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Title: Role of bacteria in organic matter fluxes in the Southern California Coastal Zone: (Progress report)

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:6969634

The fate of organic matter in the sea, whether produced in situ or introduced from land, is greatly influenced by the metabolic trophic activities of the resident biota. Until recently it was thought that much of the primary production is consumed by the herbivores, making them the main determinants of fate of organic matter. It now appears that the microbial component of marine foodweb also plays a significant role in the decomposition, distribution, and vertical flux of organic material in seawater. The goal of the proposed research is to quantify this role of the microbial foodweb as part of a DOE-sponsored interdisciplinary study. We are testing the hypothesis that organic matter utilization by heterotrophic bacterioplankton represents a major sink for organic matter in the Southern California Coastal Zone.

Research Organization:
California Univ., San Diego, La Jolla (USA). Inst. of Marine Resources
DOE Contract Number:
FG05-85ER60337
OSTI ID:
6969634
Report Number(s):
DOE/ER/60337-3; UCSD-891004; ON: DE88013872
Resource Relation:
Other Information: Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English