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JPR Advance Access published online on September 21, 2006
Journal of Plankton Research, doi:10.1093/plankt/fbl051
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© The Author 2006. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org
Received March 13, 2006
Accepted September 18, 2006

Article

Pigment-specific rates of phytoplankton growth and microzooplanckton grazing in a subtropical lagoon

Ricardo Palomares-García 1 *, J. J. Bustillos-Guzmán 2, and D. López-Cortés 2

1 Centro Interdisciplinario de Ciencias Marinas (IPN-CICIMAR). Depto. de Plancton y Ecología Marina, Av. Instituto Politecnico Nacional S/N, Col. Playa Palo de Santa Rita, CP. 23090, Apdo postal. 592.. La Paz, Baja California Sur, México
2 Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste, S. C., Mar Bermejo 195, Col. Playa Palo de Santa Rita, CP 23090. La Paz, Baja California Sur, México

* To whom correspondence should be addressed.
Ricardo Palomares-García, E-mail: rpalomar{at}ipn.mx


  Abstract

Phytoplankton growth and microzooplankton grazing rates were evaluated in one station in Bahía Concepción, located in the middle region of the Gulf of California, México. We used HPLC estimations of phytoplankton pigment signatures, to evaluate the annual variation of taxon-specific grazing and growth rates obtained with the dilution technique. Chlorophyll-a concentrations varied widely (0.34-3.32 µg L-1), and showed two maxima, during late spring and autumn, associated with the transition between mixed and stratified conditions. Phytoplankton growth rates varied seasonally with lowest rates during summer (range: 0.01-2.55 day-1 for chlorophyll a; 0.00 to 3.84 day-1 for chlorophyll b; 0.26 to 3.29 day-1 for fucoxanthin; 0.00 to 6.27 day-1 for peridinin; 0.00 to 4.35 day-1 for zeaxanthin). Microzooplankton grazing was an important loss process (range: 0.0-1.89 day-1 for chlorophyll-a; 0.00 to 3.12 day-1 for chlorophyll-b; 0.26 to 3.29 day-1 for fucoxanthin; 0.00 to 2.03 day-1 for peridinin; 0.00 to 3.51 day-1 for zeaxanthin). Average grazing rates accounted about 68-89% of estimate average phytoplankton pigment-specific growth rates. The analysis of pigment signatures indicates that diatoms and dinoflagellates were the dominant groups, and contrary to expectation for typical subtropical lagoons, the specific growth rates in Bahía Concepción showed a pronounced seasonal variability, linked to transitional hydrographic conditions. Our results indicate a close coupling between the community microzooplancton grazing and phytoplankton growth rates, without selective feeding behaviour. These results suggest that microzooplankton play a critical role and may significantly modify the availability and efficiency of transfer of energy to higher trophic levels.

Communicating Editor: KJ Flynn


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