Epibiotic bacteria associated with microcrustaceans in the overlying water of paddy fields

Abstract

The surface of micro crustaceans collected from the overlying water of a submerged paddy soil was observed in detail by scanning electron microscopy. Epibiotic bacteria were less diverse compared to free-living bacteria in the overlying water. Specific bacteria appeared to preferentially colonize certain parts of microcrustaceans. The epibiotic bacteria, the sites they colonized and their density depended on the kinds of microcrustaceans (Moina macrocopa, Cyclopidae, Cypretta sp., and Tanycypris sp.). These results suggested the presence of significant associations in the overlying water between specific groups of bacteria and microcrustaceans. © 1997 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.