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The abundance and distribution of heterotrophic and autotrophic nanoflagellates in the NE Subarctic Pacific Doherty, Sean Patrick
Abstract
In the NE subarctic Pacific, the marine microbial food web, specifically the heterotrophic and autotrophic nanoflagellates (HNF and ANF), and cyanobacteria and heterotrophic bacteria, is not well understood. Further, studies of these populations have almost been exclusively done at Station P (50°N, 145°W) only in the spring and summer. The abundance and distribution of the above micro-organisms was investigated along Line P (between 48°N, 126°W, and 50°N, 145°W) in May, 1993, and February and May, 1994. This is the first study to examine their horizontal distribution, and obtain winter data on their abundance and distribution in this region. HNF, ANF, cyanobacteria and heterotrophic bacteria were identified, enumerated and biomass was estimated by epifluorescence microscopy. In May 1993, ANF and HNF biomass and abundance was an order of magnitude higher at most stations, compared to 1994 cruises, and May 1993 vertical profiles averaged 5.7* 106 cells L"1 at Station P. In February and May 1994, ANF and HNF population abundance and biomass was separated into three size fractions; the 2 to 5 um size group dominated. During both May cruises, a mirdmum in abundance and biomass of HNF, ANF and cyanobacteria was observed at Stations P12 and P16, which is ascribed to water mass changes along Line P. Winter abundance and biomass estimates of ANF, HNF, cyanobacteria and heterotrophic bacteria populations were comparable to those in May 1994, indicating that predator prey relationships remain functional at this time of year. Carbon budgets of winter and late spring HNF and their prey populations indicated that prey (cyanobacteria and heterotrophic bacteria) population biomass was sufficient to support the carbon requirement of the HNF in February and May 1994. In February 1994, at station P4 the combined biomass of cyanobacteria and heterotrophic bacteria was five times the requirement of the HNF, and 1.4 times this amount at Station P, further demonstrating the maintanence of predator/prey trophodynamics during the winter.
Item Metadata
Title |
The abundance and distribution of heterotrophic and autotrophic nanoflagellates in the NE Subarctic Pacific
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Creator | |
Publisher |
University of British Columbia
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Date Issued |
1995
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Description |
In the NE subarctic Pacific, the marine microbial food web, specifically the
heterotrophic and autotrophic nanoflagellates (HNF and ANF), and cyanobacteria and
heterotrophic bacteria, is not well understood. Further, studies of these populations have
almost been exclusively done at Station P (50°N, 145°W) only in the spring and summer.
The abundance and distribution of the above micro-organisms was investigated along Line
P (between 48°N, 126°W, and 50°N, 145°W) in May, 1993, and February and May, 1994.
This is the first study to examine their horizontal distribution, and obtain winter data on
their abundance and distribution in this region. HNF, ANF, cyanobacteria and
heterotrophic bacteria were identified, enumerated and biomass was estimated by
epifluorescence microscopy.
In May 1993, ANF and HNF biomass and abundance was an order of magnitude
higher at most stations, compared to 1994 cruises, and May 1993 vertical profiles
averaged 5.7* 106 cells L"1 at Station P. In February and May 1994, ANF and HNF
population abundance and biomass was separated into three size fractions; the 2 to 5 um
size group dominated. During both May cruises, a mirdmum in abundance and biomass of
HNF, ANF and cyanobacteria was observed at Stations P12 and P16, which is ascribed to
water mass changes along Line P. Winter abundance and biomass estimates of ANF,
HNF, cyanobacteria and heterotrophic bacteria populations were comparable to those in
May 1994, indicating that predator prey relationships remain functional at this time of
year. Carbon budgets of winter and late spring HNF and their prey populations indicated
that prey (cyanobacteria and heterotrophic bacteria) population biomass was sufficient to
support the carbon requirement of the HNF in February and May 1994. In February 1994,
at station P4 the combined biomass of cyanobacteria and heterotrophic bacteria was five
times the requirement of the HNF, and 1.4 times this amount at Station P, further
demonstrating the maintanence of predator/prey trophodynamics during the winter.
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Extent |
6911765 bytes
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Genre | |
Type | |
File Format |
application/pdf
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Language |
eng
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Date Available |
2009-01-11
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Provider |
Vancouver : University of British Columbia Library
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Rights |
For non-commercial purposes only, such as research, private study and education. Additional conditions apply, see Terms of Use https://open.library.ubc.ca/terms_of_use.
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DOI |
10.14288/1.0086805
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URI | |
Degree | |
Program | |
Affiliation | |
Degree Grantor |
University of British Columbia
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Graduation Date |
1995-05
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Campus | |
Scholarly Level |
Graduate
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Aggregated Source Repository |
DSpace
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Item Media
Item Citations and Data
Rights
For non-commercial purposes only, such as research, private study and education. Additional conditions apply, see Terms of Use https://open.library.ubc.ca/terms_of_use.