Temporal variations in transparent exopolymer particles (TEP) associated with a diatom spring bloom in a subarctic ria in Japan

Ramaiah, N.; Yoshikawa, Takashi; Furuya, Ken

doi:10.3354/meps212079

Cited by 67 publications

(58 citation statements)

References 36 publications

(38 reference statements)

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“…However, the authors did not specifically assay for TEP nor discuss its presence. Ramaiah et al (2001) showed that the macroalga Undaria pinnatifida produced TEP, but this work was carried out with intact plants rather than the fragmented algal material in various states of decay used in the present study. TEP are particles that stain with Alcian blue and, therefore, consist largely of acid polysaccharides (Alldredge et al 1993, Passow 2002a.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…TEP abundance is usually positively correlated with phytoplankton biomass (Passow 2002a, Simon et al 2002. Diatoms are particularly important producers of TEP (Thornton 2002), as demonstrated through laboratory experiments (Alldredge et al 1993, Crocker & Passow 1995, Mari 1999, Corzo et al 2000 and field observation , Engel 2000, Ramaiah et al 2001). However, phytoplankton and bacterioplankton may not be the only significant sources of TEP and its polysaccharide precursors.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, phytoplankton and bacterioplankton may not be the only significant sources of TEP and its polysaccharide precursors. Ramaiah et al (2001) found that a commercially cultivated macroalga (Undaria pinnatifida) was a significant source of TEP in Japanese coastal waters. TEP production from macroalgae and macroalgal detritus may affect particle dynamics in coastal waters and represent a significant pathway transferring carbon originally fixed by macroalgae to planktonic and benthic communities further offshore.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Formation of transparent exopolymeric particles (TEP) from macroalgal detritus

Thornton¹

2004

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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Detritus derived from macroalgae often accumulates in the littoral and sublittoral of temperate shores. Experiments were conducted to test the hypothesis that macroalgal detritus is a source of transparent exopolymer particles (TEP). Macroalgal detritus was incubated in artificial seawater media under various experimental conditions. TEP concentrations were found to be proportional to the concentration of macroalgal detritus; however, dissolved carbohydrate concentrations were not related to detritus concentration. As TEP concentration did not increase over time, it was probably washed off the detritus when it was initially placed in the media. However, higher concentrations of TEP (262 µg Gum Xanthan equivalent [g detritus] -1 ) were produced if inorganic nutrients were added to the media compared to controls (75 µg Gum Xanthan equivalent [g detritus] -1 ). Dissolved carbohydrate and TEP concentrations increased with incubation temperature. TEP did not form abiotically from carbohydrate precursors derived from macroalgal detritus, indicating that microbial activity was important in their formation. TEP from macroalgal detritus will result in a flux of small, sticky particles into the water column which may subsequently affect the aggregation of both biotic and abiotic particles. This will affect both biogeochemical nutrient cycling in coastal waters and food web dynamics.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Formation of transparent exopolymeric particles (TEP) from macroalgal detritus

Thornton¹

2004

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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“…com. ), but high concentrations have also been found to be associated with macroalgae (Ramaiah, Yoshikawa, & Furuya, 2001). Higher TEP concentrations have been found in the euphotic zone than below it, and in coastal areas compared to the open ocean Engel & Passow, 2001).…”

