Microbial organic carbon recovery in aquatic ecosystems1

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Abstract
Aquatic heterotrophic microorganisms were examined as producers of particulate matter in addition to their tradionally defined roles as mineralizers. Dialysis experiments illustrated the significance of microbial scavenging of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in particulate organic carbon (POC) formation. Since microbial respiration of single assimilated DOC compounds can range between 10 and 60%, a majority of nonrespired substrates may at times go into synthesis of structural carbon, much in a size range available to grazers. Dialysis bag experiments demonstrated the relationships between ambient DOC supplies and POC formation. Autoradiographs and scanning electron micrographs showed some natural planktonic assemblages responsible for conversion of DOC to POC, leading to the formation of particulate matter.