Bacterial secondary production and it relation with primary production in the Embalse del Río III Reservoir, Argentina

Abstract

During an annual period the bacterial biomass (epifluorescence) and secondary production (methyl-3H-thymidine incorporation), as well as biomass (Chlorophyll) and algal primary production (incorporation of NaH14CO3) were studied in the Embalse del Rio III Reservoir, Argentina. The relations between these variables and their responses to seasonal changes in water temperature were analyzed. A close relationship in seasonal patterns of algal primary production and bacterial secondary production was observed, with the estimated rates of bacterial production similar to that obtained by other authors in eutrophic lakes. Bacterial production was 17 to 46% of the primary production, thus, at 60% assimilation efficiency, the bacterioplankton would consume 28 to 77 % of the total fixed carbon. Seasonal trends in algal primary production and bacterial secondary production were mainly affected by temperature.