Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

Impact of Climate Changes on Marine Environments pp 115–126Cite as

Microbiological Survey in Two Arctic Fjords: Total Bacterial Number and Biomass Comparison of Hornsund and Kongsfjorden

  • Chapter
  • First Online:

  • 1218 Accesses

Part of the book series: GeoPlanet: Earth and Planetary Sciences ((GEPS))

Abstract

Two microbiological parameters: total bacterial number (TBN) and biomass (BBM) were studied in two Arctic fjords: Hornsund and Kongsfjorden. Samples were collected from three sampling points in each fjord, from various water depth layers: from the surface to 75 m depth. Total bacterial number and biomass were examined using the DAPI staining and direct count method. The greater amount of bacteria, as well as highest bacterial biomass were observed in the colder fjord Hornsund, located on the southern part of Spitsbergen. Local TBN maximum was found at a depth of 15 m at station KG2, which corresponds to the presence of pycnocline. Better adaptation of Arctic bacteria to the low water temperatures and availability of substrates coming from the bird colonies may explain the higher TBN and BBM in Hornsund. Moreover, greater phytoplankton abundance in Hornsund may have an impact on better feeding conditions. Detected increased amounts of particulate inorganic matter also provides favourable habitat for bacterial consortia.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

References

  • Ameryk A, Podgórska B, Witek Z (2005) Dependance between bacterial production and environmental conditions in the Gulf of Gdańsk. Oceanologia 47(1):27–45

    Google Scholar 

  • Azam F, Fenchel T, Field JG, Gray JS, Meyer-Reil LA, Thingstad F (1983) The ecological role of water-column microbes in the sea. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 10:257–263

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beszczyńska-Möller A, Węsławski JM, Walczowski W, Zajączkowski M (1997) Estimation of glacial meltwater discharge into Svalbard coastal water. Oceanologia 39(3):289–297

    Google Scholar 

  • Björkman M, Zarsky J, Kühnel R, Hodson A, Sattler B, Psenner R (2014) Microbial cell retention in a melting high arctic Snowpack, Svalbard. Arct Antarct Alp Res 46(2):471–482

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Børsheim KY (2000) Bacterial production rates and concentrations of organic carbon at the end of the growing season in the Greenland Sea. Aquat Microb Ecol 21:115–123

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Børsheim KY, Drinkwater KF (2014) Differrent temperature adaptation in Arctic and Atlantic heterotrophic bacteria in the Barents Sea Polar Front region. J Mar Syst 130:160–166

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cottier F, Tverberg V, Inall M, Svendsen H, Nilsen F, Griffiths F (2005) Water mass modification in an Arctic fjord through cross-shelf exchange: the seasonal hydrography of Kongsfjorden Svalbard. J Geophys Res 110(C12):C12005

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Elbrächter M (1991) Faeces production by dinoflagellates and other small flagellates. Mar Microb Food Webs 5:189–204

    Google Scholar 

  • Gradinger R, Zhang Q (1997) Vertical distribution of bacteria in Arctic Sea ice from the Barents and Laptev Sea. Polar Biol 17:448–454

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • He J, Zhang F, Lin L, Ma Y, Chen J (2012) Bacterioplankton and picoplankton abundance, biomass and distribution in the Western Canada Basin during summer 2008. Deep-Sea Res II 81–84:36–45

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hop H, Pearson T, Hegseth E, Kovacs KM, Wiencke C, Kwaśniewski S, Eiane K, Mehlum F, Gulliksen B, Włodraska-Kowalczuk M, Lydersen C, Węsławski JM, Cochrane S, Gabrielsen GW, Leakey RJG, Lønne OJ, Zajączkowski M, Falk-Petersen S, Kendall M, Wängberg S, Bishof K, Voronkov AY, Kovaltchouk NA, Wiktor J, Poltermann M, di Prisco G, Papucci C, Gerland S (2002) The marine ecosystem of Kongsfjorden, Svalbard. Polar Res 21(1):167–208

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hoppe H, Gocke K, Koppe R, Begler C (2002) Bacterial growth and primary production along a north-south transect of the Atlantic Ocean. Nature 416:168–171

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Howard-Jones M, Ballard VD, Allen AE, Frischer ME, Verity PG (2002) Distribution of bacterial biomass and activity in the marginal ice zone of the central Barents Sea during summer. J Mar Syst 38(1–2):77–91

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Howe JA, Moreton SG, Morri C, Morris P (2003) Multibeam bathymetry and the depositional environments of Kongsfjorden and Krossfjorden, western Spitsbergen, Svalbard. Polar Res 22(2):301–316

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Iversen RK, Seuthe L (2011) Seasonal microbial processes in a high-latitude fjord (Kongsfjorden, Svalbard): I. Heterotrophic bacteria, picoplankton and nanoflagellates. Polar Biol 34(5):731–749

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jankowska K, Włodarska-Kowalczuk M, Wieczorek P (2005) Abundance and biomass of bacteria in two Arctic glacial fjords. Polish Polar Res 26(1):77–84

