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Diatom fluxes in a tropical, oligotrophic lake dominated by large-sized phytoplankton

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Abstract

Alchichica is a warm-monomictic, oligotrophic lake whose phytoplanktonic biomass is dominated by large size (average ca. 55 μm) diatoms. The fast sinking phytoplankton leads to silica, and other nutrient exportation out of the productive zone of the lake. The aim of the present study was to identify and measure the sedimentation fluxes of the diatom species and their temporal dynamics to better understand the magnitude of silica and carbon fluxes. Sediment-traps were exposed at three different depths and collected monthly. A total of 13 diatom species were observed in the traps. The maximum diatom flux was in February (304 × 106 cells m−2 day−1) related to the winter diatom bloom. The diatom silica (DSi) fluxes varied from 2.2 to 2,997 mg m−2 day−1 and the diatom carbon (DC) fluxes from 1.2 to 2,918 mg m−2 d−1. Cyclotella alchichicana was the main contributor (>98%) to the total DSi and DC fluxes. The annual diatom (15 × 109 cells m−2 year−1), DSi (147 g m−2 year−1) and DC (92 g m−2 year−1) fluxes are higher than in other aquatic ecosystems of similar or even higher trophic conditions. Our findings in Alchichica are indicative of the relevance of the phytoplankton type and size in understanding the role tropical and oligotrophic lakes play regarding silica and carbon fluxes. In addition, our results support previous findings suggesting that inland aquatic ecosystems are more important than formerly thought in processing carbon, and can, therefore, affect regional carbon balances.

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Acknowledgments

This project was financially supported by Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (CONACyT) project 103332, Dirección General de Asuntos del Personal Académico de la UNAM (DGAPA) PAPIIT project IN221009, and Programa de Apoyo a los Profesores de Carrera para la Formación de Grupos de Investigación, FES Iztacala, UNAM (PAPCA) project 2009–2010. Thanks are due to A. Rodríguez and L. Peralta (FES-Iztacala, UNAM) for their field support and S. Castillo (Laboratorio de Biogeoquímica, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, UNAM) who carried out the nutrient analysis. We deeply appreciate the comments and suggestions of Dr. Judit Padisák (University of Pannonia, Veszprém) and two anonymous referees that greatly improved this paper.

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  1. Programa de Posgrado en Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Tlalnepantla, Mexico

    V. Ardiles & L. A. Oseguera

  2. Proyecto de Investigación en Limnología Tropical, FES Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. de Los Barrios No. 1, Los Reyes Iztacala, 54090, Tlalnepantla, Estado de Mexico, Mexico

    J. Alcocer, G. Vilaclara & L. A. Oseguera

  3. Programa de Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Tlalnepantla, Mexico

    L. Velasco

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Ardiles, V., Alcocer, J., Vilaclara, G. et al. Diatom fluxes in a tropical, oligotrophic lake dominated by large-sized phytoplankton. Hydrobiologia 679, 77–90 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-011-0853-7

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