Bacterial growth on macrophyte leachate and fate of bacterial production

Journal Article · Sat Nov 01 00:00:00 EST 1986 · Limnol. Oceanogr.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.4319/lo.1986.31.6.1335· OSTI ID:6402560

Findlay, S; Carlough, L; Crocker, M T; Gill, H K; Meyer, J L; Smith, P J

The role bacteria play in transferring organic carbon to other trophic levels in aquatic ecosystems depends on the efficiency with which they convert dissolved organic (/sup 14/C)-labelled carbon into bacterial biomass and on the ability of consumers to graze bacteria. The authors have measured the conversion efficiency for bacteria growing on macrophyte-derived dissolved organic carbon and estimated the amount of bacterial production removed by grazing. Bacteria converted this DOC into new tissue with an efficiency of 53%, substantially higher than the apparent conversion efficiency of macrophyte-derived particulate organic carbon or other types of DOC. Two estimates of grazing indicate that the decline in bacterial numbers after the bloom was probably due to grazing by flagellates. These results show the significance of the bacterial link between DOC and other trophic levels.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Georgia, Athens, GA (United States)
• OSTI ID: 6402560
• Journal Information: Limnol. Oceanogr.; (United States), Vol. 31:6
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
CARBON CYCLE
CARBON 14 COMPOUNDS
METABOLISM
BACTERIA
CARBON DIOXIDE
LEAVES
PLANTS
PRODUCTIVITY
SODIUM CARBONATES
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON OXIDES
CARBONATES
CHALCOGENIDES
ECOSYSTEMS
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
MICROORGANISMS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
SODIUM COMPOUNDS
560140* - Radiation Effects on Plants