    Google Scholar 

  • Jiang X, He J, Cai M (2005) Abundance and biomass of heterotrophic microbes in the Kongsfjorden, Svalbard. Acta Oceanol Sinica 24:143–152

    Google Scholar 

  • Kowalewski W, Rudowski S, Zalewski SM (1991) Seismoacoustic studies in Hornsund, Spitsbergen. Pol Polar Res 12:353–361

    Google Scholar 

  • Lampert W (1978) Release of dissolved grazing zooplankton carbon by grazing zooplankton. Limnol Oceanogr 23(4):831–834

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lara E, Arrieta JM, Garcia-Zaradona I, Boras JA, Duarte CM, Agustí S, Wassmann PF, Vaqué D (2013) Experimental evaluation of the warming effect on viral, bacterial and protistan communities in two contrasting Arctic systems. Aquat Microb Ecol 70:17–32

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Larsson U, Hagström A (1979) Phytoplankton exudate release as an energy source for the growth of pelagic bacteria. Mar Biol 52:199–206

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li WKW, Harrison WG (2001) Chlorophyll, bacteria and picophytoplankton in ecological provinces of the North Atlantic. Deep-Sea Res II 48:2271–2293

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lydersen C, Nøst OA, Lovell P, McConnell BJ, Gammelsrød T, Hunter C, Fedak MA, Kovacs KM (2002) Salinity and temperature structure of a freezing Arctic fjord—monitored by white whales (Delphinapterus leucas). Geophys Res Lett 29(23):2119–2123

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moran MA, Hodson RE (1994) Dissolved humic substances of vascular plant origin in a coastal marine environment. Limnol Oceanogr 39(4):762–771

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Naganuma T, Kimura H, Karimoto R, Primenov NV (2006) Abundance of planctonic thraustochytrids and bacteria and the concentration of the particulate ATP in the Greenland and Norwegian Sees. Polar Biosci 20:37–45

    Google Scholar 

  • Nagata T, Kirchman DL (1992) Release of dissolved organic matter by heterotrophic protozoa: implications for microbial foodwebs. Archiv für Hydrobiologie Beiheft Ergebnisse Limnologie 35:99–109

    Google Scholar 

  • Nielsen TG, Hansen BW (1999) Plankton community structure and carbon cycling on the western coast of Greenland during the stratified summer situation, I. Hydrography, phytoplankton and bacterioplancton. Aquat Microb Ecol 16:205–216

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Norland S (1993) The relationship between biomass and volume of bacteria. In: Kemp PF, Sherr BF, Sherr EB, Cole JJ (eds) Handbook of methods in aquatic microbial ecology. Lewis Publishers, New York, pp 303–308

    Google Scholar 

  • Obernosterer I, Herndl G (1995) Phytoplankton extracellular release and bacterial growth: dependence on the inorganic N: P ratio. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 116:247–257

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Payet JP, Suttle CA (2008) Physical and biological correlates of virus dynamics in the southern Beaufort Sea and Amundsen Gulf. J Mar Syst 74:933–945

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Piquet AM-T, Scheepens JF, Bolhuis H, Wiencke C, Buma AGJ (2010) Variability of protistan and bacterial communities in two Arctic fjords (Spitsbergen). Polar Biol 33:1521–1536

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Piwosz K, Walkusz W, Hapter R, Wieczorek P, Hop H, Wiktor J (2009) Comparison of productivity and phytoplankton in a warm (Kongsfjorden) and a cold (Hornsund) Spitsbergen fjord in mid-summer 2002. Polar Biol 32(4):549–559

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pomeroy LR (1974) The ocean’s food web, a changing paradigm. Bioscience 24(9):499–504

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Porter KG, Feig YS (1980) The use of DAPI for identifying and counting aquatic microflora. Limnol Oceanogr 25(5):943–948

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Posch T, Loferer-Krößbacher M, Gao G, Alfreider A, Pernhalter J, Psenner R (2001) Precision of bacterioplankton biomass determination: a comparison of two fluorescent dyes, and of allometric and linear volume-to-carbon conversion factors. Aquat Microb Ecol 25:55–63

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Prasad S, Manasa P, Buddhi S, Tirunagari P, Begum Z, Rajan S, Shivaji S (2014) Diversity and bioprospective potential (cold-active enzymes) of cultivable marine bacteria from the subarctic glacial fjord, Kongsfjorden. Curr Microbiol 68:233–238

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rasol R, Rashidah AR, Siti Nur Nazucha R, Smykla J, Wan Maznach WO, Alias SA (2014) Psychrotropic Lipase producers from arctic soil and sediment samples. Pol J Microbiol 63(1):75–82

    Google Scholar 

  • Sharp JH (1977) Excretion of organic matter by marine phytoplankton: do healthy cells do it? Limnol Oceanogr 22(3):381–399

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sherr B, Sherr E, del Giorgio P (2001) Enumeration of total and Highly Active Bacteria. Methods Microbiol 30(8):129–159

