Articles | Volume 22, issue 21
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-6225-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-6225-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
30 Oct 2025
Research article |
| 30 Oct 2025
| 30 Oct 2025
Respiration rates of marine prokaryotes and implications for the in vivo INT method
Centre for Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
Kevin Vikström
Centre for Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
Department of Ecology and Genetics/Limnology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
Jonathan D. Todd
School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
MOE Key Laboratory of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, Frontiers Science Center for Deep Ocean Multispheres and Earth System & College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
Centre for Microbial Interactions, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, UK
Stephen J. Giovannoni
Department of Microbiology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, USA
E. Elena García-Martín
Centre for Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
Ocean BioGeosciences, National Oceanography Centre, Southampton, UK
Robert Utting
Centre for Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
Carol Robinson
Centre for Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
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Short summary
This study is the first to test the iodonitrotetrazolium reduction (INTR) method for respiration in prokaryotes. The method was successfully used with γ-proteobacteria, α-proteobacteria (including SAR11), actinobacteria and cyanobacteria. We show that the current use of a single conversion from INTR to oxygen consumption may not be universally applicable but should be determined for each community. The results provide further confidence in the INT method to determine plankton respiration.
This study is the first to test the iodonitrotetrazolium reduction (INTR) method for respiration...
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