Ocean Transect Research Articles

Macromolecular composition of terrestrial and marine organic matter in sediments across the East Siberian Arctic Shelf

Abstract. Mobilisation of terrestrial organic carbon (terrOC) from permafrost environments in eastern Siberia has the potential to deliver significant amounts of carbon to the Arctic Ocean, via both fluvial and coastal erosion. Eroded terrOC can be degraded during offshore transport or deposited across the wide East Siberian Arctic Shelf (ESAS). Most studies of terrOC on the ESAS have concentrated on solvent-extractable organic matter, but this represents only a small proportion of the total terrOC load. In this study we have used pyrolysis–gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (py-GCMS) to study all major groups of macromolecular components of the terrOC; this is the first time that this technique has been applied to the ESAS. This has shown that there is a strong offshore trend from terrestrial phenols, aromatics and cyclopentenones to marine pyridines. There is good agreement between proportion phenols measured using py-GCMS and independent quantification of lignin phenol concentrations (r2 = 0.67, p < 0.01, n = 24). Furfurals, thought to represent carbohydrates, show no offshore trend and are likely found in both marine and terrestrial organic matter. We have also collected new radiocarbon data for bulk OC (14COC) which, when coupled with previous measurements, allows us to produce the most comprehensive 14COC map of the ESAS to date. Combining the 14COC and py-GCMS data suggests that the aromatics group of compounds is likely sourced from old, aged terrOC, in contrast to the phenols group, which is likely sourced from modern woody material. We propose that an index of the relative proportions of phenols and pyridines can be used as a novel terrestrial vs. marine proxy measurement for macromolecular organic matter. Principal component analysis found that various terrestrial vs. marine proxies show different patterns across the ESAS, and it shows that multiple river–ocean transects of surface sediments transition from river-dominated to coastal-erosion-dominated to marine-dominated signatures.

Using 67Cu to Study the Biogeochemical Cycling of Copper in the Northeast Subarctic Pacific Ocean

Microbial copper (Cu) nutrition and dissolved Cu speciation were surveyed along Line P, a coastal to open ocean transect that extends from the coast of British Columbia, Canada, to the high-nutrient-low-chlorophyll (HNLC) zone of the northeast subarctic Pacific Ocean. Steady-state size fractionated Cu uptake rates and Cu:C assimilation ratios were determined at in situ Cu concentrations and speciation using a 67Cu tracer method. The cellular Cu:C ratios that we measured (~30 µmol Cu mol C-1) are similar to recent estimates using synchrotron x-ray fluorescence (SXRF), suggesting that the 67Cu method can determine in situ metabolic Cu demands. We examined how environmental changes along the Line P transect influenced Cu metabolism in the sub-microplankton community. Cellular Cu:C assimilation ratios and uptake rates were compared with net primary productivity, bacterial abundance and productivity, total dissolved Cu, Cu speciation, and a suite of other chemical and biological parameters. Total dissolved Cu concentrations ([Cu]d) were within a narrow range (1.46 to 2.79 nM), and Cu was bound to a ~5-fold excess of strong ligands with conditional stability constants ( ) of ~1014. Free Cu2+ concentrations were low (pCu 14.4 to 15.1), and total and size fractionated net primary productivity (NPPV; µg C L-1 d-1) were negatively correlated with inorganic Cu concentrations ([Cu′]). We suggest this is due to greater Cu′ drawdown by faster growing phytoplankton populations. Using the relationship between [Cu′] drawdown and NPPV, we calculated a regional photosynthetic Cu:C drawdown export ratio between 1.5 and 15 µmol Cu mol C-1, and a mixed layer residence time (2.5 to 8 years) that is similar to other independent estimates (2-12 years). Total particulate Cu uptake rates were between 22 and 125 times faster than estimates of Cu export; this is possibly mediated by rapid cellular Cu uptake and efflux by phytoplankton and bacteria or the effects of grazers and bacterial remineralization on dissolved Cu. These results provide a more detailed understanding of the interactions between Cu speciation and microorganisms in seawater, and present evidence that marine phytoplankton modify Cu speciation in the open ocean.

