Phenotypic characterization and 16S rDNA identification of culturable non-obligate halophilic bacterial communities from a hypersaline lake, La Sal del Rey, in extreme South Texas (USA)

Table 1 Salinity, EcoPlate™ utilization, and isolate characteristics for samples taken from La Sal del Rey 2010.

Sample	Salinity (ppt)	Preferred EcoPlate™ Substrate*	Isolates
			N	Gram-negative	Rod-shaped	Percent catalase positive
A	4	L-phenylalanine	20	15	14	100
B	56	Glycogen	20^†	16	16	95
C	420	Itaconic Acid	10	2	9	100
D	4	Tween 40	17	14	4	100
E	37	L-arginine	17	15	12	100
F	280	D-cellobiose	16	14	16	100
G	86	D-malic acid	nd	nd	nd	nd
H	220	Hydroxybutyric acid	nd	nd	nd	nd

* Highest positive EcoPlate™ absorbance value
^† One isolate from site B became contaminated and was eliminated from the study.
nd = not determined
Samples A - F were taken on 14 June; samples G - H were taken on 5 July after Hurricane Alex made landfall. Salinity was measured using a handheld refractometer. EcoPlates™ were inoculated with water or diluted soil samples, incubated at 25°C, and measured with a spectrophotometer (595 nm) at 24 h, 48 h and 72 h. EcoPlates™ results shown are the final results at 72 h. Isolates were selected from amongst all the samples. Some isolates contained a mixture of cell types.