In situ measurements of benthic primary production, respiration and nutrient fluxes in a hypersaline coastal lagoon of SE Brazil

Abstracts

Bentbic oxygen and nutrient ftuxes were measured in a section of the hypersaline carbonate-rich coastal lagoon of Araruama, SE-Brazil. In situ incubations of the sediment surface (Zm - 1.5) were performed at one station with light/dark chambers during september 1993 (early spring period) and april 1995 (earlyautumn period). The carbonate..rich aediments were covered by 1-3 mm thick microalgal mats, dominated by the cyanobaeteria Phormidium sp, Oscillatoria sp, and Lyngbya sp. Benthic net primary production rates were 15.4 ± 0.7 mmolC/m²/d in early spring and 33.8 ± 8.8 mmolC/m²/d in early autumn, total community respiration rates attained 35.3 ± 7.2 and 65.7 ± 16.9 mmolC/m²/d, and pelagic primary production rates 1.7 ± 0.7 and 4.0 ± 1.4 mmolC/m²/d, respectively. Total community metabolism was thus heterauophic and mainly driven by benthic metabolism. The benthic release rates af ammonia were 0.65 ± 0.32 mmolC/m²/day in early spring and 0.58± 0.42mmoVm ldaym early autumn, butwere near to negligible for orthophosphate. Pelagic primaryproduction was limited byphosphorous, in part, by the preferential release of étmmonia over orthophosphate from the sediment-water interface. The benthic primary production and nutrient release rates were within the range of other eury-to hypersaline carbonate-rich environments characterized by non- consolidated algat rats.

Primary production; Respiration; Nutrients; Benthic Interface; Hypersaline lagoon; Brazil

Fluxos bênticos de oxigênio e nutrientes foram medidos numa seção da lagoa hipersalina e carbonática de Araruama, SE-Brasil Incubações in situ da superfície do sedimento (Zm = 1,5) foram realizadas em uma estação com câmaras claras/escuras nos meses de setembro de 1993 (início da primavera) e abril de 1995 (início do outono). Os sedimentos ricos em carbonatos eram recobertos por um tapete microalgal de 1-3 mm, dominados pelas cianobactérias Phormidium sp,Oscillatoria spLyngbya sp. As taxas de produção primária yquida foram 15,4 ± 0,7 mmolC/m²/d Id no iníCIO da primavera e 33,8 ± 8,8 mmolC/m Id no início do outono, as taxas de respiração total da comunidade alcançaram 35,3 ± 7,2 e 65,7 ± 16,9 mmolC/m²/d Id, e as taxas de produção primária pelágica 1,7 ± 0,7 e 4,0 ± 1,4 mmolC/m²/d, respectivamente. Desta forma, o metabolismo total da comunidade mostrou-se heterotrófico e guiado principalmente pela contornação bêntica. As taxas de liberação bêntica de amônia foram 0,65 ± 0,32 mmoVm ldia no início da primavera e 0,58 ± 0,42 mmolC/m²/dia no início do outono e insignificantes para fósforo. O fósforo representou o elemento limitante da produçao primária pelágica, em parte, pela liberação preferencial de amônia sobre ortofOsfato a partir da interface água-sedimento. A produção primária bêntica e as taxas de liberação de nutrientes se enquadraram dentro da faixa estabelecida para outros sistemas eurye hipersalinos carbonáticos, caracterizados por tapetes algais não-consolidados.

Produção primária; Respiração; Nutrientes; Interface bêntica; Laguna hipersalina; Brasil

RESEARCH ARTICLES

In situ measurements of benthic primary production, respiration and nutrient fluxes in a hypersaline coastal lagoon of SE Brazil

Bastiaan Knoppers^I; Weber Friederichs Landim de Souza^I; Marcelo Friederichs Landim de souza^I; Eliane Gonzalez Rodriguez^II; Elisa de Fátima da Cunha Vianna Landim^I; Antonio Romanazzi Vieira^I

^IUniversidade Federal Fluminense, Departamento de Geoquímica (Morro do Valonguinho, s/n, 24020-007, Niterói, RJ, Brasil)

^IIInstituto de Estudos do Mar Almirante Paulo Moreira (Caixa Postal 28390, Arraial do Cabo, RJ, Brasil)