Deep sequencing of amplified Prasinovirus and host green algal genes from an Indian Ocean transect reveals interacting trophic dependencies and new genotypes.

High-throughput sequencing of Prasinovirus DNA polymerase and host green algal (Mamiellophyceae) ribosomal RNA genes was used to analyse the diversity and distribution of these taxa over a ∼10 000 km latitudinal section of the Indian Ocean. New viral and host groups were identified among the different trophic conditions observed, and highlighted that although unknown prasinoviruses are diverse, the cosmopolitan algal genera Bathycoccus, Micromonas and Ostreococcus represent a large proportion of the host diversity. While Prasinovirus communities were correlated to both the geography and the environment, host communities were not, perhaps because the genetic marker used lacked sufficient resolution. Nevertheless, analysis of single environmental variables showed that eutrophic conditions strongly influence the distributions of both hosts and viruses. Moreover, these communities were not correlated, in their composition or specific richness. These observations could result from antagonistic dynamics, such as that illustrated in a prey-predator model, and/or because hosts might be under a complex set of selective pressures. Both of these reasons must be considered to interpret environmental surveys of viruses and hosts, because covariation does not always imply interaction.

Interacting Effects of Light and Iron Availability on the Coupling of Photosynthetic Electron Transport and CO2-Assimilation in Marine Phytoplankton.

Iron availability directly affects photosynthesis and limits phytoplankton growth over vast oceanic regions. For this reason, the availability of iron is a crucial variable to consider in the development of active chlorophyll a fluorescence based estimates of phytoplankton primary productivity. These bio-optical approaches require a conversion factor to derive ecologically-relevant rates of CO2-assimilation from estimates of electron transport in photosystem II. The required conversion factor varies significantly across phytoplankton taxa and environmental conditions, but little information is available on its response to iron limitation. In this study, we examine the role of iron limitation, and the interacting effects of iron and light availability, on the coupling of photosynthetic electron transport and CO2-assimilation in marine phytoplankton. Our results show that excess irradiance causes increased decoupling of carbon fixation and electron transport, particularly under iron limiting conditions. We observed that reaction center II specific rates of electron transport (ETRRCII, mol e- mol RCII-1 s-1) increased under iron limitation, and we propose a simple conceptual model for this observation. We also observed a strong correlation between the derived conversion factor and the expression of non-photochemical quenching. Utilizing a dataset from in situ phytoplankton assemblages across a coastal – oceanic transect in the Northeast subarctic Pacific, this relationship was used to predict ETRRCII: CO2-assimilation conversion factors and carbon-based primary productivity from FRRF data, without the need for any additional measurements.

Latitudinal Trends and Drivers in the CO2–Carbonic Acid System of Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument

Abstract Emissions of anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2) to the atmosphere and the consequent effects of climate change and ocean acidification on coral reef ecosystems have motivated significant interest in describing and understanding the CO2–carbonic acid system of diverse coral reef environments. Although numerous studies have been successful in monitoring reef metabolism both in the field and in the laboratory, physical and biological forcings produce distinct conditions among environments. Due to the geographic isolation and associated difficulties with measuring marine carbon chemistry in waters of the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument (PMNM), relatively few studies have described the CO2–carbonic acid system and carbonate saturation state gradients of these waters. Yet, PMNM remains one of the largest conservation areas in the world with extensive and diverse coral reef ecosystems that could offer valuable insight into our current and future understanding about regional and global impacts of ocean acidification. In order to provide a broad overview of latitudinal trends and features of the marine carbon system in PMNM waters, continuous measurements for surface seawater fugacity of CO2 (fCO2) and pH were collected during August 2011 and July 2012 cruises of the NOAA Ship Hi’ialakai. These measurements indicate that pH and fCO2 are three times more variable in nearshore monument waters relative to open ocean transect measurements. This variability can be observed up to 50 km away from the nearest reef and is likely the result of the direct and significant impact of coral reef metabolism on marine carbon chemistry around the islands and atolls. The relationship between total alkalinity and dissolved inorganic carbon is consistent with net calcification which creates an alkalinity sink throughout PMNM waters. Additionally, our measurements show clear latitudinal trends in fCO2, pH, and aragonite saturation state that are influenced by environmental forcings, including temperature, wind speed, and residence time of the water. Collectively, our results suggest that coral reefs located at the northernmost atolls of PMNM may be the most susceptible to the adverse impacts of climate change and ocean acidification.

