Formation and significance of transparent exopolymeric particles in the northern Adriatic Sea

The abundance and bacterial colonization pattern of transparent exopolymeric particles (TEP) was examined during 2 different ecological conditions along a trophic gradient in the northern Adriatic Sea. Generally, neither TEP density nor mean TEP area were found to be correlated with chlorophyll a concentrations. TEP area ranged from 12 to 7500 μm² with TEP-attached bacteria inversely correlated with TEP area. In laboratory experiments using water amended with dissolved organic matter released by a Chaetoceros sp. batch culture, the influence of bacteria and turbulence on the formation of TEP was examined. It is concluded that turbulence of the water column is more important than bacteria in the formation of TEP. -from Authors