ECOLOGY AND TAXONOMY OF YEASTS ISOLATED FROM VARIOUS MARINE SUBSTRATES1

Abstract

Yeasts were observed to be of common occurrence in subtropical marine waters and sediments and with indwelling plants and animals. The most prevalent types present in all environments were oxidative, asporogenous forms which expressed a growth requirement for one or more vitamins. Certain distinctive metabolic attributes of yeasts were associated with environmental distribution. The incidental yeast flora on marine vegetation was uniformly low in number and consistent with the species isolated from surrounding waters and sediments. The species found within the intestinal contents of fish appeared to be of transitory nature and restricted in population density.