Resourceful heterotrophs make the most of light in the coastal ocean

摘要: The carbon cycle in the coastal ocean is affected by how heterotrophic marine bacterioplankton obtain their energy. Although it was previously thought that these organisms relied on organic seawater for all of energy needs, several recent discoveries now suggest pelagic bacteria can depart from a strictly lifestyle obtaining through unconventional mechanisms are linked to penetration sunlight into surface waters. These newly discovered involve harvesting energy, either directly light or indirectly inorganic compounds formed when dissolved absorbs light. In systems, mixed metabolic strategies have implications efficiently retained food web and climatically important gases exchanged between atmosphere.