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DOC removal paradigms in highly humic aquatic ecosystems

  • HUMIC SUBSTANCES • REVIEW SERIES
  • Published:
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Abstract

Background, aim, and scope

Dissolved humic substances (HS) usually comprise 50–80% of the dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in aquatic ecosystems. From a trophic and biogeochemical perspective, HS has been considered to be highly refractory and is supposed to accumulate in the water. The upsurge of the microbial loop paradigm and the studies on HS photo-degradation into labile DOC gave rise to the belief that microbial processing of DOC should sustain aquatic food webs in humic waters. However, this has not been extensively supported by the literature, since most HS and their photo-products are often oxidized by microbes through respiration in most nutrient-poor humic waters. Here, we review basic concepts, classical studies, and recent data on bacterial and photo-degradation of DOC, comparing the rates of these processes in highly humic ecosystems and other aquatic ecosystems.

Materials and methods

We based our review on classical and recent findings from the fields of biogeochemistry and microbial ecology, highlighting some odd results from highly humic Brazilian tropical lagoons, which can reach up to 160 mg C L−1.

Results and discussion

Highly humic tropical lagoons showed proportionally lower bacterial production rates and higher bacterial respiration rates (i.e., lower bacterial growth efficiency) than other lakes. Zooplankton showed similar δ13C to microalgae but not to humic DOC in these highly humic lagoons. Thus, the data reviewed here do not support the microbial loop as an efficient matter transfer pathway in highly humic ecosystems, where it is supposed to play its major role.

In addition, we found that some tropical humic ecosystems presented the highest potential DOC photo-chemical mineralization (PM) rates reported in the literature, exceeding up to threefold the rates reported for temperate humic ecosystems. We propose that these atypically high PM rates are the result of a joint effect of the seasonal dynamics of allochthonous humic DOC input to these ecosystems and the high sunlight incidence throughout the year. The sunlight action on DOC is positive to microbial consumption in these highly humic lagoons, but little support is given to the enhancement of bacterial growth efficiency, since the labile photo-chemical products are mostly respired by microbes in the nutrient-poor humic waters.

Conclusions

HS may be an important source of energy for aquatic bacteria in humic waters, but it is probably not as important as a substrate to bacterial growth and to aquatic food webs, since HS consumption is mostly channeled through microbial respiration. This especially seems to be the case of humic-rich, nutrient-poor ecosystems, where the microbial loop was supposed to play its major role. Highly humic ecosystems also present the highest PM rates reported in the literature. Finally, light and bacteria can cooperate in order to enhance total carbon degradation in highly humic aquatic ecosystems but with limited effects on aquatic food webs.

Recommendations and perspectives

More detailed studies using C- and N-stable isotope techniques and modeling approaches are needed to better understand the actual importance of HS to carbon cycling in highly humic waters.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to Dr. Christian Steinberg for inviting us to write this mini-review and Dr. Segundo Urquiaga from the Brazilian Company for Agriculture (EMBRAPA) for performing carbon isotope analysis. This work was part of the project “Impact of Global Climate Changes on Tropical Continental Aquatic Ecosystems” coordinated by Dr. Bias M Faria of the Petrobras Research and Development Center (CENPES). Our research in tropical lagoons was supported by grants from CENPES/PETROBRAS (ANPETRO 9803 to VFF), National Council for Research and Development (CNPq, Project 480232/2004-0 to VFF), and José Bonifácio University Foundation (FUJB, Project 11617-3 to VFF). Scholarships to AMA, ALS, and FM-P were provided by CNPq.

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Author notes

  1. André M. Amado

    Present address: Centro de Biociências, Departamento de Oceanografia e Limnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Via Costeira, S/N, CEP 59014-100, Natal, RN, Brazil

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto de Biologia, Departamento de Ecologia, CCS, Ilha do Fundão, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, POBox 68020, CEP 21941-590, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil

    Vinicius F. Farjalla, André M. Amado, Albert L. Suhett & Frederico Meirelles-Pereira

  2. Núcleo em Ecologia e Desenvolvimento Sócio-Ambiental de Macaé, P.O. Box 119331, CEP 28970-000, Macaé, RJ, Brazil

    Vinicius F. Farjalla

  3. Instituto de Biologia, Departamento de Ecologia, CCS, Ilha do Fundão, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia (PPGE/UFRJ), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, CEP 21941-590, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil

    Albert L. Suhett

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  1. Vinicius F. Farjalla
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Correspondence to Vinicius F. Farjalla.

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Responsible editor: Christian Steinberg

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Farjalla, V.F., Amado, A.M., Suhett, A.L. et al. DOC removal paradigms in highly humic aquatic ecosystems. Environ Sci Pollut Res 16, 531–538 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-009-0165-x

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