title: Surfactant-associated bacteria in the near-surface layer of the ocean.
abstract: Certain marine bacteria found in the near-surface layer of the ocean are expected to play important roles in the production and decay of surface active materials; however, the details of these processes are still unclear. Here we provide evidence supporting connection between the presence of surfactant-associated bacteria in the near-surface layer of the ocean, slicks on the sea surface, and a distinctive feature in the synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery of the sea surface. From DNA analyses of the in situ samples using pyrosequencing technology, we found the highest abundance of surfactant-associated bacterial taxa in the near-surface layer below the slick. Our study suggests that production of surfactants by marine bacteria takes place in the organic-rich areas of the water column. Produced surfactants can then be transported to the sea surface and form slicks when certain physical conditions are met. This finding has potential applications in monitoring organic materials in the water column using remote sensing techniques. Identifying a connection between marine bacteria and production of natural surfactants may provide a better understanding of the global picture of biophysical processes at the boundary between the ocean and atmosphere, air-sea exchange of greenhouse gases, and production of climate-active marine aerosols.
authors.affiliation: Halmos College of Natural Sciences and Oceanography (formerly Oceanographic Center), Nova Southeastern University, Dania Beach, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Naoko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kurata
authors.affiliation: Halmos College of Natural Sciences and Oceanography (formerly Oceanographic Center), Nova Southeastern University, Dania Beach, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vella
authors.affiliation: Halmos College of Natural Sciences and Oceanography (formerly Oceanographic Center), Nova Southeastern University, Dania Beach, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Bryan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hamilton
authors.affiliation: Halmos College of Natural Sciences and Oceanography (formerly Oceanographic Center), Nova Southeastern University, Dania Beach, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Mahmood
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shivji
authors.affiliation: Halmos College of Natural Sciences and Oceanography (formerly Oceanographic Center), Nova Southeastern University, Dania Beach, FL, USA.|Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Soloviev
authors.affiliation: Naval Research Laboratory, Stennis Space Center, MS, USA.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Matt
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences (formerly Division of Math, Science and Technology), Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Aurélien
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tartar
authors.affiliation: Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, Nova Scotia, Canada.
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Perrie
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000378:metabolism*; D005431:Florida; D009792:Oceans and Seas; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D013501:Surface-Active Agents