3.3.3 Temperature
At optimum temperatures, bacteria can increase their uptake of nutrients, allowing rapid biofilm formation [114]. Nutrient metabolism depends on and is directly influenced by the presence of enzymes. Temperature is related to the reaction rate of enzymes, making temperature one of the factors determining the metabolic efficiency of cells. The optimal temperature will lead to healthy growth of bacterial populations, and vice versa will reduce the efficiency of bacterial growth.
In addition to the effect on enzymes, environmental temperature also affects the physical properties of compounds within and around cells. By studying the effect of temperature on cell attachment in the stationary phase, Fletcher [115] found that a decrease in temperature promoted a reduction in the adhesion properties of Pseudomonas Maritima, which may be related to the decline in bacterial surface polymers, surface area, at low temperatures.
Herald and Zottola [116] found that the presence of bacterial surface appendages was closely related to temperature. At 35 °C, the cells had one flagellum; at 21 °C, they had two to three flagella; at ten °C multiple flagella appeared. This suggests that the initial interaction between the bacteria and the substrate may increase as the temperature decreases, thus increasing bacterial adhesion.