Ruolo Delle Comunità Microbiche Nei Cicli Biogeochimici Del Carbonio In Ambienti Marini Costieri

Microbial activities play an important role in carbon biogeochemical cycles, mediating CO 2 assimilation (primary production, PP) and CO 2 emission (community respiration, CR). Scarce is the information on respiration rates as well on PP and CR coupling to define an aquatic system "sink" (PP/CR>1) or "source" (PP/CR<1) of CO 2 . This experimental study describes the variation of these metabolic rates in a in a trophic gradient of a coastal area of the Northern Adriatic Sea.