Contributions of Colloidal and High Molecular Weight Dissolved Material to Alkalinity and Nutrient Concentrations in Shallow Marine and Estuarine Systems
Hollibaugh JT, Buddemeier RW, Smith SV. 1991. Contributions of Colloidal and High Molecular Weight Dissolved Material to Alkalinity and Nutrient Concentrations in Shallow Marine and Estuarine Systems. Marine Chemistry. 34(1-2):1-27
The authors investigated the contribution of high molecular weight and colloidal material to total alkalinity, dissolved organic and dissolved inorganic nutrient concentrations in samples from a temperate nearshore environment (Tomales Bay, California), a tropical nearshore environment, (Australia Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Queensland, Australia) and coral reef environment (Davies Reef, Australia). There was no evidence of a high molecular weight component of total seawater alkalinity. Microscopic examination of Tomales Bay samples revealed that 75-100% of the bacterioplankton present in the unaltered sample passed through the GF/C filter. Their contribution to organic carbon retained by the ultrafilter was negligible. However, bacterioplankton accounted for 12% of the organic nitrogen and 27% of the organic phosphorus in GF/C filtrates and 29% and 39% of the organic nitrogen and organic phosphorus, respectively, removed by ultrafiltration. Results suggest that bacterial cells are an important component of traditionally defined high molecular weight dissolved organic matter, and that the composition of this material should reflect the composition of bacterial cells. Furthermore, bacterial cells are an important component of the net hydrographic export of organic phosphorus, and to a lesser extent organic nitrogen, from Tomales Bay.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Hollibaugh, J; Buddemeier, R; Smith, S
- Units
- PORE
- Keywords
- Alkalinity, aquatic bacteria, bacterioplankton colloids, chemistry of suspended matter, Coral Reefs, dissolved inorganic matter, dissolved organic matter, Ecosystem, Energetics, estuarine chemistry, Microorganisms, Nitrogen, nutrients (mineral), Phosphorus, Plankton, saproplankton, temperate zones, tropical environment