The bacteria–protist link as a main route of dissolved organic matter across contrasting productivity areas on the Patagonian Shelf
M. Celeste López-Abbate,John E. Garzón-Cardona,Ricardo Silva,Juan-Carlos Molinero,Laura A. Ruiz-Etcheverry,Ana M. Martínez,Azul S. Gilabert,and Rubén J. Lara
Departamento de Ciencias de La Atmósfera y Los Océanos, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires (DCAO, FCEN-UBA), Ciudad Universitaria, Pabellón II 2do. Piso, C1428EGA Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
Centro de Investigaciones Del Mar y La Atmósfera (CIMA/CONICET-UBA), C1428EGA Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
Instituto Franco-Argentino para El Estudio Del Clima y Sus Impactos (IRL-IFAECI/CNRS-CONICET-UBA), C1428EGA Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
This study explores how microbial dynamics influence the dissolved organic matter (DOM) pool in the Patagonian Shelf. Despite high phytoplankton biomass, selective grazing on fast-growing bacteria led to DOM accumulation, likely due to reduced DOM-consuming bacteria and added egestion compounds. Experiments showed that bacteria not only acted as a carbon sink through mineralization but also transferred assimilated carbon dioxide (CO2) to higher trophic levels.
This study explores how microbial dynamics influence the dissolved organic matter (DOM) pool in...