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• Bol. Inst. Oceanogr. 39 (2) • 1991 • https://doi.org/10.1590/S0373-55241991000200001   copy

Phytoplankton and environmental factors in the Paraíba do Norte River Estuary, northeastern Brazil: composition, distribution and quantitative remarks

Authorship SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

Abstract

This paper reports the results obtained from studies on the estuarine phytoplankton of the Paraíba do Norte River in northeastern Brazil. Surface and near-bottom samples were taken at four stations numbered seawards, during high and low tides from September 1978 to September 1979. A total of 139 phytoplankters were encountered. Diatoms and dinoflagellates showed highest diversity in most saline areas. Typical freshwater organisms were restricted to stations I and II where salinity was more reduced. Maximum cell densities were: 11,256,000 cells/1, 4,380,000 cells/1, 1,276,000 cells/1 and 1,035,000 cells/1, for stations I, II, III and IV, respectively. Sewage enrichments were probably responsible for the greatest values of the first two stations. However, in these stations the turbidity reduces light penetration, limiting phytoplankton growth particularly during the rainy season. The phytoflagellates (maximum of up to 4,874,000 cells/1) and the diatoms Thalassiosira spp (maximum of up to 9,262,000 cells/1) were dominant during the annual cycle. Other important taxa were Navicula spp, Cylindrotheca closterium, Paralia sulcata, Thalassionema nitzschioides and the dinoflagellate Protoperidinium spp. Seasonal variations of phytoplankton densities, dissolved oxygen, phosphate, water transparency, temperature, salinity and suspended material are also presented.

Phytoplankton; Estuaries; Environmental factors; Seasonal variations; Community composition; Check lists; Northeast Brazil

ARTIGOS

Phytoplankton and environmental factors in the Paraíba do Norte River Estuary, northeastern Brazil: composition, distribution and quantitative remarks

Roberto Sassi

Núcleo de Estudos e Pesquisas de Recursos do Mar, Universidade Federal da Paraíba (Campus Universitário, 58.059-900, João Pessoa, PB, Brasil)

ABSTRACT

This paper reports the results obtained from studies on the estuarine phytoplankton of the Paraíba do Norte River in northeastern Brazil. Surface and near-bottom samples were taken at four stations numbered seawards, during high and low tides from September 1978 to September 1979. A total of 139 phytoplankters were encountered. Diatoms and dinoflagellates showed highest diversity in most saline areas. Typical freshwater organisms were restricted to stations I and II where salinity was more reduced. Maximum cell densities were: 11,256,000 cells/1, 4,380,000 cells/1, 1,276,000 cells/1 and 1,035,000 cells/1, for stations I, II, III and IV, respectively. Sewage enrichments were probably responsible for the greatest values of the first two stations. However, in these stations the turbidity reduces light penetration, limiting phytoplankton growth particularly during the rainy season. The phytoflagellates (maximum of up to 4,874,000 cells/1) and the diatoms Thalassiosira spp (maximum of up to 9,262,000 cells/1) were dominant during the annual cycle. Other important taxa were Navicula spp, Cylindrotheca closterium, Paralia sulcata, Thalassionema nitzschioides and the dinoflagellate Protoperidinium spp. Seasonal variations of phytoplankton densities, dissolved oxygen, phosphate, water transparency, temperature, salinity and suspended material are also presented.

Descriptors:Phytoplankton, Estuaries, Environmental factors, Seasonal variations, Community composition, Check lists, Northeast Brazil.

Descritores: Fitoplâncton, Estuários, Fatores ambientais, Variações sazonais, Composição da comunidade, Lista de espécies, Estuário do Rio Paraíba do Norte: PB.

Full text available only in PDF format.

Texto completo disponível apenas em PDF.

