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Distribution and dynamics of bacterioplankton production in a polymictic tropical lake (Lago Xolotlán, Nicaragua)

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Abstract

From 1988 to 1993 we assessed the variability of bacterioplankton production and biomass in Lake Xolotlán (L. Managua), Nicaragua via [3H]thymidine incorporation into DNA and cell counting. Bacterial production ranged from 3 to 8 μg C l-1 h-1, and since production was equal throughout the water column, areal production was high (≈ 600–1200 mg C m-2 d-1). Bacterial abundance in Lake Managua was extremely high, 7–30 × 109 cells l-1. Thus, specific rates of bacterial production were low. There was a strong correlation between production and number and the specific rate of bacterial production was constant. Comparable measurements of production via [3H]leucine incorporation into proteins indicated that bacteria were experiencing ‘balanced growth’. We conclude that bacterioplankton in Lake Xolotlán had reached its carrying capacity and a significant correlation between bacterial production and concentration of phaeophytin implied that dead or dying algae was the limiting substrate for bacterioplankton. The majority of bacterial number and most of bacterial production (up to 75%) were associated with particles in the >3-μm fraction, probably lysing algal cells to which bacterioplankton were ‘attached’. Grazing on bacterioplankton must be low and bacteria should be a ‘sink’ for organic matter in Lake Xolotlán.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Limnology, Uppsala University, Norbyvägen 20, S-752 36, Uppsala, Sweden

    Rolf Erikson & Russel T. Bell

  2. Centro para la Investigación en Recursos Acuáticos de Nicaragua(CIRA), Apartado Postal 4598, Managua, Nicaragua

    Katherine Vammen & Argentina Zelaya

Authors
  1. Rolf Erikson
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  2. Katherine Vammen
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  3. Argentina Zelaya
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  4. Russel T. Bell
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Erikson, R., Vammen, K., Zelaya, A. et al. Distribution and dynamics of bacterioplankton production in a polymictic tropical lake (Lago Xolotlán, Nicaragua). Hydrobiologia 382, 27–39 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1003476819259

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