RUEGERIA Meaning and
Definition
-
Ruegeria is a genus of marine bacteria that belong to the family Rhodobacteraceae. These bacteria are commonly found in various marine environments, including coastal waters and ocean sediments.
The name Ruegeria is derived from the German microbiologist Dr. Hans-Georg Rueger, who made significant contributions to the field of marine microbiology. Ruegeria bacteria are Gram-negative, aerobic, and non-spore forming.
Members of the Ruegeria genus are known for their ability to utilize various organic compounds as sources of carbon and energy. They are often involved in the biogeochemical cycling of important nutrients, such as nitrogen and sulfur, in marine ecosystems. Some species of Ruegeria are capable of fixing atmospheric nitrogen, thereby contributing to the nitrogen availability in marine environments.
Ruegeria bacteria are characterized by their rod-shaped morphology and possess flagella for motility. They are classified as photoheterotrophs, meaning they can use light as an energy source but still require organic compounds for carbon. These bacteria are also known to produce pigments that aid in their absorption of light, thus enabling them to thrive in sunlight-exposed marine habitats.
As part of the Rhodobacteraceae family, Ruegeria bacteria are related to other marine bacteria known for their ecological roles, such as Roseobacter and Dinoroseobacter species. Ruegeria's presence and activity contribute to the diversity and functioning of marine microbial communities, playing important roles in various marine ecosystems.
Etymology of RUEGERIA
The word "Ruegeria" is derived from the genus name of a group of bacteria belonging to the family Rhodobacteraceae. The genus Ruegeria was first described in 1998 by González et al., honoring the German microbiologist Dr. Rüdiger Schwabe as a tribute to his contributions to marine microbiology research. "Ruegeria" combines the name "Rüdiger" with the suffix "-ia", commonly used to form the names of bacterial genera.
