The taxonomy, ecology and cultivation of bacterial genera belonging to thefamily Flavobacteriaceae

The group known as the 'flavobacteria' has previously been regarded as syno nymous with the genus Flavobacterium. Today, however, flavobacteria refers to the family Flavobacteriaceae comprising 10 genera. This review deals wit h the rapid changes in the taxonomy of these bacteria, especially over the last decade. It also briefly reviews the ecology of the genera in this fami ly and describes the media that have been utilized in the general and selec tive cultivation of these organisms. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rig hts reserved.