EPIBIOTIC BACTERIA ASSOCIATED WITH MICROCRUSTACEANS IN THE OVERLYING WATER OF PADDY FIELDS

The surface of microcrustaceans collected from the overlying water of a submerged paddy soil was observed in detail by scanning electron mic roscopy, Epibiotic bacteria were less diverse compared to free-living bacteria in the overlying water, Specific bacteria appeared to prefere ntially colonize certain parts of microcrustaceans. The epibiotic bact eria, the sites they colonized and their density depended on the kinds of microcrustaceans (Moina macrocopa, Cyclopidae, Cypretta sp., and T anycypris sp.). These results suggested the presence of significant as sociations in the overlying water between specific groups of bacteria and microcrustaceans.