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sherr E, Sherr B, Fessenden L (1997) Heterotrophic protist in the central Arctic Ocean. Deep-Sea Res II 44:1665–1682

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shiah FK, Gong GC, Chen TY, Chen CC (2000) Temperature dependence of bacterial specific growth rates on the continental shelf of the East China Sea and its potential application in estimating bacterial production. Aquat Microb Ecol 22:155–162

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Steward GF, Fandino LB, Hollibaugh JT, Whitledge TE, Azam F (2007) Microbial biomass and viral infections of heterotrophic procaryotes in the sub-surface layer of the central Arctic Ocean. Deep-Sea Res I 54:1744–1757

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sturluson M, Gissel Nielsen T, Wassmann P (2008) Bacterial abundance, biomass and production during spring blooms in the northern Barents Sea. Deep-Sea Res II 55:2186–2198

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Suzuki TM, Sherr EB, Sherr BF (1993) DAPI direct counting underestimates bacterial abundances and average cell size compared to AO direct counting. Limnol Oceanogr 38(7):1566–1570

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Svendsen H, Beszczyńska-Möller A, Hagen JO, Lefauconnier B, Tverberg V, Gerland S, Ørbæk JB, Bischof K, Papucci C, Zajączkowski M, Azzolini R, Bruland O, Wiencke C, Winther J, Dallmann W (2002) The physical environment of Kongsfjorden—Krossfjorden, an Arctic fjord system in Svalbard. Polar Res 21(1):133–166

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Świątecki A (1997) Zastosowanie wskaźników bakteriologicznych w ocenie wód powierzchniowych. (Application of bacteriological indicators in surficial water quality assessment). WSP Olsztyn, pp 1–105

    Google Scholar 

  • Tęgowski J, Giżejewski J, Zieliński A (2008) Extraction of seabed geomorphologic features of svalbard fjords using high-resolution side scan sonar. Hydroacoustics 11:401–410

    Google Scholar 

  • Thingstad TF, Sakshaug E (1990) Control of phytoplankton growth in nutrient recycling ecosystems: theory and terminology. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 63:261–271

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wängberg S-Å, Andreasson KIM, Gustavson K, Reinthaler T, Henrikson P (2008) UV-B effects on microplankton communities in Kongsfjord, Svalbard—A mesocosm experiment. J Exp Mar Biol Ecol 365(2):156–163

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Węsławski JM, Kwaśniewski S, Stempniewicz L, Błachowiak-Samołyk K (2006) Biodiversity and energy transfer to top trophic levels in two contrasting Arctic fjords. Pol Polar Res 27(3):1–20

    Google Scholar 

  • Zajączkowska B, Zajączkowski M (1989) Quantitative microbiological survey in Hornsund, SW Spitsbergen. Reconnaissance study in summer 1985. Bull Pol Acad Sci 37:79–84

    Google Scholar 

  • Zeng Y-X, Zhang F, He J-F, Lee SH, Qiao Z-Y, Yu Y, Li H-R (2013) Bacterioplankton community structure in the Arctic waters as revealed by pyrosequencing of 16S rRNA genes. Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek 103:1309–1319

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zweifel UL, Hagstrom Å (1995) Total counts of marine bacteria include a large fraction of non-nucleoid-containing bacteria (ghosts). Appl Environ Microbiol 61(6):2180–2185

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the staff of the Oceania from AREX 2013 cruise for their cooperation during measurements and for making unpublished environmental data available. We would like to express special thanks to Jakub Kowalczyk, Daniel Rak and Jan Marcin Węsławski for help and support and IOPAS Archive of hydrographical data for providing necessary data.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty, Gdańsk University of Technology, ul. Narutowicza 11/12, 80-952, Gdańsk, Poland

    Agnieszka Kalinowska & Katarzyna Jankowska

  2. Department of Fisheries, Oceanography and Marine Ecology, National Marine Fisheries Research Institute, ul. Kołłątaja 1, 81-332, Gdynia, Poland

    Anetta Ameryk

Authors
  1. Agnieszka Kalinowska
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Anetta Ameryk
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Katarzyna Jankowska
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Agnieszka Kalinowska .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Air-Sea Interactions, Institute of Oceanology Polish Academy of Sciences, Sopot, Poland

    Tymon Zielinski

  2. Marine ecology, Institute of Oceanology Polish Academy of Sciences, Sopot, Poland

    Marcin Weslawski

  3. Marine Chemistry and Biochemistry, Institute of Oceanology Polish Academy of Sciences, Sopot, Poland

    Karol Kuliński

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2015 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Kalinowska, A., Ameryk, A., Jankowska, K. (2015). Microbiological Survey in Two Arctic Fjords: Total Bacterial Number and Biomass Comparison of Hornsund and Kongsfjorden. In: Zielinski, T., Weslawski, M., Kuliński, K. (eds) Impact of Climate Changes on Marine Environments. GeoPlanet: Earth and Planetary Sciences. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-14283-8_9

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation