Phytoplankton Biomass and Composition in a River-Dominated Estuary During Two Summers of Contrasting River Discharge

Estuaries located in the northern Gulf of Mexico are expected to experience reduced river discharge due to increasing demand for freshwater and predicted periods of declining precipitation. Changes in freshwater and nutrient input might impact estuarine higher trophic level productivity through changes in phytoplankton quantity and quality. Phytoplankton biomass and composition were examined in Apalachicola Bay, Florida during two summers of contrasting river discharge. The <20 μm autotrophs were the main component (92?±?3 %; n?=?14) of phytoplankton biomass in lower (<25 psu) salinity waters. In these lower salinity waters containing higher dissolved inorganic nutrients, phycocyanin containing cyanobacteria made the greatest contribution to phytoplankton biomass (69?±?3 %; n?=?14) followed by <20 μm eukaryotes (19?±?1 %; n?=?14), and phycoerythrin containing cyanobacteria (4?±?1 %; n?=?14). In waters with salinity from 25 to 35 psu that were located within or in close proximity to the estuary, >20 μm diatoms were an increasingly (20 to 70 %) larger component of phytoplankton biomass. Lower summer river discharges that lead to an areal contraction of lower (5–25 psu) salinity waters composed of higher phytoplankton biomass dominated by small (<20 μm) autotrophs will lead to a concomitant areal expansion of higher (>25 psu) salinity waters composed of relatively lower phytoplankton biomass and a higher percent contribution by >20 μm diatoms. A reduction in summer river discharge that leads to such a change in quantity and quality of estuarine phytoplankton available will result in a reduction in estuarine zooplankton productivity and possibly the productivity of higher trophic levels.     

Phytoplankton biomass, cell diameter, and species composition in the low salinity zone of Northern San Francisco Bay estuary

Phytoplankton chlorophyll a concentration, biovolume, cell diameter, and species composition differed across the narrow, low salinity zone between 0.6‰ to 4‰ and may influence copepod food availability in the northern San Francisco Bay Estuary. The highest chlorophyll a concentrations (range 3.2–12.3 μg 1^?1), widest cell diameters (>5 μm diam), highest diatom densities and highest production rates of >10 μm diam cells occurred at the landward edge of the salinity zone in April during a strong spring tide and May during a strong neap tide. Near optimum predator/prey ratios, large prey estimated spherical diameters, and high chlorophyll a concentrations suggest these phytoplankton communities provided good food quantity and quality for the most abundant copepods, Eurytemora affinis, Sinocalanus doerrii, and Pseudodiaptomus forbesi. At the center of the zone, chlorophyll a concentrations, diatom densities, and production rates of >10 μm diam cells were lower and cell diameters were smaller than upstream. Downstream transport was accompanied by accumulation of phytoplankton with depth and tide; maximum biomass occurred on spring tide. The lowest chlorophyll a concentrations (1.4–3.6 μg 1^?) and consistently high densities (3,000–4,000 cells ml^?1) of <5 μm diam cells occurred at the seaward edge of the zone, where the green alga Nannochloris spp. and the bluegreen alga Synechococcus spp. were the most abundant phytoplankton. Low chlorophyll a concentrations and production rates of >10 μm diam cells, small prey estimated spherical diameters, and high predator/prey ratios suggested the seaward edge of the zone had poor phytoplankton food for copepodids and adult copepods. The seaward decrease in phytoplankton chlorophyll a concentration and cell diameter and shift in species composition in the low salinity zone were probably a function of an estuary-wide decrease in chlorophyll a concentration, cell diameter, and diatom density since the early 1980s that was enhanced in the low salinity zone by clam herbivory after 1987. *** DIRECT SUPPORT *** A01BY090 00008     

