Characterisation of heterotrophic microorganims isolated from the Grotta Azzurra of Cape Palinuro (Salerno, Italy)

The submarine caves of Cape palinuro were discovered log ago, but only during the last decades were geological and biological investigations carried out, yielding a large number of reports on this fascinating environment. Many heterotrophic strains were isolated and microbiologically characterised. The analysis of 16S rDNA showed close phylogenetically relationship with the genera Bacillus, Vibrio, Citrobacter and Escherichia.