Biogeochemistry

, Volume 101, Issue 1–3, pp 323–333 | Cite as

Spatial and temporal changes in phosphorus partitioning within a freshwater cyanobacterial mat community

  • Jakub Borovec
  • Dagmara Sirová
  • Petra Mošnerová
  • Eliška Rejmánková
  • Jaroslav Vrba
Article
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Abstract

Spatial and temporal changes in phosphorus (P) distribution, partitioning and mobility in the benthic cyanobacterial mat (CBM) were evaluated using sequential chemical fractionation. Total P (TP) content was extremely low, ranging from 0.025 to 0.1 mg g−1 DW. Exchangeable and loosely bound P, which we consider to be mainly associated with extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), constituted the most significant proportion of TP (up to 52%, 55 μg g−1 DW), followed by P associated with the authigenic apatites (up to 35% of TP or 18 μg g−1 DW). While we found virtually no exchange of P with the ambient environment, our results show that the partitioning of P forms within CBM is dependent on spatial and temporal fluctuations of physico-chemical parameters, mainly pH and dissolved oxygen. A conspicuous diurnal increase in the reactive, exchangeable and loosely bound P in the top CBM layers was observed. This observation has important ecological implications, as CBM microorganisms therefore have an increased possibility for P “luxury” uptake during the night. This hypothesis is further supported by the fact that P in the organic fraction rises by as much as 53% in the upper layers during the night, indicating some form of cellular uptake. The P-binding potential of EPS also has ecological or biogeochemical consequences and should be considered in stoichiometrical studies where it represents potential danger for great overestimates of cellular P values or the nutritional status of cells.

Keywords

Phosphorus partitioning Diurnal changes Sequential fractionation Cyanobacterial mat EPS 
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Notes

Acknowledgment

This research was supported by National Science Foundation grant NSF # 0516159 and partly by Czech grants NAZV QH81012, MSM 6007665801, AV0Z 60050516 and 60170517. We would like to thank Irenio and Russel for help with field sampling.

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Copyright information

© Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2010

Authors and Affiliations

  • Jakub Borovec
    • 1
    • 2
  • Dagmara Sirová
    • 1
    • 2
  • Petra Mošnerová
    • 1
    • 2
  • Eliška Rejmánková
    • 3
  • Jaroslav Vrba
    • 1
    • 2
  1. 1.Institute of Hydrobiology, Biology Centre AS CRČeské BudějoviceCzech Republic
  2. 2.Department of Ecosystem BiologyUniversity of South Bohemia, Faculty of ScienceČeské BudějoviceCzech Republic
  3. 3.Department of Environmental Science and PolicyUniversity of California DavisDavisUSA

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