Environmental control of Vibrio spp. abundance and community structure in tropical waters
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2019
Abstract
We measured Vibrio spp. distribution and community profile in the tropical estuary of Port Klang and coastal water of Port Dickson, Malaysia. Vibrio spp. abundance ranged from 15 to 2395 colony forming units mL-1, and was driven by salinity and chlorophyll a (Chl a) concentration. However, the effect of salinity was pronounced only when salinity was <20 ppt. A total of 27 Vibrio spp. were identified, and theVibrio spp. community at Port Dickson was more diverse (H' = 1.94 ± 0.21). However species composition between Port Dickson and Port Klang were similar. Two frequently occurring Vibrio spp. were V. owensii and V. rotiferianus, which exhibited relatively higher growth rates (ANCOVA: F > 4.338, P < 0.05). Co-culture experiments between fast- and slow-growing Vibrio spp. revealed that fast-growing Vibrio spp. (r-strategists) were overwhelmed by slower-growing Vibrio spp. (K-strategists) when nutrient conditions were set towards oligotrophy. In response to resource availability, the intrinsic growth strategy of each Vibrio spp. determined its occurrence and the development of Vibrio spp. community composition. © FEMS 2019.
Keywords
Vibrio spp. abundance, growth rate, grazing loss rate, tropical coastal water, r/K-strategies, Vibrio spp. diversity
Divisions
InstituteofBiologicalSciences,ocean
Funders
University of Malaya (PG279‒2016A and UM.C/625/1/HIR/050),Institution Centre of Excellence (HiCOE) Phase II Fund, Ministry of Higher Education (IOES-2014D)
Publication Title
FEMS Microbiology Ecology
Volume
95
Issue
11
Publisher
Oxford University Press