Mortality and energy status of E. coli in marine environment

Abstract

In the seawater microcosm, the death of Escherichia coli in unfiltered seawater was more than in the filtered seawater and the death rate was higher when incubated in light than in the dark. Total sewage bacteria declined rapidly in seawater microcosm. Even on loth day, considerable number of bacteria persisted. Fecal coliforms had less surviving ability compared with the total bacteria and on 10 th day, 100 % mortality was recorded in seawater microcosm. Significant reductions in ATP and biomass were recorded with increase in incubation in the seawater microcosm but the reduction was 88% in pure seawater on 10th day.

Key words:

• Mortality‐E. coli‐Sewage‐bacteria