Marine phytoplankton blooms are annual spring events that are accompanied by a surge in heterotrophic bacteria, primarily roseobacters, flavobacteria and members of the Gammaproteobacteria, which recycle most of the carbon that is fixed by the primary producers. In this Review, Buchanet al. describe the emerging physiological features and functions of these bacterial communities and their interactions with phytoplankton.
- Alison Buchan
- Gary R. LeCleir
- José M. González
