Benthic diatom biomass, production and sediment chlorophyll in langebaan lagoon, South Africa

Fielding, P.J.; Damstra, K.St.J.; Branch, G. M.

doi:10.1016/0272-7714(88)90097-2

Cited by 48 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…The presence of chl a below the photic zone (1 to 5 mm) to depths of >30 cm (6 cm sampling limit in present study) is caused by the balance between active migration of diatoms, and redistribution caused by hydrodynamic mixing by wave and current action, and bioturbation by deposit feeders (Cadee & Hegeman 1974, Lukatelich & McComb 1986, Fielding et al 1988, Barranguet et al 1997. Seasonal variation in profiles are due to changes in the relative importance of these processes (Sun et al 1991).…”

Section: Re-distribution Of Microalgae Within the Tidal Flatmentioning

confidence: 53%

Nature and ecological implications of algal pigment diversity on the Molenplaat tidal flat (Westerschelde estuary, SW Netherlands)

Lucas¹,

Holligan²

1999

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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Depth profiles of chlorophyll a (chl a), its degradation products, and accessory pigment markers from 5 sites with differing sediment properties highlighted the role of physical and biological processes in re-distributing microalgal biomass both horizontally and vertically around the Molenplaat tidal flat. Intermediate-scale distribution of chl a was highly correlated with sedimentological parameters, with biomass greatest at siltier sites. Fucoxanthin:chl a ratios of 0.35 to 1.60 indicated that the microphytobenthos community was dominated by diatoms in both silty and sandy sediments. Cyanobacteria (zeaxanthin) were also present, mainly in September. Other sources of algae came in the form of deposited water column material. Peridlnin, 19'hexanoyloxyfucoxanthin, and to a lesser extent chl b were the main pigments, primarily found at silty sites. Between June and September, the relative amounts of accessory pigments increased suggesting that inputs of material from the water column occurred during this period. Although benthic and water column pigments were found in the surface layers of silty and sandy sites, there were pronounced differences in biomass and vertical distribution. At sandy sites, homogenous vertical distributions of chl a in the upper 2 cm of sediment, together with low phaeopigment levels and the absence of water colum pigments below the surface layer, suggest that accumulation of in situ and allochthonous sources of microalgae is insignificant. Material is subjected to a continuous cycle of burial and resuspension during each tidal cycle and through the action of bioturbators such as Arenicola marina. There was a pronounced peak in chl a biomass at the silty sites in June. Rapidly decreasing chl a over the top 1 cm suggests that degradation was more rapid than sedment mixing. Large amounts of phaeopigments were produced, with the relative contribution switching from phaeophytins (MarchIApnl) to phaeophorbides (September) as the role of the herbivorous community in chl a cycling became more sigmficant. An increase in relative contributions of accessory pigments both at the surface and in deeper layers between spring and autumn suggest that silty sites are a sink for sedimenting algae from the water column during this time. During the late autumn-winter, chl a biomass and pigment diversity decreased considerably, coincident with reduced biological activity and increased physical mixing.

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Section: Re-distribution Of Microalgae Within the Tidal Flatmentioning

confidence: 53%

Nature and ecological implications of algal pigment diversity on the Molenplaat tidal flat (Westerschelde estuary, SW Netherlands)

Lucas¹,

Holligan²

1999

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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“…We found a weak negative correlation between phytobenthic biomass (DW of macroalgae and microphytobenthos) and ex- Published data on microphytobenthic biomass and water movement describe strong negative rela tionships between these factors (Fielding et al 1988;Delgado et al 1991;Kendrick et al 1996). Hoagland (1983 showed that, on artificial substrata, turbulence caused by rough weath er conditions led to biomass losses of up to 80%.…”

Section: Biomassmentioning

confidence: 78%

Gradient responses of diatom communities in the Bothnian Sea (northern Baltic Sea), with emphasis on responses to water movement

Busse

Snoeijs

2003

Phycologia

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“…In shallow aquatic ecosystems, microphytobenthos contributes a significant fraction of the total primary production and biomass, equaling or even exceeding that of phytoplankton in the overlying water column (Cadée & Hegeman 1974a,b, Lukatelich & McComb 1986, Fielding et al 1988, Kromkamp et al 1995, Adams et al 1999, Cahoon 1999, Perissinotto et al 2001). In the Mdloti Estuary, much higher levels of chl a were recorded in the top first centimeter of surface sediment than in the overlying water column (with the exception of November 1999: Table 1).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Annual cycle of microalgal biomass in a South African temporarily-open estuary: nutrient versus light limitation

Nozais¹,

Perissinotto²,

Mundree³

2001

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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Benthic diatom biomass, production and sediment chlorophyll in langebaan lagoon, South Africa

Cited by 48 publications

References 35 publications

Nature and ecological implications of algal pigment diversity on the Molenplaat tidal flat (Westerschelde estuary, SW Netherlands)

Nature and ecological implications of algal pigment diversity on the Molenplaat tidal flat (Westerschelde estuary, SW Netherlands)

Gradient responses of diatom communities in the Bothnian Sea (northern Baltic Sea), with emphasis on responses to water movement

Annual cycle of microalgal biomass in a South African temporarily-open estuary: nutrient versus light limitation

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