Latitudinal comparisons

We compared the responses of phytoplankton from mid- and sub-tropical latitudes

Left: Chubut River estuary (Argentina); right: Babitonga Bay (Brazil).

In this work we compared the responses to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) of estuarine phytoplankton communities from mid- (Chubut River estuary, Argentina – CH) and sub-tropical latitudes (Babitonga Bay, Brazil – BB) under a nutrient enrichment scenario (as may occur due to anthropogenic activities). The responses were very different, with dominant effects of UVR in CH and of nutrients in BB at the beginning of the experiment. After 4 days, both communities showed an important acclimation capacity (with better photosynthetic performance) favoured by taxonomic changes towards diatom-dominated communities in CH and flagellate-dominated communities in BB. This study shows that it is not possible to make generalizations based on data obtained in other sites, even under similar experimental conditions.

Complete reference

Villafañe, V.E., M.J. Cabrerizo, G.S. Erzinger, P. Bermejo, S.M. Strauch, M.S. Valiñas & E.W. Helbling. 2016. Photosynthesis and growth of temperate and sub-tropical estuarine phytoplankton in a scenario of nutrient enrichment under solar ultraviolet radiation exposure. Estuaries and Coasts. En Prensa.

Funding

This work was supported by Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas – CONICET, Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica -ANPCyT, Fundaçao de Apoio à Pesquisa Científica e Tecnológica do Estado de Santa Catarina (FAPESC), National Counsel of Technological and Scientific Development (CNPQ), Universidade da Região de Joinville and Fundación Playa Unión.