Spatial changes of the biomass of viable cell in a heterogeneous biofilm
一种异养生物膜(heterogeneous biofilms) 活细胞生物量的空间变化

Based on the data of a heterogeneous biofilm in the literature, the spatial changes of the biomass of viable cell in the biofilm were studied by use of the analytical methods of double natural logarithm correlation and fractal geometry. It was found that there was a pronounced positive correlation of double natural logarithm between the biomass of viable cell and surface area or area of biofilm; the biomass distribution of viable cell presented characteristics of allometry and fractal growth, and its fractal dimension value D could represent the distribution heterogeneity to a great extent and the change with the biofilm's phases; the values of D could be used to predict the biofilm's development states. Compared with the method of pixel analysis, combination of biomass of viable cell in biofilm with fractal geometry could offer a simpler and newer way to investigate the biofilm's structure and its variations.