A brief guide to identifying bacteria in the field, for protistologists

Bacteria are notably the most abundant and most diverse of all organisms but also the most easily overlooked and even ignored. Yet, almost all of the major groups of bacteria are identifiable in the field without a microscope. Odors, textures, colorful slimes, mats, and scums are among the bacterial field marks that provide clues as to which microbes are present. The rules‐of‐thumb and tricks‐of‐the trade for identification are often passed down to field microbiologists through graduate schools, but are seldom published for general use in other fields. Protistologists may find this brief introduction to bacterial field marks helpful for placing their own analyses and interpretations of habitats and communities into a greater context. Further information and details may be found in A Field Guide to Bacteria (Cornell 2003).