SOME OBSERVATIONS ABOUT BACTERIAL PRESENCE IN SEAWATER RELATED TO MUCILAGINOUS AGGREGATES IN THE NORTHWEST ADRIATIC SEA

Mucus aggregates are an ubiquitous physiological component in marine w aters, but there is uncertainty about their ecological role and its re lationship to heterotrophic activity. To this end a preliminary invest igation was initiated that considered bacterial density and its bearin g on the presence or absence of such aggregates in the form of'marine snow' in seawater. Bacterial density was found to increase by at least one order of magnitude in the presence of mucus aggregates compared w ith clear water. Implications and speculations regarding the role of b acteria as potential producers of viscous exopolymers and their possib le role in the formation of mucus aggregates are discussed.