Quantitative characterization of spurious numerical oscillations in 48 CMIP5 models

AbstractSpurious numerical oscillations (SNOs) (e.g., Gibbs oscillations) can appear as unrealistic spatial waves near discontinuities or sharp gradients in global model fields (e.g., orography) and have been a known problem in global models for decades. Multiple methods of oscillation reduction exist; consequently, the oscillations are presumed small in modern climate models and hence are rarely addressed in recent literature. Here we use two metrics to quantify SNOs in 13 variables from 48 Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 models along a Pacific ocean transect near the Andes. Results show that 48% of nonspectral models and 95% of spectral models have at least one variable with SNO amplitude as large as, or greater than, atmospheric interannual variability. The impact of SNOs on climate simulations should be thoroughly evaluated and further efforts to substantially reduce SNOs in climate models are urgently needed.

Continuous shipboard measurements of oceanic δ18O, δD and δ13CDIC along a transect from New Zealand to Antarctica using cavity ring-down isotope spectrometry

Cavity ring-down spectrometers, with automated sampling interfaces, were deployed to allow measurements of water isotopes (δ18O, δD) and dissolved inorganic carbon (δ13CDIC) stable isotope ratios at high temporal resolution along a transect from New Zealand to the Antarctic continental shelf. Measurements every 10min for δ18O and δD, 15min for DIC yielded 2499 and 2289 discrete measurements respectively. High resolution data enabled the delineation of water mass boundaries as well as revealing insights into surface hydrological and biological processes. δ18O, δD, and δ13CDIC decreased southwards, dropping by approximately 1.0‰, 7.0‰, and 0.5‰, respectively. Though the decline in δ13CDIC with latitude was generally linear, the drop in δ18O and δD was punctuated by areas of rapid, significant change corresponding to the Sub-Tropical, Sub-Antarctic and Polar Fronts. North of the Sub-Antarctic Front (approx. 54.5°S) the dominant control on water and DIC isotopes was the precipitation–evaporation balance and the contribution of upwelling waters, respectively. Further south, in close proximity to the sea ice and on the Antarctic shelf, water isotope values were more variable and predominantly influenced by the melting/freezing of sea-ice coupled to inputs from glacial/snow melt water. Local increases in δ13CDIC were likely due to photosynthetic enrichment of the DIC pool. Using this new instrumentation has provided one of the most comprehensive oceanic transect data sets yet achieved and illustrates the potential of these methods to delineate discrete water masses and advance our knowledge of both water and inorganic carbon cycling processes in the ocean. This methodology, combining high-resolution isotopic measurements with hydrographic data, has significant benefits in modelling water mixing in locations with multiple sources and controlling processes.

Measured and Parameterized Energy Fluxes Estimated for Atlantic Transects of R/V Polarstern

Abstract Sensible and latent heat fluxes were estimated from turbulence measurements gathered during several Atlantic Ocean transects of the research vessel (R/V) Polarstern. The inertial dissipation method was used to analyze the data. Resulting bulk transfer coefficients were then applied to the data from the ship’s meteorological system to get continuous time series of the heat fluxes. Combined with the measured downward solar and longwave radiation fluxes it allows for an estimate of the total energy budget at the air–sea interface. Comparing these parameterized energy fluxes to those based on the Coupled Ocean–Atmosphere Response Experiment, version 3 (COARE3.0), bulk flux algorithm shows very strong agreement.

