Factors affecting the bacterial colonization of various surfaces in a river

Abstract

The colonization rates of substrates, differing in their surface charge and asperity, have been determined in a temperate river. Glass, which has a high surface charge, was colonized by the natural bacterial population just as fast as polystyrene with a low surface charge. However, roughening the surface of either substrate greatly increased the rate of bacterial colonization. On the roughened surfaces bacteria did not selectively colonize cavities or grooves and current velocity was not an important factor. It is suggested that different sections of the naturally occurring bacterial population are the initial colonizers of different types of surface.