肥的土壤对粪肥的敏感度降低，对粪肥携带的外源细菌的抑制作用增强.     

Revealing the changes of bacterial community from water source to consumers tap: A full-scale investigation in eastern city of China

This study profiled the bacterial community variations of water from four water treatment systems, including coagulation, sedimentation, sand filtration, ozonation-biological activated carbon filtration (O₃-BAC), disinfection, and the tap water after the distribution process in eastern China. The results showed that different water treatment processes affected the bacterial community structure in different ways. The traditional treatment processes, including coagulation, sedimentation and sand filtration, reduced the total bacterial count, while they had little effect on the bacterial community structure in the treated water (before disinfection). Compared to the traditional treatment process, O₃-BAC reduced the relative abundance of Sphingomonas in the finished water. In addition, ozonation may play a role in reducing the relative abundance of Mycobacterium. NaClO and ClO₂ had different effects on the bacterial community in the finished water. The relative abundance of some bacteria (e.g. Flavobacterium, Phreatobacter and Porphyrobacter) increased in the finished water after ClO₂ disinfection. The relative abundance of Mycobacterium and Legionella, which have been widely reported as waterborne opportunistic pathogens, increased after NaClO disinfection. In addition, some microorganisms proliferated and grew in the distribution system, which could lead to turbidity increases in the tap water. Compared to those in the finished water, the relative abundance of Sphingomonas, Hyphomicrobium, Phreatobacter, Rheinheimera, Pseudomonas and Acinetobacter increased in the tap water disinfected with NaClO, while the relative abundance of Mycobacterium increased in the tap water disinfected with ClO₂. Overall, this study provided the detailed variation in the bacterial community in the drinking water system.     

外源性典型N-酰化高丝氨酸内酯类化合物(AHLs)信号分子对污水处理过程N2O产生的影响

群体感应信号分子对污水处理过程中微生物行为和功能微生物含量具有重要影响,但目前其对生物脱氮过程中氧化亚氮(N₂O)产生的影响尚不明确.为探明群体感应与N₂O产生的关联机制,选取两种N-酰化高丝氨酸内酯类化合物(AHLs)信号分子C₆-HSL(N-己酰L-高丝氨酸内酯)和C₈-HSL(N-辛酰-L-高丝氨酸内酯),在AO工艺中研究其外源性投加对污水处理效果、N₂O产生特征及微生物群落结构的影响.结果表明:①信号分子C₆-HSL和C₈-HSL能够显著提高处理系统的生物脱氮效率,2个反应器的硝化速率显著升高,NH₄+-N去除率分别提高了1.7%和2.2%,TN去除率分别提高了7.6%和5.4%,但COD_Cr去除率没有发生明显变化.②信号分子对N₂O产生量影响显著,投加C₆-HSL和C₈-HSL的反应器N₂O产生总量分别增加了39.0%和11.0%,N₂O增量的主要产生途径为好氧处理阶段的硝化细菌反硝化反应.③微生物分析结果显示,污泥中的微生物群落结构,以及与生物脱氮相关的功能微生物含量发生显著变化,投加C₆-HSL和C₈-HSL的反应器氨氧化细菌(AOB)相对丰度由0.3%分别提至0.5%和0.4%,硝化细菌(NOB)相对丰度由0.03%分别增至0.07%和0.08%,反硝化细菌(DNB)的相对丰度由6.3%分别升至8.5%和7.5%.研究显示,AHLs类外源性信号分子能够显著提高污水生物脱氮过程中关键功能微生物AOB、NOB和DNB的相对丰度,进而提升污水处理效果,但同时增加系统N₂O释放量.      

不同营养环境下棕鞭藻共栖细菌的群落结构比较

微藻富含油脂,可以用作合成生物柴油的原料,被认为是最具发展前景的生物质能源.微藻的光合培养体系往往是非纯培养体系,现有研究更多地关注微藻生物量的积累及其对废水环境的净化效果,而对体系中广泛存在的共栖细菌缺乏全面深入的认知.本文通过对棕鞭藻共栖细菌的16S rDNA基因进行高通量测序分析,研究棕鞭藻（Ochromonas）在生活废水、BG11及Glu+BG11（BG11中添加10 g·L^-1葡萄糖）3种不同营养环境中共栖细菌的群落结构差异,进而阐明有机物及复杂废水环境对微藻共栖细菌群落结构的影响效果.结果表明,生活废水、BG11及Glu+BG11 3种营养环境中共栖细菌群落结构存在显著差异,生活废水体系中生物多样性显著高于BG11及Glu+BG11体系,生活废水中共栖细菌香浓（Shannon）多样性指数高达4.32,其次是BG11及Glu+BG11,Shannon指数分别为2.13、1.54.从共栖细菌群落的组成上看,3种营养环境中优势菌属差异显著,生活废水中优势菌属有芽殖杆菌属（Gemmobacter）、鞘脂单胞菌属（Sphingomonas）及玫瑰球菌属（Roseococcus）,相对丰度分别为14.46%、14.9%、14.54%,其中,芽殖杆菌属只在生活废水中有较高丰度.BG11中寡养单胞菌属（Stenotrophomonas）与玫瑰球菌属的丰度分别高达26.86%、51.03%.Glu+BG11中寡养单胞菌属较BG11中显著增加,达到82.41%,而玫瑰球菌属较生活废水及BG11中则明显降低,菌群丰度仅为6.2%.对比3种营养环境,玫瑰球菌属均具有较高丰度,是棕鞭藻良好的共生菌.     

