Conclusion
For the diatom and bacterial species we have studied, we conclude that: (i) Diatom matrix extracellular carbohydrate polymer is largely responsible for sediment stabilization and thus biofilm architecture; (ii) soluble diatom motility polymer plays no part in the sediment stabilization process; (iii) possibly because of their lytic activities on exopolymers elaborated by diatoms, bacteria are more likely to inhibit than enhance diatom driven sediment stability; and (iv) it is unreasonable to make general predictions based on the results obtained with one, or perhaps several, organisms.
Note