Spatio-Temporal Variations of Microphytobenthos in the Botafogo and Siri estuaries (norteast - Brazil)

Murolo, Priscila Porchat de Assis; Carvalho, Paulo Vladmir Vandenberg da Costa; Carvalho, Monica Lucia Botter; Souza-Santos, Lilia Pereira de; Santos, Paulo Jorge Parreira dos

Abstracts

Spatio-temporal variations of microphytobenthic biomass were investigated in the Botafogo and Siri estuaries, Pernambuco - Brazil. Samples were taken during low water (bi-monthly) from February to December, 2003. Three sampling stations were located in each estuary, in both midlittoral and sublittoral areas. Clear spatial and temporal variations were found for both chlorophyll-a and phaeopigment concentrations. In Botafogo, chlorophyll-a had 34% of total variation explained by MRA from nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations, while only 16% of total variation was thus explained from nitrogen concentration in the Siri estuary. Phaeopigments had 39% of total variation explained by MRA from nitrogen concentration and salinity in the Botafogo estuary and 58% of total variation was similarly explained from nitrogen concentration in the Siri estuary. Nitrogen was discriminated by the b coefficients as the most important factor in the explanation of the microphytobenthic pigments variations in the Botafogo estuary. The data of this study emphasize the role of nutrients and suggest that both estuaries show evidence of eutrophication.

microphytobenthos; chlorophyll-a; phaeopigments; biomass; nutrients

Variações espaço-temporais da biomassa do microfitobentos foram investigadas nos estuários dos rios Botafogo e Siri em Pernambuco, Brasil. As amostragens foram realizadas em baixa-mar (bimestralmente) de fevereiro a dezembro de 2003. Em cada estuário foram determinadas três estações de amostragem no médio- e no infralitoral. Fortes variações espaciais e temporais foram verificadas nas concentrações tanto de clorofila-a como de feopigmentos. No estuário do Botafogo, a clorofila-a teve 34% do total da sua variação explicada pela análise de regressão múltipla (MRA) baseada nas concentrações de nitrogênio e de fósforo, enquanto no estuário do Siri somente 16% dessa variação foi explicada pela MRA baseada na concentração de nitrogênio. Feopigmentos apresentou 39% de sua variação total explicada pela MRA baseada na concentração de nitrogênio e na salinidade no estuário do Botafogo; enquanto no Siri a MRA explicou 58% da variação total baseada somente na concentração de nitrogênio. Nitrogênio foi discriminado como o fator mais importante para explicar as variações do microfitobentos no estuário do rio Botafogo. Os resultados do presente trabalho ressaltam o papel dos nutrientes e sugerem que ambos estuários apresentam evidências de eutrofização.

