| aerobic, meaning
they thrive in the presence of oxygen, and they are
heterotrophs, meaning that they derive their energy from
breaking down organic matter. Bacteria are found in
four main shapes, dictated by their cell wall
configuration. Coccus bacteria, top left, are
round, oval, or spherical in nature, while the rod or
bacillus shape, top right, are long, threadlike and
cylindrical, and can also curve slightly in which case
they fit into a classification called vibrios, bottom
left. Lastly, spirillum bacteria are spiral
and helical, twisted two or more times, as seen in bottom
right. Biofilms are groupings or populations
of bacteria and other microorganisms that can grow and
adhere to many environmental surfaces through a slimy
matrix. They can develop on essentially any organic
surface where enough moisture is present. These biofilm
communities take a wide variety of forms based on their
age and the conditions available, and are an important
element in the energy budget of many ecosystems. In Emigration Creek,
the biofilm is the thin, slippery, brownish layer that can be found on
the surface of the rocks in the stream
bottom. They form the basis of food webs that nourish
larger organisms such as snails, mayflies, caddisflies,
and other invertebrate organisms, which are in
turn consumed by fish and larger animals.
(Return to main Bacteria and Fungi Page)
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