Description: Nitrate and ammonium are the most important nitrogen sources for phytoplankton growth. Differential utilization of inorganic nitrogenous compounds by phytoplankton has been observed and may have significant impacts on primary productivity at local scales. We used enrichment experiments with natural phytoplankton populations from the freshwater tidal zone of the Guadiana estuary, a coastal ecosystem increasingly subjected to anthropogenic influences, to study the effects of nitrate and ammonium on N-consumption and phytoplankton growth. In addition, we used combined additions of nitrate and ammonium to understand the inhibitory effect of ammonium over nitrate uptake. Ammonium concentrations in the freshwater tidal reaches of the Guadiana estuary throughout the sampling period were too low to exert an inhibitory effect on nitrate uptake or a toxic effect on phytoplankton growth. Nitrate was clearly the main nitrogen source for phytoplankton at the study site. Overall, nitrate seemed to become limiting at concentrations lower than 20 mu M and N-limitation was particularly significant during summer. A trend of decreasing nitrate uptake with increasing ammonium concentrations and uptake suggested an overall preference for ammonium. However, preference for ammonium was group-specific, and it was observed mainly in green algae and cyanobacteria. In fact, cyanobacteria relied only on ammonium as their N-source. On the contrary, diatoms preferred nitrate, and did not respond to ammonium additions. The increasing eutrophication in the Guadiana estuary and particularly increased inputs of nitrogen as ammonium due to urban waste effluents may result in a shift in phytoplankton community composition, towards a dominance of cyanobacteria and green algae.

Description: Identification of the limiting nutrient(s) is a requirement for the rational management of eutrophication. Here, we present the first experimental analysis of nutrient limitation of phytoplankton growth and its seasonal variation in the Guadiana estuary (SE Portugal-SW Spain). Ten microcosm experiments were performed during 2005 and 2008, using water samples collected in the freshwater tidal zone of the Guadiana estuary. Nitrate, phosphate and silicate were added in a single pulse, alone and in combinations. Experimental treatments were incubated for 4 days under controlled laboratory conditions. Phytoplankton response to nutrient enrichment was evaluated through changes in biomass (Chla), and abundance of specific phytoplankton groups. Overall, phytoplankton growth seemed to be nitrogen-limited throughout the productive period, especially green algae in 2005 and diatoms in 2008. In the summer 2008, cyanobacteria and the harmful dinoflagellate Kryptoperidinium foliaceum responded to N enrichment in the absence of Si. Indeed, the presence of K. foliaceum was observed for the first time in the freshwater tidal reaches of the Guadiana estuary, where dinoflagellates were usually absent or rare. The significant increase on dinoflagellates and cyanobacteria growth in response to N enrichment in the absence of Si is alarming, because anthropogenic nutrient enrichments usually increase N and P, but not Si. Furthermore, relatively high N concentrations, up to 22 μM, were found to be limiting to phytoplankton growth. These results should therefore be used as a management tool when establishing nutrient criteria and nutrient loading budgets to estuarine waters.

Description: Light is usually the main driver of phytoplankton growth in turbid estuaries, but it has received far less attention than nutrients as a bottom-up factor. This study presents the first experimental analysis of light limitation of phytoplankton growth and production and its seasonal variability in the freshwater tidal reaches of the turbid Guadiana estuary, SE Portugal/SW Spain. Natural phytoplankton communities were exposed to different photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) intensities. Short-term incubations with addition of 14HCO3− were used to estimate photosynthetic parameters and long-term incubations allowed the evaluation of the effects of light on phytoplankton composition and growth. Light limitation of phytoplankton growth occurred throughout the year in the freshwater tidal reaches of the estuary and no photoinhibition was observed at least up to 615 μmol photons m−2 s−1. In the summer, co-limitation by nutrients prevented a positive response of phytoplankton to light enrichment. Diatoms were the most light-limited group, whilst cyanobacteria were the only group acclimated to low-light conditions. Green algae and dinoflagellates responded positively to higher PAR exposures. High saturating irradiances, high light-saturated rates of primary production and low photosynthetic efficiencies suggest that phytoplankton community was not acclimated to the low-light conditions that prevail in the Guadiana estuary.

Description: Water quality and quantity problems in the Guadiana estuary due to a recently built dam have been predicted, including an enhancement of cyanobacteria blooms. The main goal of this work was thus to describe the present phytoplankton dynamics in relation to its environmental drivers and to evaluate the effects of damming on phytoplankton in the Guadiana estuary. Sampling campaigns were conducted during 2007–2009 in 4 locations of the Guadiana estuary, covering the salinity gradient. Phytoplankton-related and physical–chemical variables were analyzed. Throughout our study, light availability was mainly controlled by suspended sediments and it was much lower than saturating intensities described for phytoplankton growth. Therefore, light was probably limiting to phytoplankton growth throughout the year, especially in the middle and upper estuarine zones. Nitrogen limitation of phytoplankton growth occurred occasionally throughout the study period, especially during spring and summer. Overall, light and nutrient availability were mainly controlled by river flow; anthropogenic sources of nutrients to the estuary were negligible. Phytoplankton showed a unimodal cycle with biomass maximum in late spring/early summer, and the typical seasonal succession of freshwater phytoplankton (diatoms, green algae, cyanobacteria) was observed. Diatoms were the main component of the phytoplankton community and their variability closely followed nitrate and river flow variability. The relative abundance of the main phytoplankton groups changed in relation to the period before dam construction, with a decrease on cyanobacteria contribution to total abundance. The environmental perturbation induced by dam construction has now stabilized and resulted in an overall decrease in nutrient concentrations, an increase in light availability and a decrease in cyanobacteria abundance. Highlights: ► Dam construction is expected to significantly alter estuarine dynamics. ► The effects of dam construction on phytoplankton were analyzed. ► Light and nutrient availability were mainly controlled by river flow. ► No changes in phytoplankton composition were observed. ► Cyanobacteria abundance decreased after dam construction.

Description: The effects of different phases of semidiurnal and spring-neap tidal cycles on phytoplankton and environmental drivers were evaluated in a tidal, freshwater location of a mesotidal estuary (Guadiana estuary, SW Iberia). An Eulerian approach was used and sampling covered different seasons during 2008. Samples were collected during spring and neap tides, at high tide, mid-ebb, low tide and mid-flood. Several physical-chemical variables were measured, as well as phytoplankton abundance and biomass. Salinity was higher at high-tide and suspended particulate matter was higher during spring tides and flood, due to higher vertical mixing and resuspension of bottom sediments. Chlorophyll a concentration during winter and summer neap tides was higher than during spring tides, whilst the abundance of pennate diatoms was higher during winter and Spring spring tides than during neap tides, probably reflecting differences in river discharge. Overall, tidally-induced differences detected in the freshwater tidal reaches of the Guadiana estuary were not as considerable as those observed in the lower estuary. However, the occurrence of tidally-induced variability in some seasons reflects that thorough sampling programs to study estuarine tidal dynamics should be conducted throughout the year. Occasional sampling will not reflect the typical variability of these highly dynamic systems. (© 2010 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)