Coastal Phytoplankton Do Not Rest in Winter

The climatology and interannual variability of winter phytoplankton was analyzed at the Long Term Ecological Research Station MareChiara (LTER-MC, Gulf of Naples, Mediterranean Sea) using data collected from 1985 to 2006. Background winter chlorophyll values (0.2–0.5 μg chl a dm⁻³) were associated with the dominance of flagellates, dinoflagellates, and coccolithophores. Winter biomass increases (<5.47 μg chl a dm⁻³) were often recorded until 2000, generally in association with low-salinity surface waters (37.3–37.9). These blooms were most often caused by colonial diatoms such as Chaetoceros spp., Thalassiosira spp., and Leptocylindrus danicus. In recent years, we observed more modest and sporadic winter biomass increases, mainly caused by small flagellates and small non-colonial diatoms. The resulting negative chl a trend over the time series was associated with positive surface salinity and negative nutrient trends. Physical and meteorological conditions apparently exert a strict control on winter blooms, hence significant changes in winter productivity can be foreseen under different climatic scenarios.     

Biogeochemistry of a River-Dominated Estuary Influenced by Drought and Storms

Increased frequency and severity of droughts, as well as growing human freshwater demands, in the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River Basin are expected to lead to a long-term decrease in freshwater discharge to Apalachicola Bay (Florida). To date, no long-term studies have assessed how river discharge variability affects the Bay’s phytoplankton community. Here a 14-year time series was used to assess the influence of hydrologic variability on the biogeochemistry and phytoplankton biomass in Apalachicola Bay. Data were collected at 10 sites in the bay along the salinity gradient and include drought and storm periods. Riverine dissolved inorganic nitrogen and phosphate inputs were correlated to river discharge, but chlorophyll a (Chl a) was similar between periods of drought and average/above-average river discharge in most of the Bay. Results suggest that the potentially negative impact of decreased riverine nutrient input on Bay phytoplankton biomass is mitigated by the nutrient buffering capacity of the estuary. Additionally, increased light availability, longer residence time, and decreased grazing pressures may allow more Chl a biomass to accumulate during drought. In contrast to droughts, tropical cyclones and subsequent increases in river discharge increased flushing and reduced light penetration, leading to reduced Chl a in the Bay. Analysis of the time series revealed that Chl a concentrations in the Bay do not directly mirror the effect of riverine nutrient input, which is masked by multiple interacting mechanisms (i.e., nutrient loading and retention, grazing, flushing, light penetration) that need to be considered when projecting the response of Bay Chl a to changes in freshwater input.     

Phytoplankton, nutrients, and transparency in Danish coastal waters

We present a comparative analysis of 1400 data series of water chemistry (particularly nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations), phytoplankton biomass as chlorophylla (chla) concentrations, concentrations of suspended matter and Secchi depth transparency collected from the mid-1980s to the mid-1990s from 162 stations in 27 Danish fjords and coastal waters. The results demonstrate that Danish coastal waters were heavily eutrophied and had high particle concentrations and turbid waters. Median values were 5.1 μg chla 1⁻¹, 10.0 mg DW 1⁻¹ of suspended particles, and Secchi depth of 3.6 m. Chlorophyll concentration was strongly linked to the total-nitrogen concentration. The strength of this relationship increased from spring to summer as the concentration of total nitrogen declined. During summer, total nitrogen concentrations accounted for about 60% of the variability in chlorophyll concentrations among the different coastal systems. The relationship between chlorophyll and total phosphorus was more consistant over the year and correlations were much weaker than encountered for total nitrogen. Secchi depth could be predicted with good precision from measurements of chlorophyll and suspended matter. In a multiple stepwise regression model with In-transformed values the two variables accounted for most of the variability in water transparency for the different seasons and the period March–October as a whole (c. 80%). We were able to demonstrate a significant relationship between total nitrogen and Secchi depth, with important implications for management purposes.     

The Role of Protistan Microzooplankton in the Upper San Francisco Estuary Planktonic Food Web: Source or Sink?

