Flavobacteria in the Southern Ocean

• Main Authors: Guy Charles, Jenvey Abell
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antarctic; Southern Ocean; Antarc*; Antarctica
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.629.762; http://eprints.utas.edu.au/219/2/02Whole.pdf

The abundance, spatial distribution and diversity of class Flavobacteria, a bacterial group with a major role in marine secondary production, was investigated in the Southern Ocean euphotic zone of the ice pack off Eastern Antarctica and along a transect at 140-144°E between latitudes 44.7°S to 63.5°S. Samples were comparatively analysed using 16S rRNA gene-based denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE), fluorescent in situ hybridisation, real-time PCR and sequence analysis. The results were subsequently compared with direct cultivation approaches. Surface seawater samples were filter-fractionated into particulate and planktonic fractions and the abundance of particle-associated Flavobacteria, ascertained with real-time PCR and DGGE band analysis using Flavobacteria-specific primers. Flavobacteria abundance was found to be significantly higher in Polar Front Zone (PFZ) and Antarctic Zone (AZ) water samples compared to warmer, nutrient limited Temperate Zone (TZ) and Sub-Antarctic Zone (SAZ) waters.