microfitobentos; clorofila-a; feopigmentos; biomassa; nutrientes

Barranguet, C. 1997. The role of microphytobenthic primary production in a Mediterranean mussel culture area. Estuar. coast. Shelf. Sci., 44:753-765.
Barranguet, C.; Herman, P. M. J. & Sinke, J. J. 1997. Microphytobenthos biomass and community composition studied by pigment biomarkers; importance and fate in the carbon cycle of a tidal flat. J. Sea. Res., 38: 59-70.
Bianchi, T. S. & Rice, D. L. 1988. Feeding ecology of Leitoscoloplos fragilis: II. Effects of worm density on benthic diatom production. Mar. Biol., 99: 123-131.
Boto, K. G. & Wellington, J. T. 1984. Soil characteristics and nutrient status in northern Australian mangrove forests. Estuaries, 7:61-69.
Cadée, G. C. & Hegeman, J. 1974. Primary production of the benthic microflora living on tidal flats in the Dutch Wadden Sea. Neth. J. Sea Res., 8: 260-291.
Cadée, G. C. 1976. Sediment reworking by Arenicola marina on tidal flats in the Dutch Wadden Sea. Neth. J. Sea Res., 10: 440-460.
Cavalcante, L. B.; Macedo, S. J. & Passavante, J. Z. O. 1981. Estudo Ecológico da Região de Itamaracá, Pernambuco - Brasil. XXI. Caracterização do Canal de Santa Cruz em função dos parâmetros físico-químicos e pigmentos fotossintéticos. Trabhs Oceanogr., Univ. Fed., Pernambuco, 16:157-216.
Colijn, F. C. & Dijkema, K. S. 1981. Species composition of benthic diatoms and distribution of chlorophyll-a on an intertidal flat in the Dutch Wadden Sea. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser., 4: 9-21.
Colijn, F. & De Jonge, V. 1984. Primary production of microphytobenthos in the Ems-Dollard estuary. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser., 14: 185-196.
Corbisier, T. N.; Sousa, E. C. P. M.; Eichler, B. B. 1997. Distribuição espacial do meiobentos e do microfitobentos na Enseada do Flamengo, Ubatuba, São Paulo. Rev. Bras. Biol., 57(1):109-119.
David, C. J. & Sousa, E. C. P. M. 1996. Variação diária dos pigmentos fotossintetizantes do microfitobentos da Praia de Aparecida, Santos, (23º58'48S- 46º19'00W), São Paulo, Brasil. Rev. Bras. Biol., 56(1):147-154.
David, C. J.; Skowronski, R. S. P.; Sousa, E. C. P. M.; Corbisier, T. N.; Eichler, B. B. & Gitiselli, R. O. 2003. Microphytobenthic biomass gradient along the beach face and along shore profiles at Pernambuco Beach, Guarujá - SP, Brazil. J. coast. Res., v. SI 35:426-430.
Davis M. W. & McIntyre, C. D. 1983. Effects of physical gradients on the production dynamics of sediment associated algae. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser., 13; 103-114.
Degens, E. T. 1970. Molecular nature of nitrogenous compounds in sea water and recent marine sediments. In: Hood, D. W. ed. Organic Matter in Natural Waters. Fairbanks University of Alaska. p.77-100.
Gould, D. M. & Gallagher, E. D. 1990. Field measurement of specific growth rate, biomass, and primary production of benthic diatoms of Savin Hill Cove, Boston. Limnnol. Ocean., 35:1757-1770.
Hogarth, P. J. 1999. The biology of mangroves. Oxford, Oxford University Press, 228p.
Holmes, R. W. & Mahall, B. E. 1982. Preliminary observations on the effects of flooding and desiccation upon the net photosynthetic rates of high intertidal estuarine sediments. Limnol. Oceanogr., 27: 954-958.
Jones, A. B.; O'Donhue, M. J.; Udy, J.; Dennison, W. C. 2001. Assessing ecological impacts of shrimp and sewage effluent: biological indicators with standard water quality analyses. Estuar. coast. Shelf. Sci., 52:91-109.
Jong, D. J.; Nienhuis, P. H. & Kater, B. J. 1994. Microphytobenthos in the Oosterschelde estuary (The Netherlands), 1981-1990; consequences of a changed tidal regime. Hydrobiol., 282/283: 183-195.
Lehman, P. W. 1992. Environmental factors associated with long-term changes in chlorophyll concentration in the Sacramento-San Joaquin delta and Suisun bay, California. Estuaries, 15:335-348.
Lorenzen, C. J. 1967. Determination of chlorophyll and pheopigments spectrophotometric equations. Limnol. Oceanogr., 12: 343-346.
