title: Stress: a factor to be considered in heterotrophic microorganism enumeration from aquatic environments.
abstract: Heterotrophic microorganisms in water samples are susceptible to the transient stress of warmed agar used in the standard methods pour plate procedure, causing significantly decreased recoveries in comparison with a spread plate technique. Microbial starvation can increase susceptibility to a transient warming stress. The standard plate count procedure, as presently described, should not be considered for quantitation of microorganisms from aquatic environments.
mesh_terms: D000362:Agar; D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D002452:Cell Count; D003120:Colorado; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D005618:Fresh Water; D006358:Hot Temperature; D013997:Time Factors; D014871:Water Microbiology
chemical_list: D000362:Agar