Marine particle size-fractionation indicates organic matter is processed by differing microbial communities on depth-specific particles.

ABSTRACT: Passive sinking flux of particulate organic matter in the ocean plays a central role in the biological carbon pump and carbon export to the ocean's interior. Particle-associated microbes colonize particulate organic matter, producing "hotspots" of microbial activity. We evaluated variation in particle-associated microbial communities to 500 m depth across four different particle size fractions (0.2-1.2, 1.2-5, 5-20, >20 μm) collected using in situ pumps at the Bermuda Atlantic Time-series Study site. In situ pump collections capture both sinking and suspended particles, complementing previous studies using sediment or gel traps, which capture only sinking particles. Additionally, the diagenetic state of size-fractionated particles was examined using isotopic signatures alongs

SUBMITTER: Comstock J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11334337 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature