Marine bacteria play important roles in the cycling of nutrients in the oceans. Understanding of the abundance, diversity, distribution and the ectohydrolytic enzyme activities of the marine bacteria community can contribute to our understanding of the differences of nutrient cycling between eutrophic (such as the Pearl River Estuary) and oligotrophic conditions (such as Port Shelter). However, little is known about the marine bacterial community in Hong Kong waters....[ Read more ]

Marine bacteria play important roles in the cycling of nutrients in the oceans. Understanding of the abundance, diversity, distribution and the ectohydrolytic enzyme activities of the marine bacteria community can contribute to our understanding of the differences of nutrient cycling between eutrophic (such as the Pearl River Estuary) and oligotrophic conditions (such as Port Shelter). However, little is known about the marine bacterial community in Hong Kong waters.

In my thesis research, I investigated the abundance, spatial and temporal distribution as well as the seasonal succession of the marine bacterial community in Hong Kong waters through strategic field sampling and laboratory analysis. The bacterial abundance at 6 stations of Hong Kong waters has been investigated for more than one year. The dynamics of the bacterial community has been monitored by using Terminal Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphisms (TRFLP) analysis for one year. Seventy bacterial species isolated in the field, was identified by DNA sequence information of 16S rDNA gene. For cultivable species, the ecto-alkaline phosphatase activity was measured. These studies provide a foundation for future investigation of the roles of the bacterial community in the local marine ecosystem.