Decline of native pelagic species in estuarine systems is an increasing problem, especially for native fishes in the San Francisco Estuary and Delta (SFE-D). Addressing these losses depends on understanding trophodynamics in the food web that supports threatened species. We quantified the role of microzooplankton (heterotrophic–mixotrophic protists <200 μm) in the food web of the upper SFE-D. We sampled protist plankton abundance and composition at two sites (Suisun Bay and Grizzly Bay) approximately monthly from February 2004 to August 2005 and conducted dilution experiments during spring and summer of both years in Suisun Bay. Heterotrophs dominated the protist community in Suisun Bay and Grizzly Bay, particularly in the <20 μm size range, and peaks in protistan microzooplankton biomass were associated with high phytoplankton biomass. In both years, microzooplankton grazing rates were high (0.5–0.7 day⁻¹) during the spring and lower (~0.2 day⁻¹) during summer. Phytoplankton growth rates peaked in April 2004 (~0.7 day⁻¹) but were much lower (<0.1 day⁻¹) in spring 2005, despite relatively high abundance. Thus, microzooplankton grazing consumed as much as 73% of phytoplankton standing stock during spring and ~15% of standing stock during summer of both years. Combined with earlier results, we conclude that microzooplankton can be important mediators of carbon and energy flow in the upper SFE-D and may be a “source” to the metazoan food web.     

Turbidity Maximum Entrapment of Phytoplankton in the Chesapeake Bay

Estuarine turbidity maxima (ETM) play an important role in zooplankton and larval fish productivity in many estuaries. Yet in many of these systems, little is known about the food web that supports this secondary production. To see if phytoplankton have the potential to be a component of the ETM food web in the Chesapeake Bay estuary a series of cruises were carried out to determine the biomass distribution and floral composition of phytoplankton in and around the ETM during the winter and spring using fluorometry, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and microscopy. Two distinct phytoplankton communities were observed along the salinity gradient. In lower salinity waters, biomass was low and the community was composed mostly of diatoms, while in more saline waters biomass was high and the community was composed mostly of mixotrophic dinoflagellates, which were often concentrated in a thin layer below the pycnocline. Phytoplankton biomass was always low in the ETM, but high concentrations of phytoplankton pigment degradation products and cellular remains were often observed suggesting that this was an area of high phytoplankton mortality and/or an area where phytoplankton derived particulate organic matter was being trapped. These results, along with a box model analysis, suggest that under certain hydrodynamic conditions phytoplankton derived organic matter can be trapped in ETM and potentially play a role in fueling secondary production.     

Phytoplankton Biomass and Production in Subtropical Hong Kong Waters: Influence of the Pearl River Outflow

The size-fractionated phytoplankton biomass and primary production were investigated in four contrasting areas of Hong Kong waters in 2006. Phytoplankton biomass and production varied seasonally in response to the influence of the Pearl River discharge. In the dry season, the phytoplankton biomass and production were low (<42 mg chl m⁻² and <1.8 g C m⁻² day⁻¹) in all four areas, due to low temperatures and dilution and reduced light availability due to strong vertical mixing. In contrast, in the wet season, in the river-impacted western areas, the phytoplankton biomass and production increased greater than five-fold compared to the dry season, especially in summer. In summer, algal biomass was 15-fold higher than in winter, and the mean integrated primary productivity (IPP) was 9 g C m⁻² day⁻¹ in southern waters due to strong stratification, high temperatures, light availability, and nutrient input from the Pearl River estuary. However, in the highly flushed western waters, chl a and IPP were lower (<30 mg m⁻² and 4 g C m⁻² day⁻¹, respectively) due to dilution. The maximal algal biomass and primary production occurred in southern waters with strong stratification and less flushing. Spring blooms (>10 μg chl a L⁻¹) rarely occurred despite the high chl-specific photosynthetic rate (mostly >10 μg C μg chl a ⁻¹ day⁻¹) as the accumulation of algal biomass was restricted by active physical processes (e.g., strong vertical mixing and freshwater dilution). Phytoplankton biomass and production were mostly dominated by the >5-μm size fraction all year except in eastern waters during spring and mostly composed of fast-growing chain-forming diatoms. In the stratified southern waters in summer, the largest algal blooms occurred in part due to high nutrient inputs from the Pearl River estuary.     

