Evidence of prokaryotic metabolism on suspended particulate organic matter in the dark waters of the subtropical North Atlantic

Author(s)
Federico Baltar, Javier Arístegui, Josep M. Gasol, Eva Sintes, Gerhard J. Herndl
Abstract

The distribution of prokaryotic abundance (PA), respiratory activity (ETS), heterotrophic production (PHP), and suspended particulate (POM) and dissolved (DOM) organic matter was determined in the meso- and bathypelagic waters of the (sub)tropical North Atlantic. PA decreased by one order of magnitude from the lower euphotic zone to the bathypelagic waters, while ETS decreased by two and PHP by three orders of magnitude. On a section following the Mid-Atlantic Ridge from 35°N to 5°N, ETS below 1000-m depth increased southwards up to three-fold. This latitudinal gradient in the deep waters was paralleled by a six-fold increase in Particulate Organic Carbon (POC), whereas no trend was apparent in the DOM distribution. Significant correlations between POM and ETS were obtained in the water masses between 1000-m and 3000-m depth, the Antarctic Intermediate Water and the North East Atlantic Deep Water. A strong imbalance in the dark ocean was found between prokaryotic carbon demand (estimated through two different approaches) and the carbon sinking flux derived from sediment-trap records corrected with 230Th. The imbalance was greater when deeper in the water column, suggesting that the suspended carbon pool must account for most of the carbon deficit. Our results, together with other recent findings discussed in this paper, indicate that microbial life in the dark ocean is likely more dependent on slowly sinking or buoyant, laterally advected suspended particles than hitherto assumed.

Organisation(s)
External organisation(s)
Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
Journal
Limnology and Oceanography
Volume
54
Pages
182-193
No. of pages
12
ISSN
0024-3590
DOI
https://doi.org/10.4319/lo.2009.54.1.0182
Publication date
01-2009
Peer reviewed
Yes
Austrian Fields of Science 2012
106021 Marine biology
ASJC Scopus subject areas
Oceanography, Aquatic Science
Sustainable Development Goals
SDG 14 - Life Below Water
Portal url
https://ucris.univie.ac.at/portal/en/publications/evidence-of-prokaryotic-metabolism-on-suspended-particulate-organic-matter-in-the-dark-waters-of-the-subtropical-north-atlantic(90fcaa0f-b9ed-4456-920c-52e1362d3f68).html