Micro-organisms attached to marine and freshwater sand grains
In: Nature: International Weekly Journal of Science. Nature Publishing Group: London. ISSN 0028-0836; e-ISSN 1476-4687, more
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| Keywords |
Marine/Coastal; Fresh water |
| Authors | | Top |
- Meadows, P.S.
- Anderson, J.G.
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| Abstract |
There have been few studies on the microbial flora of marine and freshwater sands. Early work was concerned with the estimation of bacterial numbers in the same way as had been the practice for mud sediments, that is, numbers were quoted as bacteria/g of wet sand. Pearse, Humm and Wharton appear to have been the first investigators to consider bacteria in detail on the surfaces of marine sand grains. We extended this work and gave estimates of total and viable numbers of bacteria per unit surface area of sand grain surface from various intertidal sources. Round reported diatoms on the surface of freshwater sands, and suggested that the latter is a specialized habitat. The present report extends our concept of the sand grain as a habitat for micro-organisms by (1) recording the distribution of different groups of micro-organisms on the surfaces of sand grains, (2) showing how this varies geographically and at different tidal levels and water depths, and (3) comparing marine and freshwater sands. |
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