Heterotrophic bacterial responses to the winter–spring phytoplankton bloom in open waters of the NW Mediterranean

Ana Gomes, Josep M. Gasol, Marta Estrada, Leticia Franco-Vidal, Laura Díaz-Pérez, Isabel Ferrera, Xose Anxelu G. Moran

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

25 Scopus citations

Abstract

The response of planktonic heterotrophic prokaryotes to the NW Mediterranean winter–spring offshore phytoplankton bloom was assessed in 3 cruises conducted in March, April–May and September 2009. Bulk measurements of phytoplankton and bacterioplankton biomass and production were complemented with an insight into bacterial physiological structure by single-cell analysis of nucleic acid content [low (LNA) vs. high (HNA)] and membrane integrity (“Live” vs. “Dead” cells). Bacterial production empirical conversion factors (0.82±0.25 SE kg C mol leucine−1) were almost always well below the theoretical value. Major differences in most microbial variables were found among the 3 periods, which varied from extremely high phytoplankton biomass and production during the bloom in March (>1 g C m−2 d−1 primary production) to typically oligotrophic conditions during September stratification (
Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)59-68
Number of pages10
JournalDeep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers
Volume96
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 3 2014

Bibliographical note

KAUST Repository Item: Exported on 2020-10-01

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Oceanography
  • Aquatic Science

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