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Cell size and other phenotypic traits of prokaryotic cells in pelagic areas of the Ross Sea (Antarctica)

  • BIOLOGY OF THE ROSS SEA
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Abstract

We test the suitability of microbial parameters to assess environmental pressures, and investigate the abundance and phenotypic traits of prokaryotic cells in an Antarctic area. During two oceanographic cruises, carried out in 2001 and 2005, seawater samples were collected in two mooring stations of the Ross Sea. As ancillary parameters, determinations of lipopolysaccharides, chlorophyll a, and/or fractionated adenosine-tri-phosphate were done. Furthermore, in the 2005 survey, six more stations were sampled. Results show that prokaryotic cells—in terms of abundance, shape, and size—change in relation with environmental changes. Prokaryotic abundance was high, where a strong condition of eutrophication was detected. Sizes of cells showed the prevalence of very small forms (>0.1 μm3), but larger morphotypes were observed in high trophic conditions (till 0.4 μm3). In Antarctic marine systems, such prokaryotic parameters can be used to evaluate environment status.

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Acknowledgments

The research was done in the frame of BIOSESO II and ABIOCLEAR projects funded by the Italian PNRA (National Programme of Antarctic Research). The authors wish to thank two anonymous reviewers and editors for their useful comments as well as the CEFA project of PNRA for the technical support. They also thank the colleagues of IAMC, Dr. Gabriella Caruso and Dr. Giuseppe Frisone, for statistics elaboration and data typing, respectively.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Coastal Marine Environment (IAMC-CNR), Section of Messina, Esplanade S. Raineri 86, 98122, Messina, Italy

    Rosabruna La Ferla, Giovanna Maimone, Angelina Lo Giudice, Filippo Azzaro, Alessandro Cosenza & Maurizio Azzaro

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  1. Rosabruna La Ferla
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  2. Giovanna Maimone
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  3. Angelina Lo Giudice
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  4. Filippo Azzaro
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  5. Alessandro Cosenza
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  6. Maurizio Azzaro
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Correspondence to Rosabruna La Ferla.

Additional information

Guest editors: Diego Fontaneto & Stefano Schiaparelli / Biology of the Ross Sea and Surrounding Areas in Antarctica

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10750_2015_2426_MOESM1_ESM.tif

Fig. 1 Distributions of the total LPS concentrations in the photic and aphotic layers in the stations sampled in the 2001 and 2005 cruises

Fig. 2 Vertical profile of the total ATP concentrations in the stations sampled in the 2001 cruise

Fig. 3 Chla distribution in the quadrangle bounded by the stations A, H1, B and D

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La Ferla, R., Maimone, G., Lo Giudice, A. et al. Cell size and other phenotypic traits of prokaryotic cells in pelagic areas of the Ross Sea (Antarctica). Hydrobiologia 761, 181–194 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-015-2426-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-015-2426-7

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