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Updated: Aug 9, 2026
22:38
Chemotactic Response of Marine Micro-Organisms to Micro-Scale Nutrient Layers
Published on: May 28, 2007
Effect of interfaces on small, starved marine bacteria
S Kjelleberg1, B A Humphrey, K C Marshall
1School of Microbiology, University of New South Wales, Kensington, N.S.W. 2033, Australia.
Applied and Environmental Microbiology
|May 1, 1982
Summary
Marine Vibrio bacteria exhibit enhanced survival at interfaces during starvation. These interfaces provide favorable nutrient conditions and promote smaller cell size, increasing survival advantage.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Marine Biology
- Bacterial Physiology
Background:
- Copiotrophic marine Vibrio sp. strain DW1 previously demonstrated increased numbers and viable small cell formation under starvation in batch culture.
- This strain exhibits unique survival strategies at interfaces compared to the aqueous phase.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the survival advantage of Vibrio sp. strain DW1 at various interfaces under starvation conditions.
- To elucidate the mechanisms by which interfaces enhance bacterial survival.
Main Methods:
- Observing Vibrio sp. strain DW1 behavior at air-water and solid-water interfaces under nutrient-limited conditions.
- Assessing cell morphology, motility, and growth responses to nutrient availability at interfaces.
Main Results:
- Small cells of Vibrio sp. strain DW1 were observed at nutrient-free air-water interfaces.
- Nutrient addition at the air-water interface rapidly increased cell size.
- Motility was sustained longer at solid-water interfaces.
- Regrowth and division occurred at lower nutrient concentrations at solid-liquid interfaces compared to the aqueous phase.
Conclusions:
- Interfaces offer survival advantages to starved copiotrophic bacteria like Vibrio sp. strain DW1.
- Interfaces act as nutrient-rich microenvironments.
- Interfaces induce smaller cell size, enhancing surface-to-volume ratio and packing density for improved survival.
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