Aknowledgements

I thank F. P. Brandini, from the Centro de Biologia Marinha, Universidade Federal do Paraná and M. B. B. Kutner, from the Instituto Oceanográfico, Universidade de Sâo Paulo, for the critical review of the manuscript. I also thank B. M. Grisi and K. V. Singarajah, from the Departamento de Sistemática e Ecologia, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, for reviewing the final English text. This study was funded by National Research Council (CNPq).

References

BRANDINI, F. P. 1985a. Ecological studies in the Bay of Paranaguá. I. Horizontal distribution and seasonal dynamics of the phytoplankton. Bolm Inst, oceanogr., S Paulo, 33(2):139-147.

______ 1985b. Seasonal succession of the phytoplankton in the Bay of Paranaguá. Revta brasil. Biol., 45(4):687-694.

CARPENTER, E. J. & GUILLARD, R. R. L. 1971. Intraspecific differences in nitrate half-saturation constants for three species of marine phytoplankton. Ecology, 52:183-185.

CAVALCANTI, L.B. 1976. Caracterização do Canal de Santa Cruz (Pernambuco) em função dos parâmetros físico-químicos e pigmentos fotossintéticos. Tese de livre docencia. Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Departamento de Oceanografia. 115p.

CORTES ALTAMIRANO, R. & PASTEN MIRANDA, N. 1982. Composición, abundancia y distribución del fitoplancton del estero Urias, Sin. Mexico. II. Periodo de verano. Revta Lat.-amer. Microbiol., 24:297-308.

DEVASSY, V. P. & BATTATHIRI, P. M. A. 1974. Phytoplankton ecology of the Cochin Backwater. Indian J. mar. Sci., 3:46-50.

DUGDALE, R. C. 1967. Nutrient limitation in the sea: dynamics, identification and significance. limnol. Oceanogr., 12:685-695.

DURBIN, E. G.; KRAWIEC, R. W. & SMAYDA, T. J. 1975. Seasonal studies on the relative importance of different size fractions of phytoplankton in Narragansett Bay (USA). Mar. Biol., 32:271-287.

EPPLEY, R. W.; ROGERS, J. N. & MCCARTHY J. J. 1969. Half-saturation "constants" for uptake of nitrate and ammnonium by marine phytoplankton. Limnol. Oceanogr., 14:912-920.

ESKINAZI-LEÇA, E. & KOENING, M. L. 1981. Estudo ecológico da região de Itamaracá-Pemambuco, Brasil XII. Fitoplâncton de viveiros estuarinos. In: CONGRESSO BRASILEIRO DE ENGENHARIA DE PESCA, 2., Recife, 1981. Anais, p.221-232.

FEITOSA, F. A. N. 1988. Produção primária do fitoplâncton correlacionada com parâmetros bióticos e abióticos na Bacia do Pina (Recife, Pernambuco, Brasil). Dissertação de mestrado. Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Departamento de Oceanografia. 188p.

GARRISON, D. L. 1976. Contribution of the net plankton and nannoplankton to the standing stocks and primary productivity in Montrey Bay, California, during the upwelling season. Fishery Bull, natn. mar. Fish. Serv., U.S., 74(1):183-194.

GUILLARD, R. R. L.; KILHAM, P. & JACKSON, T. A. 1973. Kinetics of silicon-limited growth in the marine diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana Hasle and Heindal (= Cyclotella nana Hustedt). J. Phycol., 9:233-237.

KUTNER, M. B. B. 1972. Variação estacional e distribuição do fitoplâncton na região de Cananéia. Tese de doutorado. Universidade de São Paulo, Instituto de Biociências. 104p.

MALONE, T.C. 1971. The relative importance of nanoplankton and netplankton as primary producers in tropical oceanic and neritic phytoplankton communities. Limnol. Oceanogr., 16:633-639.

MUNK, W. H. & RILEY, G. A. 1952. Absorption of nutrients by aquatic plants. J. mar. Res., 11:215-240.

OLSEN, S. & PAASCHE, E. 1986. Variable kinetics of silicon-limited growth in Thalassiosira pseudonana (Bacillariophyceae) in response to changed chemical composition of the growth medium. Br. phycol. J., 21.183-190.

