Muds of the Clyde Sea Area. II. Bacterial Content

Abstract

1. The bacterial content of mud deposits in the Clyde Sea Area has been investigated. 2. The number of bacteria is found to decrease from the surface downwards. 3. The numbers fluctuate very much in the top mud layers, and there is some evidence of bacterial zonation. 4. In the deeper mud layers the bacterial content for any given station is fairly constant. 5. The predominant organisms were found to be water bacteria of the Achromobacter and Chromobacterium type, and large spore-forming bacilli similar to common soil bacteria. 6. The factors affecting the bacterial content of the muds are discussed.