The University of Southampton
University of Southampton Institutional Repository

Changes in fatty acid composition in degrading algal aggregates

Changes in fatty acid composition in degrading algal aggregates
Changes in fatty acid composition in degrading algal aggregates
Aggregates derived from senescent phytoplankton populations and associated microbial assemblages were incubated aerobically in the dark to assess the compositional changes in lipids during the degradation of artificial marine snow. The prevalence of saturated over unsaturated fatty acids indicated that aggregates were already degraded when incubation started. Nonetheless, the lipids in the artificial aggregates were quickly further degraded as indicated by a depletion in short-chain (< 20) saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids. In contrast, the concentrations of long-chain (> 20) saturated fatty acids fluctuated, suggesting that some of these lipids could have been produced in situ by marine microorganisms rather than deriving from higher plant debris. In addition, a bacterial branched monounsaturated fatty acid (11-methyloctadecenoic acid), which has not been found previously in marine particles was present in artificial aggregates. Molecular (16S rRNA gene) analyses indicate that the bacterial community attached to aggregates is dominated by (predominantly uncultured) ?-Proteobacteria, ?-Proteobacteria and Planctomycetes. Of these, a Roseobacter sp. which was present in artificial aggregates analysed in a parallel study (Balzano et al. 2009, Aquatic Microbial Ecology 54:291–303), can contain 11-methyloctadecenoic acid, and other bacteria present in artificial aggregates have the potential to produce long-chain saturated fatty acids. Thus, the fatty acid assemblage appears to reflect both organic matter degradation, including selective preservation, but also changes in the microbial assemblage.
Algal cultures, Diatoms, Detritus, Microcosms, Incubation, Biodegradation
0304-4203
2-13
Balzano, Sergio
ee273816-9f24-437c-9ec8-9dcb86b76359
Pancost, Richard D.
5914e19e-7777-4304-9fd8-86e2e9cfe8a1
Lloyd, Jonathan R.
03a3a92e-c680-4630-8c27-9deed5d09a02
Statham, Peter J.
51458f15-d6e2-4231-8bba-d0567f9e440c
Balzano, Sergio
ee273816-9f24-437c-9ec8-9dcb86b76359
Pancost, Richard D.
5914e19e-7777-4304-9fd8-86e2e9cfe8a1
Lloyd, Jonathan R.
03a3a92e-c680-4630-8c27-9deed5d09a02
Statham, Peter J.
51458f15-d6e2-4231-8bba-d0567f9e440c

Balzano, Sergio, Pancost, Richard D., Lloyd, Jonathan R. and Statham, Peter J. (2011) Changes in fatty acid composition in degrading algal aggregates. Marine Chemistry, 124 (1-4), 2-13. (doi:10.1016/j.marchem.2010.11.001).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Aggregates derived from senescent phytoplankton populations and associated microbial assemblages were incubated aerobically in the dark to assess the compositional changes in lipids during the degradation of artificial marine snow. The prevalence of saturated over unsaturated fatty acids indicated that aggregates were already degraded when incubation started. Nonetheless, the lipids in the artificial aggregates were quickly further degraded as indicated by a depletion in short-chain (< 20) saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids. In contrast, the concentrations of long-chain (> 20) saturated fatty acids fluctuated, suggesting that some of these lipids could have been produced in situ by marine microorganisms rather than deriving from higher plant debris. In addition, a bacterial branched monounsaturated fatty acid (11-methyloctadecenoic acid), which has not been found previously in marine particles was present in artificial aggregates. Molecular (16S rRNA gene) analyses indicate that the bacterial community attached to aggregates is dominated by (predominantly uncultured) ?-Proteobacteria, ?-Proteobacteria and Planctomycetes. Of these, a Roseobacter sp. which was present in artificial aggregates analysed in a parallel study (Balzano et al. 2009, Aquatic Microbial Ecology 54:291–303), can contain 11-methyloctadecenoic acid, and other bacteria present in artificial aggregates have the potential to produce long-chain saturated fatty acids. Thus, the fatty acid assemblage appears to reflect both organic matter degradation, including selective preservation, but also changes in the microbial assemblage.

This record has no associated files available for download.

More information

Published date: 20 March 2011
Keywords: Algal cultures, Diatoms, Detritus, Microcosms, Incubation, Biodegradation

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 183101
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/183101
ISSN: 0304-4203
PURE UUID: 7951ab82-e1c8-46ef-825f-f418365a476d

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 26 Apr 2011 13:27
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 03:02

Export record

Altmetrics

Contributors

Author: Sergio Balzano
Author: Richard D. Pancost
Author: Jonathan R. Lloyd

Download statistics

Downloads from ePrints over the past year. Other digital versions may also be available to download e.g. from the publisher's website.

View more statistics

Atom RSS 1.0 RSS 2.0

Contact ePrints Soton: eprints@soton.ac.uk

ePrints Soton supports OAI 2.0 with a base URL of http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/cgi/oai2

This repository has been built using EPrints software, developed at the University of Southampton, but available to everyone to use.

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue without changing your settings, we will assume that you are happy to receive cookies on the University of Southampton website.

×