Distribution of microbial biomass, production, respiration, dissolved organic carbon and factors controlling bacterial production across a geostrophic front (Almeria-Oran, SW Mediterranean Sea)

Microbial distribution and activities were examined in relation to the hydrodynamic conditions in the Almeria-Oran frontal area (AOF), SW Mediterranean Sea, during winter. The main objectives were to explore factors limiting bacterial growth and activities (production, ectoenzymatic activity, utiliz...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Marine ecology. Progress series (Halstenbek) 2004-03, Vol.269, p.1-15
Main Authors: Van Wambeke, France, Lefèvre, Dominique, Prieur, Louis, Sempéré, Richard, Bianchi, Micheline, Oubelkheir, Kadija, Bruyant, Flavienne
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Amino acids
Animal and plant ecology
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Bacteria
Bacterial biomass
Biological and medical sciences
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Gyres
Marine
Ocean, Atmosphere
Phytoplankton
Primary productivity
Respiration
Sciences of the Universe
Sea water
Sea water ecosystems
Seas
Surface water
Synecology
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Summary:Microbial distribution and activities were examined in relation to the hydrodynamic conditions in the Almeria-Oran frontal area (AOF), SW Mediterranean Sea, during winter. The main objectives were to explore factors limiting bacterial growth and activities (production, ectoenzymatic activity, utilization and respiration of amino acids) in regard to dissolved organic carbon (DOC) stocks and lability in different parts of the Almeria-Oran front-jet system. The vertical distribution of total chla, bacterial abundance and production reflected the density profiles, with a deepening of the top of the pycnocline from 25 (front) to 120 m (gyre). At the frontal site, most bacterial production was concentrated within the first 20 m (up to 19.8 nmol C l–1h–1), at the boundary between the jet and Mediterranean waters, whereas bacterial abundance peaked in a wider layer (40 m) in the jet core (up to 15 × 10⁵ bacteria ml–1). Integrated bacterial production ranged from 5.7 to 17.9 mmol C m–2d–1in the 0 to 200 m layer in the meander of the Atlantic jet and in its associated anticyclonic gyre, compared to 4.3 to 5.8 mmol C m–2d–1in typical Mediterranean waters. Heterotrophic bacteria were limited by phosphorus in the surface layers of the front and Mediterranean waters. Shipboard experiments using
ISSN:0171-8630
1616-1599
DOI:10.3354/meps269001