The Ecology of Amorphous Aggregations (Marine Snow) in the Northern Adriatic Sea:
- Author(s)
- Gerhard J. Herndl, Peter Peduzzi
- Abstract
Abstract. In the water‐column of the Gulf of Trieste (Northern Adriatic Sea) flocculent, amorphous aggregates known as marine snow reach maximum density and dimensions up to 20cm in diameter during summer months. Sampling of these fragile macro‐aggregates was carried out by SCUBA‐divers. A large detrital component was found to be embedded in an organic matrix together with a large array of intact phytoplankton species. Heterotrophic bacterial density ranged from 2–65 × 108 cells‐g‐1 (marine snow dry wt) and is therefore of the same order of magnitude as in the surface layer of the sediments of the Gulf. In terms of biomass, bacteria reached only 30–95% of heterotrophic microflagellates. A mean abundance of marine snow of 5g (marine snow dry wt) m‐3 was obtained for the water‐column above the pyenolinc. At this boundary layer, however, a mean abundance of about 10g (marine snow dry wt) m‐3 led to the formation of a distinct, 10‐50cm thick layer. Based on these data and sedimentation rates of marine snow to the pyenoclinc (38 g [marine snow dry wt] m‐2 d‐1) the potential ecological significance of these macro‐aggregates for the pelagic system of the Gulf of Trieste is discussed.
- Organisation(s)
- Journal
- Marine Ecology
- Volume
- 9
- Pages
- 79-90
- No. of pages
- 12
- ISSN
- 0173-9565
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0485.1988.tb00199.x
- Publication date
- 01-1988
- Peer reviewed
- Yes
- Austrian Fields of Science 2012
- 106021 Marine biology
- Keywords
- ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics, Ecology, Aquatic Science
- Sustainable Development Goals
- SDG 14 - Life Below Water
- Portal url
- https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/the-ecology-of-amorphous-aggregations-marine-snow-in-the-northern-adriatic-sea(8d7022a8-12ac-4dd6-bc10-99ff76a50db9).html