Objective
Prokaryotic plankton are the principal mediators of the biogeochemical fluxes in the ocean.The deep ocean has been considered for a long time to be of minor importance for these fluxes.Recent modelling approaches, however, indicate that about 30 percent of the oceanic remineralization is mediated in the meso- and bathypelagic ocean.Prokaryotic rates have rarely been measured in the deep ocean and if they were measured, then under decompressed conditions i.e. surface pressure.There are indications, however, that decompression might severely affect the metabolic rates.In this project, we aim to determine prokaryotic production measurements as a estimation for total prokaryotic biomass under in situ pressure conditions and compared with samples held at decompr essed conditions.Procaryotic production will be measured via incorporation of radiolabelled leucine into prokaryotic biomass and Archaea production via radiolabelled bicarbonate incorporation.Secondly we will determine single cell activity using a modifie d version of the recently developed catalyzed reporter deposition in situ fluorescence hybridization with specific oligonucleotide probes combined with microautoradiography (MICRO-CARD-FISH).Cells taking up radiolabelled substances are surrounded by a silv er-grain halo, which can be quantify by image analysis and epifluorescence microscopy.While this method has been used only qualitatively, the product of size and intensity of the halo should reflect the metabolic activity.Using this approach, we will dete rmine the relative contribution of individual bacterial and Archaea species to the total prokaryotic biomass production in different depth layers of the North Atlantic.Also we will obtain information on the intraspecific differences in the activity of the dominant prokaryotic species.The project will provide essential and novel information on deep water prokaryotic activity and has the potential to alter our view of the role of the ocean in the global carbon cycling.
Fields of science
Call for proposal
FP6-2004-MOBILITY-5
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Funding Scheme
SCF - Marie Curie actions-Series of eventsCoordinator
DEN BURG
Netherlands