Spatial and Temporal Variation of Marine Bacterioplankton in Florida Bay, U.S.A.

Authors

  • John B. C. Bugden
  • Maria A. Guerrero
  • Ronald D. Jones

Keywords:

Seasonal changes, bacterioplankton properties, temperate seagrass systems, carbon flow, seagrass beds, detritus-based ecosystems, DOM

Abstract

Physical, chemical and biological parameters of the water column of Florida Bay were examined at seven study sites over an 18-month period. At the time, Florida Bay was experiencing a seagrass die-off. The data collected indicated that the presence of seagrass significantly affected the overlying water column, especially with respect to biological parameters such as, heterotrophic activity and bacterial numbers. Microbial activity and numbers were also significantly higher over areas of dying seagrass than over healthy or dead areas. The exact nature of the relationship between seagrass and bacterioplankton is not known. Correlation analyses yielded significant associations (P < 0.05) between the biological parameters (heterotrophic activity and bacterial numbers) and dissolved organic matter, chlorophyll, primary productivity, and ammonium. The possibility that other variables might have compounded and added to this effect is discussed.

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Published

1998-10-13

Issue

Vol. 14 No. 4 (1998): Journal of Coastal Research

Section

Articles

License

Authorization for personal use is granted by the Coastal Education and Research Foundation [CERF]. By submitting a manuscript, the authors agree that the copyright for their article is transferred to the publisher if the article is accepted for publication. Assignment of copyright is not required, however, from authors who work for organizations which do not permit such assignment, The copyright covers the exclusive rights to reprduce and distribute the article, inclduing reprints, photographic reproductions, microform, or any other reproductions of a similar nature, and translations.