Fig. 4.

Scanning electron microscope image of biofilm and rod-shaped Marinobacter aquaeolei cells, grown in marine broth with basalt glass chips as the colonization substrate. Individual cells can be discerned in some cases, but thick columns of biofilm that do not form the typical dehydrated desiccation in a vacuum are apparent and typify this bacterium. This biofilm quality results in aggregation and flocculation, which typify marine snow and particulate organic matter in the plume environment. Image collected at 15 kV and a working distance of 17 mm (image by K. J. Edwards, unpublished).