Abstract
Variations in number and biomass of benthic bacteria were examined in the surface sediments of a Mediterranean seagrass bed [Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile] in the Gulf of Marconi (northwestern Mediterranean Sea) from 1990 to 1991. The annual dynamics of benthic bacterial density and biomass were compared to changes in elemental (organic C and total N) and biochemical (lipids, proteins, carbohydrates) composition of sediment organic matter, as well as to microphytobenthic biomass, dissolved inorganic nutrients and ATP. Bacterial densities exhibited marked seasonal variations (5.12 to 322.7x108 cells g-1 sediment dry wt) with highest values in late spring. Bacterial standing stocks (15.8 to 882.33 μg C g-1 of sediment dry wt) were high. Bacterial biomass did not correlate with organic C, total N or to specific biochemical components, but correlated significantly with chlorophyll a, ATP and porewater phosphate concentrations. There is evidence that benthic bacteria were responding to variations of algal biomass. Bacterial biomass accounted, on average, for 30% of total living carbon (calculated on the basis of the ATP concentrations) and 8.4% of total organic carbon.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Albertelli G, Fabiano M, Danovaro R, Fraschetti S. (1992) Bacteria and macrofauna in different biocoenoses (Ligurian Sea). Atti Cong Ass ital Oceanol Limnol IX: 387–394
Alongi DM (1990) Bacterial growth rates, production and estimates of detrital carbon utilization in deep-sea sediments of the Solomon and Coral Seas. Deep-Sea Res 37: 731–746
Barnes H, Blackstock J (1973) Estimation of lipids in marine animals and tissue: detailed investigation of the sulphophosphovanilin method for “total” lipids. J exp mar Biol Ecol 12: 103–118
Bavestrello G, Cattaneo-Vietti R, Danovaro R, Fabiano M (1991) Detritus rolling down a vertical cliff of the Ligurian Sea (Italy): the ecological role in hard bottom communities. Pubbl Staz zool Napoli (I: Mar Ecol) 12 (4): 281–292
Bianchi AJM (1973) Variations de la concentration bactérienne dans les eaux et les sédiments littoraux. Mar Biol 22: 23–29
Bligh EG, Dyer W (1959) A rapid method for total lipid extraction and purification. Can J Biochem Physiol 37: 911–917
Boyer M (1991) Variazione annuale di produzione primaria, biomassa e produzione batterica in una prateria di Posidonia oceanica del Golfo del Tigullio (Mar Ligure). PhD Thesis, University of Genova, Genova
Bulleid NC (1977) An improved method for extraction of adenosine triphosphate from marine sediment and seawater. Limnol Oceanogr 1: 174–178
Bradford MM (1976) A rapid sensitive method for the quantitation of microgram quantities of protein utilizing the principle of protein-dye binding. Analyt Biochem 72: 248–254
Cammen LM, Walker JA (1986) The relationship between bacteria and micro-algae of a Bay of Fundy mudflat. Estuar cstl Shelf Sci 22: 91–99
Dale NC (1974) Bacteria in intertidal sediments: factors related to their distribution. Limnol Oceanogr 19: 509–518
Danovaro R (1993) Analisi della dinamica e della struttura trofica di comunità meiobentoniche in relazione al contenuto ed alla composizione della sostanza organica particellata (Mar Ligure). PhD Dissertation, University of Pisa, Pisa
Danovaro R, Boyer M, Fabiano M (1992) Benthic bacterial abundance and distribution in different areas of the Mediterraean Sea: relationships with organic matter. Rapp. Réun Commn int Explor scient Mer Méditerr 33: 34
Danovaro R, Fabiano M, Della Croce N (1993) Labile organic matter and microbial biomasses in deep sea sediments (Eastern Mediterranean Sea). Deep-Sea Res 40 (5): 953–965
Danovaro R, Fabiano M, Femino' A (1994) Comparison of different methods for counting bacteria in marine sediments. Boll Ist Mus Univ Genova 58–59: 5–14
