A new research by a marine microbial ecologist at the University of Georgia in US has suggested that bacteria in coastal waters perform a much wider range of functions than previously believed, thus indicating that they are ‘generalists’ and not restricted to just one activity.
According to the research, the roles played by bacteria in coastal waters aren’t nearly as specific as some scientists suspected.In fact, these bacteria are generalists in how they get their nourishment and may have the option of doing many different things, depending on what works best at the time.
While the new research confirms predictions by ecological theorists, it is among the first clear demonstrations at the experimental level that coastal ocean bacteria can act as “tidewater utility infielders,” changing their functions depending on local food supply.
“If you asked me earlier how different species of coastal bacteria use their available food supplies, I would have said each species is optimized for very specialized uses,” said Mary Ann Moran, the marine microbial ecologist who had led the research.
“But our new research says most are carrying out multiple processes when it comes to carbon cycling,” she added.
This fact was established when the researchers examined the metabolic capabilities of bacteria involved in breaking down organic carbon compounds.
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Understanding more about the genomes of bacteria has allowed researchers to ask much narrower questions than ever before, and the result has been a new ability to understand how marine bacteria live and interact in the ocean.
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Source-ANI
SPH/M
