Atmospheric respiratory CO(2) efflux by aquatic suspended particle-bound microbial communities: A laboratory experimental study

Natural sources of atmospheric CO(2) are of increasing interest as possible contributors to global climate warming. This study documents the amount of respiratory CO(2) contributed by microbial communities associated with suspended particulates in aquatic water columns. Microcosms containing three different sources of water (pond freshwater, NY East River estuary and Hudson River estuary) were used to experimentally determine the atmospheric respiratory CO(2) released from particle-associated microbes. Two different approaches were used. In the first, finely powdered dried cereal leaves (alfalfa) were added to each of the three microcosms as a consistent source of particulate organic matter (POM). In the second, only Hudson River estuary water samples were used with natural densities of POM. Respiration rates associated with two sizes of particles were assessed: 1) ≥ 200 μm and 2) ≥ 50 μm but less than 200 μm. The total respiration rate for the three microcosms with cereal leaf POM ranged from 5.09 to 14.87 μmol CO(2) min(−1) L(−1). Of this, the amount contributed by larger particulates was in the range of 55–63%; and for smaller particulates ranged from 18 to 32 %. Data for microcosms containing water from the Hudson River estuary, with natural particulates, was as follows: total respiration ranged from ∼3 μmol CO(2) min(−1) L(−1) to ∼3.73 μmol CO(2) min(−1) L(−1). Larger particulates contributed approximately 40% of total respiration, and that of smaller particulates was substantially less (4–5% of total). Overall, these results indicate that microbial communities associated with particulates in the water column (especially larger particulates) may contribute substantial amounts of CO(2) to the atmosphere.