A PRELIMINARY-STUDY ON THE DISTRIBUTION OF VIRUSES AND BACTERIA IN LOTIC HABITATS

Viral and bacterial abundances were determined in various habitats (wa ter, sediments, soil, leaves) within a northeastern Ohio catchment. Vi ral densities ranged from 1.98 to 2.02 x 10(7)/mL in water and from 1. 65 to 6.68 x 10(8)/g AFDM in :particulate samples; their abundance was not correlated with bacterial abundance. Bacterial numbers were typic al for similar lotic habitats with means of 1.63 x 10(6)/mL for water, 5.79 x 10(8) and 1.09 x 10(9)/g AFDM for sediments and leaves, respec tively. The virus to bacterium ratio was highest in water and lowest o n leaves.