Linkages among the bioreactivity, chemical composition, and diagenetic state of marine dissolved organic matter

Abstract

Bacterial growth and the chemical composition of dissolved organic matter (DOM) were followed during a 10ߚd decomposition experiment with fresh, algalߚ;derived DOM from an Arctic ice floe. During the experiment ~30% of the dissolved organic carbon (DOC) was used by bacteria, indicating the highly reactive nature of this fresh DOM. Over half of the DOC consumption was accounted for as losses of combined neutral sugars and amino acids. The initial composition of the DOM was characterized by high neutral sugar (14% DOC) and amino acid (7.4% DOC) yields and the dominance of glucose (~75 mol%) and glutamic acid (~25 mol%). During microbial degߚradation the neutral sugar and amino acid yields decreased, and the molecular composition of the DOM became more uniform. The relatively constant abundance of D amino acids and the dramatic changes in the neutral sugar and amino acid compositions indicated that bacteria were important in shaping the chemical composition of marine DOM by selectively removing bioreactive components and by leaving behind biorefractory components. Based on principal component analysis and other parameters, neutral sugars and amino acids were found to be excellent indicators of the diagenetic state and bioavailability of marine DOM.