Detachment and seeding

Definition

The process by which fragments of a mature biofilm break free and colonize clean surfaces downstream.

Fragments shear off from flow, release on quorum signals, or dislodge during load changes, carrying living cells already primed for attachment and already producing EPS. When they land downstream, colonization is faster, attachment is stronger, and the new community inherits the resilience of its source. A single established biofilm therefore becomes a source of future problems everywhere the water travels.

Related concepts

Mature community · Quorum sensing · Biofilm

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Part of The Blueprint of Water · 🦠 biology