Abstract
Pelagic and benthic carbon metabolism in the shallow tropical Barra Lagoon was studied weekly between 1990 and 1993, in periods characterized by temporary nitrogen limitation, fish kills and transitory colonization of the bottom by macro-algae. Diurnal and nocturnal metabolic rates were measured by monitoring changes in CO2 content in entire water columns (free water and waters incubated in plexiglass tubes with and without inclusion of sediment). Total community carbon metabolism exhibited a marked autotrophism and high short term changes, dampening seasonal trends. Autotrophism and heterotrophism of the lagoon were controlled by phytoplankton biomass variations. In the presence of sediment, diurnal net benthic production was 11 to 64% of total diurnal net production, and nocturnal net benthic mineralization was 21 to 52% of total nocturnal net mineralization. The imbrication between the pelagic and benthic organic carbon cycles regulated carbon metabolism of the total community. A severe temporary nitrogen limitation, a fish kill and a temporary shift in primary producers did not substantially change metabolic rates because appropriate shifts occurred from the pelagic carbon cycle to the benthic carbon cycle, and vice-versa.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Azevedo, S. & J. P. Carmouze, 1994. Unemortalité de poissons dansune lagune tropicale (Brésil) durant une période de dominance de Cyanophycées. Coincidence ou conséquence? Rev. Hydrobiol. trop. 17: 265–272.
Alem, A. A. & A. A. Samaan, 1969. Productivity of Lake Mariut, Egypt. Part II. Primary production. Int. Rev. ges. Hydrobiol. 54: 491–527.
Balzer, W., F. Pollehene & H. Erlenkeuser, 1986. Cycling of organic carbon in a coastal marine system. In Sly, P. G. (ed.), Sediments and Water Interactions. Springer Verlag, Berlin: 325–330.
Bernardes, L. M. C., 1952. Tipos de Clima do Estado do Rio de Janeiro. Rev. Bras. Geog. 14: 57–80.
Carmouze, J. P. 1984. Généralisation d'une méthode de détermination du carbone minéral total par pH-métrie dans les eaux. Rev. Hydrobiol. trop. 17: 175–189.
Carmouze, J. P., B. Knoppers & P. Vasconcelos, 1991. The eutrophication of the lagoon of Saquarema. Biogeochemistry 14: 129–148.
Carmouze, J. P. & P. Vasconcelos, 1992. The eutrophication of the lagoon of Saquarema, Brazil. Science of the total Environment, Supp. 1992, Elsevier Science Publishers B.V., Amsterdam.
Carmouze, J. P., 1994. O metabolismo dos ecossistemas aquáticos. Edgar Blusher, São Paulo, 254 pp.
Carmouze, J. P. & P. Caumette, 1985. Les effets de la pollution organique sur les biomasses et activités du phytoplancton et des bactéries hétérotrophes dans la lagune Ebrié (Côte d'Ivoire). Rev. Hydrobiol. trop. 18: 175–246.
Day, J. W., Jr., C. J. Madden, F. LeyLou, R. L. Wetzel & A. M. Navarro, 1988. Aquatic primary productivity in Términos lagoon. In Yañez-Arancibia, A. & J.W. Day, Jr. (eds), Ecology of Coastal Ecosystems in the Southern Gulf of Mexico The Términos lagoon region Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México: 221–235.
Domingos, P., V. L. Huszar & J. P. Carmouze, 1994. évolution de la communauté phytoplanctonique d'une lagune tropicale, au cours d'une période marquée par une mortalité de poissons. Rev. Hydrobiol. trop.
Florek, R. J., & G. T. Rowe, 1983. Oxygen consumption and dissolved inorganic nutrient production in marine coastal and shelf sediments of middle Atlantic Bight. Int. Rev. Ges. Hydrobiol. 68: 73–112.
FloresVerdugo, F. J., J. W. Day Jr., L. Mee & R. Briseño-Dueñas, 1988. Phytoplankton production and seasonal biomass variation of Seagrasses, Ruppia maritima L., in a tropical Mexican lagoon with an ephemeral inlet. Estuaries 11: 51–56.
Garrels, R. M. & Thompson, 1962. A chemical model for sea water at 25 °C and one atmosphere total pressure. Amer. J. Sci. 260: 57–66.
Gran, G., 1952. Determination of equivalent point in potentiometric titration. Analyst 77: 661–671.
Harris, G. P. & B. B. Pucini, 1977. Photosynthesis by natural phytoplankton populations. Arch. Hydrobiol. 80: 405–457.
Kanwisher, J., 1960. PCO2 in sea water and its effects on movement of CO2 in nature. Tellus 12: 207–209.
Kjerfve, B., 1986. Comparative oceanography of coastal lagoons. In Wolfe D. A. (ed.), Estuarine Variability, New York, Academic Press: 6381.
Knoppers, B., 1994. Aquatic Primary Production in Coastal Lagoons. Coastal Lagoon Processes edited by B. Kjerfve (Elsevier Oceanography Series, 60) Elsevier Science Publishers: 243–286.
