Spatial and seasonal dynamics of phosphorous and physicochemical variables in the Negro River Estuary (Argentina): a preliminary approach.

Nutrient discharge into rivers and estuaries and the factors that control it need to be further understood to decrease the risk of harmful algae blooms on these ecosystems. Preliminary seasonal physicochemical parameters at six stations along the Negro River Estuary (Argentina) were studied during 2019 (Austral summer, winter, and spring) with high- and low-frequency data. Three of the stations were mainly estuarine-influenced and three were marine-influenced ones. The concentration of phosphate (P), river discharge, meteorological conditions, seasonality, and physicochemical variables were analyzed. Total phosphorus (TP) showed seasonal variations and was higher than previously reported for the upper watershed in all stations in the warmer months, except for the marine control one. Orthophosphate values were also high compared to previous watershed data and changed independently of TP fluctuations. Changing turbidity, water temperature, pH, and conductivity did not appear to have an essential role in phosphorus variations. An unexplained high TP spike in the late spring sample shows the need for further research in the area, while the seawater mixing with P-rich river water could be acting as a dilution agent at the mouth of the river.

Diatom-driven recolonization of microbial mat-dominated siliciclastic tidal flat sediments.

Modern microbial mats and biofilms play a paramount role in sediment biostabilization. When sporadic storms affect tidal flats of Bahía Blanca Estuary, the underlying siliciclastic sediment is exposed by physical disruption of the mat, and in a few weeks' lapse, a microbial community re-establishes. With the objective of studying colonization patterns and the ecological succession of microorganisms at the scale of these erosional structures, these were experimentally made and their biological recolonization followed for 8 weeks, with replication in winter and spring. Motile pennate diatoms led the initial colonization following two distinct patterns: a dominance by Cylindrotheca closterium in winter and by naviculoid and nitzschioid diatoms in spring. During the first 7 days, cell numbers increased 2- to 17-fold. Cell densities further increased exhibiting sigmoidal community growth, reaching 2.9-8.9 × 106 cells cm-3 maxima around day 30; centric diatoms maintained low densities throughout. In 56 days after removal of the original mat, filamentous cyanobacteria that dominate mature mats did not establish a significant biomass, leading to the rejection of the hypothesis that cyanobacteria would drive the colonization. The observed dominance of pennate diatoms is attributed to extrinsic factors determined by tidal flooding, and intrinsic ones, e.g. motility, nutrient affinity and high growth rate.