Rainfall effects on phytoplankton

We studied the effects of rainfall on summer and winter phytoplankton communities.

Effect of terrigenous materials and nutrient inputs on phytoplankton in coastal areas during extreme rainfall and normal conditions (Photo: Diario Jornada)

Rainfalls in the area are more intense and increase the terrigenous material (and consequently the turbidity) and nutrients that enter into the estuary. These conditions, simulated through experiments, favored the growth of phytoplankton, mainly of small diatoms (which in turn reduced their size). Likewise, these rainy conditions resulted in a higher photosynthetic efficiency of the communities. These changes in the communities, produced in conditions of greater intensity and frequency of rainfall, could have a significant effect on higher trophic levels (consumers).

This work is published in the Journal Marine Environmental Research.

Complete reference

Juan I. Vizzo, Marco J. Cabrerizo, E. Walter Helbling, Virginia E. Villafañe. 2021. Extreme and gradual rainfall effects on winter and summer estuarine phytoplankton communities from Patagonia (Argentina). Marine Environemental Research. En Prensa

Funding

This work was funded by the Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas and Fundación Playa Unión.