Daumas RA, Laborde P, Paul R, Romano JC, Sautriot D (1978) Les mécanismes de transformation de la matière oranique en Atlantique intertropical Etude de la minéralisation et de la diagénèse dans les sédiments superficiels In: Combaz A, Pelet R (eds) Géochimie organique des sédiments marins profonds, Orgon II. CNRS, Paris, pp 1–392
De Flaun MF, Mayer LM (1983) Relationships between bacteria and grain surface in intertidal sediments. Limnol Oceanogr 28 (5): 873–881
Delille D, Bouvy M (1989) Bacterial response to natural organic inputs in a marine subantartict area. Hydrobiologia 182: 225–238
Delille D, Guidi LD, Cahet G (1990) Temporal variations of benthic bacterial microflora on the North Western Mediterranean continental shelf and slope. Pubbl Staz zool Napoli (I: Mar Ecol) 11: 105–115
Draper N, Smith H (1981) Applied regression analysis, 2nd Edn. Wiley, New York
Dubois M, Gilles KA, Hamilton JK, Rebers PA, Smith F (1956) Colorimetric method for determination of sugars and related substances. Analyt Chem 28: 350–356
Duyl van FC, Kop AJ (1990) Seasonal patterns of bacterial production and biomass in intertidal sediments of the western Dutch Wadden Sea. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 59: 249–261
Fabiano M, Danovaro R (1994) Composition of organic matter in sediments facting a river estuary (Tyrrhenian Sea): relationships with bacteria and microphytobenthic biomass. Hydrobiologia 277: 71–84
Ferrara-Guerrero MJ, Bianchi A (1990) Distribution of microaerophilic bacteria through the oxic-anoxic transition zone of lagoon sediments. Hydrobiologia 207: 147–152
Fichez R (1991) Composition and fate of organic matter in submarine cave sediments; implications for the biogeochemical cycle of organic carbon. Oceanol Acta 14 (4): 369–377
Fry JC (1988) Determination of biomass In: Austin B (ed) Methods in Aquatic Bacteriology. Wiley & Sons, New York, pp 27–72
Fuhrman JA, Ammerman JW, Azam F (1980) Bacterioplankton in the coastal euphotic zone: distribution, activity and possible relationship with phytoplankton. Mar Biol 60: 201–207
Gerchakov SM, Hatcher PG (1972) Improved technique for analysis of carbohydrates in sediments. Limnol Oceanogr 17: 938–943
Graf G, Meyer-Reil LA (1985) Remineralization of organic substances on benthic surfaces in the intertidal reef area off Mactan, Cebu, Philippines. Philipp Scient 22: 42–46
Griffiths RP, Hayasaka SS, McNamara TM, Morita RY (1978) Relative microbial activity and bacteria concentrations in water and sediment samples taken in the Beaufort Sea. Can J Microbiol 24: 1217–1226
Hargrave BT (1969) Epibenthic algal production and community respiration in the sediments of Marion lake. J Fish Bd Can 26: 2003–2026
Hartree EF (1972) Determination of proteins: a modification of the Lowry method that gives a linear photometric response. Alalyt Biochem 48: 422–427
Hedges JI, Stern JH (1983) Carbon and nitrogen determination of carbonate-containing solids. Limnol Oceanogr 29: 657–668
Herndl GJ, Faganelli J, Fanuko N, Peduzzi P, Turk V (1987) Role of bacteria in the carbon and nitrogen flow between water-column and sediment in a shallow marine bay (Bay of Piran, Northern Adriatic Sea). Pubbl Staz zool Napoli (I: Mar Ecol) 8: 221–236
Herndl GJ, Peduzzi P, Fanuko N (1989) Benthic community metabolism and microbial dynamics in the Gulf of Trieste (Northern Adriatic Sea). Mar Ecol Prog Ser 53: 169–178
Horrigan SG, Hagström A, Koike I, Azam F (1988) Inorganic nitrogen utilization by assemblages of marine bacteria in seawater culture. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 50: 147–150
Johnson RG (1977) Vertical variation in particulate organic matter in the upper twenty centimeters of marine sediments. J mar Res 35: 272–282
Jonge VE de (1980) Fluctuations in the organic carbon to chlorophyll a ratios for estuarine benthic diatom populations. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 2: 345–353
