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The microbiota diversity of the former salterns in southern Taiwan was investigated by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Soil samples from three salterns were analyzed using DGGE and 16S rRNA from 502 colonies representing 5 archaea and 18 bacteria taxonomic groups. Each representative taxonomic group was further identified, whereas 8.7% of clones were unclassified microorganisms. Chromohalobacter, Halomonas and Virgibacillus are dominant in the Biemen saltern, Chiguensis saltern and Szutsau saltern, respectively. During FISH analysis, several taxonomic-specific probes were used. The DAPI-stained-cell count in the Szutsao saltern had a higher number of microorganisms (4.58 x 10(7) cell/cm(3)) than the other salterns. Archaea occupied 2.7-6.6% whereas bacteria accounted for 37.2-52.9% of total microbial population at the three sites. Among these three sampling sites, the Szutsao saltern had the highest diversity in halophilic microbial composition, as indicated by DGGE and FISH.

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