Open AccessProkaryotic abundance and heterotrophic metabolism in the deep Mediterranean Sea
Author(s) -
R. La Ferla,
Maurizio Azzaro,
Gabriella Caruso,
Luis Salvador Monticelli,
Giovanna Maimone,
Renata Zaccone,
Theodore T. Packard
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
advances in oceanography and limnology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.387
H-Index - 16
eISSN - 1947-573X
pISSN - 1947-5721
DOI - 10.4081/aiol.2010.5298
Subject(s) - mesopelagic zone , bathyal zone , mediterranean sea , mediterranean climate , abundance (ecology) , pelagic zone , oceanography , carbon cycle , heterotroph , environmental science , mediterranean basin , biology , ecology , geology , ecosystem , benthic zone , paleontology , bacteria
A synthesis of field data carried out in the Mediterranean Sea are presented, aimed at contributing to the knowledge of three prokaryotic-mediated processes and their implications on the Carbon cycle. The distribution of exoenzymatic activities, secondary production and respiration rates was studied together with the prokaryotic abundances. Particular attention was paid to the meso- and bathypelagic layers which play an important role in the Mediterranean carbon cycle. The study is noteworthy because of its large spatial scale spanning the entire Mediterranean Sea over 4 years. In addition, two Atlantic stations in front of the Gibraltar Strait were investigated. The longitudinal distribution of prokaryotic activities and abundance along the MED showed different trends along the depthlayers. In particular, higher exoenzymatic rates were detected in the Eastern basin compared to the Western one; carbon respiration rate showed patterns variable with the sampling periods in the epipelagic and bathypelagic layers, while a consistent Westwards decreasing trend at the mesopelagic layers occurred. Specific enzyme activities per cell showed high values in the deepest layers for leucine aminopeptidase. Comparison with Carbon respiration rate data collected before the 2000s showed changing patterns of microbial heterotrophic processes in the Mediterranean Sea