Temporal and spatial variability of bacterial abundance and production in the German Wadden Sea
Abstract
The bacterial abundance at Büsum (northern German Wadden Sea) in 1995 varied between 1.2 and 66 x 105 ml-1. Bacterial production fluctuated between 3.9 and 95 Μg C l-1 d-1. The development of bacterial blooms in spring and summer was reflected rather in bacterial numbers than in bacterial production, although the latter showed stronger seasonal variations. This points to seasonally changing turnover rates of bacterial biomass. The dynamics of cell numbers and productivity rates were dominated by bacteria attached to particles. This temporal variability was compared with the spatial variance observed at 152 stations in the southern German Bight in January, May and August 1995. Cell numbers varied between 0.5 and 102 x 105 ml-1, and production between 0.5 and 74 Μg C I"1 d-1. The data suggest faster turnover of bacterial biomass in the inner tidal basins than in offshore areas. The temporal variability observed at Büsum was smaller than the spatial variability in the German Bight. Thus, several time-series stations are needed to monitor bacterial dynamics in the whole area.
- Publication:
-
Deutsche Hydrographische Zeitschrift
- Pub Date:
- September 1997
- DOI:
- 10.1007/BF02764036
- Bibcode:
- 1997DeHyZ..49..243P
- Keywords:
-
- Bacterial Production;
- Bacterial Abundance;
- Bacterial Biomass;
- Bacterial Number;
- German Bight