When Vibrio cholerae exist in marine envrionments, they attach to plankton and live during times of high nutrient availaibiltiy and warmer temperatures. In conditions where nutrient availabiltiy is limited and the temperatures are colder, V. cholerae may go into a dormant form. In this state, the bacteria are not able to be cultured, but still viable. To read more about the dormant form, see the Adaptations page. Na+ is a factor in the growth of this species. If Na+ is present, V. cholerae will have optimal growth if this nutrient is present. They also utilize iron, a variety of carbon compounds, Some crustaceans can be habitats for V. cholerae during inter-epidemic periods because the bacteria can utilize chitin as a source of nutrients. When aquatic plants serve as reservoirs, V. cholerae utilize peptides, amides, and free nitrogen as nutrients. When plankton release extracellular products, which are products of cell metaboslism, are used as nutrients for V. cholerae. V. cholerae can form commensal relationships with blue-green and green algae, utilizing their extracelluar products for nourishment. Vibrio cholerae also are human parasites. They colonize and multiply in the small intestine. See the Interactions page for more information. Vibrio cholerae reproduce by binary fission, a common method of reproduction for bacteria. Binary fission is when DNA is replicated in the cell and then cytokinesis occurs, resulting in two daughter cells. This is an asexual form of reproduction. Adaptations.htmlInteractions.htmlshapeimage_2_link_0shapeimage_2_link_1