Dynamics of carbon assimilation by St Lawrence estuary phytoplankton at the end of summer

Abstract

This study presents data of in situ measurements of inorganic carbon assimilation by phytoplankton communities of the St Lawrence estuary during the end of summer 1982. We used carboxylase activity measurements (ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase, β carboxylases) and the 13C/12C ratio of phytoplankton organic carbon, expressed as ∂13C, to study patterns of assimilation. Upper estuary phytoplankton communities showed a smaller turn-over rate in carbon assimilation than lower estuary phytoplankton communities. Carbon assimilation was limited by light intensity in the upper estuary and by CO2 availability in the lower estuary. In the St Lawrence estuary, stable carbon isotope ratios of phytoplankton organic carbon seemed to be controlled by inorganic carbon availability rather than by phytoplankton metabolism.