SEASONAL ABUNDANCE OF LYSOGENIC BACTERIA IN A SUBTROPICAL ESTUARY

Seasonal changes in the abundance of inducible lysogenic bacteria in a eutrophic estuarine environment mere investigated over a Ii-month per iod. Biweekly water samples were collected from Tampa Rag, Fla., and e xamined for prophage induction by mitomycin C treatment, At the conclu sion of the study, we determined that 52.2% of the samples displayed p rophage induction, as indicated by significant increases in viral dire ct counts compared with uninduced controls. Samples that displayed pro phage induction occurred during the warmer months (February through Oc tober), when surface mater temperatures were above 19 degrees C, and n o induction was observed in November, December, or January. This study presents clear evidence that there is seasonal variation in the numbe r of inducible lysogenic bacteria in an estuarine environment.