Significance of bacterial activity for the distribution and dynamics of transparent exopolymer particles in the Mediterranean Sea

Eva Ortega-Retuerta; Carlos M. Duarte; Isabel Reche

doi:10.1007/s00248-010-9640-7

Significance of bacterial activity for the distribution and dynamics of transparent exopolymer particles in the Mediterranean Sea

Eva Ortega-Retuerta^*, Carlos M. Duarte, Isabel Reche

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

55 Scopus citations

Abstract

The study of transparent exopolymer particles (TEP) in the Mediterranean Sea is particularly relevant as they can be promoters of mucilage events, a frequent phenomenon there. We assessed the influence of bacterioplankton on TEP distribution and dynamics across the west-east axis of the Mediterranean Sea. We performed an extensive study of TEP, dissolved carbohydrates, and their relationships with bacterial abundance and bacterial production (BP). A significant and positive relationship was observed between BP and TEP in the study region (r² = 0.51, p < 0.001). The direct release of TEP by bacteria was experimentally corroborated using regrowth cultures where increases in TEP tracked bacterial growth in abundance and production. These TEP increases were positively related to the increases in BP (r² = 0.78, p < 0.05). The consistency (similar slopes) of the regression lines between BP and TEP in natural conditions and between the increases of BP and TEP in the experiments underlines the relevant role of bacteria in the formation of TEP in this area.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	808-818
Number of pages	11
Journal	Microbial ecology
Volume	59
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s00248-010-9640-7
State	Published - 2010
Externally published	Yes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
Ecology
Soil Science

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title = "Significance of bacterial activity for the distribution and dynamics of transparent exopolymer particles in the Mediterranean Sea",

abstract = "The study of transparent exopolymer particles (TEP) in the Mediterranean Sea is particularly relevant as they can be promoters of mucilage events, a frequent phenomenon there. We assessed the influence of bacterioplankton on TEP distribution and dynamics across the west-east axis of the Mediterranean Sea. We performed an extensive study of TEP, dissolved carbohydrates, and their relationships with bacterial abundance and bacterial production (BP). A significant and positive relationship was observed between BP and TEP in the study region (r2 = 0.51, p < 0.001). The direct release of TEP by bacteria was experimentally corroborated using regrowth cultures where increases in TEP tracked bacterial growth in abundance and production. These TEP increases were positively related to the increases in BP (r2 = 0.78, p < 0.05). The consistency (similar slopes) of the regression lines between BP and TEP in natural conditions and between the increases of BP and TEP in the experiments underlines the relevant role of bacteria in the formation of TEP in this area.",

author = "Eva Ortega-Retuerta and Duarte, {Carlos M.} and Isabel Reche",

note = "Funding Information: We thank the captain and crew of R/V “Garc{\'i}a del Cid” and the Marine Technology Unit for their help in the sampling and experimental setup. We thank R. Santiago for the TOC and chl a analyses. We also acknowledge R.A. Reynolds for improving the English and the anonymous reviewers for the insightful comments to a previous version of this manuscript. This work was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Technology (THRESHOLDS complementary action ref. CTM2005-24238-E to CMD and DISPAR CGL2005-00076 to IR). E.O.-R. was supported by fellowships from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Education and the University of Granada.",

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AU - Ortega-Retuerta, Eva

AU - Duarte, Carlos M.

AU - Reche, Isabel

N1 - Funding Information: We thank the captain and crew of R/V “García del Cid” and the Marine Technology Unit for their help in the sampling and experimental setup. We thank R. Santiago for the TOC and chl a analyses. We also acknowledge R.A. Reynolds for improving the English and the anonymous reviewers for the insightful comments to a previous version of this manuscript. This work was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Technology (THRESHOLDS complementary action ref. CTM2005-24238-E to CMD and DISPAR CGL2005-00076 to IR). E.O.-R. was supported by fellowships from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Education and the University of Granada.

PY - 2010

Y1 - 2010

N2 - The study of transparent exopolymer particles (TEP) in the Mediterranean Sea is particularly relevant as they can be promoters of mucilage events, a frequent phenomenon there. We assessed the influence of bacterioplankton on TEP distribution and dynamics across the west-east axis of the Mediterranean Sea. We performed an extensive study of TEP, dissolved carbohydrates, and their relationships with bacterial abundance and bacterial production (BP). A significant and positive relationship was observed between BP and TEP in the study region (r2 = 0.51, p < 0.001). The direct release of TEP by bacteria was experimentally corroborated using regrowth cultures where increases in TEP tracked bacterial growth in abundance and production. These TEP increases were positively related to the increases in BP (r2 = 0.78, p < 0.05). The consistency (similar slopes) of the regression lines between BP and TEP in natural conditions and between the increases of BP and TEP in the experiments underlines the relevant role of bacteria in the formation of TEP in this area.

AB - The study of transparent exopolymer particles (TEP) in the Mediterranean Sea is particularly relevant as they can be promoters of mucilage events, a frequent phenomenon there. We assessed the influence of bacterioplankton on TEP distribution and dynamics across the west-east axis of the Mediterranean Sea. We performed an extensive study of TEP, dissolved carbohydrates, and their relationships with bacterial abundance and bacterial production (BP). A significant and positive relationship was observed between BP and TEP in the study region (r2 = 0.51, p < 0.001). The direct release of TEP by bacteria was experimentally corroborated using regrowth cultures where increases in TEP tracked bacterial growth in abundance and production. These TEP increases were positively related to the increases in BP (r2 = 0.78, p < 0.05). The consistency (similar slopes) of the regression lines between BP and TEP in natural conditions and between the increases of BP and TEP in the experiments underlines the relevant role of bacteria in the formation of TEP in this area.

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Significance of bacterial activity for the distribution and dynamics of transparent exopolymer particles in the Mediterranean Sea

Abstract

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