Interaction between specific hydrological and microbial activity leading to extensive mucilage formation in the northern Adriatic Sea

Author(s)
Gerhard J. Herndl, Jesus M. Arrieta, Karen Stoderegger
Abstract

The massive formation of marine snow and the senescent stage of it, the mucilage, is a phenomenon largely restricted to the Adriatic Sea. In this contribution the major environmental factors potentially leading to the formation of this mucilage are discussed. It is proposed that the specific hydrological conditions in combination with severe phosphorus depletion lead to excessive formation of colloidal organic matter by phytoplankton. This colloidal organic matter coagulates to marine snow due to the low-turbulence regimes prevailing in the water column. Subsequently, this marine snow is colonized by bacteria which, in turn, produce and release copious amounts of capsular polymers into the matrix of marine snow. It is speculated that a significant fraction of the later stages of marine snow (mucilage) consists of bacterial-derived organic matter which has been shown to be semi-labile to refractory for further bacterial utilization. The marine snow matrix acts as efficient adsorption site and allows the bacteria to utilize scavenged molecules from the ambient water. Thus it is proposed that the matrix ages without significant biotic degradation.

Organisation(s)
Functional and Evolutionary Ecology
External organisation(s)
Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research
Journal
Annali dell'Istituto Superiore di Sanita
Volume
35
Pages
405-409
No. of pages
5
ISSN
0021-2571
Publication date
12-1999
Peer reviewed
Yes
Austrian Fields of Science 2012
106021 Marine biology
Keywords
ASJC Scopus subject areas
Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
Sustainable Development Goals
SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being, SDG 14 - Life Below Water
Portal url
https://ucris.univie.ac.at/portal/en/publications/interaction-between-specific-hydrological-and-microbial-activity-leading-to-extensive-mucilage-formation-in-the-northern-adriatic-sea(76d78b9a-ae78-41c6-af7e-ed5294d91e35).html