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Distribution of transparent exopolymer particles (TEP) in distinct regions of the Southern Ocean

Zamanillo, M.; Ortega-Retuerta, E.; Nunes, S.; Estrada, M.; Sala, M. M.; Royer, S. -J.; López-Sandoval, D. C.; Emelianov, M.; Vaqué, D.; Marrasé, C.; Simó, R.
2019
The Science of the Total Environment
691
736-748
Transparent exopolymer particles (TEP) are an abundant class of suspended organic particles, mainly formed by polysaccharides, which play important roles in biogeochemical and ecological processes in the ocean. In this study we investigated horizontal and vertical TEP distributions (within the euphotic layer, including the upper surface) and their short-term variability along with a suite of environmental and biological variables in four distinct regions of the Southern Ocean. TEP concentrations in the surface (4 m) averaged 102.3 ± 40.4 mug XG eq. L-1 and typically decreased with depth. Chlorophyll a (Chl a) concentration was a better predictor of TEP variability across the horizontal (R2 = 0.66, p he upper surface (10 cm) respect to 4 m, despite a lack of biomass enrichment, suggesting either upward transport by positive buoyancy or bubble scavenging, or higher production at the upper surface by light stress or aggregation. TEP concentrations did not present any significant cyclic diel pattern. Altogether, our results suggest that photobiological stress, sea ice melt and turbulence add to phytoplankton productivity in driving TEP distribution across the Antarctic Peninsula area and Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean. Copyright textcopyright 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Index Medicus, Phytoplankton, Prokaryotes, Solar radiation dose, Southern Ocean, Transparent exopolymer particles
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