Microbial Parameters as Predictors of Heterotrophic Prokaryotic Production in the Ross Sea Epipelagic Waters (Antarctica) during the Austral Summer
A regression-based approach was used to test the suitability of a range of parameters, including total prokaryotic cell abundance and biomass, as lipopolysaccharide (LPS) content, and exoenzymatic activities (leucine aminopeptidase, LAP, beta-glucosidase, ß-G, and alkaline phosphatase, AP) as predic...
Published in: | Journal of Marine Science and Engineering |
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Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
Published: |
MDPI AG
2022
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Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse10121812 https://doaj.org/article/947c7d148e3f44c2ae5edcb85d5ffaad |
Summary: | A regression-based approach was used to test the suitability of a range of parameters, including total prokaryotic cell abundance and biomass, as lipopolysaccharide (LPS) content, and exoenzymatic activities (leucine aminopeptidase, LAP, beta-glucosidase, ß-G, and alkaline phosphatase, AP) as predictors of heterotrophic prokaryotic production (HPP) in the Ross Sea epipelagic waters. A close association between HPP and protein hydrolysis mediated by enzymatic activity (LAP), and to a lower significance level with the other variables, was recorded. Three multiple regression equations were developed from two microbial datasets collected during middle austral summer periods. All showed a good predictive ability for HPP, and this was further validated through a comparison between the predicted and the observed HPP values. The obtained regression equations proved to represent a promising example of empirical models for further predictive studies in the Ross Sea where—through the incorporation of additional microbiological and environmental parameters—the developed models could find a practical application to cover the entire austral summer period. |
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