3. Marine Microbial Secondary Production
3. Marine Microbial Secondary Production
- Michel J. Kaiser,
- Martin J. Attrill,
- Simon Jennings,
- David N. Thomas,
- David K. A. Barnes,
- Andrew S. Brierley,
- Nicholas A. J. Graham,
- Jan Geert Hiddink,
- Kerry L. Howell
- , and Hermanni Kaartokallio
Abstract
This chapter explores how oceanic microbes play a dominant role in cycling of matter and energy in the ocean and introduces the key organism groups in marine microbial food webs. The viruses, bacteria, and archaea that comprise the microbial community are introduced, together with a discussion of their relative abundances and interactions with other organisms. The latest techniques to measure the abundance, diversity, and activity of micro-organisms in the oceans are discussed. The origins, production, and composition of dissolved and particulate organic matter fuelling microbial production and basic metabolic processes are also explored. The ecological context into which these micro-organisms are embedded is developed, leading to a final discussion of the seasonal cycle of production and consumption in temperate waters, as well as the roles of marine microbes in the global carbon cycle and climate system.
