Effects of Nutrient Enrichment on Microalgal Community Composition in a Coastal Shallow-water Sediment System: An Experimental Study

Sundbäck, Kristina; Snoeijs, Pauli

doi:10.1515/botm.1991.34.4.341

Cited by 79 publications

(59 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…This could indicate nutrient limitation at times of high photosynthetic activities in the sediment, as described by Sundbäck & Snoeijs (1991), although usually nutrient limitation in the benthic habitat is less likely because benthic microalgae can assimilate nutrients directly out of the interstitial water (Shaffer & Onuf 1983). Also, the high benthic algal biomass in the upper layers of the KB sediments could have shaded the algae in deeper layers, resulting in lower mean photosynthetic capacity rates integrated over the depths measured.…”

Section: Physiological Adaptations Of Microphytobenthosmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…Possible physiological adaptations of the benthic algae to prevailing light conditions were examined using photosynthesis/irradiance (P /E) curves with data on maximum photosynthetic capacity (P max ), photosynthetic efficiency (α) and the light saturation coefficent (E k ) (Kohl & Nicklisch 1988, Pickney & Zingmark 1991, Falkowski & Raven 1997, Barranguet et al 1998. To examine possible effects of eutrophication on the benthic microalgal community (Sundbäck & Snoeijs 1991), the species composition of the phytoplankton and microphytobenthos was determined microscopically at the 2 study sites.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Microphytobenthic primary production in the Bodden estuaries, southern Baltic Sea, at two study sites differing in trophic status

Gerbersdorf¹,

Meyercordt²,

Meyer‐Reil³

2005

Aquat. Microb. Ecol.

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Eutrophication in coastal areas has stimulated phytoplankton growth, sustaining a high biomass and leading to a shift in the underwater light field. With the significance of the microphytobenthos for oxygen supply and carbon budget of both benthic and pelagic habitats in mind, the possible effects of reduced light availability were investigated in the estuarine Bodden area (southern Baltic Sea) at 2 sites differing in trophic status -the eutrophic Kirr Bucht (KB) and the mesotrophic Rassower Strom (RS). Using for the first time microsensors in Bodden sediments, it was possible to visualize small-scale heterogeneity in the light regime, photosynthetic activity and oxygen penetration with high spatial and temporal resolution. Hence, differences at the 2 sites related to sediment characteristics (KB sandy, RS muddy), and photoautotrophic biomass (benthic chlorophyll a in the upper 1 cm, µg cm -3 = 11 to 48 at KB and 13 to 17 at RS) could be ruled out. Calculations of benthic primary production based solely on microelectrode measurements revealed substantial oxygen fluxes and carbon fixation rates at in situ light intensities at both study sites (e.g. gross primary production, GPP, mg C m -2 h -1 = 28 to 80 at KB and 3 to 36 at RS). The different combinations of water transparency (pelagic chlorophyll a, µg l -1 = 12 to 33 at KB and 1.3 to 4.5 at RS), light attenuation k (3.17 m -1 at KB, 0.61 m -1 at RS) and water depth (0.6 m at KB, 3.4 m at RA) have led to a similar light availability for benthic algae on the sediment surface at both study sites. Consequently, the benthic algae had comparable productivity at both sites, with maximum primary production, P B max (mg C mg -1 chlorophyll a h -1 ) of 0.29 to 1.46 at KB and 0.17 to 1.63 at RS; and were adapted to rather low light conditions, with light saturation, E k (µE m -2 s -1 ) of 22 to 152 at KB and 10 to 116 at RS). Varying with season, microphytobenthic photosynthetic activity accounted for 26 to 59 and 2 to 53% to the total primary production at the KB and RS, respectively, with the highest contribution in spring coincident with the most favourable light conditions at the sediment surface. With an annual average of about 37 and 30% (KB and RS, respectively), the contribution of the microphytobenthos to total production was significant and comparable at both study sites. Nevertheless, the higher trophic status at KB resulted in a change in the benthic microalgal community towards sedimentated phytoplankton species and had a negative impact on microphytobenthic primary production rates. This was estimated by calculating the gross primary production for varying water depths on the basis of the different water transparency at the 2 sites.

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Section: Physiological Adaptations Of Microphytobenthosmentioning

confidence: 97%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Microphytobenthic primary production in the Bodden estuaries, southern Baltic Sea, at two study sites differing in trophic status

Gerbersdorf¹,

Meyercordt²,

Meyer‐Reil³

2005

Aquat. Microb. Ecol.

