Estuary, Phytoplankton, Microzooplankton, Salinity, Fish larvae, Critical habitat
Microzooplankton grazing was measured with the dilution method in the central and southern sectors of the Indian River Lagoon during summer 2006 and 2007. Microzooplankton actively grazed phytoplankton during all experiments. Grazing rates averaged (± SD) 0.956 ± 0.19 d-1 and ranged from 0.54 to 1.36 d-1. Phytoplankton carbon, measured by microscopy, averaged 314 ± 251 μg C L-1 and ranged from 115 to 936 μg C L-1. Microzooplankton ingestion rates averaged 303 ± 260 μg C L-1d-1 and ranged from 90 to 907 μg C L-1d-1. Microzooplankton potential productivity, a first-order estimate of microzooplankton productivity, averaged 91 ± 78 μg C L-1d-1 and ranged from 27 to 272 μg C L-1d-1. Microzooplankton grazing rates were not related to salinity. In contrast, the magnitudes of phytoplankton carbon concentration, microzooplankton ingestion rate, and microzooplankton potential productivity were statistically significantly greater in lower (<20 >psu) salinity waters. An examination of data from another Florida estuary and other Gulf of Mexico coast estuaries suggests that microzooplankton productivity may, in general, be highest in lower salinity waters.
Jennifer Putland and Tracey Sutton. 2010. Microzooplankton Grazing and Productivity in the Central and Southern Sector of the Indian River Lagoon, Florida .Florida Scientist , (3/4) : 236 -246. https://nsuworks.nova.edu/occ_facarticles/533.