title: Patchiness in the distribution of planktonic heterotrophic bacteria in lakes.
abstract: By using conventional dilution plating procedures, the heterotrophic planktonic bacteria in Lake Washington were found to be distributed in small-scale (<1.0 ml) and large-scale (>1 m in horizontal distance) patches. Recommendations are made on sampling and enumeration procedures to minimize the effect of patchiness on obtaining an accurate estimate of bacterial numbers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195.
authors.forename: F E
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Palmer
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Methot
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Staley