Microbiology of a northern river: bacterial distribution and relationship to suspended sediment and organic carbon

Epifluorescent microscopy showed as many as 4 × 10 6 bacteria/mL in the turbid waters of the Athabasca River near the tar sand deposits in northeastern Alberta. The numbers were usually similar upstream and downstream (60 km) from pilot-mining operations. The majority of bacteria existed as free-liv...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Canadian Journal of Microbiology
Main Authors: Geesey, G. G., Costerton, J. W.
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1979
Subjects:
Genetics
Molecular Biology
Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology
General Medicine
Immunology
Microbiology
Athabasca River
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/m79-162
http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/m79-162
Description
Summary:Epifluorescent microscopy showed as many as 4 × 10 6 bacteria/mL in the turbid waters of the Athabasca River near the tar sand deposits in northeastern Alberta. The numbers were usually similar upstream and downstream (60 km) from pilot-mining operations. The majority of bacteria existed as free-living cells in spite of the fact there were high concentrations of suspended sediment present (average 220 mg/L) during the ice-free period. Fluctuations in bacterial concentration were positively correlated (r = 0.86, P < 0.05) with total organic carbon concentrations in the river water.

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