ABSTRACT

Bentbic oxygen and nutrient ftuxes were measured in a section of the hypersaline carbonate-rich coastal lagoon of Araruama, SE-Brazil. In situ incubations of the sediment surface (Zm - 1.5) were performed at one station with light/dark chambers during september 1993 (early spring period) and april 1995 (earlyautumn period). The carbonate..rich aediments were covered by 1-3 mm thick microalgal mats, dominated by the cyanobaeteria Phormidium sp, Oscillatoria sp, and Lyngbya sp. Benthic net primary production rates were 15.4 ± 0.7 mmolC/m²/d in early spring and 33.8 ± 8.8 mmolC/m²/d in early autumn, total community respiration rates attained 35.3 ± 7.2 and 65.7 ± 16.9 mmolC/m²/d, and pelagic primary production rates 1.7 ± 0.7 and 4.0 ± 1.4 mmolC/m²/d, respectively. Total community metabolism was thus heterauophic and mainly driven by benthic metabolism. The benthic release rates af ammonia were 0.65 ± 0.32 mmolC/m²/day in early spring and 0.58± 0.42mmoVm ldaym early autumn, butwere near to negligible for orthophosphate. Pelagic primaryproduction was limited byphosphorous, in part, by the preferential release of étmmonia over orthophosphate from the sediment-water interface. The benthic primary production and nutrient release rates were within the range of other eury-to hypersaline carbonate-rich environments characterized by non- consolidated algat rats.

Descriptors: Primary production, Respiration, Nutrients, Benthic Interface, Hypersaline lagoon, Brazil.

RESUMO

Fluxos bênticos de oxigênio e nutrientes foram medidos numa seção da lagoa hipersalina e carbonática de Araruama, SE-Brasil Incubações in situ da superfície do sedimento (Zm = 1,5) foram realizadas em uma estação com câmaras claras/escuras nos meses de setembro de 1993 (início da primavera) e abril de 1995 (início do outono). Os sedimentos ricos em carbonatos eram recobertos por um tapete microalgal de 1-3 mm, dominados pelas cianobactérias Phormidium sp,Oscillatoria spLyngbya sp. As taxas de produção primária yquida foram 15,4 ± 0,7 mmolC/m²/d Id no iníCIO da primavera e 33,8 ± 8,8 mmolC/m Id no início do outono, as taxas de respiração total da comunidade alcançaram 35,3 ± 7,2 e 65,7 ± 16,9 mmolC/m²/d Id, e as taxas de produção primária pelágica 1,7 ± 0,7 e 4,0 ± 1,4 mmolC/m²/d, respectivamente. Desta forma, o metabolismo total da comunidade mostrou-se heterotrófico e guiado principalmente pela contornação bêntica. As taxas de liberação bêntica de amônia foram 0,65 ± 0,32 mmoVm ldia no início da primavera e 0,58 ± 0,42 mmolC/m²/dia no início do outono e insignificantes para fósforo. O fósforo representou o elemento limitante da produçao primária pelágica, em parte, pela liberação preferencial de amônia sobre ortofOsfato a partir da interface água-sedimento. A produção primária bêntica e as taxas de liberação de nutrientes se enquadraram dentro da faixa estabelecida para outros sistemas eury­e hipersalinos carbonáticos, caracterizados por tapetes algais não-consolidados.

Descritores: Produção primária, Respiração, Nutrientes, Interface bêntica, Laguna hipersalina, Brasil.

Full text available only in PDF format.

Texto completo disponível apenas em PDF.

Acknowledgements

We are indebted to Dr. Ricardo Coutinho for his management efforts of the PROLAGOS project and for assistance in the field. This work was financed by Instituto Acqua, Petrobrás, and CNPq (Brazilian Council for the Development of Science and Tecnology). Marcelo, Weber and Elisa were supported with student scholarships from CNPq.

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(Manuscript received 06 October 1996; revised 21 February 1997; accepted 28 April 1997)

Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  22 Apr 2013
• Date of issue
  1996

History

• Accepted
  28 Apr 1997
• Received
  06 Oct 1996
• Reviewed
  21 Feb 1997