Macedo, S. J.; Melo, H. N. S. & Costa, K. M. P. 1982. Estudos ecológicos da região de Itamaracá - Pernambuco - Brasil. XXIII. Condições hidrológicas do estuário do rio Botafogo. Trabhs Oceanogr., Univ. Fed. Pernambuco, Recife, 17:81-122.
Mattson, J. & Linden, O. 1983. Benthic macrofauna succession under mussels, Mytilus edulis L. (Bivalvia), cultures on hanging long-lines. Sarsia, 68:97-102.
McIntyre, H. L. & Cullen, J. J. 1995. Fine scale vertical resolution of chlorophyll and photosynthetic pigments in shallow water benthos. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser., 122: 227-237.
Moura, A. N.; Passavante, J. Z. O.; Silva-Cunha, M. G. G. & Eskinazi-Leça, E. 1993. Diatomáceas perifíticas fixadas em substratos natural e artificial nos estuários dos rios Paripe e Igarassu-Ilha de Itamaracá- Pernambuco. Trabhs Oceanogr. Univ. Fed. Pernambuco, Recife, 22:86-96.
Moura, A. N., Passavante, J. Z.O. & Feitosa, F.A.N.1995. Biomassa de algas perifíticas em substrato artificial nos estuários dos rios Paripe e Igarassu-Ilha de Itamaracá- Pernambuco. Trabhs Oceanogr. Univ. Fed. Pernambuco, Recife, 23:17-23.
Novak, M; Lever, M; Valiela, I. 2001. Biol. Bull., 201: 292-294.
Oliveira, G. G.; Eskinazi-Leça, E. & Moura, A. M. N. 2000. Colonização de diatoméceas perifíticas em substrato artificial no estuário do rio Paripe-PE. In: Mangrove 2000 - Sustentabilidade de Estuários e Manguezais: Desafios e Perspectivas. Trabalhos Completos. Recife, ISME-Brasil/UFRPE. p. 1-15. CD-Rom.
Pinckney, J. & Zingmark, R. G. 1991. Effects of tidal stage and sun angles on intertidal benthic microalgal productivity. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser., 76: 81-89.
Pomeroy, L. R. 1959. Algal productivity in salt marshes of Georgia. Limnol. Oceanogr., 4:386-397.
Redfield, A. C. 1934. On the Proportion of organic derivatives in sea water and their relation to the composition of plankton. James Johnston Memorial Volume. University Press of Liverpool, p. 26-77.
Rizzo, W. M. & Wetzel, R. L. 1985. Intertidal and shoal benthic community metabolism in a temperate estuary: studies of spatial and temporal scales of variability. Estuaries, 8: 342-351.
Santos, P. J. P.; Castel, J. & Souza-Santos, L.P. 1997. Distribution and dynamics of microphytobenthos biomass in the Gironde Estuary (France). Oceanol. Acta, 20(3): 549-566.
Shaffer, G. P. & Onuf, C. P. 1983. An analysis of factors influencing the primary production of the benthic microflora in a southern California lagoon. Neth. J. Sea Res., 17:126-144.
Sousa, E. C. P. M. 1983. Primary production of the benthic microflora living on intertidal flats in Santos Estuarine System (24ºS-46ºW), São Paulo, Brazil. Bolm Inst. oceanogr., S Paulo, 32 (2):177-186.
Sousa, E. C. P. M.; Corbisier, T. N.; Eichler, B. B.; Bonetti, C. V. D. H.; Gasllerani, G. & Heitor, S. R. 1994. Microfitobentos e meiobentos da região da Enseada do Flamengo, Ubatuba. In: Simpósio de Ecossistemas da Costa Brasileira, 3. Ubatuba, 1994. Anais. São Paulo, ACIESP, 2:315-323.
Sousa, E. C. P. M.; Tomasi, L. R. & David, C. J. 1998. Microphytobenthic primary production, biomass, nutrients and pollutants of Santos Estuary (24 S,46 20' W). São Paulo, Brazil. Arq. Biol. Technol., 41(1):27-36.
Suguio, K. 1973. Introdução a sedimentologia. São Paulo, EDUSP/Edgard Blücher, 318p.
Sullivan, M. J. & Montcreiff, C. A. 1988. Primary production of edaphic algal communities in a Mississippi salt marsh. J. Phycol., 24: 49-58.
Valiela, I. 1995. Marine ecological processes. 2^nd ed. New York , Springer-Verlag.686p.
Welker, C., Sdrigotto, E.; Covelli, S. & Faganeli, J. 2002. Microphytobenthos in the Gulf of Trieste (Northern Adriatic Sea): Relationship with labile sedimentary organic matter and nutrients. Estuar. coast. Shelf. Sci., 55:259-273.
Wetzel, R. G. & Likens, G. E. 1990. Limnological analysis. New York, Springer-Verlag. 2^nd 338p.

Publication Dates

Publication in this collection
24 Oct 2007
Date of issue
Mar 2006

History

Received
16 Feb 2005
Reviewed
15 Aug 2005
Accepted
12 Dec 2005

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

[1] Barranguet, C. 1997. The role of microphytobenthic primary production in a Mediterranean mussel culture area. Estuar. coast. Shelf. Sci., 44:753-765.

[2] Barranguet, C.; Herman, P. M. J. & Sinke, J. J. 1997. Microphytobenthos biomass and community composition studied by pigment biomarkers; importance and fate in the carbon cycle of a tidal flat. J. Sea. Res., 38: 59-70.

[3] Bianchi, T. S. & Rice, D. L. 1988. Feeding ecology of Leitoscoloplos fragilis: II. Effects of worm density on benthic diatom production. Mar. Biol., 99: 123-131.

[4] Boto, K. G. & Wellington, J. T. 1984. Soil characteristics and nutrient status in northern Australian mangrove forests. Estuaries, 7:61-69.

[5] Cadée, G. C. & Hegeman, J. 1974. Primary production of the benthic microflora living on tidal flats in the Dutch Wadden Sea. Neth. J. Sea Res., 8: 260-291.

[6] Cadée, G. C. 1976. Sediment reworking by Arenicola marina on tidal flats in the Dutch Wadden Sea. Neth. J. Sea Res., 10: 440-460.

[7] Cavalcante, L. B.; Macedo, S. J. & Passavante, J. Z. O. 1981. Estudo Ecológico da Região de Itamaracá, Pernambuco - Brasil. XXI. Caracterização do Canal de Santa Cruz em função dos parâmetros físico-químicos e pigmentos fotossintéticos. Trabhs Oceanogr., Univ. Fed., Pernambuco, 16:157-216.

[8] Colijn, F. C. & Dijkema, K. S. 1981. Species composition of benthic diatoms and distribution of chlorophyll-a on an intertidal flat in the Dutch Wadden Sea. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser., 4: 9-21.

[9] Colijn, F. & De Jonge, V. 1984. Primary production of microphytobenthos in the Ems-Dollard estuary. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser., 14: 185-196.

[10] Corbisier, T. N.; Sousa, E. C. P. M.; Eichler, B. B. 1997. Distribuição espacial do meiobentos e do microfitobentos na Enseada do Flamengo, Ubatuba, São Paulo. Rev. Bras. Biol., 57(1):109-119.

[11] David, C. J. & Sousa, E. C. P. M. 1996. Variação diária dos pigmentos fotossintetizantes do microfitobentos da Praia de Aparecida, Santos, (23º58'48S- 46º19'00W), São Paulo, Brasil. Rev. Bras. Biol., 56(1):147-154.

[12] David, C. J.; Skowronski, R. S. P.; Sousa, E. C. P. M.; Corbisier, T. N.; Eichler, B. B. & Gitiselli, R. O. 2003. Microphytobenthic biomass gradient along the beach face and along shore profiles at Pernambuco Beach, Guarujá - SP, Brazil. J. coast. Res., v. SI 35:426-430.

[13] Davis M. W. & McIntyre, C. D. 1983. Effects of physical gradients on the production dynamics of sediment associated algae. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser., 13; 103-114.

[14] Degens, E. T. 1970. Molecular nature of nitrogenous compounds in sea water and recent marine sediments. In: Hood, D. W. ed. Organic Matter in Natural Waters. Fairbanks University of Alaska. p.77-100.

[15] Gould, D. M. & Gallagher, E. D. 1990. Field measurement of specific growth rate, biomass, and primary production of benthic diatoms of Savin Hill Cove, Boston. Limnnol. Ocean., 35:1757-1770.

[16] Hogarth, P. J. 1999. The biology of mangroves. Oxford, Oxford University Press, 228p.

[17] Holmes, R. W. & Mahall, B. E. 1982. Preliminary observations on the effects of flooding and desiccation upon the net photosynthetic rates of high intertidal estuarine sediments. Limnol. Oceanogr., 27: 954-958.

[18] Jones, A. B.; O'Donhue, M. J.; Udy, J.; Dennison, W. C. 2001. Assessing ecological impacts of shrimp and sewage effluent: biological indicators with standard water quality analyses. Estuar. coast. Shelf. Sci., 52:91-109.

[19] Jong, D. J.; Nienhuis, P. H. & Kater, B. J. 1994. Microphytobenthos in the Oosterschelde estuary (The Netherlands), 1981-1990; consequences of a changed tidal regime. Hydrobiol., 282/283: 183-195.

[20] Lehman, P. W. 1992. Environmental factors associated with long-term changes in chlorophyll concentration in the Sacramento-San Joaquin delta and Suisun bay, California. Estuaries, 15:335-348.

[21] Lorenzen, C. J. 1967. Determination of chlorophyll and pheopigments spectrophotometric equations. Limnol. Oceanogr., 12: 343-346.

[22] Macedo, S. J.; Melo, H. N. S. & Costa, K. M. P. 1982. Estudos ecológicos da região de Itamaracá - Pernambuco - Brasil. XXIII. Condições hidrológicas do estuário do rio Botafogo. Trabhs Oceanogr., Univ. Fed. Pernambuco, Recife, 17:81-122.

[23] Mattson, J. & Linden, O. 1983. Benthic macrofauna succession under mussels, Mytilus edulis L. (Bivalvia), cultures on hanging long-lines. Sarsia, 68:97-102.

