High wind speeds prevent formation of a distinct bacterioneuston community in the sea-surface microlayer

Rahlff, Janina; Stolle, Christian; Giebel, Helge-Ansgar; Brinkhoff, Thorsten; Ribas-Ribas, Mariana; Hodapp, Dorothee; Wurl, Oliver

doi:10.1093/femsec/fix041

Cited by 45 publications

(69 citation statements)

References 68 publications

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“…Indeed, Galgani et al (2014) showed in mesocosm studies that ocean acidification may induce a change in the nature of the organic matter in the SML, e.g., higher concentrations of hydrolyzable amino acids, indicative of higher bacterial biomass, and lower concentrations of carbohydrates, probably due to enhanced bacterial degradation processes. Rahlff et al (2017) showed a statistically significant and positive interaction between pCO 2 and wind speed on the enrichment of bacteria in the SML. Acidification (i.e., high pCO 2 ) of the bulk water and diffusional gas transport across the SML at low wind speed could have provided a slightly less acidified "sanctuary" for the bacteria in the SML.…”

Section: Air-sea Gas and Heat Exchangementioning

confidence: 86%

Sea surface microlayer in a changing ocean – A perspective

Wurl

Ekau

Landing

et al. 2017

Elementa: Science of the Anthropocene

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The sea surface microlayer (SML) is the boundary interface between the atmosphere and ocean, covering about 70% of the Earth's surface. With an operationally defined thickness between 1 and 1000 µm, the SML has physicochemical and biological properties that are measurably distinct from underlying waters. Recent studies now indicate that the SML covers the ocean to a significant extent, and evidence shows that it is an aggregate-enriched biofilm environment with distinct microbial communities. Because of its unique position at the air-sea interface, the SML is central to a range of global biogeochemical and climate-related processes. The redeveloped SML paradigm pushes the SML into a new and wider context that is relevant to many ocean and climate sciences.

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Section: Air-sea Gas and Heat Exchangementioning

confidence: 86%

Sea surface microlayer in a changing ocean – A perspective

Wurl

Ekau

Landing

et al. 2017

Elementa: Science of the Anthropocene

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“…Our observations fit with findings from Pomeroy, Sheldon and Sheldon [40] of a 23% increase in bacterial cell numbers in dark-incubated SML samples from the start to end of the incubation period for Pacific station 9 (Supplement Data S2: Cell counts St.9 SISI). One reason for this might be that SML microorganisms in closed-bottle incubations particularly benefit from low turbulence and minimal impact from waves and wind, which are crucial factors that would naturally affect them [10,11]. We suggest that incubation times should be adjusted to the minimum, which produces reasonable rates of O 2 turnover but reduces containment errors, such as enormous increases in cell numbers.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Wind speed (m s −1 ) was taken from meteorological stations at 34.5 m and 10 m height on R/V Meteor and R/V Falkor, respectively. Wind speed from 35.5 m height was converted to wind speed at 10 m height by applying the equation as shown in Rahlff et al [10]. The sea state in bft was calculated from the empirical formula…”

Section: Sisi Deployment and Sample Collectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In addition, due to the accumulation of organic matter and surface-active molecules [4,5], the SML constitutes a unique biofilm-like habitat for microorganisms [3,6]. Life within the SML is heavily influenced by a range of "extreme" conditions such as enhanced solar and ultraviolet (UV) radiation [7][8][9], strong wind-wave dynamics [10,11] and the accumulation of pollutants [12]. Heterotrophic microbes in particular benefit from the enrichment of organic substrates, allowing them to thrive and form distinctive communities within the SML compared to the underlying water [13,14].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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SISI: A New Device for In Situ Incubations at the Ocean Surface

Rahlff

Stolle

Wurl

2017

JMSE

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Abstract:The sea-surface microlayer (SML) forms the uppermost boundary layer between atmosphere and ocean, and has distinctive physico-chemical and biological features compared to the underlying water. First findings on metabolic contributions of microorganisms to gas exchange processes across the SML raised the need for new in situ technologies to explore plankton-oxygen turnover in this special habitat. Here, we describe an inexpensive research tool, the Surface In Situ Incubator (SISI), which allows simultaneous incubations of the SML, and water samples from 1 m and 5 m, at the respective depths of origin. The SISI is deployed from a small boat, seaworthy up to 5 bft (Beaufort scale), and due to global positioning system (GPS) tracking, capable of drifting freely for hours or days. We tested the SISI by applying light/dark bottle incubations in the Baltic Sea and the tropical Pacific Ocean under various conditions to present first data on planktonic oxygen turnover rates within the SML, and two subsurface depths. The SISI offers the potential to study plankton-oxygen turnover within the SML under the natural influence of abiotic parameters, and hence, is a valuable tool to routinely monitor their physiological role in biogeochemical cycling and gas exchange processes at, and near, the sea surface.

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“…This modified organic "skin" has the potential to influence the flux of gases across the air-water interface [51]. As the biological response to ocean change affects the SML compounds and processes [10,13,[52][53][54], we expect that plastic pollution will have tangible effects on SML composition and reactivity as well.…”

Section: Plastic Accumulation and Other Pollutants In The Sea Surfacementioning

confidence: 99%

Plastic Accumulation in the Sea Surface Microlayer: An Experiment-Based Perspective for Future Studies

Galgani

Loiselle

2019

Geosciences

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Plastic particles are ubiquitous in the marine environment. Given their low density, they have the tendency to float on the sea surface, with possible impacts on the sea surface microlayer (SML). The SML is an enriched biofilm of marine organic matter, that plays a key role in biochemical and photochemical processes, as well as controlling gas exchange between the ocean and the atmosphere. Recent studies indicate that plastics can interfere with the microbial cycling of carbon. However, studies on microplastic accumulation in the SML are limited, and their effects on organic matter cycling in the surface ocean are poorly understood. To explore potential dynamics in this key ocean compartment, we ran a controlled experiment with standard microplastics in the surface and bulk water of a marine monoculture. Bacterial abundance, chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM), and oxygen concentrations were measured. The results indicate an accumulation of CDOM in the SML and immediate underlying water when microplastic particles are present, as well as an enhanced oxygen consumption. If extrapolated to a typical marine environment, this indicates that alterations in the quality and reactivity of the organic components of the SML could be expected. This preliminary study shows the need for a more integrated effort to our understanding the impact of microplastics on SML functioning and marine biological processes.

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High wind speeds prevent formation of a distinct bacterioneuston community in the sea-surface microlayer

Cited by 45 publications

References 68 publications

Sea surface microlayer in a changing ocean – A perspective

Sea surface microlayer in a changing ocean – A perspective

SISI: A New Device for In Situ Incubations at the Ocean Surface

Plastic Accumulation in the Sea Surface Microlayer: An Experiment-Based Perspective for Future Studies

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