Microbial aggregation and degradation of phytoplankton-derived detritus in seawater. 1. Microbial succession

The authors examined the microbial processes associated with degrading detritus from 3 phytoplankters in natural seawater. A remarkably similar and well-defined pattern of microbial succession involving heterotrophic bacteria and bacterivorous protozoa occurs in all 3 cases. It appears that detritus...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Marine ecology. Progress series (Halstenbek) 1988-01, Vol.42 (1), p.79-88
Main Authors: Biddanda, BA, Pomeroy, L R
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Cylindrotheca fusiformis
Dunaliella
Marine
Synechococcus
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:The authors examined the microbial processes associated with degrading detritus from 3 phytoplankters in natural seawater. A remarkably similar and well-defined pattern of microbial succession involving heterotrophic bacteria and bacterivorous protozoa occurs in all 3 cases. It appears that detritus aggregation, degradation and disaggregation are continuous processes occurring in the water column. the similarity in microbial processing of all detritus may be the reason why most particulate matter in the sea similar. A "detritosphere" concept is proposed, under which the detritus-microbe environment may be considered in its natural context.
ISSN:0171-8630
DOI:10.3354/meps042079