THE INCIDENCE OF THERMOPHILIC BACTERIA IN ARCTIC SOILS AND WATERS

Abstract

Soil and water samples collected at and near Point Barrow, Alaska (71[degree] 20[image] N. latitude) were examined for aerobic mesophilic, thermophilic and coliform bacteria. Aerobic thermophilic bacteria were found in 38 of 59 samples examined, including specimens taken from the perma-frost zone in Eskimo habitations that had been abandoned for over 30 years. Barren soil and peat were nearly free of thermophilic bacteria. The small numbers of thermophiles found in specimens having high coliform counts indicated that the thermophiles were not of fecal origin.