Viability of Bacteria in Sea Water

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Abstract
Fresh sea water exerts a marked destructive effect on the cells of a marine bacterium added to it; this effect followed an initial rise in numbers. Sterilized sea water and prepared salt water had no destructive effect upon the bacteria. This effect was not accompanied by a similar influence upon the rate of decomposition of the organic matter in the water, as measured by O2 consumption. The activities of the animal population of the sea, especially the nanoplankton, may explain, at least partly, both the destruction of the bacteria and the stimulation of the processes of organic matter decomposition.