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Grazers and Associated Organisms of Trichodesmium

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Marine Pelagic Cyanobacteria: Trichodesmium and other Diazotrophs

Part of the book series: NATO ASI Series ((ASIC,volume 362))

Abstract

Colonies of the pelagic cyanobacterium Trichodesmium consist not only of filamentous trichomes, but of other types of associated organisms as well, including bacteria, diatoms, dinoflagellates, fungi, protozoa, hydrozoans and copepods. These associated organisms use Trichodesmium as a physical substrate and as a food source. Pelagic harpacticoid copepods (the genera Macrosetella and Miracia in particular), are the only organisms that have been quantitatively shown to use Trichodesmium as a food source. There have been anecdotal reports of other organisms feeding on Trichodesmium including salps, crabs and fish. These micro-communities, with tight nutrient coupling, may be an adaptation for existence in oligotrophic tropical and subtropical seas. Associated organisms may cause physiological changes in Trichodesmium, which could account for much of the inter-colony variation when measuring various physiological parameters of this cyanobacteria. Trichodesmium can make a significant contribution to “new production” of nitrogen and the flux of organic matter from surface waters. Therefore, the consumption and fate of Trichodesmium has important consequences for understanding the inputs and outputs of carbon and nitrogen in the open ocean.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Environmental and Estuarine Studies Horn Point Environmental Laboratory, University of Maryland, Box 775, Cambridge, MD, 21613, USA

    Judith M. O’Neil & Michael R. Roman

Authors
  1. Judith M. O’Neil
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  2. Michael R. Roman
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Marine Sciences Research Center, State University of New York, Stony Brook, New York, USA

    E. J. Carpenter

  2. Chesapeake Biological Laboratory, University of Maryland, Solomons, Maryland, USA

    D. G. Capone

  3. Biology Department, Portland State University, Portland, Oregon, USA

    J. G. Rueter

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© 1992 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

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O’Neil, J.M., Roman, M.R. (1992). Grazers and Associated Organisms of Trichodesmium . In: Carpenter, E.J., Capone, D.G., Rueter, J.G. (eds) Marine Pelagic Cyanobacteria: Trichodesmium and other Diazotrophs. NATO ASI Series, vol 362. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-015-7977-3_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-015-7977-3_5

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-90-481-4126-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-015-7977-3

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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