Regulation of Microbial Activity Rates by Organic Matter in the Ross Sea during the Austral Summer 2017

• Published in: Microorganisms
• Main Authors: Renata Zaccone, Cristina Misic, Filippo Azzaro, Maurizio Azzaro, Giovanna Maimone, Olga Mangoni, Gianna Fusco, Alessandro Ciro Rappazzo, Rosabruna La Ferla
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020
• Subjects: Antarctic Ocean; biogeochemical cycles; prokaryotes; enzymatic activities; particulate organic matter; Biology (General); QH301-705.5; Antarctic; Austral; Ross Sea; Terra Nova Bay; The Antarctic; Antarc*
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms8091273; https://doaj.org/article/ff8f9e90692642ab90f1963464f95916

The active prokaryotic communities proliferate in the ecosystems of the Antarctic Ocean, participating in biogeochemical cycles and supporting higher trophic levels. They are regulated by several environmental and ecological forcing, such as the characteristics of the water masses subjected to global warming and particulate organic matter (POM). During summer 2017, two polynyas in the Ross Sea were studied to evaluate key-microbiological parameters (the proteasic, glucosidasic, and phosphatasic activities, the microbial respiratory rates, the prokaryotic abundance and biomass) in relation to quantitative and qualitative characteristics of POM. Results showed significant differences in the epipelagic layer between two macro-areas (Terra Nova Bay and Ross Sea offshore area). Proteins and carbohydrates were metabolized rapidly in the offshore area (as shown by turnover times), due to high enzymatic activities in this zone, indicating fresh and labile organic compounds. The lower quality of POM in Terra Nova Bay, as shown by the higher refractory fraction, led to an increase in the turnover times of proteins and carbohydrates. Salinity was the physical constraint that played a major role in the distribution of POM and microbial activities in both areas.