Growth and grazing rate dynamics of major phytoplankton groups in an oligotrophic coastal site |
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Authors: | André s Gutié rrez-Rodrí guez,Mikel Latasa,Renate Scharek,Ramon Massana,Gemma Vila,Josep M. Gasol |
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Affiliation: | 1. Institut de Ciències del Mar (CSIC), Passeig Marítim de la Barceloneta 37-49, E-08003 Barcelona, Spain;2. Centro Oceanográfico de Gijón (IEO), Avda. Príncipe de Asturias 70 bis, E-33213 Gijón, Spain;3. Departament d’Ecologia, University of Barcelona (UB), Diagonal 645, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain |
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Abstract: | There has been more attention to phytoplankton dynamics in nutrient-rich waters than in oligotrophic ones thus requiring the need to study the dynamics and responses in oligotrophic waters. Accordingly, phytoplankton community in Blanes Bay was overall dominated by Prymnesiophyceae, remarkably constant throughout the year (31 ± 13% Total chlorophyll a, Tchl a) and Bacillariophyta with a more episodic appearance (20 ± 23% Tchl a). Prasinophyceae and Synechococcus contribution became substantial in winter (Prasinophyceae = 30% Tchl a) and summer (Synechococcus = 35% Tchl a). Phytoplankton growth and grazing mortality rates for major groups were estimated by dilution experiments in combination with high pressure liquid chromatography and flow cytometry carried out monthly over two years. Growth rates of total phytoplankton (range = 0.30–1.91 d−1) were significantly higher in spring and summer (μ > 1.3 d−1) than in autumn and winter (μ ∼ 0.65 d−1) and showed a weak dependence on temperature but a significant positive correlation with day length. Microzooplankton grazing (range = 0.03–1.4 d−1) was closely coupled to phytoplankton growth. Grazing represented the main process for loss of phytoplankton, removing 60 ± 34% (±SD) of daily primary production and 70 ± 48% of Tchl a stock. Chla synthesis was highest during the Bacillarophyceae-dominated spring bloom (Chl asynt = 2.3 ± 1.6 μg Chl a L−1 d−1) and lowest during the following post-bloom conditions dominated by Prymnesiophyceae (Chl asynt = 0.23 ± 0.08 μg Chl a L−1 d−1). This variability was smoothed when expressed in carbon equivalents mainly due to the opposite dynamics of C:chl a (range = 11–135) and chl a concentration (range = 0.07–2.0 μg chl a L−1). Bacillariophyta and Synechococcus contribution to C fluxes was higher than to biomass because of their fast-growth rate. The opposite was true for Prymnesiophyceae. |
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Keywords: | phytoplankton community structure phytoplankton growth microzooplankton grazing carbon flux NW Mediterranean |
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