Distribution and types of bacteria isolated from an inland saltern

The physico-chemical characteristics and bacterial populations of an inland saltern were studied. The well water leading into the ponds of the saltern differed from sea water in its total salinity (18% (w/v)) and had lower Mg2+ and SO4(2-) contents and much higher contents of Cl-, Ca2+- and K+. A high proportion of halotolerant microorganisms were isolated, although marine bacteria were not found. Most of the halophilic strains isolated appeared to be typical moderate halophiles, and included six groups: Vibrio (39%), Deleya-Pseudomonas (28%), Acinetobacter (6.5%), Flavobacterium (6.5%), Paracoccus (1.5%), Planococcus (1.5%) and non-classified (17%). All extreme halophiles could be assigned to Halobacterium (31%) and Halococcus (68%).