Document of dataset 1224

Dataset record

Type

Dataset

title in English

Algal-bacterial coupling in the Western Scheldt (The Netherlands) assessed through isotope labeling

title in nl

Koppeling van primaire en bacteriële produktie in de Westerschelde: experiment met labeling met stabiele isotopen

Description in English

Water was collected from the euhaline reaches of the estuary, near Vlissingen, and incubated in a mesocosm setup. A phytoplankton bloom was initiated and followed up through the subsequent collapse. Coupling of algal and bacterial production was estimated from 13C-uptake in protist- and bacterial-specific polar lipid fatty acids (PLFA) with aid of a dynamic model. As expected, algal exudates turned out to be the dominant source for bacterial carbon production, showing a strong microbial loop. 60% of bacterial carbon production could be attributed to regenerated in situ primary production. Zooplankton showed a preference for phytoplankton material, but was able to switch to other food sources when the algal bloom collapsed.

Abstract in English

Carbon flows in a natural phytoplankton assemblage from the Western Scheldt estuary were followed by measuring changes in concentrations and stable isotope ratios in a 10-day period after addition of 13C to a batch experiment.

Rights

Unrestricted

bibliographicCitation

Van den Meersche K., Soetaert K. 2004: Algal-bacterial coupling in the Western Scheldt (The Netherlands) assessed through isotope labeling. Netherlands Institute of Ecology; Centre for Estuarine and Marine Ecology, Netherlands. Metadata available at http://mda.nioo.knaw.nl/imis.php?module=dataset&dasid=1224

Version

2006