GASTROINTESTINAL MICROFLORA OF ANTARCTIC BIRDS

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Abstract
Sixteen flying birds and penguins from the South American quadrant of Antarctica were studied in detail aboard the icebreaker ARA Gral. San Martin. Bacteriologically sterile birds were not observed. Obligately anaerobic streptococci and gram-negative organisms were the only cultivable flora in 4 birds. Organisms of the Escherichia coli, Providence, Bethesda and Aerobacter-Hafnia groups were the predominant flora in the 12 birds which contained an aerobic flora. Streptococci other than the enteric group and diphtheroid-like organisms were present in moderate numbers in some birds. Typical rapid lactose fermenting strains of E coli were not observed in the penguins feeding on lobster krill. Blood serum which was quite inhibitory for intestinal bacteria apparently modified the gastrointestinal flora of a predatory giant fulmar. The antibacterial activity of penguin gastrointestinal material was traced to the phytoplankton laden gastric contents of the lobster krill and then to Halosphaera spp. of marine planktonic algae.