Annual Phytoplankton Primary Production Estimation in a Temperate Estuary by Coupling PAM and Carbon Incorporation Methods

Type Article
Date 2018-07
Language English
Author(s) Morelle Jerome1, 2, Schapira MathildeORCID3, 4, Orvain Francis1, 2, Riou Philippe3, Lopez Pascal Jean2, Pierre-Duplessix Olivier3, Rabiller Emilie3, Maheux Frank3, Simon Benjamin3, Claquin Pascal1, 2
Affiliation(s) 1 : Univ Caen Normandie, Normandie Univ, F-14032 Caen, France.
2 : Univ Antilles, Univ Caen Normandie, Sorbonne Univ,IRD 207, Museum Natl Hist Nat,CNRS 7208,UMR Biol Organisme, F-14032 Caen, France.
3 : IFREMER, LER N, Ave Gen Gaulle, F-14520 Port En Bessin, France.
4 : IFREMER, LER MPL NT, Rue LIle Yeu,BP 21105, F-44301 Nantes 03, France.
Source Estuaries And Coasts (1559-2723) (Springer), 2018-07 , Vol. 41 , N. 5 , P. 1337-1355
DOI 10.1007/s12237-018-0369-8
WOS© Times Cited 10
Keyword(s) High frequency, Electron requirement for carbon fixation, Electron transport rate (ETR), Seine estuary
Abstract

Phytoplankton primary production varies considerably with environmental parameters especially in dynamic ecosystems like estuaries. The aim of this study was to investigate short-term primary production along the salinity gradient of a temperate estuary over the course of 1 year. The combination of carbon incorporation and fluorescence methods enabled primary production estimation at short spatial and temporal scales. The electron requirement for carbon fixation was investigated in relation with physical-chemical parameters to accurately estimate primary production at high frequency. These results combined with the variability of the photic layer allowed the annual estimation of primary production along the estuary. Phytoplankton dynamics was closely related to salinity and turbidity gradients, which strongly influenced cells physiology and photoacclimatation. The number of electrons required to fix 1 mol of carbon (C) was ranged between 1.6 and 25 mol electron mol C−1 with a mean annual value of 8 ± 5 mol electron mol C−1. This optimum value suggests that in nutrient replete conditions like estuaries, alternative electron flows are low, while electrons transfer from photosystem II to carbon fixation is highly efficient. A statistical model was used to improve the estimation of primary production from electron transport rate as a function of significant environmental parameters. Based on this model, daily carbon production in the Seine estuary (France) was estimated by considering light and photic zone variability. A mean annual daily primary production of 0.12 ± 0.18 g C m−2 day−1 with a maximum of 1.18 g C m−2 day−1 in summer was estimated which lead to an annual mean of 64.75 g C m−2 year−1. This approach should be applied more frequently in dynamic ecosystems such as estuaries or coastal waters to accurately estimate primary production in those valuable ecosystems.

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Morelle Jerome, Schapira Mathilde, Orvain Francis, Riou Philippe, Lopez Pascal Jean, Pierre-Duplessix Olivier, Rabiller Emilie, Maheux Frank, Simon Benjamin, Claquin Pascal (2018). Annual Phytoplankton Primary Production Estimation in a Temperate Estuary by Coupling PAM and Carbon Incorporation Methods. Estuaries And Coasts, 41(5), 1337-1355. Publisher's official version : https://doi.org/10.1007/s12237-018-0369-8 , Open Access version : https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00429/54020/