Open Access Kent State (OAKS)

Planktonic bacteria in rivers and streams may be primarily produced in sediments, biofilms, and floodplains rather than the water column. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the utility of comparison of bacterial assemblage features (i.e., gram staining response, cell morphology, colony morphology) in determining sources of stream bacteria. Floodplain soils, stream sediments and water were sampled in two coastal plain streams. Gram staining and cell morphology were both useful in distinguishing among potential sources. An influx of bacteria from floodplain soils into a stream during a storm was demonstrated using this approach but these comparisons were not useful at all sites.