Optimal control and system limitation in a Southern Ocean ecosystem model

Simple models of coupled nutrient-biological cycles are useful for understanding and evaluating biogeochemical processes in the marine environment. Indeed simple models offer advantages over more complex formulations in that they have fewer uncertain parameters. A common approach to calibrating such models is to optimise parameter values by minimising some measure of the difference between model outputs and observational data. Optimised parameters are usually invariant in a given simulation, but some recent implementations allow parameter values to vary as a function of time. These latter approaches are arguably more realistic in that they capture changes in key rate processes associated with changes in assemblage structure, such as seasonal succession in phytoplankton communities. We adopt an optimal control approach in which one model parameter is viewed as a time-varying function. By examining the conditions under which our ‘controlled’ model is able to realistically reproduce observed dynamics in remotely sensed surface chlorophyll, we gain insights into other critical parameters that influence model behaviour. This approach has advantages over conventional optimisation in which the relative importance of different modelled processes is potentially unclear. We find that zooplankton control of phytoplankton biomass through grazing is critical to our model's ability to realistically capture seasonal phytoplankton dynamics for two locations along a Southern Ocean transect at 140°E; the middle of Sub-Antarctic Front (52°S) and the middle of the Polar Front (58°S).

Thalassiosira spp. community composition shifts in response to chemical and physical forcing in the northeast Pacific Ocean.

Diatoms are genetically diverse unicellular photosynthetic eukaryotes that are key primary producers in the ocean. Many of the over 100 extant diatom species in the cosmopolitan genus Thalassiosira are difficult to distinguish in mixed populations using light microscopy. Here, we examine shifts in Thalassiosira spp. composition along a coastal to open ocean transect that encountered a 3-month-old Haida eddy in the northeast Pacific Ocean. To quantify shifts in Thalassiosira species composition, we developed a targeted automated ribosomal intergenic spacer analysis (ARISA) method to identify Thalassiosira spp. in environmental samples. As many specific fragment lengths are indicative of individual Thalassiosira spp., the ARISA method is a useful screening tool to identify changes in the relative abundance and distribution of specific species. The method also enabled us to assess changes in Thalassiosira community composition in response to chemical and physical forcing. Thalassiosira spp. community composition in the core of a 3-month-old Haida eddy remained largely (>80%) similar over a 2-week period, despite moving 24 km southwestward. Shifts in Thalassiosira species correlated with changes in dissolved iron (Fe) and temperature throughout the sampling period. Simultaneously tracking community composition and relative abundance of Thalassiosira species within the physical and chemical context they occurred allowed us to identify quantitative linkages between environmental conditions and community response.

Fluorometric Quantification of Polyphosphate in Environmental Plankton Samples: Extraction Protocols, Matrix Effects, and Nucleic Acid Interference

Polyphosphate (polyP) is a ubiquitous biochemical with many cellular functions and comprises an important environmental phosphorus pool. However, methodological challenges have hampered routine quantification of polyP in environmental samples. We tested 15 protocols to extract inorganic polyphosphate from natural marine samples and cultured cyanobacteria for fluorometric quantification with 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) without prior purification. A combination of brief boiling and digestion with proteinase K was superior to all other protocols, including other enzymatic digestions and neutral or alkaline leaches. However, three successive extractions were required to extract all polyP. Standard addition revealed matrix effects that differed between sample types, causing polyP to be over- or underestimated by up to 50% in the samples tested here. Although previous studies judged that the presence of DNA would not complicate fluorometric quantification of polyP with DAPI, we show that RNA can cause significant interference at the wavelengths used to measure polyP. Importantly, treating samples with DNase and RNase before proteinase K digestion reduced fluorescence by up to 57%. We measured particulate polyP along a North Pacific coastal-to-open ocean transect and show that particulate polyP concentrations increased toward the open ocean. While our final method is optimized for marine particulate matter, different environmental sample types may need to be assessed for matrix effects, extraction efficiency, and nucleic acid interference.

Does eddy‐eddy interaction control surface phytoplankton distribution and carbon export in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre?

