HOW DIFFERENCES IN THE COMPOSITION OF MARINE SNOW ACROSS SEASONS WITHIN THE GULF OF MEXICO ALTER ITS FATE

The export of carbon through the water column is linked to the accumulation and formation of fast sinking, organic matter rich aggregates, resulting in the sequestration of carbon into the deep ocean. Phytoplankton blooms and the subsequent creation of marine snow is subject to the heterogeneous nature of the ocean making it difficult to discern which mechanism are impacting aggregate formation. The quantity and composition of marine snow is said to mirror primary production. Phytoplankton community composition and biomass peak in the spring and on a smaller scale in the fall due to light and nutrient flux. Successional studies of marine snow are limited as studies tend to focus on single-point quantity and composition work. This study compared how primary productivity and microbial community composition within the fall, winter, and summer altered composition of marine snow and its contributions to the biological carbon pump. To do so, roller table experiments were used to isolate specific factors that impact marine snow formation while mimicking particle flux through the water column. After rolling for several days in darkness, aggregates (~500 µm) and surrounding seawater were collected and analyzed to determine biomass, photosynthetic efficiency, extracellular polymeric substances, transparent exopolymer particles, 18S and 16S community composition, enzyme activity, total lipids, amino acid concentration, POC/PON, and C13 stable isotope tracking. Overall, differences in marine snow across seasons informs our efforts to better understand the biological carbon pump.

Presentation Preference: Poster

Primary Presenter: Alyssa Antolak, Texas A&M University at Galveston (akantolak@tamu.edu)

Authors:

Alyssa Antolak, Texas A&M University Galveston  (akantolak@tamu.edu)

Sarah Kopczynski, Texas A&M University Galveston  (sndavis1@tamu.edu)

Dylan Buchmiller, Texas A&M University Galveston  (dylan.buchmiller@tamu.edu)

Paris Waters, Texas A&M University Galveston  (pwaters10@tamu.edu)

Madeline Sunshine, Texas A&M University Galveston  (madelinesuns@tamu.edu)

Nicholas Longmore, Texas A&M University Galveston  (nickl022@tamu.edu)

Karl Kaiser, Texas A&M University Glaveston  (kaiserk@tamu.edu)

Jessica Labonte, Texas A&M University Galveston  (labontej@tamug.edu)

Jason Sylvan, Texas A&M University Galveston  (jasonsylvan@tamu.edu)

Antonietta Quigg, Texas A&M University Galveston  (quigga@tamu.edu)