降解乙苯生物滴滤塔稳定运行期生物膜特征及微生物多样性研究

通过检测降解乙苯生物滴滤塔(BTF)长期稳定运行过程中生物量积累、塔内压降改变、生物膜显微结构特征、微生物种群分布及优势菌株分子测序,探讨BTF稳定运行期间生物膜相结构、特征及菌群多样性协作作用的规律.结果表明,生物滴滤塔运行95 d期间的降解性能稳定,降解效率保持在90%以上,最大去除负荷为62.4 g·m~(-3)·h~(-1);BTF稳定运行期间生物膜形态、颜色和厚度沿着BTF塔内废气的流向呈现不均匀分布和梯度改变的特征.生物量和生物膜的致密度沿气流方向逐步递减;塔内压降随着反应时间延长逐渐增加,但未出现堵塞现象;生物膜种群营养结构复杂,食物链长且相互交叉,高端营养级微生物种群所占比例较高;采用聚合酶链式反应-变性梯度凝胶电泳(PCR-DGGE)和分子测序技术研究降解乙苯生物滴滤塔填料表面菌群的分布特征,结果表明,在BTF不同塔层上菌群分布稍有差异,表现出明显的空间多样性,但是整个BTF生物膜具有一定的稳定性,主要的优势菌群为变形杆菌,其中优势菌包括3种伽马变形杆菌和4种贝塔变形杆菌.     

抗生素降解菌剂对猪粪堆肥腐熟和细菌群落演替的影响

接种抗生素降解菌可促进畜禽粪便中抗生素去除,但相关污染物降解菌对堆肥进程及土著微生物群落演替的影响研究甚少.分析一种以抗生素降解菌种为核心的复合微生物菌剂在猪粪抗生素去除中的作用,探究接种菌剂对猪粪堆肥理化进程以及细菌群落演替的影响.结果表明,抗生素降解菌剂接种处理猪粪中抗生素去除率达81.95%,与对照相比,其抗生素残留总量下降42.18%.在堆肥条件下,接种抗生素降解菌剂促进了猪粪堆肥升温,加速了堆体水分去除,降低了堆肥中氨气和硫化氢累积排放量,使得堆肥产物中氮磷钾总养分含量和萝卜种子发芽指数分别提高6.80%和68.33%,同时堆肥产物中稳定性有机质含量增加,纤维素和半纤维素等难分解物质含量下降.细菌群落结构分析指出,接种菌剂提高了堆肥中放线菌门和厚壁菌门细菌的相对丰度,其中与堆体升温正相关的嗜热菌丰度显著增加（P<0.01）,而致病细菌相对丰度下降.细菌群落共现网络分析表明,接种菌剂改变堆肥土著细菌群落互作模式,降低了细菌群落网络的复杂度和连通性,优化了有益细菌与其他菌群的生态关系,为建立新的和更加健康的堆肥细菌群落奠定了基础,可为抗生素降解菌剂在堆肥中的应用开发提供了科学依据.     

Succession of bacterial community along with the removal of heavy crude oil pollutants by multiple biostimulation treatments in the Yellow River Delta, China

Multiple biostimulation treatments were applied to enhance the removal of heavy crude oil pollutants in the saline soil of Yellow River Delta. Changes of the soil bacterial community were monitored using the terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) and clone library analyses. The 140-day microcosm experiments showed that low C:N:P ratio, high availability of surfactant and addition of bulking agent significantly enhanced the performance, leading to the highest total petroleum hydrocarbon removal. Meanwhile, the bacterial community was remarkably changed by the multiple biostimulation treatments, with the Deltaproteobacteria, Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, Acidobacteria and Planctomycetes being inhibited and the Alpha- and Beta-proteobacteria and some unknown Gammaproteobacteria bacteria being enriched. In addition, different hydrocarbon-degraders came to power in the following turn. At the first stage, the Alcanivorax-veldXed Gammaproteobacteria bacteria dominated in the biostimulated soil and contributed mainly to the biodegradation of easily degradable portion of the heavy crude oil. Then the bacteria belonging to Alphaproteobacteria, followed by bacteria belonging to Candidate division OD1, became the dominant oil-degraders to degrade the remaining recalcitrant constituents of the heavy crude oil.     

南海北部细菌丰度和细菌生产力分布及其与环境因子相关性

以2014年8月南海北部海水样品为研究对象,利用平板计数法和流式细胞仪计数法对南海北部表层和垂直海域可培养细菌和细菌总数分布状况进行研究,对细菌生产力进行测定,并结合环境因子进行相关性分析。结果表明:珠江口到南海北部海域,水平方向可培养细菌总数变化范围是3.70×102~1.42×103 CFU/mL,细菌总数变化范围是5.12×105~1.61×106 cells/mL,细菌生产力的变化范围是0.03~0.40 mg/m3/h;垂直方向上可培养细菌变化范围是1.08×103~9.00×103 CFU/mL,细菌生产力变化范围是0.01~0.08 mg/m3/h,其中表层海水中的细菌生产力明显高于底层。与环境因子相关性分析表明,水平方向上,影响南海北部表层海水细菌总数和细菌生产力的主要因素是温度、盐度、硝酸盐（NO₃-N）、硅酸盐（SiO₃-Si）、亚硝酸盐（NO₂-N）和磷酸盐（PO₄-P）（P < 0.05）;垂直方向上,影响南海北部可培养细菌总数的主要因素是NO₂-N（P < 0.05）,影响细菌生产力的主要影响因素是温度和盐度（P < 0.05）。可见,南海北部表层海水中细菌总数高于可培养细菌总数2~3个数量级,表明该海域表层海水存在大量不可培养细菌;细菌的生命活动在海水表层相较底层更为活跃。