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Patterns of Phytoplankton Variability in the Tagus Estuary (Portugal)

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Abstract

Data were collected in the Tagus estuary from 1999–2007 on a monthly basis and combined with published results and for several previous years between 1980 and 1995, so that a comprehensive analysis could be performed over a non-continuous 27-year period. Sampling conditions and methods were similar for all datasets. Extreme wet and dry years were observed. River flow was strongly linked to phytoplankton abundance, with the highest biomass attained in dry years. The observed range of annual median Chl a was 1.8–7.6 µg L−1 and the overall median was 3.5 µg L−1. Dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) and silicate showed a clear seasonal pattern, with a maximum in winter−spring, indicating a freshwater origin. Although wastewater treatment started in 1990, no difference was detected from 1980 to the present in terms of DIN and phosphorus. The recorded seasonal pattern for biomass with highest values in late spring–summer period is comparable to other temperate tidally influenced ecosystems. In spite of interannual differences in terms of Chl a concentration or the time of the maximum Chl a occurrence, a repeatable pattern could be identified. The mean growth development time for phytoplankton was 163 days (June 12) ranging 129–206 days (May 9–July 26) during the sampling period. No obvious changes in phytoplankton community structure were observed over time: diatoms were always the dominant group, and cryptophytes were relatively abundant throughout autumn–winter. The dominant species have remained essentially the same since 1969. River inflow, light availability, and temperature were the major factors shaping phytoplankton variability patterns. The strong influence of tidal mixing on the estuarine waters appears to lower the risk of potential eutrophication in the Tagus estuary. The lack of change in nutrients and phytoplankton biomass and composition observed in this study is an important contribution towards the assessment of natural variability versus responses to man-induced inputs in this severely anthropogenically disturbed estuary.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank T. Anselmo and R. Mendes for helping in both field and laboratory work, M.T. Cabrita for providing her unpublished data, and J.P. Granadeiro and M. Dias for the figure of the Tagus estuary map. This paper was improved by critical comments from M.T. Cabrita, P. Cartaxana, and B. Jesus. Financial support was provided by ValorSul SA and Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) by means of project INTAGUS (PDCT/MAR/58022/2004). C. Gameiro was funded by a PhD grant from FCT (POCI-2010/BD/13988/2003).

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  1. Centro de Oceanografia, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016, Lisbon, Portugal

    Carla Gameiro & Vanda Brotas

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  1. Carla Gameiro
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Correspondence to Carla Gameiro.

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Gameiro, C., Brotas, V. Patterns of Phytoplankton Variability in the Tagus Estuary (Portugal). Estuaries and Coasts 33, 311–323 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12237-009-9194-4

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