PRINCIPAL 



INVESTIGATOR(S) Paul Blum 



School of Biological Sciences 

 348 Manter Hall 

 University of Nebraska 

 Lincoln, NE 68588-0118 



PROJECT TITLE THE DYNAMICS OF CARBON EXCHANGE IN 



VERTICALLY STRATIFIED COASTAL 

 BACTERIOPLANKTON COMMUNITIES 



AMOUNT OF FUNDING FY 1994: $86 K 



SUMMARY OF GOALS 



My immediate goal is to complete the analysis of batch samples obtained from the March 

 '94 and upcoming June '94 Cape Hatteras cruises for bacterioplankton growth-state. Data sets 

 will include: 1) measurements of DnaK protein as an indicator of growth state and therefore 

 nutrient (e.g. carbon) availability; 2) total protein levels; and 3) gram negative-specific protein 

 levels. Protein levels will be used as general measures of productivity and for normalization of 

 other data. These data sets will be integrated with those of Dr. S. Giovannoni's group (OSU) 

 involving bulk rRNA/rDNA levels in replicate sample sets. 



SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL SAMPLING SCALES 



Spatial and temporal sampling scales will assess bacterioplankton growth state on multiple 

 transects and depths at the Hatteras site during sampling periods which are expected to vary in 

 the degree of stratification of the water column. During the March '94 Hatteras cruise, samples 

 were collected at four stations from each of three transects (surface samples), and at an outer 

 station at 6 depths. During the June '94 Hatteras cruise, we intend to concentrate on depth 

 profiles at both inner and outer stations. 



METHODS AND PLATFORMS 



Water samples containing bacterioplankton are collected by rapid filtration and the 

 resulting filters are sealed in plastic and frozen at -200 °C. All samples are currently obtained 

 from shipboard collections. 



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