Figure 1
Scanning electron micrographs of the microbial colonization of a single sand grain. (a) Shows a quartz sand grain with undefined material (grey) in cracks and depressions and the mineral surface in yellow. (b–e) Magnifications of the cracks and depressions reveal a dense microbial colonization (magenta) with different attachment methods: e.1 shows a round shaped bacterium with pili, e.2 others attach themselves vertically or produce nets of polymers (see also47).
