OneWater Practice Exam

Which term describes attached microbial growth?

Suspended Growth Biofilm Aerobic Bacteria Anaerobic Bacteria

Correct Answer:

Biofilm

Explanation:

Attached microbial growth is described by biofilm. A biofilm is a community of microorganisms that adhere to a surface and produce a sticky extracellular matrix that helps them stay attached and stick together. This matrix creates a protected, structured environment with channels for nutrients and waste, which often makes the community more resistant to disinfectants and physical removal. You commonly find biofilms on pipes, medical devices, and teeth, where cells remain anchored and can act in a coordinated way. Suspened growth, by contrast, describes microbes floating freely in liquid rather than sticking to a surface. Aerobic and anaerobic refer to oxygen requirements for metabolism, not whether the organisms are attached.

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