The Family Methylophilaceae
The Methylophilaceae are a family of Beta-proteobacteria widely distributed in marine water and sediment samples.
These aerobic, rod-shaped, often free-swimming Bacteria have specific nutrient requirements – single-carbon compounds such as methanol or methylamines. Unlike most other groups they can grow on methylamines as the sole carbon and nitrogen source.
Methylamines are produced from the degradation of organic matter such osmolytes and proteins. Collectively these represent a huge pool of nutrients for the microbes capable of growing on them. The Methylophilaceae are among the most important players in degrading these compounds, giving them an important role in the marine carbon and nitrogen cycles.
Methylophilaceae on coral reefs
The Methylophilaceae are often associated with phytoplankton blooms in the ocean, since the compounds supporting their growth are released in large amounts during these events.
Although this family often comprises a non-trivial fraction of the community in coral reef samples, they do not appear to associate with corals directly. Growth experiments reveal that they grew better in seawater controls than in either coral-derived or macroalgae-derived nutrients.
Methylophilaceae in reef tanks
Bacteria from the family Methylophilaceae are present in about 2/3 of reef tank samples.
Bacteria from the family Methylophilaceae typically make up a small fraction of the community, although these levels vary widely, from <0.1% in some tanks to more than 10% in others.
The Methylophilaceae are present at similar levels in both the water and biofilm communities. This reflects the diversity of types in this family, which includes free-swimming and surface-associated types.
Read more
Wikipedia: Methylophilaceae
OBIS: Methylophilaceae
Adjusting your Methylophilaceae levels
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Increasing your levels
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Dosing phytoplankton or increasing feeding of algal foods can promote the growth of this group
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Decreasing your levels
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Reducing nutrients, especially algal-derived nutrients. (e.g. reduce feeding, deep clean to reduce algal biomass)
Testing your tank for Methylophilaceae
Our standard Microbiome Test includes information on the levels of Methylophilaceae in your tank.
This group plays an important role in marine carbon and nitrogen cycles, but in reef tanks we find more than 100-fold variation in its levels.
How does your tank compare? Test your tank today and find out!