Section: Abundance and Distribution Of Tepmentioning

confidence: 99%

Transparent exopolymer particles (TEP) in aquatic environments

Passow

2002

Progress in Oceanography

947

951

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Since the development of methods to quantify transparent exopolymer particles (TEP) 1993, it has been shown that these gel-particles are not only ubiquitous and abundant, but also play a significant role in the biogeochemical cycling of elements and the structuring of food webs. TEP may be quantified either microscopically or colorimetrically. Although data based on measurements using one or other of these methods are not directly comparable, the results are consistent. TEP abundances in fresh and marine waters are in the same range as those of phytoplankton, with peak values occurring during phytoplankton blooms. TEP are very sticky particles that exhibit the characteristics of gels, and consist predominantly of acidic polysaccharides. In marine systems the majority of TEP are formed abiotically from dissolved precursors, which are released by phytoplankton that are either actively growing or are senescent. TEP are also generated during the sloughing of cell surface mucus and the disintegration of colonial matrices. The impact of exopolymers in the creation of microhabitats and in the cycling of trace compounds varies with the state in which the polymers occur, either as particles or as solute slimes. As particles, TEP provide surfaces for the colonization by bacteria and transfer by adsorption, trace solute substances into the particulate pool. As dissolved polymers they are mixed with the water and can neither be filtered nor aggregated. Because of their high abundances, large size and high stickiness, TEP enhance or even facilitate the aggregation of solid, non-sticky particles. They have been found to form the matrices of all marine aggregates investigated to date. By aggregating solid particles, TEP promote the sedimentation of particles, and, because their carbon content is high, their direct contribution to fluxes of carbon into deep water is significant. The direct sedimentation of TEP may represent a mechanism for the selective sequestration of carbon in deep water, because the C:N ratios of TEP lie well above the Redfield ratio. The turnover time of TEP as a result of bacterial degradation appears to range from hours to months, depending on the chemical composition and age of TEP. TEP may also be utilized not only by filter feeders (some protozoans and appendicularian) but TEP-rich microaggregates, consisting of pico-and nano-plankton are also readily grazed by euphausiids, thus permitting the uptake of particles that would otherwise be too small to be grazed directly by euphausiids. This short-circuits food chains and links the microbial food-web to the classical food-web. It is suggested that this expansion of the concept of food webs, linking the microbial loop with an aggregation web will provide a more complete description of particle dynamics. 

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“…mg À1 ) (Hong et al, 1997) and are only a little lower than ratios determined during a phytoplankton bloom at a coastal site in the subArctic Pacific (125-144 mg Xeq. mg À1 ) by Ramaiah et al (2001) or for the central Baltic Sea during summer (130750 mg Xeq. mg À1 ) by Engel et al (2002b).…”

Section: Abundance Of Tep In the Northeast Atlanticmentioning

confidence: 99%

Distribution of transparent exopolymer particles (TEP) in the northeast Atlantic Ocean and their potential significance for aggregation processes

Engel

2004

Deep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers

129

104

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The abundance of transparent exopolymer particles (TEP) was determined in the northeast Atlantic Ocean (40-55 N, B20 W) during several cruises from June to November 1996. An accumulation of TEP in the water column was observed at bloom and post-bloom sites along a 20 W transect in June/July (maximum concentration: 124 mg Gum Xanthan equivalents (Xeq.) l À1 ), but concentrations were uniformly low (mean concentration: 28.5710.2 mg Xeq. l À1 ) during autumn at the BIOTRANS site (47 N, 20 W). TEP concentrations in the open northeast Atlantic were considerably lower than previously published values from coastal sites. However, during June/July TEP:Chl a (weight/ weight) ratios were comparable to values at coastal seas. It is suggested that phytoplankton production modulates TEP concentration in the open ocean as it does in coastal systems. TEP contributed significantly to the organic carbon pool as derived from the ratio TEP-C:POC, in summer (mean percentage: 1777.5; w/w), as well as in autumn (mean percentage: 18711, w/w). The potential influence of TEP on particle coagulation rates in the northeast Atlantic was assessed from estimates of their influence on particle stickiness and on particle volume concentrations. This indicated that TEP may be essential for initiating particle aggregation at low biomass concentrations, typical for open ocean sites. r

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Temporal variations in transparent exopolymer particles (TEP) associated with a diatom spring bloom in a subarctic ria in Japan

Cited by 67 publications

References 36 publications

Formation of transparent exopolymeric particles (TEP) from macroalgal detritus

Formation of transparent exopolymeric particles (TEP) from macroalgal detritus

Transparent exopolymer particles (TEP) in aquatic environments

Distribution of transparent exopolymer particles (TEP) in the northeast Atlantic Ocean and their potential significance for aggregation processes

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