Observations of Bacterial Microcolonies on the Surface of Ferromanganese Nodules from Blake Plateau by Scanning Electron Microscopy

Examination of the surface of freshly collected ferromanganese nodules by scanning electron microscopy revealed the presence of microcolonies of rod-and coccus-shaped bacteria which appeared to be anchored to the nodule surface by slime. The attachment of microcolonies by slime to the surface of freshly collected nodules argues against their being contaminants introduced during nodule collection or processing. These results corroborate cultural and biochemical detection of bacteria on ferromanganese nodules.