PASSAVANTE, J. Z. O. 1979. Produção primária do fitoplâncton do Canal de Santa Cruz (Itamaracá-Pernambuco). Tese de doutorado. Universidade de São Paulo. Instituto Oceanográfico. 188p.

______ 1981. Estudo ecológico da região de Itamaracá, Pernambuco - Brasil. XIX. Biomassa do nano e microfitoplâncton do Canal de Santa Cruz. Trabs oceanogr. Univ. Fed. Pe., 16:105-156.

______ & KOENING, M. L. 1978. Clorofila-α e material em suspensão no Rio Botafogo (Itamaracá-PE). In: SIMPÓSIO BRASILEIRO DE AQÜICULTURA, 1., Recife, 1978. Resumos, v. 1:88-89.

QASIM, S. Z.; WELLERSHAUS, S.; BHATTATHIRI, P. M. A. & ABIDI, S. A. H. 1969. Organic production in a tropical estuary. Proc. Indian Acad. Sci., 69(2), Sec.B:51-94.

SASSI, R. 1987. Fitoplâncton da formação recifal da Ponta do Seixas (Lat. 7º9'16"S, Long. 34º4735" W), Estado da Paraíba, Brasil: composição, ciclo anual e alguns aspectos fisio-ecológicos. Tese de doutorado. Universidade de São Paulo, Instituto Oceanográfico. 163p.

______ & KUTNER, M. B. B. 1982. Variação sazonal do fitoplâncton e fatores ecológicos básicos da região do Saco da Ribeira (Lat. 23º30'S, Long. 45º07'W), Ubatuba, Brasil. Bolm Inst, oceanogr., S Paulo, 31(2):29-42.

______ & WATANABE, T. 1980. Estudos ecológicos básicos no estuário do Rio Paraíba do Norte, Paraíba, Brasil. Fitoplâncton e fatores hidrológicos. In: SIMPÓSIO NACIONAL DE ECOLOGIA, 2., Belém, Anais. v. 3, p.305-313.

SINGARAJAH, K.V.S. 1978. Hydrographic conditions, composition and distribution of plankton in relation to potential resources of Paraíba do Norte River estuary. Revta nordest. Biol., 1(1):125-144.

STRICLAND, J. D. H. & PARSONS, T. R. 1960. A manual of seawater analysis. Bull Fish. Res. Bd Can., (125):1-187.

SUBRAHMANYAN, R. 1959. Studies on the phytoplankton of the West Coast of India. Proc. Ind. Acad. Sci., 50 Sec.B:113-252.

TEIXEIRA, C. & KUTNER, M. B. 1963. Plankton studies in a mangrove environment. I. First assessment of standing stock and principal ecological factors. Bolm Inst, oceanogr., S Paulo, 12:101-124.

______ ; TUNDISI, J. & KUTNER, M. B. 1965. Plankton studies in a mangrove environment. II. The standing stock and some ecological factors. Bolm Inst, oceanogr., S Paulo, 12:13-41.

TUNDISI, J. G.; TUNDISI, T. M. & KUTNER, M. B. 1973. Plankton studies in a mangrove environment. VIII. Further investigations on primary production, standing stock of phyto and Zooplankton and some environmental factors. Int. Revue ges. Hydrobiol., 58(6):925-940.

______ ; TEIXEIRA, C; TUNDISI, T.M.; KUTNER, M. B. & KINOSHITA, L. 1978. Plankton studies in a mangrove environment. IX. Comparative investigation with coastal oligotrophic waters. Revta brasil. Biol., 38(2):301-320.

UTERMÖHL, H. 1958. Zur Vervollkommnung der quantitativen Phytoplankton-Methodik. Mitt. int. Verein, theor. angew. Limnol., 9:1-38, 1pl.

