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Abstract

Bacterial growth rates were determined in natural seawater samples using two different methodological approaches: incubation in dialysis bags, and a modification of the dilution approach. Bacterial growth rates estimated for the dialysis bag varied from 0.026 h-1 (April) to 0.208 h-1 (August). Bacterial growth rates in 0.2 µm and 30 kDa size-fractionated series ranged from 0.038 to 0.094 h-1 and 0.078 to 0.42 h-1, respectively. Furthermore, in all of our samples, growth rates in the 30 kDa fractionated series (grazer and virus-free diluent) were higher than in the 0.2 µm series (grazer-free diluent) or in the dialysis bag incubations.

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