Seasonal coupling between ciliate and phytoplankton standing stocks in the South Slough of Coos Bay,Oregon

The standing stocks of ciliates and phytoplankton together with physical variables (temperature and density) were measured biweekly from March 6, 1999, to March 22, 2000, in the marine-dominated region of the South Slough, the southern arm of the Coos Bay estuary (Oregon, United States). The abundance and biomass of naked ciliates correlated significantly with phytoplankton <5 μm (ultraphytoplankton) biomass throughout the sampling periods and with total phytoplankton biomass between October and march; possibly due to a compositional shift in the >5 μm phytoplankton fraction from diatoms in the spring-summer period to flagellates during this fall-winter period. Temperature could explain 49% of the variation of ultraphytoplankton and naked ciliate biomass across seasons and may be important in determining the rate of the ciliate numerical response to increases in ultraphytoplankton and its assimilation into ciliate biomass. High standing stocks of ciliates, their strong coupling with ultraphytoplankton across seasons, and the relatively higher contribution of ciliate carbon to the ciliate and >5 μm phytoplankton carbon pool in the October–March period suggest that ciliates are a significant component to the South Slough food web and may be particularly important during seasons of reduced phytoplankton biomass.     

Long-Term and Seasonal Changes in Nutrients,Phytoplankton Biomass,and Dissolved Oxygen in Deep Bay,Hong Kong

Deep Bay is a semienclosed bay that receives sewage from Shenzhen, a fast-growing city in China. NH₄ is the main N component of the sewage (>50% of total N) in the inner bay, and a twofold increase in NH₄ and PO₄ concentrations is attributed to increased sewage loading over the 21-year period (1986–2006). During this time series, the maximum annual average NH₄ and PO₄ concentrations exceeded 500 and 39 μM, respectively. The inner bay (Stns DM1 and DM2) has a long residence time and very high nutrient loads and yet much lower phytoplankton biomass (chlorophyll (Chl) <10 μg L⁻¹ except for Jan, July, and Aug) and few severe long-term hypoxic events (dissolved oxygen (DO) generally >2 mg L⁻¹) than expected. Because it is shallow (~2 m), phytoplankton growth is likely limited by light due to mixing and suspended sediments, as well as by ammonium toxicity, and biomass accumulation is reduced by grazing, which may reduce the occurrence of hypoxia. Since nutrients were not limiting in the inner bay, the significant long-term increase in Chl a (0.52–0.57 μg L⁻¹ year⁻¹) was attributed to climatic effects in which the significant increase in rainfall (11 mm year⁻¹) decreased salinity, increased stratification, and improved water stability. The outer bay (DM3 to DM5) has a high flushing rate (0.2 day⁻¹), is deeper (3 to 5 m), and has summer stratification, yet there are few large algal blooms and hypoxic events since dilution by the Pearl River discharge in summer, and the invasion of coastal water in winter is likely greater than the phytoplankton growth rate. A significant long-term increase in NO₃ (0.45–0.94 μM year⁻¹) occurred in the outer bay, but no increasing trend was observed for SiO₄ or PO₄, and these long-term trends in NO₃, PO₄, and SiO₄ in the outer bay agreed with those long-term trends in the Pearl River discharge. Dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) has approximately doubled from 35–62 to 68–107 μM in the outer bay during the last two decades, and consequently DIN to PO₄ molar ratios have also increased over twofold since there was no change in PO₄. The rapid increase in salinity and DO and the decrease in nutrients and suspended solids from the inner to the outer bay suggest that the sewage effluent from the inner bay is rapidly diluted and appears to have a limited effect on the phytoplankton of the adjacent waters beyond Deep Bay. Therefore, physical processes play a key role in reducing the risk of algal blooms and hypoxic events in Deep Bay.     

