ISSN:
1573-5117
Keywords:
Bacterioplankton
;
bacterial growth rate
;
bacterial mortality
;
bacterial grazing
;
oligotrophy
;
eutrophy
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
Notes:
Abstract Measurements of bacterial biomass, production and mortality have been carried out in a large range of aquatic environments, including eutrophic and oligotrophic ones. The general trends of variations of bacterial biomass, size, specific growth rate and mortality rate in all these environments are examined. The overall flux of bacterial production is taken as an index of the flux of organic matter available to bacteria, thus characterizing the richness of the environment. Bacterial biomass is roughly proportional to richness, while mean cell size increases with it. The turnover rate of biomass, as revealed either by growth or by mortality rates, appears to be fairly independent of richness. These observations are compatible with a simple resource-limited (bottom-up controlled) model of the dynamics of bacterioplankton. On the other hand, they are in contradiction with the predictions of a predator-controlled (top-down controlled) model.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00041438
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