In the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre (NPSG), the regular occurrence of summer phytoplankton blooms contributes to marine ecosystem productivity and the annual carbon export. The mechanisms underlying the formation, maintenance, and decay of these blooms remain largely unknown; nitrogen fixation, episodic vertical mixing of nutrients, and meso‐ (<100 km) and submesoscale (<10 km) physical processes are all hypothesized to contribute to bloom dynamics. In addition, zones of convergence in the ocean's surface layers are known to generate downwelling and/or converging currents that affect plankton distributions. It has been difficult to quantify the importance of these convergence zones in the export flux of particulate organic carbon (POC) in the open ocean. Here we use two high‐resolution ocean transects across a pair of mesoscale eddies in the vicinity of Station ALOHA (22° 45′N, 158° 00′W) to show that horizontal turbulent stirring may have been a dominant control on the spatial distribution of the nitrogen fixing cyanobacteriumTrichodesmium spp. Fast repetition rate fluorometry measurements suggested that this distribution stimulated new primary production; this conclusion was not confirmed by 14C‐based measurements, possibly because of different sampling scales for the two methods. Our observations of particle size distributions along the two transects showed that stretching by the mesoscale eddy field produced submesoscale features that mediated POC export via frontogenetically generated downwelling currents. This study highlights the need to combine high‐resolution biogeochemical and physical data sets to understand the links betweenTrichodesmium spp. surface distribution and POC export in the NPSG at the submesoscale level.

A molecular perspective on the ageing of marine dissolved organic matter

Abstract. Dissolved organic matter (DOM) was extracted by solid-phase extraction (SPE) from 137 water samples from different climate zones and different depths along an eastern Atlantic Ocean transect. The extracts were analyzed with Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS) with electrospray ionization (ESI). Δ14C analyses were performed on subsamples of the SPE-DOM. In addition, the amount of dissolved organic carbon was determined for all water and SPE-DOM samples as well as the yield of amino sugars for selected samples. Linear correlations were observed between the magnitudes of 43 % of the FT-ICR mass peaks and the extract Δ14C values. Decreasing SPE-DOM Δ14C values went along with a shift in the molecular composition to higher average masses (m/z) and lower hydrogen/carbon (H/C) ratios. The correlation was used to model the SPE-DOM Δ14C distribution for all 137 samples. Based on single mass peaks, a degradation index (IDEG) was developed to compare the degradation state of marine SPE-DOM samples analyzed with FT-ICR MS. A correlation between Δ14C, IDEG, DOC values and amino sugar yield supports that SPE-DOM analyzed with FT-ICR MS reflects trends of bulk DOM. DOM weighted normalized mass peak magnitudes were used to compare aged and recent SPE-DOM on a semi-quantitative molecular basis. The magnitude comparison showed a continuum of different degradation rates for the detected compounds. A high proportion of the compounds should persist, possibly modified by partial degradation, in the course of thermohaline circulation. Prokaryotic (bacterial) production, transformation and accumulation of this very stable DOM occur primarily in the upper ocean. This DOM is an important contribution to very old DOM, showing that production and degradation are dynamic processes.

Influence of nutrients and currents on the genomic composition of microbes across an upwelling mosaic

Metagenomic data sets were generated from samples collected along a coastal to open ocean transect between Southern California Bight and California Current waters during a seasonal upwelling event, providing an opportunity to examine the impact of episodic pulses of cold nutrient-rich water into surface ocean microbial communities. The data set consists of ∼5.8 million predicted proteins across seven sites, from three different size classes: 0.1–0.8, 0.8–3.0 and 3.0–200.0 μm. Taxonomic and metabolic analyses suggest that sequences from the 0.1–0.8 μm size class correlated with their position along the upwelling mosaic. However, taxonomic profiles of bacteria from the larger size classes (0.8–200 μm) were less constrained by habitat and characterized by an increase in Cyanobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Flavobacteria and double-stranded DNA viral sequences. Functional annotation of transmembrane proteins indicate that sites comprised of organisms with small genomes have an enrichment of transporters with substrate specificities for amino acids, iron and cadmium, whereas organisms with larger genomes have a higher percentage of transporters for ammonium and potassium. Eukaryotic-type glutamine synthetase (GS) II proteins were identified and taxonomically classified as viral, most closely related to the GSII in Mimivirus, suggesting that marine Mimivirus-like particles may have played a role in the transfer of GSII gene functions. Additionally, a Planctomycete bloom was sampled from one upwelling site providing a rare opportunity to assess the genomic composition of a marine Planctomycete population. The significant correlations observed between genomic properties, community structure and nutrient availability provide insights into habitat-driven dynamics among oligotrophic versus upwelled marine waters adjoining each other spatially.

