The browser you are using is not supported by this website. All versions of Internet Explorer are no longer supported, either by us or Microsoft (read more here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/windows/end-of-ie-support).

Please use a modern browser to fully experience our website, such as the newest versions of Edge, Chrome, Firefox or Safari etc.

Impact of photo-chemical processing of DOC on the bacterioplankton respiratory quotient in aquatic ecosystems

På svenska

Author

Summary, in English

Many studies assume a respiratory quotient (RQ = molar ratio of CO2 produced to O2 consumed) close to 1 when calculating bacterioplankton respiration. However, evidence suggests that RQ depends on the chemical composition of the respired substrate pool that may be altered by photo-chemical production of oxygen-rich substrates, resulting in elevated RQs. Here we conducted a novel study of the impact of photo-chemical processing of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) on RQ. We monitored the bacterial RQ in bioassays of both ultraviolet light irradiated and non-irradiated humic lake water, using optic gas-pressure sensors. In the experimentally irradiated samples the average RQ value was significantly higher (3.4-3.5 [± 0.4 s.e.]) than that in the dark controls (1.3 [± 0.1 s.e.]). Our results show that the RQ is systematically higher than 1 when the bacterial metabolism in large part is based on photo-products. By assuming an RQ of 1, bacterioplankton respiration in freshwater ecosystems may be greatly underestimated.

Publishing year

2016-07-28

Language

English

Pages

7538-7545

Publication/Series

Geophysical Research Letters

Volume

43

Issue

14

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

American Geophysical Union (AGU)

Topic

  • Earth and Related Environmental Sciences

Status

Published

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 1944-8007