VERTICAL STRUCTURE OF BACTERIAL COMPLEXES IN THE NEGEV DESERT (ISRAEL)

Peculiarities of the vertical structure of the prokaryote complexes pe culiar to the Negev Desert (Israel) were established with the help of a routine inoculation technique. Distinct differentiation of the taxon omic structure by layers, a peak of bacterial density in the on-soil l ayer (litter), and predominance of bacteria of the actinomycete line a nd myxobacteria throughout the entire complex were found. Flavobacteri a and cytophagas prevailed in the above-ground layer, myxobacteria pre dominated in the on-soil layer. and streptomycetes and arthrobacters d ominated in the soil. Compared with the more continental deserts of ce ntral Asia, the Negev Desert was characterized by much higher density of epiphytic bacteria on plant shoots, greater diversity of gram-negat ive bacteria, and lower diversity of bacteria of the actinomycete line . These distinguishing features are suggested to be due to the hydroth ermal conditions in the Negev Desert, namely, regular dewfalls.