Properties of bacteria isolated from young mrine biofilm

Abstract

C02 measurements were made across the Antarctic Polar Front in the Drake Passage during the 1998-1999 austra1 summer. These ' measurements include the Partial pressure of C&Ucirc

2 (pC&Ucirc

2) , pH (-log [H+]), total cartonate (TCOz), and total alkalinity (TA). Surface salinity, temperature, and pCOz were automatically measured every two-rninutes. Surface pH, TA, and TC&Ucirc

2 were detennined every hour. Surface temperature, salinity, and nutrients showed strong variation across the polar front. Si&Ucirc

2 (70 mM), N03 05 mM), and P04 (2 mM), for example, increased significantly going south traversing the front. The higher values of pC&Ucirc

2 were observed most of the cruise survey l&iacute

nes. Lower values of pCOz were, however, found at the frontal zone only in early December 1998, while atmospheric pCOz showed relatively constant values (ca 360 ppmv). The lower values of pC&Ucirc

2 at the frontal zone and positive correlation between pCOz and nutrients south of the front suggest that the Antarctic Polar Front may be sink for COz during the cruise periods.