Journal of Marine Science: Research & Development
Open Access

Abstract

Transparent exopolymeric particles (TEP) are essential components in the organic carbon cycle in estuaries. The objectives of this research are: 1) to study the spatial and temporal distribution of TEP in two contrasting sites in the estuary of the St. Lawrence (ESL) ; and 2) to evaluate the effect of acidification and the increase in estuarine water temperature on concentration and chemical composition of these particles. The results show that TEP is a significant fraction of particulate organic carbon pool of ESL with peak concentrations in the surface waters. Hydrographic conditions seem to influence the dynamics of the TEP in surface and deep layer. Mesocosm experiments show that a temperature increase has more effects (up 18.35%) on the concentration of TEP than a drop in pH. The chemical composition of TEP shows the presence of several monosaccharides.

Biography

Houssem Gaaloul is pursuing his PhD at the Université du Québec à Rimouski-Institute of Marine Sciences, Canada.

Email: houssem.gaaloul@uqar.ca