Influence of allochthonous organic matter on bacterioplankton biomass and activity in a eutrophic, sub-tropical estuary

Barrera-Alba, JJ; Flores Gianesella, SM; Oliveira Moser, GA; Prado Saldanha-Correa, FM

HERO ID

2566405

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year

2009

HERO ID 2566405
In Press No
Year 2009
Title Influence of allochthonous organic matter on bacterioplankton biomass and activity in a eutrophic, sub-tropical estuary
Authors Barrera-Alba, JJ; Flores Gianesella, SM; Oliveira Moser, GA; Prado Saldanha-Correa, FM
Journal Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science
Volume 82
Issue 1
Page Numbers 84-94
Abstract Heterotrophic bacterial and phytoplankton biomass, production, specific growth rates, and growth efficiencies were studied in the Northern region of the Cananeia-Iguape estuarine system, which has recently experienced an intense eutrophication due to anthropogenic causes. Two surveys were carried out during spring and neap tide periods of the dry season of 2005 and the rainy season of 2006. This region receives large freshwater inputs with organic seston and phosphate concentrations that reach as high as 1.0 mg l(-1) and 20.0 mu M, respectively. Strong decreasing gradients of seston and dissolved inorganic nutrients were observed from the river/estuary boundary to the estuary/coastal interface. Gradients were also observed in phytoplankton and bacterial production rates. The production rates of phytoplankton were 5.6-fold higher (mean 8.5 mu g Cl(-1) h(-1)) during the dry season. Primary production rates (PP) positively correlated with salinity and euphoric depth, indicating that phytoplankton productivity was light-limited. On the other hand, bacterial biomass (BB) and production rates (BP) were 1.9- and 3.7-fold higher, respectively, during the rainy season, with mean values of up to 40.4 mu g Cl(-1) and 7.9 mu g Cl(-1) h-1, respectively. Despite such a high BP, bacterial abundance remained <2 x 106 cells ml(-1), indicating that bacterial production and removal were coupled. Mean specific growth rates ranged between 0.9 and 5.5 d(-1). BP was inversely correlated with salinity and positively correlated with temperature, organic matter, exopolymer particles, and particulate-attached bacteria; this last accounted for as much as 89.6% of the total abundance. During the rainy season, BP was generally much higher than PP, and values of BP/PP > 20 were registered during high freshwater input, suggesting that under these conditions, bacterial activity was predominantly supported by allochthonous inputs of organic carbon. In addition, BB probably represented the main pathway for the synthesis of high-quality (low C:N) biomass that may have been available to the heterotrophic components of the plankton food web, particularly nanoheterotrophs. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Doi 10.1016/j.ecss.2008.12.020
Wosid WOS:000264472100010
Is Certified Translation No
Dupe Override No
Is Public Yes
Keyword eutrophic waters; bacterial production; growth rate; suspended organic matter; phytoplankton; Brazil