ALCIAN BLUE-STAINED PARTICLES IN A EUTROPHIC LAKE

We used a neutral solution of Alcian Blue to stain transparent particl es in eutrophic Lake Frederiksborg Slotsso, Denmark. Alcian Blue-stain ed particles (ABSP) appeared to be similar to the so-called transparen t exopolymer particles (TEP) identified with an acidic solution of Alc ian Blue. Our results on the abundance, size distribution and bacteria l colonization of ABSP therefore reflect general patterns of TEP. The abundance of ABSP in the size range 3-162 mu m and retained by 3 mu m pore size filters averaged 3.6 +/- 2.49 x 10(5) ml(-1) (+/- SD), which is among the highest concentrations reported for comparable size spec tra of TEP. On average, 35% of ABSP (by number) were colonized by bact eria and 8.6 x 10(5) bacteria ml(-1) lake water were attached to ABSP, which corresponds to 7% of the total bacterial abundance.