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Attached and free-living bacteria: Production and polymer hydrolysis during a diatom bloom

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Abstract

Abundance, production and extracellular enzymatic activity of free-living and attached bacteria were measured during the development and collapse of a spring bloom in a eutrophic lake. Free-living bacteria accounted for most of the total bacterial production during the first part of the bloom. Their production had a significant positive correlation to chlorophyll (P < .01) and polysaccharide concentration (P < .02) and to potential β-glucosidase and aminopeptidase activity (P < .05), suggesting that algal release of dissolved polymeric compounds provided an important carbon source for bacterial production. As the bloom collapsed, we observed a change in the activity and structure of the microbial community. The mean contribution of attached bacteria to total bacterial production increased from 12% during the first part of the bloom to 26% at the end. Also, the extracellular enzymatic activity of attached bacteria increased as the bloom collapsed and constituted up to 75% of the total hydrolytic activity. An estimated disparity between hydrolytic activity and the corresponding carbon demand of attached bacteria suggested a net release of dissolved organic compounds from organic particles via polymer hydrolysis by attached bacteria.

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Author notes

  1. M. Middelboe

    Present address: The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Department of Ecology and Molecular Biology, Microbiology Section, Rolighedsvej 21, DK-1958, Frederiksberg C, Copenhagen, Denmark

  2. N. H. Borch

    Present address: College of Marine Studies, University of Delaware, 19958, Lewes, Delaware, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Freshwater Biological Laboratory, University of Copenhagen, 51 Helsingørsgade, DK-3400, Hillerød, Denmark

    M. Middelboe, M. Søndergaard & Y. Letarte

  2. Roskilde University Library, P.O. Box 258, DK-4000, Roskilde, Denmark

    N. H. Borch

Authors
  1. M. Middelboe
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  2. M. Søndergaard
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  3. Y. Letarte
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  4. N. H. Borch
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Correspondence to: M. Middelboe

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Middelboe, M., Søndergaard, M., Letarte, Y. et al. Attached and free-living bacteria: Production and polymer hydrolysis during a diatom bloom. Microb Ecol 29, 231–248 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00164887

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00164887

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