Jonge VE de (1985) Occurrence of “epipsammic” diatoms populations: a result of interaction between physical sorting of sediment and certains properties of diatom species. Estuar cstl Shelf Sci 21: 607–622
Jonge VE de, Van den Bergs J (1987) Experiments on resuspension of estuarine sediments controlling benthic diatoms. Estuar cstl Shelf Sci 24: 725–740
Karl DM, Craven DB (1980) Effect of alkaline phosphatase activity on nucleotide measurements in aquatic microbial communities. Appl envirl Microbiol 40: 549–561
Khripounoff A, Crassous P, Desbruyeres D, Le Cox JR (1985) Le flux organique particulaire et ses transformations a l'interface eau-sediment. In: Laubier L, Monniot C (eds) Peuplements profonds du Golfe de Gascogne. IFREMER Publications, Brest, France, pp 101–118
Kirchman D, Soto Y, Van Wambeke F, Bianchi M (1989) Bacterial production in the Rhône River plume: effect of mixing on relationships among microbial assemblages. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 53: 267–275
Lawrence JM, Boudouresque Ch-F, Maggiore F (1989) Proximate constituentes, biomass, and energy in Posidonia oceanica (Potamogetonaceae). Pubbl Staz zool Napoli (I: Mar Ecol) 10: 263–270
Lorenzen C, Jaffrey J (1980) Determination of chlorophyll in sea water. Tech Pap mar Sci (UNESCO) 35: 1–20
Marsh JB, Weinstein WJ (1966) A simple charring method for determination of lipids. J Lipid Res 7: 574–576
Meyer-Reil L-A (1983) Benthic response to sedimentation events during autumn to spring at a shallow water station in the Western Kiel Bight. II. Analysis of benthic bacterial populations. Mar Biol 77: 247–256
Meyer-Reil L-A (1984) Bacterial biomass and heterotrophic activity in sediments and overlying waters. In: Hobbie JE, Williams PJ LeB. (eds) Heterotrophic activity in the sea. Plenum Press, New York, pp 523–546
Meyer-Reil L-A (1986) Spatial and temporal distribution of bacterial populations in marine shallow water surface sediments. In: Lasserre P, Martin JM (eds) Biogeochemical processes at the land-sea boundary. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp 141–160
Meyer-Reil L-A (1987) Seasonal and spatial distribution of extracellular enzymatic activities and microbial incorporation of dissolved organic substrates in marine sediments. Appl envirl Microbiol 53: 1748–1755
Meyer-Reil L-A, Bölter M, Dawson G, Liebezeit G, Szwerinski H, Wolter K (1980) Interrelationships between microbiological and chemical parameters of sandy beach sediments, a summer aspect. Appl envirl Microbiol 39: 797–802
Montagna PA (1982) Sampling design and enumeration statistics for bacteria from marine sediments. Appl envirl Microbiol 43: 1366–1372
Montagna PA (1984) In situ measurement of meiobenthic grazing rates on seciment bacteria and edaphic diatoms. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 18: 119–130
Montagna PA, Coull CB, Herring TL, Dudley BW (1983) The relationship between abundances of Meiofauna and their suspected microbial food (diatoms and bacteria). Estuar cstl Shelf Sci 17: 381–394
Moriarty DJW (1980) Measurement of bacterial biomass in sandy sediments In: Trudiner PA, Walter MR, Ralph BJ (eds) Biogeochemistry of ancient and modern environments. Australian Academy of Sciences, Camberra and Springer Verlag, Berlin, pp 131–138
Morarty DJW, Pollard PC (1981) DNA sysnthesis as measure of bacterial productivity in seagrass sediments. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 5: 151–156
Moriarty DJW, Pollard PC (1982) Diel variation of bacterial productivity in seagrass (Zoostera capricorni) beds measured by rate thymidine incorporation inot DNA. Mar Biol 72: 165–173
Moriarty DJW, Roberts DG, Pollard PC (1990) Primary and bacterial productivity of tropical seagrass communities in the Gulf of Carpentaria, Australia. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 61: 145–157