Effects of Hurricane Ivan on water quality in Pensacola Bay, Florida

Pensacola Bay, Florida, was in the strong northeast quadrant of Hurricane Ivan when it made landfall on September 16, 2004 as a category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale. We present data describing the timeline and maximum height of the storm surge, the extent of flooding of coastal land, and the magnitude of the freshwater inflow pulse that followed the storm. We computed the magnitude of tidal flushing associated with the surge using a tidal prism model. We also evaluated hurricane effects on water quality using water quality surveys conducted 20 and 50 d after the storm, which we compared with a survey 14 d before landfall. We evaluated the scale of hurricane effects relative to normal variability using a 5-yr monthly record. Ivan's 3.5 m storm surge inundated 165 km² of land, increasing the surface area of Pensacola Bay by 50% and its volume by 230%. The model suggests that 60% of the Bay's volume was flushed, initially increasing the average salinity of Bay waters from 23 to 30 and lowering nutrient and chlorophylla concentrations. Additional computations suggest that wind forcing was sufficient to completely mix the water column during the storm. Freshwater discharge from the largest river increased twentyfold during the subsequent 4 d, stimulating a modest phytoplankton bloom (chlorophyll up to 18 μg l⁻¹) and maintaining hypoxia for several months. Although the immediate physical perturbation was extreme, the water quality effects that persisted beyond the first several days were within the normal range of variability for this system. In terms of water quality and phytoplankton productivity effects, this ecosystem appears to be quite resilient in the face of a severe hurricane effect.     

Seasonal Cycle of Phytoplankton Community Composition in the Coastal Upwelling System Off Central Oregon in 2009

Coastal upwelling in the northern California Current varies seasonally, with downwelling in winter and upwelling in summer, resulting in pronounced variability in hydrography, nutrients, phytoplankton biomass, and species composition. Winter was characterized by moderate concentrations of nitrate and silicate (averages of 10 and 18 μM, respectively) and low concentrations of chlorophyll a (Chl a). During the upwelling season, concentrations of the same nutrients ranged from near 0 μM to approximately 27 and 43 μM and Chl a 0.5?<?x?<?15 μg L^?1. During autumn, upwelling weakened and nutrient concentrations were reduced, but large phytoplankton blooms continued to occur. Variations in hydrography, nutrients, and phytoplankton also occurred within the upwelling season due to alternation of the winds between northerly (active upwelling) and southerly (relaxation of upwelling), on a 5- to 10-day time scale. Eleven blooms were observed, most of which occurred near the end of active upwelling events and during relaxation of upwelling. Nonmetric multidimensional scaling ordination of species composition of the microplankton revealed four distinct communities: a winter community, early upwelling and late upwelling season communities, and an autumn community. Diatoms (Asterionellopsis glacialis, Eucampia zodiacus, and several Chaetoceros, Thalassiosira, and Pseudo-nitzschia species) dominated early in the upwelling season, averaging 80 % of the phytoplankton biomass, and dinoflagellates dominated near the end of the upwelling season, averaging 68 % of the phytoplankton biomass. Dinoflagellates formed two monospecific blooms—Prorocentrum gracile in late summer and Akashiwo sanguinea in autumn. Changes in community composition were correlated with bottom temperature and salinity (representing seasonal variability) and sea surface salinity (representing within-season event-scale variability in upwelling).     

Dissolved and particulate organic carbon in Chesapeake Bay

We measured dissolved and particulate organic carbon (DOC and POC) in samples collected along 13 transects of the salinity gradient of Chesapeake Bay. Riverine DOC and POC end-members averaged 232±19 μM and 151±53 μM, respectively, and coastal DOC and POC end-members averaged 172±19 μM and 43±6 μM, respectively. Within the chlorophyll maximum, POC accumulated to concentrations 50–150 μM above those expected from conservative mixing and it was significantly correlated with chlorophylla, indicating phytoplankton origin. POC accumulated primarily in bottom waters in spring, and primarily in surface waters in summer. Net DOC accumulation (60–120 μM) was observed within and downstream of the chlorophyll maximum, primarily during spring and summer in both surface and bottom waters, and it also appeared to be derived from phytoplankton. In the turbidity maximum, there were also net decreases in chlorophylla (?3 μg l^?1 to ?22 μg l^?1) and POC concentrations (?2 μM to ?89 μM) and transient DOC increases (9–88 μM), primarily in summer. These occurred as freshwater plankton blooms mixed with turbid, low salinity seawater, and we attribute the observed POC and DOC changes to lysis and sedimentation of freshwater plankton. DOC accumulation in both regions of Chesapeake Bay was estimated to be greater than atmospheric or terrestrial organic carbon inputs and was equivalent to ≈10% of estuarine primary production.     

Seasonal and long-term trends in the water quality of Florida Bay (1989–1997)

Analysis of 6 yr of monthly water quality data was performed on three distinct zones of Florida Bay: the eastern bay, central bay, and western bay. Each zone was analyzed for trends at intra-annual (seasonal), interannual (oscillation), and long-term (monotonic) scales. the variables TON, TOC, temperature, and TN∶TP ratio had seasonal maxima in the summer rainy season; APA and Chla, indicators of the size and activity of the microplankton tended to have maxima in the fall. In contrast, NO₃ ⁻, NO₂ ⁻, NH₄ ⁺, turbidity, and DO_sat, were highest in the winter dry season. There were large changes in some of the water quality variables of Florida Bay over the study period. Salinity and TP concentrations declined baywide while turbidity increased dramatically. Salinity declined in the eastern, central, and western Florida Bay by 13.6‰, 11.6‰, and 5.6‰, respectively. Some of the decrease in the eastern bay could be accounted for by increased freshwater flows from the Everglades. In contrast to most other estuarine systems, increased runoff may have been partially responsible for the decrease in TP concentrations as input concentrations were 0.3–0.5 μM. Turbidity in the eastern bay increased twofold from 1991 to 1996, while in the central and western bays it increased by factors of 20 and 4, respectively. Chla concentrations were particularly dynamic and spatially heterogeneous. In the eastern bay, which makes up roughly half of the surface area of Florida Bay, Chla declined by 0.9 μg l⁻¹ (63%). The hydrographically isolated central bay zone underwent a fivefold increase in phytoplankton biomass from 1989 to 1994, then rapidly declined to previous levels by 1996. In western Florida Bay there was a significant increase in Chla, yet median concentrations of Chla in the water column remained modest (∼2 μg l⁻¹) by most estuarine standards. Only in the central bay did the DIN pool increase substantially (threefold to sixfold). Notably, these changes in turbidity and phytoplankton biomass occurred after the poorly-understood seagrass die-off in 1987. It is likely the death and decomposition of large amounts of seagrass biomass can at least partially explain some of the changes in water quality of Florida Bay, but the connections are temporally disjoint and the process indirect and not well understood.     

Nutrient dynamics in the Pomeranian Bay (southern Baltic): Impact of the Oder River outflow

The Pomeranian Bay is a coastal region fed by the Oder River, one of the seven largest Baltic rivers, whose waters flow through a large and complex estuarine system before entering the bay. Nutrients (NO₃ ⁻, NO₂ ⁻, NH₄ ⁺, Ntot, PO₄ ³⁻, P_tot, DSi), chlorophylla concentrations, oxygen content, salinity, and temperature were measured in the Pomeranian Bay in nine seasonally distributed cruises during 1993–1997. Strong spatial and temporal patterns were observed and they were governed by: the seasonally variable riverine water-nutrient discharges, the seasonally variable uptake of nutrients and their cycling in the river estuary and the Bay, the character of water exchange between the Pomeranian Bay and the Szczecin Lagoon, and the water flow patterns in the Bay that are dominated by wind-driven circulation. Easterly winds resulted in water and nutrient transport along the German coastline, while westerly winds confined the nutrient rich riverine waters to the Polish coast and transported them eastward beyond the study area. Two water masses, coastal and open, characterized by different chemical and physical parameters and chla content were found in the Bay independently of the season. The role of the Oder estuary in nutrient transformation, as well as the role of temperature in transformation processes is stressed in the paper. The DIN:DIP:DSi ratio indicated that phosphorus most probably played a limiting role in phytoplankton production in the Bay in spring, while nitrogen did the same in summer. During the spring bloom, predominated by diatoms, the DSi:DIN ratio dropped to 0.1 in the coastal waters and to 0.6 in the open bay waters, pointing to silicon limitation of diatom growth, similar to what is being observed in other Baltic regions.     

