Original paper
Association of Exoenzyme-producing Bacteria with Chironomid larvae (Diptera: Chironomidae) in relation to the Feeding Habit
Basu, Abhisek; Ghosh, Koushik; Hazra, Niladri; Mazumdar, Abhijit
published: 5/1/2010
BibTeX file
RIS bibliography file
ArtNo.: ESP146003203007
Abstract
Feeding habit of chironomid larvae in respect to several exoenzyme-producing bacteria along
with enteric and gram-negative bacteria were examined. The study revealed that the larvae ingested
mainly five types of food without seasonal variation. Algae, especially diatoms and fungi, were found
to increase gradually in the gut contents from the early to the later months of investigation while sand
particles were observed a gradual decrease from April to July and were absent in August and September.
However, detritus retained more or less constant level. Among exoenzyme-producing bacteria,
aerobic heterotrophic and amylase producing bacteria showed a more or less same population load
while cellulase, lipase and protease producing bacteria increased and enteric gram negative bacteria
decreased from the pre-monsoon to monsoon months. A positive correlation between the increase of
organic food items and exoenzyme producing bacterial load might imply a strong symbiotic relationship
between the bacteria and the bloodworms.
Keywords
aerobic • endosymbionts • Gram negative • heterotrophic • insect gut • microbial community