Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Observations of heterotrophic activity on photoassimilated organic matter

  • Published:
Marine Biology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The natural heterotrophic utilization of released and particulate photoassimilated compounds by natural phytoplankton populations was followed during the summer of 1975 in the Kiel Bight (Western Baltic Sea). Phytoplankton exudates (2 to 21% of primary production) seem to represent an important substrate for heterotrophic bacteria: uptake rates between 8 and 17,5%/h were observed. Samples incubated with antibiotics indicated that the heterotrophic uptake of phytoplankton exudates during photosynthesis could lead to underestimation of the release rate. Production of 14CO 2was used as an estimate of the mineralization of particulate photoassimilated matter. The mineralization rates measured were in the range of 6 to 20% after 20 h. In order to confirm the quantitative measurements, micro-autoradiographic examinations of the samples were performed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Literature Cited

  • Anderson, G.C. and R.P. Zeutschel: Release of dissolved organic matter by marine phytoplankton in coastal and offshore areas of the Northeast Pacific Ocean. Limnol. Oceanogr. 15, 402–407 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Berman, T.: Size fractionation of natural aquatic populations associated with autotrophic and heterotrophic carbon uptake. Mar. Biol. 33, 215–220 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • — and O. Holm-Hansen: Release of photoassimilated carbon as dissolved organic matter by marine phytoplankton. Mar. Biol. 28, 305–310 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Choi, C.I.: Primary production and release of dissolved organic carbon from phytoplankton in the Western North Atlantic Ocean. Deep-Sea Res. 19, 731–735 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Derenbach, J.B. and P.J. LeB Williams: Autotrophic and bacterial production: fractionation of plankton populations by differential filtration of samples from the English Channel. Mar. Biol. 25, 263–269 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Eppley, R. W. and P.R. Sloan: Carbon balance experiments with marine phytoplankton. J. Fish. Res. Bd Can. 22, 1083–1097 (1965)

    Google Scholar 

  • Fogg, G.E.: Extracellular products of phytoplankton and the estimation of primary production. Rapp. P.-v. Réun. Cons. perm. int. Explor. Mer 144, 56–60 (1958)

    Google Scholar 

  • —: The extracellular products of algae. Oceanogr. mar. Biol. Rev. 4, 195–212 (1966)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hellebust, J.A.: Excretion of some organic compounds by marine phytoplankton. Limnol. Oceanogr. 10, 192–206 (1965)

    Google Scholar 

  • Herbland, A.: Utilisation par la flore hétérotrophe de la matière organique naturalle dans l'eau de mer. J. exp. mar. Biol. Ecol. 19, 19–31 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hobbie, J.E. and C.C. Crawford: Respiration corrections for bacterial uptake of dissolved organic compounds in natural waters. Limnol. Oceanogr. 14, 528–532 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoppe, H.G.: Determination and properties of actively metabolizing heterotrophic bacteria in the sea investigated by means of microautoradiography. Mar. Biol. 36, 291–302 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  • Morris, I., H.E. Glover and C.S. Yentsch: Products of photosynthesis by marine phytoplankton: the effect of environmental factors on the relative rates of protein synthesis. Mar. Biol. 27, 1–9 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Nalewajko, C.: Photosynthesis and excretion in various planktonic algae. Limnol. Oceanogr. 11, 1–10 (1966)

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, W.V., Jr.: The extracellular release of glycolic acid by a marine diatom. J. Phycol. 10, 30–33 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Steeman-Nielsen, E.: The use of radioactive carbon (C14) for measuring organic production in the sea. J. Cons. perm. int. Explor. Mer 18, 117–140 (1952)

    Google Scholar 

  • Thomas, J.P.: Release of dissolved organic matter from natural populations of marine phytoplankton. Mar. Biol. 11, 311–323 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams, P.J.LeB and C.S. Yentsch: An examination of photosynthetic production, excretion of photosynthetic products, and heterotrophic utilization of dissolved organic compounds with reference to results from a coastal subtropical sea. Mar. Biol. 35, 31–40 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wright, R.T.: Studies on glycolic acid metabolism by freshwater bacteria. Limnol. Oceanogr. 20, 626–633 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Meereskunde an der Universität Kiel, Kiel, Germany (FRG)

    R. Iturriaga & H. -G. Hoppe

Authors
  1. R. Iturriaga
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. H. -G. Hoppe
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Communicated by O. Kinne, Hamburg

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Iturriaga, R., Hoppe, H.G. Observations of heterotrophic activity on photoassimilated organic matter. Marine Biology 40, 101–108 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00396254

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00396254

Keywords

Search

Navigation