Dissolved organic substances during a Phaeocystis pouchetii bloom in the German Bight (North Sea)

Organic carbon partitioning during spring phytoplankton blooms in the Ross Sea polynya and the Sargasso Sea

“…However, seasonal DOC accumulation has also been demonstrated in the presence of measurable nitrate, phosphate, and silicate (Parsons et al 1970). Other studies have demonstrated increases in DOC that coincide with increases in Phaeocystis PP (Billen and Fontigny 1987) and biomass (Eberlein et al 1985), indicating that DOC accumulated at earlier phases of a bloom when nutrients were not limiting. Thus, nutrient depletion may offer some explanation of the differences between the two sites but it is not likely to be the only factor dictating the accumulation of DOC.…”

“…There are several reports from the North Sea of large amounts of foam appearing on beaches (Batje and Michaelis 1986), high mucilage (Lancelot and Mathot 1985), and DOC production (Eberlein et al 1985), all resulting from Phaeocystis pouchetii blooms. Significant production and accumulation of DOC have been demonstrated throughout the course of P. pouchetii blooms from initiation to senescence (Billen and Fontigny 1987).…”

“…The result is an accumulation of organic C in the local surface waters. The traditional bloom scemario of the North Atlantic is one of significant increases in DOM concentrations that coincide with progression of the bloom or its later stages (Duursma 1963;Parsons et al 1970;Ittekkot et al 1981;Eberlein et al 1985;Carlson et al 1994). with accumulation in the DOM pool being greater than or equal to the POM pool (CadCe 1986; Williams 1995 and references therein).…”

“…ton blooms (Duursma 1963;Parsons et al 1970;Ittekkot et al 1981;Eberlein et al 1985;CadCe 1986;Carlson et al 1994; and studies cited in Williams 1995). Several studies have demonstrated that DOC is an important component of the "biological pump" in some oceanic environments (Copin-MontCgut and Avril 1993;Carlson et al 1994;Ducklow et al 1995).…”

Microbial breakdown of Phaeocystis mucopolysaccharides

“…The availability of mucus as a growth substrate for heterotrophic bacteria is still unclear. Field observations suggest that although bacteria attach to colonies during late bloom stages (e.g., Thingstad and Billen 1994), at least part of the mucus is not degraded rapidly because mucus-derived foam accumulates after blooms (Eberlein et al 1985;Billen and Fontigny 1987;Lancelot et al 1987). The presence of mucus in sediments also raises the interesting question of whether the material can be degraded under anoxic conditions after it is buried in the sediment.…”