mechanism exists to satisfy their energy of maintenance, but not for growth and reproduction. Since all organisms survive to produce progeny, the energy of maintenance, if
any is needed, must come from alternative energy sources as in the case of the nitrifiers.
Some organisms may not require a maintenance energy source. We do not as yet address
this «normal» state of bacteria when we study microbial ecology. For the nitrifying
bacteria in the oceans we believe that the energy of maintenance for their survival lies in
the ability to utilize alternative energy sources, mainly CO and CH 4 . Conformation of this
hypothesis is currently being tested in our laboratory.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This research was supported by NSF grant OCE 8018366 and the Tartar Fellowship Award. All Tables and
Figures are reproduced by permission from the Publications Department, National Research Council of
Canada and the American Society for Microbiology Publications Office. Published as Technical Paper No.
7218, Oregon Agricultural Experiment Station.
CONRAD R., 1984. Capacity of aerobic microorganisms to utilize and grow on atmospheric trace gases (H 2 , CO,
and CH 4 ). p. 461-467. In M. J. Klug and C.A. Reddy (eds.), Current Perspectives in Microbial Ecology.
American Society for Microbiology. Washington, D.C.
CONRAD R., and W. WEILER, 1982. Utilization of traces of carbon monoxide by aerobic oligotrophic microorganisms in ocean, lake and soil. Arch. Microbiol. 132 : 41-46.
CONRAD R., O. MEYER and W. SEILER, 1981. Role of carboxydobacteria in consumption of atmospheric carbon
monoxide by soil. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 42 : 211-215.
DROZD J.W., 1946. Energy coupling and respiration in Nitrosomonas europaea. Arch. Microbiol. 110:257-262.
FERENCI T, 1974. Carbon monoxide-stimulated respiration in methane-utilizing bacteria. FEBS Microbiol.
Lett. 41 :94-98.
FERENCI T., T. STROM, and J.R. QUAYLE. 1975. Oxidation of carbon monoxide and methane by Pseudomonas
methanica. J. Gen. Microbiol. 91 : 79-91.
HUBLEY J.H., J.R. MITTON and J.F. WILKINSON, 1974. The oxidation of carbon monoxide by methaneoxidizing bacteria. Arch. Microbiol. 95 : 365-368.
HUTTON W.E., and C.E. ZOBELL, 1949. The occurrence and characteristics of methane-oxidizing bacteria in
marine sediments. J. Bacteriol. 58 : 463-473.
HYMAN M.R. and P.M. WOOD, 1983. Methane oxidation by Nitrosomonas europaea. Biochem. J. 121:31-37.
JOHNSON K M., P.G. DAVIS and J. McN. SIEBURTH, 1983. Diel variation of TCO 2 in the upper layer of oceanic
waters reflects microbial composition, variation and possibly methane cycling. Mar. Biol. 77 : 1-10.
JONES R.D. and R.Y. MORITA, 1983a. Carbon monoxide oxidation by chemolithotrophic ammonium oxidizers.
Can. J. Microbiol. 29 : 1545-1551.
JONES R.D. and R.Y. MORITA, 1983b. Methane oxidation by Nitrosococcus oceanus and Nitrosomonas
europaea. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 445 : 401-410.
JONES R.D., R.Y. MORITA and R.P. GRIFFITHS, 1984. Method for estimating in situ chemolithotrophic
ammonium oxidation using carbon monoxide oxidation. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 17 : 259-269.
JONES R.D. and R.Y. MORITA, 1984. Effect of several nitrification inhibitors on carbon monoxide and methane
oxidation by ammonium oxidizers. Can. J. Microbiol. 10 : 1276-1279.
O'NEILL J.G. and J.F. WILKINSON, 1977. Oxidation of ammonia by methane-oxidizing bacteria and the effects of
ammonia on methane oxidation. J.Gen. Microbiol. 100 : 407- 412.
SEILER W., 1978. The influence of the biosphere on the atmospheric CO and H 2 cycles, p. 773-810. In W.E.
Krumbein (ed.), Methods, Metals and Assessment. Vol. 3. Ann Arbor Science Publ., Ann Arbor, Ml.
