creno-, cren-, crauno-, crouno-

Meromixis (partial circulation, the lower denser layers never mixing with the upper) in which the density contrast between the waters of the monimolimnion (permanently stagnant layer in meromictic lakes, below the chemocline) and the mixolimnion (the upper layer that occasionally mixes in a meromictic lake) is caused by subsurface flows of saline water from springs or seeps.

Referring to an organism that dwells in or near a spring: Two crenophilous fish that enjoy thriving in freshwater springs are the smallmouth bass and the largemouth bass.

The preference of an organism to exist in or near a spring: In his book about fish, Tom came across the topic of crenophily describing such fish that thrive best near an origin of freshwater.

A genus of sheathed bacteria; cells are nonmotile, sheaths are attached and encrusted with iron and manganese oxides, and filaments may have swollen tips.