[24] McIntyre, H. L. & Cullen, J. J. 1995. Fine scale vertical resolution of chlorophyll and photosynthetic pigments in shallow water benthos. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser., 122: 227-237.

[25] Moura, A. N.; Passavante, J. Z. O.; Silva-Cunha, M. G. G. & Eskinazi-Leça, E. 1993. Diatomáceas perifíticas fixadas em substratos natural e artificial nos estuários dos rios Paripe e Igarassu-Ilha de Itamaracá- Pernambuco. Trabhs Oceanogr. Univ. Fed. Pernambuco, Recife, 22:86-96.

[26] Moura, A. N., Passavante, J. Z.O. & Feitosa, F.A.N.1995. Biomassa de algas perifíticas em substrato artificial nos estuários dos rios Paripe e Igarassu-Ilha de Itamaracá- Pernambuco. Trabhs Oceanogr. Univ. Fed. Pernambuco, Recife, 23:17-23.

[27] Novak, M; Lever, M; Valiela, I. 2001. Biol. Bull., 201: 292-294.

[28] Oliveira, G. G.; Eskinazi-Leça, E. & Moura, A. M. N. 2000. Colonização de diatoméceas perifíticas em substrato artificial no estuário do rio Paripe-PE. In: Mangrove 2000 - Sustentabilidade de Estuários e Manguezais: Desafios e Perspectivas. Trabalhos Completos. Recife, ISME-Brasil/UFRPE. p. 1-15. CD-Rom.

[29] Pinckney, J. & Zingmark, R. G. 1991. Effects of tidal stage and sun angles on intertidal benthic microalgal productivity. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser., 76: 81-89.

[30] Pomeroy, L. R. 1959. Algal productivity in salt marshes of Georgia. Limnol. Oceanogr., 4:386-397.

[31] Redfield, A. C. 1934. On the Proportion of organic derivatives in sea water and their relation to the composition of plankton. James Johnston Memorial Volume. University Press of Liverpool, p. 26-77.

[32] Rizzo, W. M. & Wetzel, R. L. 1985. Intertidal and shoal benthic community metabolism in a temperate estuary: studies of spatial and temporal scales of variability. Estuaries, 8: 342-351.

[33] Santos, P. J. P.; Castel, J. & Souza-Santos, L.P. 1997. Distribution and dynamics of microphytobenthos biomass in the Gironde Estuary (France). Oceanol. Acta, 20(3): 549-566.

[34] Shaffer, G. P. & Onuf, C. P. 1983. An analysis of factors influencing the primary production of the benthic microflora in a southern California lagoon. Neth. J. Sea Res., 17:126-144.

[35] Sousa, E. C. P. M. 1983. Primary production of the benthic microflora living on intertidal flats in Santos Estuarine System (24ºS-46ºW), São Paulo, Brazil. Bolm Inst. oceanogr., S Paulo, 32 (2):177-186.

[36] Sousa, E. C. P. M.; Corbisier, T. N.; Eichler, B. B.; Bonetti, C. V. D. H.; Gasllerani, G. & Heitor, S. R. 1994. Microfitobentos e meiobentos da região da Enseada do Flamengo, Ubatuba. In: Simpósio de Ecossistemas da Costa Brasileira, 3. Ubatuba, 1994. Anais. São Paulo, ACIESP, 2:315-323.

[37] Sousa, E. C. P. M.; Tomasi, L. R. & David, C. J. 1998. Microphytobenthic primary production, biomass, nutrients and pollutants of Santos Estuary (24 S,46 20' W). São Paulo, Brazil. Arq. Biol. Technol., 41(1):27-36.

[38] Suguio, K. 1973. Introdução a sedimentologia. São Paulo, EDUSP/Edgard Blücher, 318p.

[39] Sullivan, M. J. & Montcreiff, C. A. 1988. Primary production of edaphic algal communities in a Mississippi salt marsh. J. Phycol., 24: 49-58.

[40] Valiela, I. 1995. Marine ecological processes. 2^nd ed. New York , Springer-Verlag.686p.

[41] Welker, C., Sdrigotto, E.; Covelli, S. & Faganeli, J. 2002. Microphytobenthos in the Gulf of Trieste (Northern Adriatic Sea): Relationship with labile sedimentary organic matter and nutrients. Estuar. coast. Shelf. Sci., 55:259-273.

[42] Wetzel, R. G. & Likens, G. E. 1990. Limnological analysis. New York, Springer-Verlag. 2^nd 338p.