Heterotrophic bacterial production and metabolic balance during the VAHINE mesocosm experiment in the New Caledonia lagoon

2016

Article référencé dans le Web of Science WOS:000379425100001

Van Wambeke F., Pfreundt U., Barani A., Berthelot H., Moutin T., Rodier Martine, Hess W. R., Bonnet Sophie

Biogeosciences, 2016, 13 (11), p. 3187-3202 ISSN 1726-4170

Studies investigating the fate of diazotrophs through the microbial food web are lacking, although N-2 fixation can fuel up to 50% of new production in some oligotrophic oceans. In particular, the role played by heterotrophic prokaryotes in this transfer is largely unknown. In the frame of the VAHINE (VAriability of vertical and tropHIc transfer of diazotroph derived N in the south wEst Pacific) experiment, three replicate large-volume (similar to 50 m(3)) mesocosms were deployed for 23 days in the new Caledonia lagoon and were intentionally fertilized on day 4 with dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP) to stimulate N-2 fixation. We specifically examined relationships between heterotrophic bacterial production (BP) and N-2 fixation or primary production, determined bacterial growth efficiency and established carbon budgets. BP was statistically higher during the second phase of the experiment (P2: days 15-23), when chlorophyll biomass started to increase compared to the first phase (P1: days 5-14). Phosphatase alkaline activity increased drastically during the second phase of the experiment, showing adaptations of microbial populations after utilization of the added DIP. Notably, among autotrophs, Synechococcus abundances increased during P2, possibly related to its capacity to assimilate leucine and to produce alkaline phosphatase. Bacterial growth efficiency based on the carbon budget (27-43 %), was notably higher than generally cited for oligotrophic environments and discussed in links with the presence of abundant species of bacteria expressing proteorhodopsin. The main fates of gross primary production (particulate C dissolved) were respiration (67 %) and export through sedimentation (17 %). BP was highly correlated with particulate primary production and chlorophyll biomass during both phases of the experiment but was slightly correlated, and only during P2 phase, with N-2 fixation rates. Heterotrophic bacterial production was strongly stimulated after mineral N enrichment experiments, suggesting N-limitation of heterotrophic bacteria across the experiment. N-2 fixation rates corresponded to 17-37% of the nitrogen demand of heterotrophic bacteria. Our results suggest that most of the diazotroph-derived nitrogen fuelled the heterotrophic bacterial community through indirect processes generating dissolved organic matter and detritus, like mortality, lysis and grazing of both diazotrophs and non-diazotrophs.

Ecologie, systèmes aquatiques [036]

NOUVELLE CALEDONIE ; PACIFIQUE

Fonds IRD [F B010067664] ; Nouméa

fdi:010067664