Phytoplankton reference communities for Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries

Phytoplankton reference communities for Chesapeake Bay were quantified from least-impaired water quality conditions using commonly measured parameters and indicators derived from measured parameters. A binning approach was developed to classify water quality. Least-impaired conditions had relatively high water column transparency and low concentrations of dissolved inorganic nitrogen and orthophosphate. Reference communities in all seasons and salinity zones are characterized by consistently low values of chlorophylla and pheophytin coupled with relative stable proportions of the phytoplankton taxonomic groups and low biomasses of key bloom-forming species. Chlorophyll cell content was lower and less variable and average cell size and seasonal picophytoplankton biomass tended to be greater in the mesohaline and polyhaline reference communities as compared to the impaired communities. Biomass concentrations of the nano-micro phytoplankton size fractions (2–200 μm) in 12 of the 16 season-specific and salinity-specific reference communities were the same or higher than those in impaired habitat conditions, suggesting that nutrient reductions will not decrease the quantity of edible phytoplankton food available to large consumers. High (bloom) and low (bust) biomass events within the impaired phytoplankton communities showed strikingly different chlorophyll cell content and turnover rates. Freshwater flow had little effect on phytoplankton responses to water quality condition in most of the estuary. Improved water column transparency, or clarity, through the reduction of suspended sediments will be particularly important in attaining the reference communities. Significant nitrogen load reductions are also required.     

Phytoplankton production and nutrient distributions in a subtropical estuary: Importance of freshwater flow

The relationships between phytoplankton productivity, nutrient distributions, and freshwater flow were examined in a seasonal study conducted in Escambia Bay, Florida, USA, located in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico. Five sites oriented along the salinity gradient were sampled 24 times over the 28-mo period from 1999 to 2001. Water column profiles of temperature and salinity were measured along with surface chlorophyll and surface inorganic nutrient concentrations. Primary productivity was measured at 2 sites on 11 dates, and estimated for the remaining dates and sites using an empirical regression model relating phytoplankton net production to the product of chlorophyll, euphotic zone depth, and daily solar insolation. Freshwater flow into the system varied markedly over the study period with record low flow during 2000, a flood event in March 2001, and subsequent resumption of normal flow. Flushing times ranged from 1 d during the flood to 20 d during the drought. Freshwater input strongly affected surface salinity distributions, nutrient flux, chlorophyll, and primary productivity. The flood caused high turbidity and rapid flushing, severely reducing phytoplankton production and biomass accumulation. Following the flood, phytoplankton biomass and productivity sharply increased. Analysis of nutrient distributions suggested Escambia Bay phytoplankton alternated between phosphorus limitation during normal flow and nitrogen limitation during low flow periods. This study found that Escambia Bay is a moderately productive estuary, with an average annual integrated phytoplankton production rate of 290 g C m⁻² yr⁻¹.     

Short-term variability of water quality parameters in two shallow estuaries of North Carolina

We quantified the effects of nutrient loading following precipitation events (≥ 1.25 cm) in 2 tidal creeks varying in size and anthropogenic input during the winter and summer seasons of 1996. Several water quality parameters were repeatedly measured in the water column every 3 h for several days after each event (4–5 per season). Total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) behaved nonconservatively with salinity and appeared as pulsed additions, occasionally doubling within 1 to 2 tidal cycles following significant rain events. Average values for TN, TP, and chlorophylla were 10–15 μM, <4 μM, and <7 μg l⁻¹, respectively for winter events and 30–35 μM, >4 μM, and ≥ 7 μg l⁻¹, respectively for summer events. However, response times were variable, depending on the magnitude and duration of the event as well as temperature. Chlorophylla biomass often increased after nutrient additions, especially in the summer when increased nutrient loading took place. Dissolved silica (DSi) behaved conservatively with salinity; low values were observed at high tide and vice versa. Average DSi ranges for winter and summer events were 5–45 μM and 10–85 μM, respectively. DSi range values increased proportionally with the amount of freshwater loaded into the system. Recovery times for salinity were usually greater than the recovery times for nutrients. Dissolved oxygen displayed a diel pattern, increasing after daytime productivity and decreasing during nighttime. In conclusion, each rainfall event was unique and responses were variable depending upon rainfall history, seasonality, and the duration and intensity of the rainfall event. Several other variables, such as water viscosity, percolation rates, and evapotranspiration rates which were not quantified in this study, could have also explained parameter responses.     

