Bacterial response to seasonal changes in primary production and phytoplankton biomass in Lake Constance
Simon, M.; Tilzer, M.M.
Journal of Plankton Research 9.3: 535-552
1987
ISSN/ISBN: 0142-7873
DOI: 10.1093/plankt/9.3.535
Accession: 037222764
The interactions between phyto- and bacterioplankton in Constance lake, a large meso-eutrophic lake, were assessed. The vertical and seasonal patterns of primary production, chlorophyll, bacterial cell numbers, biomass, numbers of active bacteria, uptake and respiration of amino acids, and bacterial production were measured and compared. Total mineralization rates and integrated data of phytoplankton and bacterioplankton biomass and production rates are also presented. Bacterial degradation of organic matter was most closely related to phytoplankton productivity between late March, (before the spring bloom) and mid July (the diatom peak). Bacterial production was significantly correlated with concentrations of chlorophyll-a and pheopigments. Bacterial biomass comprised 11 per cent of particulate organic matter and approximated phytoplankton biomass. The size fraction less than 3 um contributed 25-75 per cent to total respiration. Bacterial production in the uppermost 20 m comprised about 20 per cent of phytoplankton production during the growing season.