Marine Microbiology 



TABLE 1 



Nitrogen Fix.\tion by Cultures of M.\rine Blue-green Algae 



evidence that these yeasts fix nitrogen. A definitive answer is 

 currently being sought (9). A soil-dwelHng Rhodotoriila has been 

 shown to fix molecular nitrogen (7). The appearance of these 

 marine yeasts is sliown in Figure 3. 



The amount of nitrogen contributed to tlie oceans by these 

 organisms is still to be determined. However, in some regions 

 they develop to such an extent that it should be possible for them 

 to make a major contribution to tlie nitrogen budget. Up to 6,000 

 cells of Rhodotoriila per liter have been observed off the Florida 

 coast (1). Blue-green algae (TiichocJesminm) form dense blooms 

 in the Sargasso Sea and the Indian Ocean. Near the Great Barrier 



