What question did this study set out to answer?

To estimate the total global population, cellular biomass carbon, nutrient pools, and turnover rates of prokaryotes across Earth's major ecosystems.

June 9, 1998Proceedings of the National Academy of SciencesOpen Access

Prokaryotes: The unseen majority

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Authors

WWWilliam B. WhitmanUniversity of Georgia DCDavid C. ColemanUniversity of Georgia WWW. J. WiebeUniversity of Georgia

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Global ecological assessment reveals prokaryotes comprise major planetary pools of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus, highlighting their central role in global biogeochemical cycles.

Key Points

To estimate the total global population, cellular biomass carbon, nutrient pools, and turnover rates of prokaryotes across Earth's major ecosystems.
Calculated total global prokaryotic cell numbers and cellular carbon across open oceans, soils, and oceanic and terrestrial subsurfaces.
Quantified cellular nitrogen and phosphorus reserves and modeled turnover times and annual cellular production rates for each habitat.
Earth contains an estimated 4–6 × 10³⁰ prokaryotic cells representing 350–550 Pg of carbon (60–100% of total plant carbon), 85–130 Pg of nitrogen, and 9–14 Pg of phosphorus.
The largest populations occur in oceanic subsurface (3.5 × 10³⁰ cells), terrestrial subsurface (0.25–2.5 × 10³⁰ cells), soil (2.6 × 10²⁹ cells), and open ocean (1.2 × 10²⁹ cells).
Global annual prokaryotic production is 1.7 × 10³⁰ cells/yr, with turnover times spanning 6–25 days in surface oceans to 1,000–2,000 years in deep subsurfaces.

Cite This Study

Whitman et al. (1998) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/69dd5fa92f737f012599bd50 https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.95.12.6578

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

June 9, 1998Proceedings of the National Academy of SciencesOpen Access

Prokaryotes: The unseen majority

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Authors

WWWilliam B. WhitmanUniversity of Georgia DCDavid C. ColemanUniversity of Georgia WWW. J. WiebeUniversity of Georgia

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Global ecological assessment reveals prokaryotes comprise major planetary pools of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus, highlighting their central role in global biogeochemical cycles.

Key Points

To estimate the total global population, cellular biomass carbon, nutrient pools, and turnover rates of prokaryotes across Earth's major ecosystems.
Calculated total global prokaryotic cell numbers and cellular carbon across open oceans, soils, and oceanic and terrestrial subsurfaces.
Quantified cellular nitrogen and phosphorus reserves and modeled turnover times and annual cellular production rates for each habitat.
Earth contains an estimated 4–6 × 10³⁰ prokaryotic cells representing 350–550 Pg of carbon (60–100% of total plant carbon), 85–130 Pg of nitrogen, and 9–14 Pg of phosphorus.
The largest populations occur in oceanic subsurface (3.5 × 10³⁰ cells), terrestrial subsurface (0.25–2.5 × 10³⁰ cells), soil (2.6 × 10²⁹ cells), and open ocean (1.2 × 10²⁹ cells).
Global annual prokaryotic production is 1.7 × 10³⁰ cells/yr, with turnover times spanning 6–25 days in surface oceans to 1,000–2,000 years in deep subsurfaces.

Cite This Study

Whitman et al. (1998) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/69dd5fa92f737f012599bd50 https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.95.12.6578

Also Consider

Synapse has enriched 3 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context:

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark