CHARACTERIZATION OF HYDROPHOBIC STREAM BACTERIA BASED ON ADHESION TO N-OCTANE

The purpose of this study was to characterize stream bacterial communi ties based on cell. surface hydrophobicity. Because hydrophobicity is related to adhesion we hypothesized that more hydrophobic bacteria wou ld be found on solid surfaces than in water. Water, rock, and sediment from two northeastern Ohio streams were sampled and bacteria were pla ted on modified nutrient agar. Hydrophobicity was determined by measur ing adherence to n-octane. No difference was found in the proportion o f hydrophobic bacteria among habitats. Two hydrophobic isolates were i dentified as Sphingomonas paucimobilis and Chryseomonas luteola. A lar ge proportion of hydrophobic bacteria were gram positive and urease po sitive; none were gelatinase positive. More hydrophobic than hydrophil ic bacteria were able to grow using manatose or malatose as the only c arbon source. These physiological differences indicate that hydrophobi c bacteria may be able to utilize resources not available to hydrophil ic bacteria.