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“…However, the factors influencing the taxonomic composition of benthic microflora are not as well understood as those influencing the pelagic microalgae. For sedimentinhabiting microflora, Admiraal (1984) emphasized the role of physical and chemical conditions rather than nutrient competition, whereas the importance of nutrient supply was stressed later on (Sundbäck & Snoeijs, 1991;Flothmann & Werner, 1992;Nilsson, 1995). Whereas several studies on nutrient competition in freshwater periphyton have been published (see reviews in Borchardt, 1996;McCormick, 1996), only few studies have compared the combined effects of Si-and N + P-enrichment on benthic microalgae.…”

Section: Nutrient Competitionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The influence of nutrient supply on marine microalgae on hard substrates has rarely been investigated as the effect of nutrient competition on epipelic diatoms was thought to be minor compared to abiotic factors (Admiraal, 1984). It became clear, however, that nutrient limitation is possible in a variety of benthic habitats (Sundbäck & Snoeijs, 1991;Nilsson, 1995;Borchardt, 1996). It can be assumed that nutrients should be more important for the structure of benthic microflora on hard substrates lacking the sediment porewater as an additional nutrient pool.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Untitled

Hillebrand¹,

Sommer²

2000

Hydrobiologia

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In order to understand the effect of changing nutrient conditions on benthic microalgae on hard substrates, insitu experiments with artificial substrates were conducted in Kiel Fjord, Western Baltic Sea. As an extension of previous investigations, we used artificial substrates without silicate and thus were able to supply nutrient media with different Si:N ratios to porous substrates, from where they trickled out continuously. The biofilm developing on these substrates showed a significant increase in biovolume due to N + P enrichment, while Si alone had only minor effects. The stoichiometric composition of the biomass indicated nitrogen limitation during most of the year. The C:N ratios were lowered by the N + P addition. The algae were dominated by diatoms in most cases, but rhodophytes and chlorophytes also became important. The nutrient treatment affected the taxonomic composition mostly at the species level. The significance of the results with regard to coastal eutrophication is discussed.

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“…Sullivan and Ritacco, 1988;Sundbäck and Snoeijs, 1991;Jacobsen et al, 1995). These experiments are conducted over a span of days to several weeks to detect and quantify consequent responses of the community to enrichment.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Metabolic changes and compositional shifts in nutrient-enriched tropical reef sediment communities

Dizon¹,

Yap²

2003

Sci. Mar.

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SUMMARY: Four sets of nutrient enrichment experiments were carried out in 1994 and 1995 using sieved sand from a coral reef flat in the northwestern Philippines. The samples, prepared by packing the sediment in glass petri dishes, were maintained for 7 days in outdoor microcosms with varying nitrogen:phosphorus (N:P) ratios in the overlying water. The objective of the study was to detect changes in the composition and metabolism of sediment communities over short-term nutrient exposures. Net primary production and respiration rates of the microalgae increased within a few days in treatments having elevated levels of N, P and N+P. The addition of N and N+P significantly stimulated microalgal proliferation, even within a few days, while the addition of P alone did not elicit a significant response. Diatoms and cyanobacteria were the major taxonomic groups in the sediment samples, with the latter accounting for much of the community growth. The associated infaunal community in the sediment plates, dominated by crustaceans, nematodes and foraminiferans, showed a high degree of variability between experiments, but this did not confound the effects of nutrient addition as there was no distinct trend with respect to either time or nutrient treatment. This study demonstrates that, in tropical shallow-water benthic systems, the direct effects of an episodic nutrient loading event can be observed within short time scales using microcosms derived from natural communities.Key words: coral reef sediments, microcosm experiments, microphytobenthos, nutrient loading, infauna. RESUMEN: CAMBIOS METABÓLICOS Y DE COMPOSICIÓN EN COMUNIDADES DE SEDIMENTOS DE ARRECIFE TROPICAL ENRIQUECI-DOS CON NUTRIENTES. -Entre 1994 y 1995 se llevaron a cabo cuatro series de experimentos de enriquecimiento en nutrientes con arena tamizada que procedía de un arrecife de coral situado en el noroeste de las Filipinas. Las muestras, preparadas a partir del empaquetamiento del sedimento en discos de Petri de vidrio, se mantenían durante 7 días en microcosmos al aire libre con proporciones variables de nitrógeno:fósforo en el agua. El objetivo del estudio era detectar cambios en la composición y el metabolismo de las comunidades del sedimento cuando se sometían a episodios cortos de enriquecimiento con nutrientes. La producción primaria neta y las tasas de respiración de las microalgas aumentaban a los pocos días en los tratamientos con concentraciones elevadas de N, P y N+P. La adición de N y N+P estimulaba significativamente la proliferación de las microalgas en pocos días, mientras que la adición de P no provocaba una respuesta significativa. En las muestras de sedimento, las diatomeas y cianobacterias eran los grupos taxonómicos más abundantes y éstas últimas contribuían a la mayor parte del crecimiento de la comunidad. La comunidad de fauna estaba dominada por crustáceos, nemátodos y foraminíferos y mostraba una gran variabilidad entre los experimentos. Esta variabilidad no invalidaba los efectos de la adición de nutrientes, ya que la tendencia de la...

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Effects of Nutrient Enrichment on Microalgal Community Composition in a Coastal Shallow-water Sediment System: An Experimental Study

Cited by 79 publications

References 16 publications

Microphytobenthic primary production in the Bodden estuaries, southern Baltic Sea, at two study sites differing in trophic status

Microphytobenthic primary production in the Bodden estuaries, southern Baltic Sea, at two study sites differing in trophic status

Untitled

Metabolic changes and compositional shifts in nutrient-enriched tropical reef sediment communities

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