Diversity of Biofilms

1
Diversity of Biofilms

• Amber Stike and
• Brittany McElwee

2
Sample 1

• Sample 1 was collected at Pandapas Pond on
  3-18-07.
• It was growing on a tree, in the shade, and in a
  cold area.

Below are 2 pictures of the biofilm under the
Stereo microscope.
Below Amber views the biofilm under a Stereo
Microscope
Above This is the biofilm found on a fallen tree.
3
Sample 2

• Sample 2 was collected on Pandapas Pond on
  3-18-07.
• The Biofilm was off a piece of bark fallen from a
  tree shading the water. It was in the shade, in
  the pond, and in a cold area.

This Shows the bark we used and us getting the
sample at Pandapas Pond.
Below This is the view under the compound
microscope.
Brittany is viewing the sample under the Compound
Microscope.
Above This is the view under the stereo
microscope. The depth of the layers shows this IS
a biofilm.
4
Sample 3

• Sample 3 was collected at Auburn High School on
  3-19-07
• It was found in the sink in the Chemistry Room.
  It was in a moist area, and a constant room
  temperature.

This is the sink we extracted the biofilm from.
This was the view of the biofilm from the
compound microscope.
We used a water dropper to extract the biofilm.
This was the view under the stereo microscope.
5
Sample 4

• Sample 4 was collected at Auburn High School on
  3-19-07
• It was found in a drainage pipe in a shaded and
  moist environment.

This is the drainage pipe that we swabbed the
inside for biofilm.
View from Compound Microscope
View from Stereo Microscope
Here Brittany is viewing the biofilm from within
the pipe.
6
Sample 5 6

• Sample 5 and 6 were extracted at Brittany
  McElwees House on 3-19-07
• These biofilms were found on a stick underneath a
  tree with other leaves and rubble. It was in a
  cold, moist, and shaded area. These two biofilms
  are very different although found in the same
  place.

0
7
Sample 5 6
This is from the dark green biofilm found on the
stick. The top view is from a stereo microscope
and the bottom from a compound.
This is from the gray biofilm found on the stick.
The top view is from a stereo microscope and the
bottom from a compound.
Amber is viewing the dark green biofilm under the
compound microscope here.
8
Niche and Nature of Biofilm

• Biofilms are used treating sewage, waste plants
  and contaminated soil.
• Biofilms are made of communities of different
  microorganisms all growing together on one
  surface.
• Biofilms can be found on rocks, pebbles in bodies
  of water, trees, and sometimes on surfaces of
  pools of water.
• Biofilms are important because they provide food
  for fish in rivers and streams. Biofilms also can
  be harmful to human health, although they help
  aquatic invertebrates.
• Biofilms are also known for protecting
  themselves.
• Biofilms can help nutrient uptake and eliminate
  waste.

9
Sources

• http//www.reference.com/browse/biofilm
• http//www.personal.psu.edu/faculty/j/e/jel5/biofi
  lms/primer.html
• http//dictionary.reference.com/browse/biofilm
• http//www.sciencenews.org/articles/20010714/bob12
  .asp
• http//www.edstrom.com/Resources.cfm?doc_id143