Abstract
The flux of recently photosynthetically fixed, dissolved organic carbon (PDOC) from phototrophs to heterotrophic microorganisms was measured directly in microplankton samples from Lake Kinneret using a diffusion chamber technique. The minimum amounts of PDOC incorporated into small <3 µm heterotrophs during a 12 h light period ranged from 0.8 to 38.4 µg (C) l-1, or from 0.2% to 6% of net primary productivity. Although quantitatively small in comparison with total photosynthetic fixation, this PDOC flux could yield about 2 to 3 × 106 bacterial cells.ml-1 daily. This experimental is consistent with previous estimates of algal PDOC release in this lake.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Allen, H. L., 1973. Production and utilization of dissolved organic carbon during in situ phytoplankton photosynthetic measurements. Int. Revue ges. Hydrobiol. 58: 743–849.
Bell, W. H. & Sakshaug, E., 1980. Bacterial utilization of algal extracellular products. 2: A kinetic study of natural populations. Limnol. Oceanogr. 25: 1012–1033.
Bell, W. H., Land, J. M. & Mitchell, R., 1974. Selective stimulation of marine bacteria by algal extracellular products. Limnol. Oceanogr. 19: 833–839.
Berman, T. 1975. Size fractionation of natural aquatic populations associated with autotrophic and heterotrophic carbon uptake. Mar. Biol. 3: 215–220.
Berman, T., 1976. Release of dissolved organic matter by photosynthesizing algae in Lake Kinneret, Israel. Freshwat. Biol. 6: 13–18.
Berman, T. & Gerber, C., 1980. Differential studies of carbon flux from living algae to microheterotrophs, microplankton size distribution and respiration in Lake Kinneret. Microb. Ecol. 6: 189–198.
Berman, T., Hadas, O. & Marchaim, U., 1979. Heterotrophic glucose uptake and respiration in Lake Kinneret. Hydrobiologia 62: 275–282.
Berman, T. & Holm-Hansen, O., 1974. Release of photo-assimilated carbon as dissolved organic matter by marine phytoplankton. Mar. Biol. 28: 305–310.
Berman, T. & Stiller, M., 1977. Simultaneous measurements of phosphorus and carbon uptake in Lake Kinneret. Microb. Ecol. 3: 279–299.
Blaauboer, M. C. I., VanKeulen, R. & Cappenberg, Th. E., 1982. Extracellular release of photosynthetic products by freshwater phytoplankton populations with special reference to the algal species involved. Freshwat. Biol. 12: 559–572.
Cavari, B. Z. & Hadas, O., 1979. Heterotrophic activity, glucose uptake and primary productivity in Lake Kinneret. Freshwat. Biol. 9: 329–338.
Chrost, R. J., 1978. The estimation of extracellular release by phytoplankton and heterotrophic activity of aquatic bacteria. Acta. microbiol. Pol. 27: 139–146.
Cole, J. J., Likens, G. E. & Strayer, D. L., 1982. Photosynthetically produced dissolved organic carbon: An important source for planktonic bacteria. Limnol. Oceanogr. 6: 1080–1090.
Coveney, M. F., Cronberg, G., Enell, M., Larsson, K. & Olfsson, L., 1977. Phytoplankton, zooplankton and bacteriastanding crop and production relationships in a eutrophic lake. Oikos 29: 5–21.
Derenbach, J. B. & Williams, P. J. L., 1974. Autotrophic and bacterial production: fractionation of plankton populations by differential filtration of samples from the English Channel. Mar. Biol. 25: 263–269.
Fogg, G. E., 1958. Extracellular products of phytoplankton and estimation of primary productivity. Rapp. P. V. Reun. Cons. int. Explor. Mar. 144: 56–60.
Hertzig, R., Dubinsky, Z. & Berman, T., 1981. Breakdown of Peridinium biomass in Lake Kinneret. In: Shuval, H. (ed.), Developments in Arid Zone Ecology and Environmental Quality. Balaban Press, Philadelphia, pp. 179–186.
Hobbie, J. E. & Wright, R. T., 1979. An assessment of quantitative measurements of aquatic microbes. Arch. Hydrobiol. Beih. 13: 85–95.
Holm-Hansen, O., Lorenzen, C. J., Stickland, J. D. H., 1965. Fluorometric determination of chlorophyll. J. Cons. perm int. Explor. Mer 30: 3–15.
Iturriaga, R. & Hoppe, H. G., 1977. Observations of heterotrophic activity on photoassimilated organic matter. Mar. Biol. 40: 101–108.
Larsson, U. & Hagstrom, A., 1979. Phytoplankton exudate release as an energy source for the growth of pelagic bacteria. Mar. Biol. 52: 199–206.
Mague, T. H., Friberg, E., Hughes, D. J. & Morris, I., 1980. Extracellular release of carbon by marine phytoplankton, a physiological approach. Limnol. Oceanogr. 25: 262–279.
Pollingher, U. & Berman, T., 1978. Quantitative and qualitative changes in the phytoplankton in Lake Kinneret, Israel, 1978–1975. Oikos 29: 418–428.
Schleyer, M. H., 1980. A preliminary evaluation of heterotrophic utilization of a labelled algal extract on a subtidal reef environment. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 3: 223–229.
Sharp, J. H., 1977. Excretion of organic matter by marine phytoplankton. Do healthy cells do it? Limnol. Oceanogr. 22: 381–399.
Sheldon, R. W. & Sutcliffe, W. H., 1978. Generation times of 3 hours for Saragasso sea microplankton determined by ATP analysis. Limnol. Oceanogr. 23: 1051–1055.
Smith, D. F. & Higgins, H. W., 1978. An interspecies regulatory control of dissolved organic production of phytoplankton and incorporation by microheterotrophs. Microb. Ecol. 4: 34–39.
Smith, W. O., Jr., Barber, R. T. & Huntsman, S. A., 1977. Primary production off the coast of northwest Africa: excretion of dissolved organic matter and its heterotrophic uptake. Wat. Res. 24: 35–47.
Thomas, J. P., 1971. Release of dissolved organic matter from natural populations of marine phytoplankton. Mar. Biol. 11: 311–323.
Waterbury, J. B., Watson, S. W., Guillard, R. R. L. & Brand, L. E., 1979. Widespread occurrence of a unicellular marine planktonic cyanobacterium. Nature 277: 293–294.
Wiebe, W. J. & Smith, D. F., 1977. Direct measurement of dissolved organic carbon release by phytoplankton and incorporation by microheterotrophs. Mar. Biol. 42: 213–223.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Berman, T., Kaplan, B. Diffusion chamber studies of carbon flux from living algae to heterotrophic bacteria. Hydrobiologia 108, 127–134 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00014872
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00014872