Salvaguardia del Mar Adriatico: indagini microbiologiche.

Density of heterotrophic bacteria in marine environment is influenced by temperature, salinity, photoperiod, concentration and nature of organic matter as food availability. Microbial communities, infact, play an important role in mineralization of organic matter which assures the return of elements to the producing organism and so represent an important function in the marine behaviour. The present study was conducted to identify the heterotrophic bacteria, particularly Vibrio spp. And to evaluate the degree of microbial pollution in four coastal sites of Adriatic Sea: Brindisi, S. Cataldo, Otranto and S. Maria di Leuca. About heterotrophic bacteria their concentration was as follows: low in winter, high in depth and their diversity increased in spring and summer. Among vibrios, V. alginolyticus was predominant and ubiquitarian. Results obtained showed a reduced microbiological pollution in the considered areas.