Final answer:
Typical freshwater bacteria moved to salty seawater would likely die due to the hypertonic conditions causing water to leave their cells. Some bacteria, like halophiles, are adapted to saline environments, but most freshwater bacteria lack this adaptability and would not survive the transition.
Step-by-step explanation:
If bacteria that live in a freshwater stream are moved to salty seawater, it's highly likely that they would die. This is because of the difference in tonicity between freshwater and saltwater environments. Freshwater bacteria are adapted to hypotonic conditions where the solute concentration outside the cells is lower than the inside, leading to water influx. Conversely, saltwater is hypertonic to these bacteria, resulting in a loss of water from the cells to the external environment. This osmotic effect can lead to dehydration and death of the freshwater bacteria.
Bacteria such as halophiles, however, are adapted to thrive in extremely salty environments like the Dead Sea. These prokaryotes have special adaptations that allow them to manage osmotic stress and maintain cell integrity in hypertonic conditions. Therefore, not all bacteria would die; it depends on their adaptability to saline conditions. However, typical freshwater bacteria without such adaptations would not survive.