Research Product

Samples of the upper 10 µm of inshore surface films obtained by adsorption to membranes yielded microbial populations up to 108 ml-1 or 105 cm-2. These populations were typically 10-100 times greater than those in underlying waters at a depth of 10 cm. Predominant bacteria in surface films were motile, nonpigmented, gram-negative rods. Colony-forming units of yeasts and molds were found in concentrations to 104 ml-1 or 28 cm-2. The predominant species in surface films were proteolytic and amylolytic but exhibited only weak to negligible hydrocarbonoclastic and lipolytic activities. A greater proportion of the surface film bacteria, as compared to those at 10 cm depth, were capable of growth on fresh-water media.