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With the development of epifluorescence microscopy and sensitive radioisotope techniques, high abundance and activity of microorganisms was observed in marine waters since 1970s and 1980s. These observations resulted in a new concept of rapid turn-over and recycling of organic matter through a ‘microbial loop’ (Azam et al., 1983; Azam, 1998). Figure 5.1 illustrates fluxes of material through the marine microbial loop. Main processes are C fixation by photosynthetic microorganisms (prokaryotic and eukaryotic) with exudation losses of Dissolved Organic Matter (DOM), which is incorporated by heterotrophic bacteria. Phagotrophic protists in turn graze both autotrophs and bacteria producing ‘sloppy feeding’ loss of DOM, which returns to the loop. DOM is remineralized by all microorganisms into Dissolved Inorganic Nutrients (DIN), which are taken up by autotrophic and heterotrophic microorganisms.
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Universidade do Algarve Editora