Estimation of the contribution of halobacterial to the bacterial biomass and activity in solar salterns by the use of bile salts

Bile salts (deoxycholate, taurocholate) were used to estimate the contribution of bacteria of the Halobacterium group to bacterial community size and activity at different salinities as found in a multi-pond saltern. Low concentrations of bile salts cause lysis of halophilic archaebacteria of the Halobacterium group, while halophilic eubacteria and halococci remain microscopically intact. Upon addition of bile salts, total bacterial numbers (as estimated microscopically) in saltern ponds at salinities below 250 g/l did not decrease, while above this salinity bacterial numbers decreased by 30–50%. To estimate the contribution of halobacteria to overall heterotrophic activity, the effect of bile salt addition was tested on the incorporation of labelled amino acids. In saltern ponds of a salinity below 250 g/l activity was not greatly inhibited by taurocholate, while at salinity above 300 g/l taurocholate completely abolished incorporation of amino acids.