Newell RC, Field JG (1983) The contribution of bacteria and detritus to carbon and nitrogen flow in a benthic community. Mar Biol Lett 4: 23–36
Novak R (1984) A study in ultra-ecology: microorganisms on the seagrass Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile. Pubbl Staz zool Napoli (I: Mar Ecol) 5: 143–190
Ott J (1980) Growth and production in Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile. Pubbl Staz zool Napoli (I: Mar Ecol) 1: 47–64
Pamatman MM (1968) Ecology and metabolism of a benthic community on an intertidal sand flat. Int Rev ges Hydrobiol 53: 211–298
Parker RR, Siebert J, Brown TJ (1975) Inhibition of primary productivity through heterotrophic competition for nitrate in a stratified estuary. J Fish Res Bd Can 32: 72–77
Parsons TR, Albright LJ, Whitney F, Wong CS, Williams PJ LeB (1981) The effect of glucose on the productivity of seawater: an experimental approach using controlled aquatic ecosystems. Mar envirl Res 4: 229–242
Plante R, Plante-Cuny MR, Reys JP (1986) Photosynthetic pigments of sandy sediments on the north Mediterranean coast: their spatial distribution and its effect on sampling strategies. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 34: 133–141
Rice DL (1982) The detritus nitrogen problem: new observations and perspectives from organic geochemistry. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 9: 153–162
Sargent JR, Hopkins CCE, Seiring JV, Youngson A (1983) Partial characterization of organic material in surface sediments from Balsfjorden, northern Norway, in relation to its origin and nutritional value for sediment-ingesting animals. Mar Biol 76: 87–94
Strickland JDH, Parsons TR (1972) A practical handbook of seawater analysis. Fish Res Bd Can Bull 167: 1–310
Tanoue E, Handa N (1987) Monosaccharide composition of marine particles and sediments from the Bering Sea and North pacific. Oceanol Acta 10: 91–99
Tufano M (1991) Il rapporto isotopico 13C/12C (delta 13C) nello studio dell' ecosistema bentonico costiero (Mar Ligure). PhD Thesis, University of Genova, Genova
Van Wambeke F, Bianchi M, Cahet G (1984) Short-term bacterial reactivity of nitrogen-enriched seawater of an eutrophic lagoon. Estuar cstl Shelf Sci 19: 291–301
Velimirov B (1986) DOC dynamics in a Mediterranean seagrass system. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 28: 21–41
Velimirov B (1987) Organic matter derived from a seagrass meadow: origin, properties and quality of particles. Pubbl Staz zool Napoli (I: Mar Ecol) 8: 143–173
Velimirov B (1989) Il ruolo dei batteri nei flussi di energia: un approccio ecosistemico. Oebalia (Taranto, Italy) 16: 25–46
Velimirov B, Walenta-Simon M (1992) Seasonal changes in specific growth rates, production and biomass of a bacterial community in the water column above a Mediterranean seagrass system. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 80: 237–248
Velimirov B, Walenta-Simon M (1993) Bacterial growth rates and productivity within a seagrass system: seasonal variations in a Posidonia oceanica bed. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 96: 101–107
Velimirov B, Ott JA, Novak R (1981) Microorganisms on macrophyte debris: biodegradation and its implication in the food web. Kieler Meeresforsch (Sonderh) 5: 333–344
Weise W, Reinheimer G (1979) Scanning electron microscopy and epifluorescence investigation of bacterial colonization of marine sediments. Microb Ecol 4: 175–18
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Communicated by M. Sarà, Genova
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Danovaro, R., Fabiano, M. & Boyer, M. Seasonal changes of benthic bacteria in a seagrass bed (Posidonia oceanica) of the Ligurian Sea in relation to origin, composition and fate of the sediment organic matter. Marine Biology 119, 489–500 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00354310
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00354310