Dynamics of a Phaeocystis-dominated spring bloom in Belgian coastal waters. II. Bacterioplankton dynamics

Abstract

Measurements of dissolved organic matter, bacterial biomass, exoproteolytic activity, uptake of direct substrates, bacterial production and mortality were carried out in the Belgian coastal zone dunng the wax and wane of the 1984 spring phytoplankton bloom. These data offer an accurate description of bacterioplankton dynamics in response to phytoplankton development. A model, t a h n g into account the basic processes involved in bacterial utilization of organic matter (HSB model), provides a good simulation of the observed variations of bacterial biornass and activity.