Marine Biology Commons^™

Seasonal Changes In Microbial Community Structure And Activity Imply Winter Production Is Linked To Summer Hypoxia In A Large Lake, Steven W. Wilhelm, Gary R. Lecleir, George S. Bullerjahn, Robert M. Mckay, Matthew A. Saxton, Michael R. Twiss, Richard A. Bourbonniere

Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research Publications

Carbon and nutrient cycles in large temperate lakes such as Lake Erie are primarily driven by phototrophic and heterotrophic microorganisms, although our understanding of these is often constrained to late spring through summer due to logistical constraints. During periods of > 90% ice cover in February of 2008, 2009, and 2010, we collected samples from an icebreaker for an examination of bacterial production as well as microbial community structure. In comparison with summer months (August 2002 and 2010), we tested hypotheses concerning seasonal changes in microbial community diversity and production. Bacterial production estimates were c. 2 orders of magnitude higher (volume …