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Growth and grazing rates of bacteria groups with different apparent DNA content in the Gulf of Mexico

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Abstract

Growth rates and grazing losses of bacterioplankton were assessed by serial dilution experiments in surface waters in the Mississippi River plume, the northern Gulf of Mexico, a Texas coastal lagoon (Laguna Madre), southeast Gulf of Mexico surface water, and the chlorophyll subsurface maximum layer in the southeast Gulf of Mexico. Bacteria were quantified by flow cytometry after DNA staining with SYBR Green, which allowed for discrimination of growth and grazing rates of four bacteria subpopulations distinguished by their apparent DNA content and cell size (light scatter signal). Total bacteria growth rates (0.2–0.9 day−1) were mostly balanced by grazing losses, resulting in net growth rates of −0.18 to 0.45 day−1. Growth rates of DNA subpopulations varied within experiments, sometimes substantially. In most, but not all, experiments, the largest bacteria with highest DNA content exhibited the highest growth rates, but a relationship between DNA content and growth rates or grazing losses was absent. Small bacteria with the lowest DNA content showed positive growth rates in most experiments, sometimes higher than growth rates of bacteria containing more DNA, and were grazed upon actively. Low-DNA bacteria were not inactive and were an integral part of the microbial food web.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Ron Benner and John Lamkin for inviting FJJ to participate in the Mississippi River plume and southeast Gulf of Mexico cruises, respectively, and the captains and crews of R.V. “Longhorn” and “Gordon Gunter” for their hospitality and assistance at sea. Nutrient data from the Mississippi River plume by Mark McCarthy, and chlorophyll data by Kim Williams and CTD data by Elisabeth Johns and Ryan Smith from the southeast Gulf of Mexico are greatly appreciated. We are grateful to Mark McCarthy for editorial help. Work in the Mississippi River plume was supported by the Nancy and Perry Bass Endowment to the University of Texas Marine Science Institute. A Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at FIU summer research grant supported work in the southeast Gulf of Mexico.

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  1. Marine Biology Program, Florida International University, 3000 NE 151 Street, North Miami, FL, 33181, USA

    F. J. Jochem

  2. Department of Biology, University of Akron, Akron, OH , 44325, USA

    P. J. Lavrentyev

  3. Department of Marine Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30606, USA

    M. R. First

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  1. F. J. Jochem
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  2. P. J. Lavrentyev
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Correspondence to F. J. Jochem.

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Communicated by O. Kinne, Oldendorf/Luhe

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Jochem, F.J., Lavrentyev, P.J. & First, M.R. Growth and grazing rates of bacteria groups with different apparent DNA content in the Gulf of Mexico. Marine Biology 145, 1213–1225 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-004-1406-7

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