THE ADSORPTION OF BACTERIA BY MARINE BOTTOM

Abstract

1. Marine mud exerted an adsorptive effect upon the bacteria in sea water. This effect was particularly evident when certain pure cultures of bacteria were added to the mud to give a heavy inoculation. Sand bottom had very little adsorptive action upon either mixed or pure cultures of bacteria. 2. In the case of the mixed bacterial population in the water, the adsorption of the bacteria by the mud was soon followed by a rapid increase of bacterial numbers; this took place at the expense of the organic matter in the bottom material. 3. These laboratory experiments showed that certain types of marine bottom material exerted a controlling effect on the numbers of bacteria, which were in intimate contact with them. There was no indication, however, of a permanent paralysis of bacterial growth or metabolism.