Phytoplankton and bacterial alkaline phosphatase activity in the northern Adriatic Sea.
The importance of bacterial, phytoplankton and dissolved alkaline phosphatase activity (APA) in the northern Adriatic was investigated during 2006. In surface waters total APA increased from early spring (0.07-0.08 micromol l(-1) h(-1)) to late spring (up to 4.64 micromol l(-1) h(-1)) and remained relatively high during the summer (0.46-0.71 micromol l(-1) h(-1)), due to an increase in specific phytoplankton (up to 30 nmol microg C(-1) h(-1)) and bacterial APA (up to 17.11 nmol microg C(-1) h(-1)). Activity of free enzymes was not important. During late spring and summer both communities exploited dissolved organic phosphorus although, taking into account biomass, phytoplankton activity usually dominated over bacterial activity. In autumn an extra P supply from deeper waters drastically reduced phytoplankton APA, though not bacterial APA, in upper waters. Probably in these months bacteria that were degrading phytoplankton produced organic matter were P limited. In deeper waters APA was low and mainly due to the activity of free enzymes.
Ivancić
Ingrid
I
Center for Marine Research, Ruder Bosković Institute, G. Paliaga 5, 52210 Rovinj, Croatia. ingrid@cim.irb.hr
Fuks
Dragica
D
Radić
Tomislav
T
Lyons
Daniel M
DM
Silović
Tina
T
Kraus
Romina
R
Precali
Robert
R
D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000254:growth & development; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D018533:Biomass; D017753:Ecosystem; D009792:Oceans and Seas; D010839:Phytoplankton / Q000201:enzymology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000502:physiology*; D012621:Seasons; D012623:Seawater / Q000032:analysis*
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase