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Microbial decomposition process of organic matter in sinking particles, resuspendable particles, and bottom sediments at a coastal fish farming area

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An Erratum to this article was published on 15 September 2017

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Abstract

The possible impacts of resuspension of low-density bottom sediments on the microbial decomposition process of organic matter were investigated at a coastal fish farming area. Hydrolysis and mineralization rates were much higher in sinking particles, resuspendable particles, and bottom sediments than in seawater. The cell-specific mineralization rate of free-living bacteria in seawater was several times higher than that of particle-associated bacteria at the other three sites. Conversely, no significant difference was observed in the cell-specific ecto-enzymatic hydrolysis rate. These results indicated different strategies in the utilization of organic matter: free-living bacteria actively respire low-molecular-weight compounds produced from the high-molecular-weight compounds resulting from extracellular enzyme activity of particle-associated bacteria. Both hydrolysis and mineralization were higher in sinking particles than in the other three sites. Hydrolysis rates were higher in resuspendable particles than in bottom sediments. Furthermore, leucine aminopeptidase and mineralization rates tended to be highest during winter in all four sites within the water column. These results suggest that the microbial decomposition of organic matter is stimulated by the resuspension of bottom sediments, especially during winter, when vertical mixing is relatively strong.

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  • 15 September 2017

    Erratum to: Fish Sci (2017) 83:635–647 DOI 10.1007/s12562-017-1098-9.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to O. Murata, the late S. Miyashita, S. Miyano, K. Kato, R. Konishi, and the other staff members of the Aquaculture Research Institute, Kindai University, for their cooperation at sea. We are also grateful to S. Yamochi and S. Fujiwara for their cooperation with CHN analysis. Financial support was provided by the 21st Century COE Program (the Center of Aquaculture Science and Technology for Bluefin Tuna and Other Cultivated Fish) and the Global COE Program (International Education and Research Center for Aquaculture Science of Bluefin Tuna and Other Cultured Fish) of MEXT, Japan, the Strategic Project to Support the Formation of Research Bases at Private Universities: matching fund subsidy from MEXT, Japan, 2014-2016 (S1412003).

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Author notes

  1. Takashi Yoshikawa

    Present address: Department of Fisheries, School of Marine Science and Technology, Tokai University, Shizuoka, 424-8610, Japan

  2. Kenichi Kanemata

    Present address: Nippon Suisan Kaisha Ltd, Tokyo, 105-8676, Japan

  3. Gentoku Nakase

    Present address: Aquaculture Research Institute, Kindai University, Wakayama, 649-2211, Japan

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Fisheries, Faculty of Agriculture, Kindai University, Nara, 631-8505, Japan

    Takashi Yoshikawa, Kenichi Kanemata, Gentoku Nakase & Mitsuru Eguchi

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  1. Takashi Yoshikawa
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  2. Kenichi Kanemata
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  4. Mitsuru Eguchi
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Correspondence to Mitsuru Eguchi.

Additional information

An erratum to this article is available at https://doi.org/10.1007/s12562-017-1132-y.

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Yoshikawa, T., Kanemata, K., Nakase, G. et al. Microbial decomposition process of organic matter in sinking particles, resuspendable particles, and bottom sediments at a coastal fish farming area. Fish Sci 83, 635–647 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12562-017-1098-9

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