Luminescent bacteria and deep-sea macrourids (Pisces: gadiformes) from the Gulf of Mexico /.

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Bennington, John Paul
Other Authors: Darnell, Rezneat (degree committee member.), Dronen, Norman (degree committee member.), Pequegnat, Willis (degree committee member.)
Format: Thesis Book
Language:English
Published: [College Station, Tex.] : Bennington, 1979.
Subjects:
Online Access:Link to ProQuest copy
Link to OAKTrust copy
Description
Abstract:A taxonomic analysis of luminescent bacteria from the light organs of five different species (four genera) of fishes of the family Macrouridae, 39 non-symbiotic luminescent isolants from nearshore and offshore marine environments, and non-luminescent bacteria from fishes and nearshore environments, was conducted to assess ecologic relationships between organisms found in various environments and those from photophores of macrourid fishes. Four species of luminescent bacteria described in the literature are present in the Gulf of Mexico. Luminescent bacteria from the macrourid photophore were all found to be strains of Photobacterium phosphoreum. Strain differences appeared to be more related to geographic origin than to host. Beneckea harveyi organisms were found in nearshore sediment and water samples. Photobacterium fischeri organisms were isolated from both nearshore and offshore water and sediment samples. Photobacterium leiognathi were found in the alimentary canal of a chlorophthalmid fish. The results indicate that a single luminescent bacteria species occurs in the photophores of macrourid fishes in the Gulf of Mexico. Data from growth requirement analysis indicate that host factors together with physical characteristics of the deep-sea environment probably influence the microecology of the light organ such that one specific luminescent bacterial form exists in that organ.
Item Description:"Major subject: Oceanography."
Vita.
Physical Description:xi, 152 leaves : illustrations ; 29 cm
Bibliography:Includes bibliographical references (leaves 125-131).