Original Articles

DECOMPOSITION IN PELAGIC MARINE ECOSYSTEMS

Published in: Journal of the Limnological Society of Southern Africa
Volume 12 , issue 1-2 , 1986 , pages: 99–122

DOI: 10.1080/03779688.1986.9639401

Author(s): M.I. Lucas Zoology Department, South Africa

Keywords: Oceans , microbial processes , microheterotrophs , bacteria , microbial communities , carbon , nitrogen

Abstract

During the decomposition of plant detritus, complex microbial successions develop which are dominated in the early stages by a number of distinct bacterial morphotypes. The microheterotrophic community rapidly becomes heterogenous and may include cyanobacteria, fungi, yeasts and bactivorous protozoans.

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