The heterotrophic bacteria commonly present in the marine environment
have received little attention, though specialised groups such as the agar
digesters have been extensively investigated. Existing knowledge of marirle
bacteria is comprehensively summarised by Zobell and Upham (1944) and
Zobell (1946), a significant addition since then, being the report of extensive
investigations on bacteria from marine sources in AustraUa by Wood (1953).
Qualitatively, the bacterial flora of marine environments in different parts of
the world recorded by different researchers shows some differences. How
far this is due to seasonal and environmental differences, and to differences
in the techniques employed in the investigations, is not known
