Bacterial colonization of seston particles in brackish waters (Ria de Aveiro, Portugal)

Abstract

The frequency of attached bacteria, as percentage of total bacter~a, In estuanne water of the Rla de Aveiro was determined over a seasonal range of temperature, seston, BOD, sal~nity and water depth The frequency was Inversely related to temperature only in the marlne zone of the lagoon No other a s s o c ~a t ~o n s could be establ~shed with env~ronmental factors The broad spring-summer peak of total bacteria was not apparent In attached bactena whlch showed an erratic temporal prof~le w ~t h an average frequency of 9 % (range 1 to 49 % ] of total plankton~c bacter~a The bacterial coverage per unit area of part~cle surface was densest in small p a ~t ~c l e s