Ecological distribution of vibrios and their significance in coastal ecosystem

Abstract

Coastal ecosystem is important because it bridges ocean and land. The brackish water receiving nutrients originated from land may nourish heterotrophic bacteria including Vibrio species, some of which may pose potential hazards to the public, marine lives and migratory birds in the coastal environment. A rich diversity of Vibrios is evident in the coastal and open oceans, but information on their ecophysiological adaptation and survival is still very limited. Their important roles in the geobiochemical cycles of nutrients have not been exolored adequately. In addition, it also been recently discovered that these Vibrios harbor a very rich of plasmids of various sizes with little knowledge on their function to the hosts. This information deserves attention in Vibrio ecology and their role in the various ecosystems for a better understanding of their survival and physiological function.