Variations of dissolved organic matter during a plankton bloom: qualitative aspects,based on sugar and amino acid analyses

Water samples collected during a spring plankton bloom in the northern North Sea were investigated for dissolved organic carbon (DOC), total dissolved sugars (TDS) and dissolved amino acids (TDAA). Their concentrations varied in the range of 0.6 to >4 mg 1^?1 for DOC, 40—400 γg 1^?1 for TDS and 100—850γg 1^?1 for TDAA. TDS and TDAA contributed to less than 20% of the DOC, but showed variations independent of each other. Changes in the efficiency of heterotrophic utilization and its selectivity seem to have caused these variations. These, together with differences in the sources of dissolved organic matter — phytoplankton and detrital materials — were also reflected in the qualitative composition of TDS and TDAA in the water column. In the TDS fraction glucose and mannose showed maxima during the phytoplankton bloom and galactose, rhamnose, xylose, arabinose and fucose after it. Glutamic acid registered maximum in the early stages of the phytoplankton bloom, histidine towards its end and aspartic acid, glycine, alanine and lysine after it. Serine was present in large amounts throughout the investigated time interval. The results of the present study are discussed in the light of previously published data on the formation and utilization of dissolved organic matter in the sea.