316
any is needed, must come from alternative energy sources as in the case of the nitrifiers.
Some organisms may not require a maintenance energy source. We do not as yet address
this «normal» state of bacteria when we study microbial ecology. For the nitrifying
bacteria in the oceans we believe that the energy of maintenance for their survival lies in
the ability to utilize alternative energy sources, mainly CO and CH 4 . Conformation of this
hypothesis is currently being tested in our laboratory.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This research was supported by NSF grant OCE 8018366 and the Tartar Fellowship Award. All Tables and
Figures are reproduced by permission from the Publications Department, National Research Council of
Canada and the American Society for Microbiology Publications Office. Published as Technical Paper No.
7218, Oregon Agricultural Experiment Station.
CONRAD R., 1984. Capacity of aerobic microorganisms to utilize and grow on atmospheric trace gases (H 2 , CO,
and CH 4 ). p. 461-467. In M. J. Klug and C.A. Reddy (eds.), Current Perspectives in Microbial Ecology.
American Society for Microbiology. Washington, D.C.
CONRAD R., and W. WEILER, 1982. Utilization of traces of carbon monoxide by aerobic oligotrophic microorganisms in ocean, lake and soil. Arch. Microbiol. 132 : 41-46.
CONRAD R., O. MEYER and W. SEILER, 1981. Role of carboxydobacteria in consumption of atmospheric carbon
monoxide by soil. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 42 : 211-215.
DROZD J.W., 1946. Energy coupling and respiration in Nitrosomonas europaea. Arch. Microbiol. 110:257-262.
FERENCI T, 1974. Carbon monoxide-stimulated respiration in methane-utilizing bacteria. FEBS Microbiol.
Lett. 41 :94-98.
FERENCI T., T. STROM, and J.R. QUAYLE. 1975. Oxidation of carbon monoxide and methane by Pseudomonas
methanica. J. Gen. Microbiol. 91 : 79-91.
HUBLEY J.H., J.R. MITTON and J.F. WILKINSON, 1974. The oxidation of carbon monoxide by methaneoxidizing bacteria. Arch. Microbiol. 95 : 365-368.
HUTTON W.E., and C.E. ZOBELL, 1949. The occurrence and characteristics of methane-oxidizing bacteria in
marine sediments. J. Bacteriol. 58 : 463-473.
HYMAN M.R. and P.M. WOOD, 1983. Methane oxidation by Nitrosomonas europaea. Biochem. J. 121:31-37.
JOHNSON K M., P.G. DAVIS and J. McN. SIEBURTH, 1983. Diel variation of TCO 2 in the upper layer of oceanic
waters reflects microbial composition, variation and possibly methane cycling. Mar. Biol. 77 : 1-10.
JONES R.D. and R.Y. MORITA, 1983a. Carbon monoxide oxidation by chemolithotrophic ammonium oxidizers.
Can. J. Microbiol. 29 : 1545-1551.
JONES R.D. and R.Y. MORITA, 1983b. Methane oxidation by Nitrosococcus oceanus and Nitrosomonas
europaea. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 445 : 401-410.
JONES R.D., R.Y. MORITA and R.P. GRIFFITHS, 1984. Method for estimating in situ chemolithotrophic
ammonium oxidation using carbon monoxide oxidation. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 17 : 259-269.
JONES R.D. and R.Y. MORITA, 1984. Effect of several nitrification inhibitors on carbon monoxide and methane
oxidation by ammonium oxidizers. Can. J. Microbiol. 10 : 1276-1279.
O'NEILL J.G. and J.F. WILKINSON, 1977. Oxidation of ammonia by methane-oxidizing bacteria and the effects of
ammonia on methane oxidation. J.Gen. Microbiol. 100 : 407- 412.
SEILER W., 1978. The influence of the biosphere on the atmospheric CO and H 2 cycles, p. 773-810. In W.E.
Krumbein (ed.), Methods, Metals and Assessment. Vol. 3. Ann Arbor Science Publ., Ann Arbor, Ml.
316