Chemical and Biological Studies of Particulate Organic Matter in the Ocean |
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Authors: | John K Volkman Eiichiro Tanoue |
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Institution: | (1) CSIRO Marine Research, GPO Box 1538, Hobart, Tasmania, 7005, Australia;(2) Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chigusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8601, Japan |
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Abstract: | This paper presents a review of the past decade's highlights of research on the isolation and characterisation of particulate
organic matter (POM) in the world's oceans. The emphasis is on chemical studies but, in keeping with the growing interdisciplinary
nature of marine science, advances in other disciplines are also discussed, particularly those in biological sciences. Increasing
evidence for the importance of picoplankton, bacteria and viruses as POM constituents is highlighted, including the recent
recognition of large populations of autotrophic bacteria able to harvest light for energy. The transport of POM to bottom
waters was thought to be largely confined to large, rapidly sinking faecal pellets. However, recent studies have highlighted
the importance of organic aggregates and flocs formed by diatoms such as Rhizosolenia and other microalgae. Ascending particles have also been discovered, many of which are lipid-rich. Several studies have shown
that resuspension of bottom sediments and lateral advection of material from continental shelves can lead to anomalously high
particle fluxes measured in sediment traps moored in deep water. Many new approaches for characterizing POM have emerged,
such as pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and direct temperature-resolved mass spectrometry for analysis of higher
molecular weight materials and biopolymers. Lipid biomarker techniques have also advanced, exciting new possibilities being
raised by the ability to measure stable and radioactive carbon isotopes for individual compounds. The techniques of molecular
biology, such as the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), are being increasingly applied to provide complementary information
to more conventional microscopy and flow cytometry on the identity of organisms in the sea. The combination of these techniques
with advanced chemical analysis methods promises to greatly increase our knowledge of the origins, transport and fate of organic
matter in the oceans.
This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date. |
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Keywords: | Bacteria faecal pellets flocs flow cytometry flux lipids mass spectrometry particulate organic matter proteins phytoplankton picoplankton polymerase chain reaction pyrolysis sediment traps viruses |
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