The Effect of Branchiura sowerbyi (Tubificidae) on Bacterial Populations in Submerged Ricefield Soil

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Counts of viable bacteria of submerged ricefield soil in vitro with and without the tubificid B. sowerbyi Beddard showed that the presence of tubificid worms decreased the number of heterotrophic aerobes, heterotrophic anaerobes and nitrifiers and increased the number of sulfate-reducing bacteria and the ratio of gas-forming anaerobes. The number of sulfate-reducing bacteria increased remarkably on the passage through the gut of B. sowerbyi. Tubificids probably affect nitrification by changing the oxidation-reduction conditions in the submerged ricefield soil.
Keywords