Microcosm: SEM micrographs of generation of exopolymeric substances (EPS) by phytoplankton and bacteria with and without polysaccharide inhibitor at various concentrations of WAF

Both phytoplankton and bacteria secrete extracellular enzymes actively that help them degrade the complex molecules to provide them simple carbon (sugars) and nitrogen (amino acids) molecules that can be easily assimilated. This process supports bacterial growth on exopolymeric substances (EPS) and helps support their cell division. However, this process does not lead to depletion of EPS, as only a fraction is consumed by bacteria. Due to the sticky nature of the EPS, the newly formed bacteria will tend to adhere to the EPS, and this will lead to the eventual formation and increase in the size of aggregates. To test this, we added DCB (2,6-dichlorobenzonitrile; an inhibitor of polysaccharide production in diatoms) to Thalassiosira pseudonana in the presence and absence of oil. This dataset contains the SEM micrographs documenting the phytoplankton, bacterial, and EPS changes in morphology. The confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) micrographs depicting the changes in EPS and microbes showing the effects of DCB and WAF are available under GRIIDC UDI R6.x807.000:0028. The algal and bacterial growth in terms of enzyme assays, microbial cell counts, monosaccharide concentrations, and photosynthesis data at different WAF concentrations are available under GRIIDC UDI R6.x807.000:0022.