The diversity of cyanomyovirus populations along a North-South Atlantic Ocean transect.

Viruses that infect the marine cyanobacterium Prochlorococcus have the potential to impact the growth, productivity, diversity and abundance of their hosts. In this study, changes in the microdiversity of cyanomyoviruses were investigated in 10 environmental samples taken along a North-South Atlantic Ocean transect using a myoviral-specific PCR-sequencing approach. Phylogenetic analyses of 630 viral g20 clones from this study, with 786 published g20 sequences, revealed that myoviral populations in the Atlantic Ocean had higher diversity than previously reported, with several novel putative g20 clades. Some of these clades were detected throughout the Atlantic Ocean. Multivariate statistical analyses did not reveal any significant correlations between myoviral diversity and environmental parameters, although myoviral diversity appeared to be lowest in samples collected from the north and south of the transect where Prochlorococcus diversity was also lowest. The results were correlated to the abundance and diversity of the co-occurring Prochlorococcus and Synechococcus populations, but revealed no significant correlations to either of the two potential host genera. This study provides evidence that cyanophages have extremely high and variable diversity and are distributed over large areas of the Atlantic Ocean.

Abundance and structural diversity of bacteriohopanepolyols in suspended particulate matter along a river to ocean transect

The concentration and structural diversity of a suite of bacteriohopanepolyols (BHPs) was measured in suspended particulate matter (SPM) from six stations along a river–ocean transect off the Pacific coast of Panama. Riverine SPM contained BHPs diagnostic of soil input consistent with a terrigenous source. The concentration of BHPs was 10 times greater in riverine SPM than marine SPM demonstrating that terrigenous OM exported to marine sediments could provide a significant contribution to the marine sedimentary hopanoid inventory. Given the rich structural diversity of BHPs in terrigenous SPM, interpretations of the sedimentary record of hopanoids in coastal marine settings must resolve inputs from marine pelagic and terrigenous sources.

Fine-scale spatial and temporal variability of surface water dimethylsufide (DMS) concentrations and sea–air fluxes in the NE Subarctic Pacific

We report the results of a 2 year (6 cruises) survey of surface water dimethylsulfide (DMS) concentrations in the Subarctic Pacific Ocean using membrane inlet mass spectrometry for high spatial resolution measurements. Our results document strong variability in surface water DMS concentrations along a repeated coastal–oceanic transect. DMS concentrations were consistently low (~ 1–2 nM) in February, and increased to summertime mean values of ~ 8 nM. For both survey years, we observed higher DMS concentrations in near shore waters during early summer (June), but a reversal of this spatial gradient in August when the highest DMS concentrations were observed in open ocean regions. Sea–air DMS fluxes ranged from ~ 5 to 25 μmol m − 2 day − 1 and did not show the consistent spatial and temporal patterns observed for surface water concentrations. Fine-scale spatial variability was present for both surface water concentrations and sea–air fluxes. Some of this variability could be attributed to underlying physical and biologically heterogeneity, including the presence of localized phytoplankton blooms at the coastal–oceanic transition boundary. Using a simple statistical approach, we estimate that the mean length scale of DMS variability along our sampling transects was < 10 km, which was significantly shorter than that observed for physical variables (temperature and salinity), but somewhat larger than the variability length scale of chlorophyll a (chl a). Using multiple linear regression analysis, we were unable to produce a single consistent empirical relationship predicting surface DMS concentrations from a suite of biological and hydrographic variables. However, DMS did show significant correlations with some variables including calcite, chlorophyll a and mixed layer depth (MLD). Mean DMS concentrations across cruises were related to chl a/MLD ratios and the solar radiation dose, in a manner that was consistent with previously published algorithms. However, these algorithms failed to predict the mesoscale and sub-mesoscale variability along the cruise track. High frequency measurements of DMS during an extended occupation of Ocean Station Papa demonstrated large variability over periods ranging from ~ 12 to > 24 h. This variability could not be explained by simple empirical analysis, but showed some correspondence with daily cycles of incoming solar irradiance. Simple calculations suggest that biological turnover was likely a significant source of temporal variability in DMS concentrations at Ocean Station P. Our observations demonstrate the importance of high-resolution measurement techniques in furthering our understanding of ocean DMS dynamics.

