We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Taxonomic composition and physiological and biochemical properties of bacteria in the digestive tracts of earthworms.
- Authors
Byzov, B.; Tikhonov, V.; Zvyagintsev, D.; Nechitailo, T.; Demin, V.
- Abstract
Several hundred bacterial strains belonging to different taxa were isolated and identified from the digestive tracts of soil and compost earthworms. Some physiological and biochemical properties of the bacteria were characterized. The majority of intestinal bacteria in the earthworms were found to be facultative anaerobes. The intestinal isolates as compared to the soil ones had elevated activity of proteases and dehydrogenases. In addition, bacteria associated with earthworms' intestines are capable of growth on humic acids as a sole carbon source. Humic acid stimulated the growth of the intestinal bacteria to a greater extent than those of the soil ones. In the digestive tracts, polyphenol oxidase activity was found. Along with the data on the taxonomic separation of the intestinal bacteria, the features described testified to the presence of a group of bacteria in the earthworms intestines that is functionally characteristic and is different from the soil bacteria.
- Subjects
TAXONOMY; BACTERIA; ALIMENTARY canal; EARTHWORMS; HUMIC acid; BIODEGRADATION
- Publication
Eurasian Soil Science, 2015, Vol 48, Issue 3, p268
- ISSN
1064-2293
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1134/S1064229315030035