Spatiotemporal Patterns of Subtidal Benthic Microalgal Biomass and Community Composition in Galveston Bay,Texas, USA

Many Gulf of Mexico estuaries have low ratios of water volume to bottom surface area, and benthic processes in these systems likely have a major influence on system structure and function. The purpose of this study was to determine the spatiotemporal distribution of biomass and community composition of subtidal benthic microalgal (BMA) communities in Galveston Bay, TX, USA, compare BMA community composition and biomass to phytoplankton in overlying waters, and estimate the potential contribution of BMA to the trophodynamics in this shallow, turbid, subtropical estuary. The estimates of BMA biomass (mean = 4.21 mg Chl a m⁻²) for Galveston Bay were within the range of the reported values for similar Gulf of Mexico estuaries. BMA biomass in the central part of the bay was essentially homogeneous, whereas biomass at the seaward and upper bay ends of the transect were significantly lower. Peridinin, fucoxanthin, and alloxanthin were the three carotenoids with the highest concentrations, with fucoxanthin having the highest mean concentration (1.82 mg m⁻²). The seaward and landward ends of the transect differed from the central region of the bay with respect to the relative abundances of chlorophytes, cyanobacteria, and photosynthetic bacteria. Benthic microalgal community composition also showed a gradual shift over time due to changes in the relative abundances of photosynthetic bacteria, cryptophytes, dinoflagellates, and cyanobacteria. Major changes in community composition occurred in the spring months (March to April). On an areal basis, BMA biomass in Galveston Bay occurred at minor concentrations (16.5%) relative to phytoplankton. Furthermore, the concentrations of carotenoid pigments for phytoplankton and BMA (fucoxanthin, alloxanthin, and zeaxanthin) were correlated (r = 0.48 to 0.61), suggesting a close linkage between microalgae in the water column and sediments. The contribution of BMA to the primary productivity of the deeper waters (>2 m) of Galveston Bay is probably very small in comparison to shallower waters along the bay margins. The significant similarities in the community composition of phytoplankton and BMA illustrate the potential importance of deposition and resuspension processes in this turbid, shallow estuary.     

Spatial and temporal characteristics of nutrient and phytoplankton dynamics in the York River Estuary, Virginia: Analyses of long-term data

Ten years (1985–1994) of data were analyzed to investigate general patterns of phytoplankton and nutrient dynamics, and to identify major factors controlling those dynamics in the York River Estuary, Virginia. Algal blooms were observed during winter-spring followed by smaller summer blooms. Peak phytoplankton biomass during the winter-spring blooms occurred in the mid reach of the mesohaline zone whereas peak phytoplankton biomass during the summer bloom occurred in the tidal fresh-mesohaline transition zone. River discharge appears to be the major factor controlling the location and timing of the winter-spring blooms and the relative degree of potential N and P limitation. Phytoplankton biomass in tidal fresh water regions was limited by high flushing rates. Water residence time was less than cell doubling time during high flow seasons. Positive correlations between PAR at 1 m depth and chlorophylla suggested light limitation of phytoplankton in the tidal fresh-mesohaline transition zone. Relationships of salinity difference between surface and bottom water with chlorophylla distribution suggested the importance of tidal mixing for phytoplankton dynamics in the mesohaline zone. Accumulation of phytoplankton biomass in the mesohaline zone was generally controlled by N with the nutrient supply provided by benthic or bottom water remineralization.