Variability of primary and bacterial production in a coral reef lagoon (New Caledonia) - Bioemco
Journal Articles Marine Pollution Bulletin Year : 2010

Variability of primary and bacterial production in a coral reef lagoon (New Caledonia)

Abstract

We assessed the temporal variability of nutrients, phytoplankton and bacterioplankton at two sites of different trophic status in New Caledonia's South-West lagoon, a tropical coastal ecosystem. During stable meteorological conditions, Chl.a, bacterial production and nutrient concentrations experience weak but consistent daily variation. Short-term (1–2 week interval) fluctuations of planktonic variables are in the same range as annual variations at both sites. A part of these short term variations is linked to local meteorological events (wind in the main channel, precipitation at the coastal station). Although annual variations are weak compared to short term variations, phytoplankton and bacterioplankton production show consistent temporal patterns, with maxima in December–January and April–May and minima in August. Annual bacterial production represents 21% and 34% of particulate primary production at the oligotrophic and mesotrophic sites, respectively. Mineral nutrient availability indicates that nitrogen is probably the primary limiting factor of phytoplankton throughout the year.

Dates and versions

bioemco-00529288 , version 1 (25-10-2010)

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Jean-Pascal Torréton, Emma Rochelle-Newall, Olivier Pringault, Séverine Jacquet, V. Faure, et al.. Variability of primary and bacterial production in a coral reef lagoon (New Caledonia). Marine Pollution Bulletin, 2010, 61 (7-12), pp.335-348. ⟨10.1016/j.marpolbul.2010.06.019⟩. ⟨bioemco-00529288⟩
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