(Manuscript received 28 May 1990; revised 17 April 1991; accepted 15 August 1991)

  • BRANDINI, F. P. 1985a. Ecological studies in the Bay of Paranaguá. I. Horizontal distribution and seasonal dynamics of the phytoplankton. Bolm Inst, oceanogr., S Paulo, 33(2):139-147.
  • ______ 1985b. Seasonal succession of the phytoplankton in the Bay of Paranaguá. Revta brasil. Biol., 45(4):687-694.
  • CARPENTER, E. J. & GUILLARD, R. R. L. 1971. Intraspecific differences in nitrate half-saturation constants for three species of marine phytoplankton. Ecology, 52:183-185.
  • CAVALCANTI, L.B. 1976. Caracterização do Canal de Santa Cruz (Pernambuco) em função dos parâmetros físico-químicos e pigmentos fotossintéticos. Tese de livre docencia. Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Departamento de Oceanografia. 115p.
  • CORTES ALTAMIRANO, R. & PASTEN MIRANDA, N. 1982. Composición, abundancia y distribución del fitoplancton del estero Urias, Sin. Mexico. II. Periodo de verano. Revta Lat.-amer. Microbiol., 24:297-308.
  • DEVASSY, V. P. & BATTATHIRI, P. M. A. 1974. Phytoplankton ecology of the Cochin Backwater. Indian J. mar. Sci., 3:46-50.
  • DUGDALE, R. C. 1967. Nutrient limitation in the sea: dynamics, identification and significance. limnol. Oceanogr., 12:685-695.
  • DURBIN, E. G.; KRAWIEC, R. W. & SMAYDA, T. J. 1975. Seasonal studies on the relative importance of different size fractions of phytoplankton in Narragansett Bay (USA). Mar. Biol., 32:271-287.
  • EPPLEY, R. W.; ROGERS, J. N. & MCCARTHY J. J. 1969. Half-saturation "constants" for uptake of nitrate and ammnonium by marine phytoplankton. Limnol. Oceanogr., 14:912-920.
  • ESKINAZI-LEÇA, E. & KOENING, M. L. 1981. Estudo ecológico da região de Itamaracá-Pemambuco, Brasil XII. Fitoplâncton de viveiros estuarinos. In: CONGRESSO BRASILEIRO DE ENGENHARIA DE PESCA, 2., Recife, 1981. Anais, p.221-232.
  • FEITOSA, F. A. N. 1988. Produção primária do fitoplâncton correlacionada com parâmetros bióticos e abióticos na Bacia do Pina (Recife, Pernambuco, Brasil). Dissertação de mestrado. Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Departamento de Oceanografia. 188p.
  • GARRISON, D. L. 1976. Contribution of the net plankton and nannoplankton to the standing stocks and primary productivity in Montrey Bay, California, during the upwelling season. Fishery Bull, natn. mar. Fish. Serv., U.S., 74(1):183-194.
  • GUILLARD, R. R. L.; KILHAM, P. & JACKSON, T. A. 1973. Kinetics of silicon-limited growth in the marine diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana Hasle and Heindal (= Cyclotella nana Hustedt). J. Phycol., 9:233-237.
  • KUTNER, M. B. B. 1972. Variação estacional e distribuição do fitoplâncton na região de Cananéia. Tese de doutorado. Universidade de São Paulo, Instituto de Biociências. 104p.
  • MALONE, T.C. 1971. The relative importance of nanoplankton and netplankton as primary producers in tropical oceanic and neritic phytoplankton communities. Limnol. Oceanogr., 16:633-639.
  • MUNK, W. H. & RILEY, G. A. 1952. Absorption of nutrients by aquatic plants. J. mar. Res., 11:215-240.
  • OLSEN, S. & PAASCHE, E. 1986. Variable kinetics of silicon-limited growth in Thalassiosira pseudonana (Bacillariophyceae) in response to changed chemical composition of the growth medium. Br. phycol. J., 21183-190.
