The transparent exopolymer particles (TEP) are ubiquitous and abundant gel-particles in the marine ecosystem, they are defined as acid polysaccharides be stainable with alcian blue. They are mainly produced by phytoplankton. Due to its transparent property they were ignored for a long period. TEP can have the properties of dissolved polymers and particles. As dissolved polymer it can be the creation of microhabitats and adsorption of trace solute substances into the particulate pool, and play a significant ...