Knoppers, B., B. Kjierfve & J. P. Carmouze, 1991. Trophic state and water turnover time in six choked coastal lagoons in Brazil. Biogeochemistry 14: 149–166.
Lerman, A., 1979. Geochemical Processes. Wiley New York: 74–120.
Lorenzen, C. J. 1967. Determination of Chlorophyll and phaeopigments: spectrophotometric equations. Limnol. Oceanogr. 12: 343–346.
Machado, E. C. & B. Knoppers, 1988. Sediment oxigen consumption in an organic rich subtropical lagoon, Brazil. Sci. Tot. Envir. 75: 341–349.
Moreira, P. F. & B. Knoppers, 1990. Um ciclo anual da produç ão primária e nutrientes na Lagoa de Guarapina, R.J. Acta Limnol. Bras. 3.
Nixon, S.W., 1981. Remineralization and nutrient cycling in coastal marine ecosystems. In Neilson, B. & L. E. Cronin (eds), Estuaries and Nutrients Humana, Press Clifton, New Jersey: 111–138.
Nixon, S.W., C. A. Oviatt & S. S. Hale, 1976. Nitrogen regeneration and the metabolism of coastal marina bottom communities. In Anderson, J. M. & A. Macfaydan (eds), The Role of Terrestrial and Aquatic Organisms in Decomposition Processes. Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford: 269–283.
Odum, H. T. & C. M. Hoskin, 1958 Comparative studies on the metabolism of marine waters. Publ. Inst. mar. Sci., University of Texas 5: 16–46.
Pages, J., L. Lemasson & P. Dufour, 1981. Primary production measurements in a brackish tropical lagoon. Effect of light, as studied by the C-14 method. Rev. Hydrobiol. Trop. 14: 3–15.
Park, K., D. W. Hood & H. T. Odum, 1958. Diurnal pH variation in Texas bays, and its application to primary production estimation. Publ. Inst. mar. Sci., University of Texas 9: 404–453.
Pereira, C. E., 1991. - Estudo experimental da influência do sedimento sobre as atividades metabólicas na laguna de Saquarema. Tese de Mestrado. Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Brasil, 86 pp.
Qasim, S. Z., 1979. Primary production in some tropical environments. In Dunbar, M. J. (ed.), Marine Production Mechanisms. International Biological Program-IBP 20, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge: 31–69.
Randall, J. & J. W. Day, Jr., 1987. Effects of river discharge and vertical circulation on aquatic primary production in a turbid Louisiana (USA) estuary. Neth. J. Sea Res. 21: 231–242.
Reyes, M. & M. Merino, 1991. Diel dissolved oxygen dynamics and eutrophication in a shallow wellmixed tropical lagoon (Cancun, Mexiso). Estuaries 14: 372–381.
Sandoval-Rojo, L. C., F. J. Flores-Verdugo, U. Z. Araújo, J. W., Jr. Day, & A. E. Mercado, 1988. Phytoplankton productivity in Barra de Navidad coastal lagoon on the Pacific coast of México. Rev. Hydrobiol. Trop. 21: 101–108.
Smith, S. V., 1988. Mass balance in coral reefdominated areas. In Jansson, B. O. (ed.), Coastal-Offshore Ecosystem Interactions. Lecture Notes on Coastal and Estuarine Studies 22, Springer Verlag, Berlin: 209–226.
Smith, S.V. & F. T. Mackenzie, 1987. The ocean as a net heterotrophic system: implications from the carbon biogeochemical cycle. Global Biogeochemical Cycles (American Geophysical Union) 1: 187–198.
Sournia, A., B. Delesalle & M. Ricard, 1981. Premiers bilans de production organique et de calcification d'un récif-barrière de la Polynésie Française. Oceanol. Acta 4: 423–431.
Strickland, J. D. H. & T. R. Parsons, 1972. A practical handbook of seawater analysis, 2nd edn. Bull. Fish. Res. BD Canada, 167, 319 pp.
Stumm, W. & J. Morgan, 1981. Aquatic Chemistry. An introduction emphazing chemical equilibria in natural waters. Wiley Interscience Publication John Wiley & Sons. New York, 779 pp.
Tison, D. L. & D. H. Pope, 1980. Effects of temperature on mineralization by heterotrophic bacteria. Appl. Envir. Microbiol. 39: 584–587.
Tundisi, J., T. M. Tundisi & M. B. Kutner, 1973. Plankton studies in a mangrove environment. VII. Further investigations on primary production, standing stock of phytoand zooplankton, and some environmental factors. Internationalen Revue der gesamten Hydrobiologie 58: 925–940.
Vaulot, D. & G.F. Frisoni, 1986. Phytoplanktonic productivity and nutrients in five Mediterranean lagoons. Oceanol. Acta 9: 57–63.
Weiler, R. R., 1975. Carbon dioxyde exchanges and productivity in lake Erie and lake Ontario. Verh. Int. Ver. Limnol. 19: 694–704.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Carmouze, JP., de Farias, B., Corrêa Bernardes, M. et al. Benthic influence on the metabolism of a shallow tropical lagoon (Lagoa da Barra, Brazil). Hydrobiologia 373, 89–100 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1017048128271
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1017048128271