Inhibition of the reattachment of young adult zebra mussels by single-species biofilms and associated exopolymers.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effects of single-species bacterial films and their associated extracellular products on the reattachment of young adult zebra mussels.


RESULTS
Ten strains of bacteria were isolated from surfaces where adult zebra mussels can be found attached in nature. Single-species biofilms were developed on both glass and polystyrene using these bacteria. The reattachment of zebra mussels (i.e. with byssal threads) was compared between surfaces with and without films. Although no differences were observed in mussel reattachment between glass surfaces with and without films (P > 0.05, anova), a reduction in mussel reattachment between polystyrene surfaces with and without films was observed for seven of the 10 strains (P < or = 0.05 to <0.001, anova). Bacterial extracellular products (BEP) were isolated from five bacterial films and tested for their effects on mussel reattachment. Four of the five sets of isolated extracellular products evoked the same effects as their respective intact biofilms.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that depending on the substratum, individual strains of bacteria in biofilms can inhibit the reattachment of adult zebra mussels. In some cases, BEP were the source of the inhibitory effects.


CONCLUSIONS
The nature of the substratum on which the biofilms develop affects properties of the biofilm and its extracellular components, which subsequently influences zebra mussel reattachment.
Kavouras
J H
JH
Department of Biological Sciences, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI 53201, USA.
Maki
J S
JS
D000150:Acinetobacter / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001407:Bacillus / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion / Q000502:physiology*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D018441:Biofilms; D049872:Bivalvia / Q000382:microbiology*; D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000502:physiology; D045247:Chryseobacterium / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology; D004755:Enterobacteriaceae / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology; D011137:Polystyrenes; D011549:Pseudomonas / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology; D020638:Rahnella / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology; D020588:Stenotrophomonas / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D002241:Carbohydrates; D011137:Polystyrenes