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MEPS
Marine Ecology Progress Series

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MEPS 180:23-36 (1999)  -  doi:10.3354/meps180023

Microbial dynamics in coastal waters of East Antarctica: plankton production and respiration

Carol Robinson1,4,*,**, Stephen D. Archer2,3,4,*, Peter J. le B. Williams1

1University of Wales Bangor, School of Ocean Sciences, Menai Bridge, Anglesey LL59 5EY, United Kingdom
2British Antarctic Survey, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0ET, United Kingdom 3Department of Biology, University of Southampton, Medical and Biological Sciences Building, Bassett Crescent East, Southampton SO16 7PX, United Kingdom
4In collaboration with the Australian Antarctic Division, Channel Highway, Kingston, Tasmania 7050, Australia
*Present address: Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, West Hoe, Plymouth PL1 3DH, United Kingdom
**E-mail:

ABSTRACT: The rates of plankton community production and respiration were determined from in vitro changes in dissolved inorganic carbon and dissolved oxygen and the incorporation of NaH14CO3 at a coastal site in East Antarctica between 16 December 1993 and 12 February 1994. The breakout of seasonal fast ice was associated with a succession of dominant phytoplankton from Cryptomonas to Phaeocystis to a diatom assemblage. Gross production reached 33 mmol C m-3 d-1 and 14C incorporation peaked at 24 mmol C m-3 d-1 on 23 January 1994, at the time of the chlorophyll a maximum (22 mg chl a m-3). Dark community respiration reached its maximum (13 mmol C m-3 d-1 ) 4 d later. Photosynthetic rates calculated from 14C incorporation were significantly lower (17 to 59%) than rates of gross production. The derivation of plankton processes from changes in both dissolved oxygen and dissolved inorganic carbon allowed the direct measurement of photosynthetic and respiratory quotients. A linear regression of all data gave a photosynthetic quotient of 1.33 ± 0.23 and a respiratory quotient of 0.88 ± 0.14. Concurrent determinations of bacterial, heterotrophic dinoflagellate, nanoflagellate and ciliate respiration could account for 15 to 58% of measured dark community respiration. This study has improved the sparse data set of plankton respiration measurements, confirmed that heterotrophic respiration is a significant process in the carbon flux of coastal Antarctic waters and achieved a first apportionment of community respiration to the major microbial groups in this region.


KEY WORDS: Photosynthesis · Respiration · Plankton · Antarctic


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