Microbes in Antarctic Waters of the Drake Passage: vertical patterns of substrate uptake, productivity and biomass in January 1980

• Published in: Polar biology 1983-11, Vol.2 (3), p.179-188
• Main Authors: HANSON, R. B, LOWERY, H. K, SHAFER, D, SOROCCO, R, POPE, D. H
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Biological and medical sciences; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; Marine; Microbial ecology
• ISSN: 0722-4060; 1432-2056
• DOI: 10.1007/BF00448968

Microbial distribution, substrate uptake, productivity and biomass were investigated in the water column of the Drake Pasage, Antartica. Organic substrate uptake and productivity were determined by the utilization of ( super(14)C) and ( super(3)H) glucose and by the incorporation of ( super(3)H)adenine and ( super(3)H) thymidine into RNA and DNA. Microbial biomass was estimated by ATP concentrations and bacterial abundance by epifluorescence direct counts. Estimates of glucose uptake and productivity indicate that microbes were most active in surface waters and least active below 100 m. Glucose concentrations varied from undetectable to 7.5 mu g/l with a turnover time of 5-20 days in the euphotic zone and greater than 365 days in Circumpolar Deep Waters. Microbes respired 12 to 32% of the assimilated ( super(14)C) glucose. Microbes responsible for the uptake of dissolved organic carbon in the euphotic zone were in the 3 mu m.