Downstream increase in the abundance and heterotrophic activity of suspended bacteria in an intermittent calcareous headstream

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Abstract
SUMMARY. 1. Concentration of total bacteria, and heterotrophic activity (as turnover rate for glucose assimilation), in the water of an intermittent spring‐fed calcareous headstream, increased with distance from the source to 1600 m.2. This increase was gradual rather than stepwise and might be due to release of bacteria from submerged vegetation and the stream bed, and to input of terrestrial bacteria with groundwater.3. The increment per unit length of stream was greatest in summer when aquatic vegetation was most abundant and discharge was low.4. When the stream was partly dry, isolated peaks of suspended bacteria occurred and there was no regular downstream increase.5. A lesser spring which upwelled into a natural basin consistently contained more suspended bacteria than the principal source, which was an artificial culvert.