The
microbial
biofilm
matrix
effects
a
number
of
changes
on the
physical
and
biological
properties
of
intertidal
sediment
environments.
These
range
from the
macro-scale
stabilization
of
sediments
to the
micro-scale
stabilization
of
microbial
microenvironments.
While
the
biofilm
is a
common
microbial
adaptation
in
intertidal
systems,
the
complexity
of biofilms and their
resulting
effects
on
sediment
systems
are not
well
understood.
New
imaging
and
analytical
approaches
have
provided
important
insight
into their
functioning,
resiliency
and the
resulting
effects
on
intertidal
processes.
The
microbial
biofilm
represents
an
important
parameter
for
consideration
during
the
experimental
investigation,
and the
interpretation
of
biological,
chemical,
and
sedimentological
data
in
intertidal
systems.