A Morphometric Approach to Understand Prokaryoplankton: A Study in the Sicily Channel (Central Mediterranean Sea).

ABSTRACT: A new understanding of plankton ecology has been obtained by studying the phenotypic traits of free-living prokaryotes in the Sicily Channel (Central Mediterranean Sea), an area characterised by oligotrophic conditions. During three cruises carried out in July 2012, January 2013 and July 2013, the volume and morphology of prokaryotic cells were assessed microscopically using image analysis in relation to environmental conditions. The study found significant differences in cell morphologies among cruises. The largest cell volumes were observed in the July 2012 cruise (0.170 ± 0.156 µm³), and the smallest in the January 2013 cruise (0.060 ± 0.052 µm³). Cell volume was negatively limited by nutrients and positively by salinity. Seven cellular morphotypes were observed am

SUBMITTER: Maimone G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10142791 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature