海洋中的凝集网与透明胞外聚合颗粒物

Transparent Exopolymer Particles (TEP) and aggregation web in marine environments

透明胞外聚合颗粒物(TEP)是海洋中大量存在的能被爱尔新蓝(alcian blue)染色的由酸性多糖组成的透明胶状颗粒物,主要来源于浮游植物,由于其透明的特性而被长期忽视。TEP同时具有胶体和颗粒物的特性。作为胶体,TEP为细菌提供了栖息场所与降解基质,同时TEP可以吸收痕量元素,以改变这些元素的生物地球化学过程。作为颗粒物,TEP可以聚集并沉降,由于其高的碳含量,会在很大程度上影响海洋的碳通量。由于TEP可以被中型浮游动物所摄食,所以TEP可以连接并缩短微食物环和经典食物链,在海洋生态系统中起很重要的作用。介绍了TEP的定义、测量方法、来源、形成、及其与浮游植物的关系和其生态功能。

The transparent exopolymer particles (TEP) are ubiquitous and abundant gel-particles in the marine ecosystem, they are defined as acid polysaccharides be stainable with alcian blue. They are mainly produced by phytoplankton. Due to its transparent property they were ignored for a long period. TEP can have the properties of dissolved polymers and particles. As dissolved polymer it can be the creation of microhabitats and adsorption of trace solute substances into the particulate pool, and play a significant role in the biogeochemical cycling of these elements. As particles, they can aggregated to form a bigger particle and promote the sedimentation of particles. Because of their high carbon content, the direct sedimentation of TEP can selective sequestration of carbon into deep water. Furthermore, TEP can also be grazed by filter feeders, such as mesozooplankton and even larger grazers. This will short the food chains and links the microbial food-web to the classical food-web. These processes will form an aggregation web and provide a more complete description of particle dynamics. The definition, quantify methods, origin, formation, relationship with phytoplankton and ecological functions of TEP were discussed in the paper. It is necessary to start the TEP research in China Seas Waters.