Spatial Distribution of the Microbial Community to Develop on a Slide Glass Submerged in River Water

Abstract

The spatial distribution of a microbial community in an oligotrophic region of the Tamagawa River which developed on the surface of a slide glass submerged in the river was observed by microscopy along with the course of biofilm formation.Bacterial cells attached to the slide glass after one hour and increased in number on the 4th day of submergence.Algal cells began to adhere to the bacterial cells on the 8th day, increasing the thickness of the biofilm.However, the surface of the slide glass was not entirely covered with bacterial cells.In the process of biofilm formation each of the biofilm microbes was sketched and enumerated.The results showed that bacterial cells pioneered the colonization and made up the base of the biofilm.The frequency and abundance of bacterial cells in each square implied bacterial cell division on the slide glass.