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What's new?
Read abstracts summarising recent biofilm research developments >>>
Read our guide to microscopic examination of stream biofilms >>>
Biodiversity data on macroinvertebrates, ciliates and bacteria in our four study sites is online >>>
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What is a stream biofilm?
A stream biofilm is the layer of greenish-brown slime that is found on rocks, plants and other surfaces in a stream. This layer is composed of bacteria, algae, fungi, protozoa and other microscopic organisms in a complex polymer linked assemblage.
Stream biofilms play key roles in primary production, cycling of nutrients, water quality, suspended solid removal and energy flow to higher trophic levels. They constitute a major component of the stream ecosystem and must be better understood to facilitate successful stream restoration or rehabilitation.
About the Stream Biofilm Project
The Stream Biofilm Project is carried out by a team of researchers based at the University of Auckland, New Zealand. The role of biofilms in stream ecology has received little attention at the microbial level and the dynamics of the biofilm populations and interactions with larger organisms are not well understood, although it has become clear recently that stream biofilms are a critical component of stream food webs.
We have developed techniques for studying the diversity and function of the bacteria in these biofilms, and we have extended our work into investigating the relationship between biofilms and stream food webs. The project aims to improve knowledge about stream ecosystems, support stream restoration, and provide a new approach to stream health assessment.
Learn more about our research >>>
This educational poster provides a colourful and detailed view of the microscopic world of stream slime, and the diverse micro-organisms which live there.
Contact us to obtain copies of this poster. Further details are available here >>>
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Contact us
Stream Biofilm Research Group
School of Biological Sciences
The University of Auckland
3a Symonds Street
Auckland, New Zealand
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streambiofilm
gmail.com
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© Stream Biofilm Project, The University of Auckland 2008-2010
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