Zobell ( 1946) was of the opinion that aside from terrestrial forms often found in sediments
and nearcoast waters there must be marine nitrifiers as well which had escaped detection.
With water from the Atlantic Watson (1965) was the first to successfully isolate a marine
nitrite bacterium, Nitrosococcus (Nitrosocystis) oceanus, which was still detectable at a
depth of 1 500 m. But since less than 1 cell was present in 1 ml of water, the annual nitrite
production only amounted to about 0.07 mg at NO 2 -N per liter. Later, Watson and
Waterbury (1971) also discovered the marine nitrate bacteria, Nitrospina gracilis and
Nitrococcus mobilis. The prediction of Zobell was, thereby, fulfilled, and Brandt’s theory
was finally confirmed after roughly 70 years. Research of the last 10 years has centered on
quantitative aspects of nitrogen recycling and, hence, also nitrification. New methods
such as the utilization of specific inhibiting substances and isotopes found application.
The formation of hydrogen sulfide in marine systems has also long been a topic of major
interest. In 1890, Andrusow determined that hydrogen sulfide is present in the deeper
zones of the Black Sea.
In view of the small concentrations of proteinaceous substances in vast areas of the ocean
and high sulfate content (2.701 g per kg seawater) bacterial sulfate reduction in the sea was
postulated quite early.
Zelinski and Bursilowski (1893) were the first to isolate marine bacteria from the mud of
the Black Sea capable of dissimilative sulfate reduction, they were named Vibrio hydrosulfurens and Bacterium hydrosulfureum ponticum. These are obligate anaerobes reducing sulfate, sulfide and thiosulfate to H 2 S without the formation of molecular sulfur and
may represent one of the oldest forms of bacterial life on earth. According to Peck (1966)
their active form can be traced back more than 3 billion years through fractionation of
sulfur isotopes.
Described by Postgate (1979) in the treatise, “The sulfate reducing bacteria”, are 5 spore
forming Desulfotomaculum and 7 Desulfovibrio species. It is, however, noted that
further genera probably exist (Desulforistella, Desulfomonas).
The proportion on hydrogen sulfide formation attributable to bacterial sulfate reduction
in marine areas was a point of long standing dispute. This has only very recently been
clarified and findings in the literature are, not surprisingly, largely contradictory.
According to investigations by Daniltschenko and Tschigirin (1926) 99.4 - 99.6 % of
hydrogen sulfide in the Black Sea originates from desulfurication and only 0.4 - 0.6 %
from protein decay. This was contested by Kriss (1961), who felt Tschigirin and Daniltschenko’s calculations were errorful. He assumed about 50 % is due to protein decay.
Deuser ( 1970) recorded values of 3 - 5 % in the Black Sea and Jorgensen ( 1977) calculated
that 3 % of the sulfide in sediments from Limfjord originate as organic sulfur compounds.
The earliest marine microbiologists (Certes 1884, Fischer 1894) were already studying
microorganisms of the deep-sea, whereby initial interest focused particularly on the
influence of hydrostatic pressure on bacterial effectiveness. Certes managed to obtain
water samples from a depth of 5 000 m. Among other achievements he demonstrated the
ability of bacteria to tolerate pressures of over 600 atm and to break down proteinaceous
substances under these conditions. He concluded that hydrostatic pressure exerts no
influence on the vertical distribution of bacteria.
18
and nearcoast waters there must be marine nitrifiers as well which had escaped detection.
With water from the Atlantic Watson (1965) was the first to successfully isolate a marine
nitrite bacterium, Nitrosococcus (Nitrosocystis) oceanus, which was still detectable at a
depth of 1 500 m. But since less than 1 cell was present in 1 ml of water, the annual nitrite
production only amounted to about 0.07 mg at NO 2 -N per liter. Later, Watson and
Waterbury (1971) also discovered the marine nitrate bacteria, Nitrospina gracilis and
Nitrococcus mobilis. The prediction of Zobell was, thereby, fulfilled, and Brandt’s theory
was finally confirmed after roughly 70 years. Research of the last 10 years has centered on
quantitative aspects of nitrogen recycling and, hence, also nitrification. New methods
such as the utilization of specific inhibiting substances and isotopes found application.
The formation of hydrogen sulfide in marine systems has also long been a topic of major
interest. In 1890, Andrusow determined that hydrogen sulfide is present in the deeper
zones of the Black Sea.
In view of the small concentrations of proteinaceous substances in vast areas of the ocean
and high sulfate content (2.701 g per kg seawater) bacterial sulfate reduction in the sea was
postulated quite early.
Zelinski and Bursilowski (1893) were the first to isolate marine bacteria from the mud of
the Black Sea capable of dissimilative sulfate reduction, they were named Vibrio hydrosulfurens and Bacterium hydrosulfureum ponticum. These are obligate anaerobes reducing sulfate, sulfide and thiosulfate to H 2 S without the formation of molecular sulfur and
may represent one of the oldest forms of bacterial life on earth. According to Peck (1966)
their active form can be traced back more than 3 billion years through fractionation of
sulfur isotopes.
Described by Postgate (1979) in the treatise, “The sulfate reducing bacteria”, are 5 spore
forming Desulfotomaculum and 7 Desulfovibrio species. It is, however, noted that
further genera probably exist (Desulforistella, Desulfomonas).
The proportion on hydrogen sulfide formation attributable to bacterial sulfate reduction
in marine areas was a point of long standing dispute. This has only very recently been
clarified and findings in the literature are, not surprisingly, largely contradictory.
According to investigations by Daniltschenko and Tschigirin (1926) 99.4 - 99.6 % of
hydrogen sulfide in the Black Sea originates from desulfurication and only 0.4 - 0.6 %
from protein decay. This was contested by Kriss (1961), who felt Tschigirin and Daniltschenko’s calculations were errorful. He assumed about 50 % is due to protein decay.
Deuser ( 1970) recorded values of 3 - 5 % in the Black Sea and Jorgensen ( 1977) calculated
that 3 % of the sulfide in sediments from Limfjord originate as organic sulfur compounds.
The earliest marine microbiologists (Certes 1884, Fischer 1894) were already studying
microorganisms of the deep-sea, whereby initial interest focused particularly on the
influence of hydrostatic pressure on bacterial effectiveness. Certes managed to obtain
water samples from a depth of 5 000 m. Among other achievements he demonstrated the
ability of bacteria to tolerate pressures of over 600 atm and to break down proteinaceous
substances under these conditions. He concluded that hydrostatic pressure exerts no
influence on the vertical distribution of bacteria.
18