Abstract
Transparent exopolymeric particles (TEP) consist of a matrix of colloidal fibrils and are produced from dissolved carbohydrate polymers exuded by phytoplankton and bacteria. These particles are involved in the formation of lake snow aggregates and are colonized by diverse microorganisms. Abundance, distribution, size spectra and bacterial colonization of TEP in Lake Pavin were studied and compared with data from other freshwater and marine systems. Abundance of TEP ranged from 105 to 106 particles L−1 and the majority of these particles contained attached bacteria. Bacterial density within TEP was related to temperature and decreased with particle size. TEP-associated bacteria were more important in the oligomesotrophic Lake Pavin than in the near-by eutrophic Lake Aydat, indicating that TEP are particularly important in environments with low nutrient loading. The community composition of particle-associated bacteria was different from that of free-living bacteria. In addition, we found that bacteria associated with TEP exhibit higher enzymatic activities than free-living cells in the surrounding water. Finally, the densities of heterotrophic nanoflagellates in Lake Pavin were more significantly related to the densities of TEP than to the densities of bacteria and the bacterial density within TEP. Based on comparisons with other freshwater and marine systems, we conclude that TEP are involved in the phytoplankton – primarily diatom – sedimentation processes and in the dynamics of bacteria and protozoa in the pelagic zone of aquatic ecosystems.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Arnous M-B, Courcol N, Carrias J-F (2010) The significance of Transparent Exopolymer Particles in the vertical distribution of bacteria and Heterotrophic Nanoflagellates in Lake Pavin. Aquat Sci 72:245–253
Bockelmann U, Manz W, Neu TR, Szewzyk U (2000) Characterization of the microbial community of lotic organic aggregates (river snow) in the Elbe river of German by cultivation and molecular methods. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 33:157–170
Brachvogel T, Schweitzer B, Simon M (2001) Dynamics and bacterial colonization of microaggregates in a large mesotrophic lake. Aquat Microb Ecol 26:23–35
Brümmer IHM, Fehr W, Wagner-Döbler I (2000) Biofilm community structure in polluted rivers: abundance of dominant phylogenetic groups over a complete annual cycle. Appl Environ Microbiol 66:3789–3796
Caron DA, Davis PG, Madin LP, Sieburth JMN (1982) Heterotrophic bacteria and bacterivorous protozoans in oceanic macroaggregates. Science 218:795–797
Caron DA, Davis PG, Madin LP, Sieburth JMN (1986) Enrichment of microbial populations in macroaggregates (marine snow) from surface waters of the North Atlantic. J Mar Res 44:643–565
Carrias J-F, Amblard C, Bourdier G (1996) Protistan bacterivory in an oligomesotrophic lake: importance of attached ciliates and flagellates. Microb Ecol 31:249–268
Carrias J-F, Amblard C, Bourdier G (1998) Seasonal dynamics of free and attached heterotrophic nanoflagellates in an oligomesotrophic lake. Freshw Biol 39:101–111
Carrias J-F, Thouvenot A, Amblard C, Sime-Ngando T (2001) Dynamics and growth estimates of planktonic protists during early spring in Lake Pavin (France). Aquat Microb Ecol 24:163–174
Carrias J-F, Serre J-P, Sime-Ngando T, Amblard C (2002) Distribution, size, and bacterial colonization of pico and nano-detrital organic particles (DOP) in two lakes of different trophic status. Limnol Oceanogr 47:1202–1209
Hoppe HG (1983) Significance of exoenzymatic activities in the ecology of brackish water: measurements by means of methylumbelliferyl-substrates. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 11:299–308
Lemarchand C, Jardillier L, Carrias J-F, Richardot M, Debroas D, SimeNgando T, Amblard C (2006) Community composition and activity of prokaryotes associated to detrital particles in two contrasting lake ecosystems. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 57:442–451
Mari X, Kiørboe T (1996) Abundance, size distribution and bacterial colonization of transparent exopolymeric particles (TEP) during spring in the Kattegat. J Plankton Res 18:969–986
Moter A, Göbel UB (2000) Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) for direct visualization of microorganisms. J Microbiol Met 41:85–112
Passow U (2000) Formation of transparent exopolymer particles, TEP, from dissolved precursor material. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 192:1–11
Passow U (2002) Transparent exopolymer particles (TEP) in the aquatic environments. Prog Oceanogr 55:287–333
Passow U, Alldredge AL (1994) Distribution, size and bacterial colonization of transparent exopolymer particles (TEP) in the ocean. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 113:185–198
Schuster S, Herndl JG (1995) Formation and significance of transparent exopolymer particles in the Northern Adriatic Sea. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 124:227–236
Selje N, Simon M (2003) Composition and dynamics of particle-associated and free-living bacterial communities in the Weser estuary, Germany. Aquat Microb Ecol 30:221–237
Sherr EB, Sherr BF (2002) Significance of predation by protists in aquatic microbial food webs. Anton Leeuw Int J G 81:293–308
Simek K, Jürgens K, Nedoma J, Comerma M, Armengol J (2000) Ecological role and bacterial grazing of Halteria sp.: small oligotrichs as dominant pelagic ciliate bacterivores. Aquat Microb Ecol 22:43–56
Simon M, Grossart HP, Schweitzer B, Plough H (2002) Microbial ecology of organic aggregates in aquatic ecosystems. Aquat Microb Ecol 28:175–211
Weisse T (1990) Trophic interactions among heterotrophic microplankton, nanoplankton, and bacteria in Lake Constance (FRG). Hydrobiol 191:111–122
Acknowledgement
We are indebted to Dr Xavier MARI for a critical review of the ms.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2016 Springer International Publishing Switzerland
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Carrias, JF., Amblard, C., Sime-Ngando, T. (2016). The Significance of Transparent Exopolymeric Particles (TEP) for Microorganisms in Lake Pavin. In: Sime-Ngando, T., Boivin, P., Chapron, E., Jezequel, D., Meybeck, M. (eds) Lake Pavin. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-39961-4_13
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-39961-4_13
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-39960-7
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-39961-4
eBook Packages: Biomedical and Life SciencesBiomedical and Life Sciences (R0)