Publication Date:
2020-11-13
Description:
Biofilm-like properties can form on sea surfaces, but an understanding of the underlying processes leading to the development of these biofilms is not available. We used approaches to study the development of biofilm-like properties at the sea surface, i.e. the number, abundance and diversity of bacterial communities and phytoplankton, the accumulation of gel-like particles and dissolved tracers. During the expedition POS537 we used newly developed and free drifting mesocosms and performed incubation experiments. With these approaches we aim to investigate the role of light and UV radiation as well as the microbes themselves, which lead to the formation of biofilms. With unique microbial interactions and photochemical reactions, sea surface biofilms could be biochemical reactors with significant implications for ocean and climate research, e.g. with respect to the marine carbon cycle, diversity of organisms and oceanatmosphere interactions.
Type:
Report
,
NonPeerReviewed
Format:
text
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