Heterotrophic Bacterial Community Structures in Subsurface Water of the Tropical Indian Ocean

Vineeta, , (2013) Heterotrophic Bacterial Community Structures in Subsurface Water of the Tropical Indian Ocean. Masters thesis, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata.

PDF (MS Dissertation of Vineeta (08MS60)) Vineeta-08MS60-MSThesis.pdf - Submitted Version Restricted to Repository staff only Download (1MB)

Abstract

A study was carried out from the Tropical Indian Ocean to understand the heterotrophic bacterial community structures using a culture–independent 16S rDNA clone library and sequencing approach. Samples were collected on board ORV Sagar Kanya from several geographical study points and three of such points were analyzed during this study. Results suggested that the heterotrophic bacterial communities constituted more than 60% of the total bacterial population from the study points. Based on sequence analysis and phylogenetic approach, Proteobacteria was the dominant clade across all the stations followed by Bacteroides and Cyanobacteria. Several novel clades were also encountered during the study which highlights their importance in maintaining the marine microbial loop of Tropical Indian Ocean. This study for the first time confirms the presence of heterotrophic bacterial communities in this part of the Indian Ocean and suggests that they play major role in breakdown of sinking particulate matter in the water column thereby contributing to the overall functioning of the marine microbial loop.

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