Mantle helium reveals Southern Ocean hydrothermal venting

[1] Hydrothermal venting along the global mid-ocean ridge system plays a major role in cycling elements and energy between the Earth's interior and surface. We use the distribution of helium isotopes along an oceanic transect at 67°S to identify previously unobserved hydrothermal activity in the Pacific sector of the Southern Ocean. Combining the geochemical information provided by the helium isotope anomaly with independent hydrographic information from the Southern Ocean, we trace the source of the hydrothermal input to the Pacific Antarctic Ridge south of 55°S, one of the major global mid-ocean ridge systems, which has until now been a ‘blank spot’ on the global map of hydrothermal venting. We identify three complete ridge segments, a portion of a fourth segment and two isolated locations on the Pacific Antarctic Ridge between 145°W and 175°W (representing ∼540 km of ridge in total) as the potential source of the newly observed plume.

The effect of chemical structure on the hydrolysis of tetrapeptides along a river-to-ocean transect: AVFA and SWGA

Peptides and proteins are key compounds involved in carbon and nitrogen cycling in biological systems, but little is known about how chemical structure affects hydrolysis rates of these labile compounds in aquatic environments. To investigate effects of chemical structure, custom designed peptides were incubated in waters collected along a salinity transect from the James River, VA, to the coastal Atlantic Ocean. We synthesized tetrapeptide alanine–valine–phenylalanine–alanine (AVFA), a fragment of the common protein ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBisCO), and its related tri- and dipeptide subunits. We also synthesized a self-designed tetrapeptide serine–tryptophan–glycine–alanine (SWGA). Along the James River–ocean transect, concentrations of added tetrapeptides generally had a 1–2 d lag time before rapidly decreasing, suggesting that microbes needed time to adapt to the pulse of peptide added, being limited by either specific extracellular enzymes or membrane transporters. The hydrolysis rate of SWGA varied significantly along the transect, whereas that of AVFA did not, showing that microbes in different aquatic environments, or their extracellular enzymes, are selective for the peptides they use. Modification of the C-terminal carboxylic acid of AVFA to the α-carboxyamide inhibited its hydrolysis, particularly in relatively oligotrophic marine waters. This suggests that carboxypeptidases are less effective in hydrolyzing peptide amides even though it is apparent that they readily hydrolyze the corresponding peptide acids. This is likely an important process for preservation of peptides existing as amides. Comparison of hydrolysis rates of positionally rearranged tetrapeptides, AVFA, AAVF and AFVA, showed that the sequence of amino acids in a short peptide has little effect on tetrapeptide lability. Modification of SWGA by galactosylation demonstrated that the glycosylation does not confer resistance to short peptides from microbial degradation. Overall, this study shows how structural modifications can influence hydrolysis of short peptides, thus pointing to the need for further research on controls on peptide hydrolysis in the environment.

Detailed analysis of the microdiversity of Prochlorococcus populations along a North‐South Atlantic Ocean transect

In order to understand how environmental factors shape the diversity of Prochlorococcus in the Atlantic Ocean, we have elucidated the microdiversity along a north-south transect. The polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of the genetic diversity of rpoC1 gene fragments of Prochlorococcus at 12 sampling sites revealed a latitudinal pattern in Prochlorococcus RFLP-type diversity in the samples collected from two depths. At the depth to which 14% of surface irradiance penetrated, HLII clones dominated the stations closest to the equator. The percentage of HLI clones increased with distance from the equator and LL clones were found only at the most northern and southern stations. In contrast, deeper (1% light depth) water samples did not show any overall trend in Prochlorococcus diversity or clade dominance. Multivariate statistical analyses indicated that Prochlorococcus diversity was linked to water temperature (partially an effect of latitude) and depth (which was linked to light penetration and turbidity). Phylogenetic analysis of the sequences obtained from the 423 different environmental RFLP-types detected in this study indicated that the HLII and HLI populations were composed of a wide range of genetically different clones, while the LL Prochlorococcus clade was less diverse, although half of the samples screened in this study derived from the 1% light depth.