  • PASSAVANTE, J. Z. O. 1979. Produção primária do fitoplâncton do Canal de Santa Cruz (Itamaracá-Pernambuco). Tese de doutorado. Universidade de São Paulo. Instituto Oceanográfico. 188p.
  • ______ 1981. Estudo ecológico da região de Itamaracá, Pernambuco - Brasil. XIX. Biomassa do nano e microfitoplâncton do Canal de Santa Cruz. Trabs oceanogr. Univ. Fed. Pe., 16:105-156.
  • ______ & KOENING, M. L. 1978. Clorofila-α e material em suspensão no Rio Botafogo (Itamaracá-PE). In: SIMPÓSIO BRASILEIRO DE AQÜICULTURA, 1., Recife, 1978. Resumos, v. 1:88-89.
  • QASIM, S. Z.; WELLERSHAUS, S.; BHATTATHIRI, P. M. A. & ABIDI, S. A. H. 1969. Organic production in a tropical estuary. Proc. Indian Acad. Sci., 69(2), Sec.B:51-94.
  • SASSI, R. 1987. Fitoplâncton da formação recifal da Ponta do Seixas (Lat. 7ş9'16"S, Long. 34ş4735" W), Estado da Paraíba, Brasil: composição, ciclo anual e alguns aspectos fisio-ecológicos. Tese de doutorado. Universidade de São Paulo, Instituto Oceanográfico. 163p.
  • ______ & KUTNER, M. B. B. 1982. Variação sazonal do fitoplâncton e fatores ecológicos básicos da região do Saco da Ribeira (Lat. 23ş30'S, Long. 45ş07'W), Ubatuba, Brasil. Bolm Inst, oceanogr., S Paulo, 31(2):29-42.
  • ______ & WATANABE, T. 1980. Estudos ecológicos básicos no estuário do Rio Paraíba do Norte, Paraíba, Brasil. Fitoplâncton e fatores hidrológicos. In: SIMPÓSIO NACIONAL DE ECOLOGIA, 2., Belém, Anais. v. 3, p.305-313.
  • SINGARAJAH, K.V.S. 1978. Hydrographic conditions, composition and distribution of plankton in relation to potential resources of Paraíba do Norte River estuary. Revta nordest. Biol., 1(1):125-144.
  • STRICLAND, J. D. H. & PARSONS, T. R. 1960. A manual of seawater analysis. Bull Fish. Res. Bd Can., (125):1-187.
  • SUBRAHMANYAN, R. 1959. Studies on the phytoplankton of the West Coast of India. Proc. Ind. Acad. Sci., 50 Sec.B:113-252.
  • TEIXEIRA, C. & KUTNER, M. B. 1963. Plankton studies in a mangrove environment. I. First assessment of standing stock and principal ecological factors. Bolm Inst, oceanogr., S Paulo, 12:101-124.
  • ______ ; TUNDISI, J. & KUTNER, M. B. 1965. Plankton studies in a mangrove environment. II. The standing stock and some ecological factors. Bolm Inst, oceanogr., S Paulo, 12:13-41.
  • TUNDISI, J. G.; TUNDISI, T. M. & KUTNER, M. B. 1973. Plankton studies in a mangrove environment. VIII. Further investigations on primary production, standing stock of phyto and Zooplankton and some environmental factors. Int. Revue ges. Hydrobiol., 58(6):925-940.
  • ______ ; TEIXEIRA, C; TUNDISI, T.M.; KUTNER, M. B. & KINOSHITA, L. 1978. Plankton studies in a mangrove environment. IX. Comparative investigation with coastal oligotrophic waters. Revta brasil. Biol., 38(2):301-320.
  • UTERMÖHL, H. 1958. Zur Vervollkommnung der quantitativen Phytoplankton-Methodik. Mitt. int. Verein, theor. angew. Limnol., 9:1-38, 1pl.

Publication Dates

  • Publication in this collection
    14 May 2012
  • Date of issue
    1991

History

  • Accepted
    15 Aug 1991
  • Reviewed
    17 Apr 1991
  • Received
    28 May 1990
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