Transparent exopolymer particles

Transparent exopolymer particles (TEPs) Detrital particulate organic matter whose origin is secretions and exudates from marine organisms. 

Passow, U., and A. L. Alldredge. 1994. Distribution, size and bacterial colonization of transparent exopolymer particles (TEP) in the ocean. Marine Ecology Progress Series 113 185-198. 

Zhou, J., K. Mopper, and U. Passow. 1998. The role of surface-active carbohydrates in the formation of transparent exopolymer particles by bubble adsorption of seawater. Limnology and Oceanography 43 1860-1871. 

Passow, U. (2002) Production of transparent exopolymer particles (TEP) by phyto- and bacterioplankton. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 236, 1—12. 

Inhibiting copepod feeding by transparent exopolymer particles (TEP) derived from a Phaeocystis globosa. 

Logan BE, Passow U, Alldredge AL, Grossard HP, Simon M (1995) Rapid formation and sedimentation of large aggregates is predictable from coagulation rates (half-lives) of transparent exopolymer particles (TEP). Deep-Sea Res 42 203-214... 

Keywords Carbon flux Cells and mucus Phaeocystis Transparent exopolymer particles (TEP) Vertical export... 

In the seasonal Balsfjord study, subsamples for transparent exopolymer particles (TEP) analysis (n = 5) were taken from the formaldehyde preserved cylinder (5-100 ml). TEP was gently filtered onto 0.4 pm membrane filters and stained with Alcian blue (Sigma A5268) according to Passow and Alldredge (1995). The samples were stored frozen, dissolved in 80% H2S04 and measured spectrophotometrically at 787 nm. The amount of TEP is expressed as gum xanthan equivalents (mg gum xanthan equiv. m 2 cl ) based on calibration with gum xanthan (Sigma 1253). 

Fig. 8 Attenuation of vertical flux below the euphotic zone is stronger for Phaeocystis spp. cells compared to diatoms despite similar biomass in the upper mixed layer (modified from Wassmann et al. 2003). Export of transparent exopolymer particles (TEP) can reduce the attenuation of Phaeocystis-derived carbon...

Engel A, Passow U (2001) Carbon and nitrogen content of transparent exopolymer particles (TEP) in relation to their Alcian Blue adsorption. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 219 1-10... 

Hong Y, Smith WO, White A-M (1997) Studies on transparent exopolymer particles, (TEP) produced in the Ross Sea (Antarctica) and by Phaeocystis antarctica (Prymnesiophyceae). J Phycol 33 368-376 Irigoien X, Meyer B, Harris R, Harbour D (2004) Using HPLC pigment analysis to investigate phytoplankton taxonomy the importance of knowing your species. Helgol Mar Res 58 77-82... 

Passow U (2002) Transparent exopolymer particles (TEP) in aquatic environments. Prog Oceanogr 55 287-333... 

If blooms form predominantly from colonies, P. pouchetii can escape viral lysis by forming colonies. Until colonies undergo senescence and release solitary flagellate cells, which would be predicted to be vulnerable to viruses, P. pouchetii colony cells would be protected from viral infection. Transparent exopolymer particles (TEP), which appear to bind viruses (Brussaard etal. 2005), introduce another control that might be especially significant during senescence of Phaeocystis colonies at the end of blooms. 

These exopolymers, known as transparent exopolymer particles (TEPs Passow, 2002), turn out to be important for the transport of material to the deep. The formation of rapidly sinking aggregates is controlled more by TEP abundance than by phytoplankton concentrations (Logan et al, 1995)... 

Engel A. (2000) The role of transparent exopolymer particles (TEP) in the increase in apparent particle stickiness (alpha) during the decline of a diatom bloom. J. Plankton Res. 22, 485-497. 

Engel A. (2002) Direct relationship between CO2 uptake and transparent exopolymer particle production in natural phytoplankton. J. Plankton Res. 14, 49-53. 

Kumar, M.D., Sarma, V., Ramaiah, N., Gauns, M. and de Sousa, S.N. (1998) Biogeochemical significance of transparent exopolymer particles in the Indian Ocean. Geophysical Research Letters, 25, 81-84. 

---