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Illustration depecting marine microbe products and consumables.

Illustration depecting marine microbe products and consumables.
Illustration depecting marine microbe products and consumables.
Illustration depecting marine microbe products and consumables.
Illustration depecting marine microbe products and consumables.
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Caracappa-Qubeck, Amy
Illustration depecting marine microbe products and consumables.
Illustration
12/29/2011
Becker_AutoHeterotroph-01.jpg
Image Of the Day caption:
A million microbes may live in a single drop of seawaterproducing, consuming, and excreting various chemical compounds. Scientists are closely examining this stew of compounds dissolved in the ocean to reveal previously unknown relationships among marine microbes. Some microbes, called autotrophs, make their own food, converting carbon dioxide via photosynthesis into organic carbon that other microbes, called heterotrophs, rely on for survival. At one extreme (left), all autotrophs may produce a variety of compounds that a variety of heterotrophs consume. At the other extreme (right), specific autotrophs may produce specific compounds that specific heterotrophs consume. And there are potential scenarios in between.
Caption from Oceanus magazine, Vol. 49, No. 1, page 20:
By closely examining the stew of organic carbon compounds dissolved in the ocean, scientists are beginning to reveal previously unknown relationships among specific marine microbes, forged by the materials they produce and consume. Autotrophic microbes convert carbon dioxide into organic carbon that heterotrophic microbes rely on for their survival. At one extreme (left), all autotrophs may produce a variety of compounds that a variety of heterotrophs consume. At the other extreme (right), specific autotrophs may produce specific compounds that specific heterotrophs consume. And there are many potential scenarios in between. These microscopic interactions are important cogs that mediate ocean food webs and influence the chemistry of our entire planet.
Illustration by Amy Caracappa-Qubeck
© Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
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