Microbial breakdown of Phaeocystis mucopolysaccharides

Study of the degradability of Phaeocystis mucus carbohydrates by heterotrophic bacteria is discussed. The study used partially purified mucus as a substrate in oxic and anoxic enrichments of marine bacteria. The degradable of the important part of the biomass of the organism is of help for understanding impact of Phaeocystis blooms on the marine carbon cycle. Breakdown of the mucopolysaccharides, during which the carbohydrate composition of the residual fraction did not change, slowed greatly after about 15 days. Incomplete degradation was the result of release of inhibitors produced during breakdown.