Bacterioplankton production determined by DNA synthesis, protein synthesis, and frequency of dividing cells in tuamotu atoll lagoons and surrounding ocean

This study compares three independent methods used for estimating bacterioplankton production in waters from the lagoon (mesotrophic) and the surrounding ocean (oligotrophic) of two atolls from the Tuamotu archipelago (French Polynesia).Thymidine and leucine incorporation were calibrated in dilution cultures and gave consistent results when the first was calibrated against cell multiplication and the second against protein synthesis. This study demonstrates that determining conversion factors strongly depends on the selected calculation method (modified derivative, integrative, and cumulative). These different estimates are reconciled when the very low proportion of active cells is accounted for.Frequency of dividing-divided cells (FDDC) calibrated using the same dilution cultures led to unrealistically high estimates of bacterial production. However, highly significant correlations between FDDC and either thymidine- or leucine-specific incorporation per cell were found in lagoon waters in situ. These correlations became more positive when oceanic data were added. This suggests that the FDDC method is also potentially valid to determine bacterioplankton growth rates after cross calibration with thymidine or leucine methods. If recommended precautions are observed, the three methods tested in the present study would give reliable production estimates.