Inter-Research > MEPS > v429 > p29-43  
MEPS
Marine Ecology Progress Series

via Mailchimp

MEPS 429:29-43 (2011)  -  DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps09097

Plankton dynamics in an estuarine plume: a mesocosm 13C and 15N tracer study

Karel Van den Meersche1,2,3, Karline Soetaert2,*, Jack J. Middelburg2,4

1Department of Biology, Marine Biology Section, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
2Centre for Estuarine and Marine Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO - KNAW), 4400 AC Yerseke, The Netherlands
3Present address: Eco&Sols, CIRAD, 34060 Montpellier, France
4Present address: Faculty of Geosciences, Utrecht University, 3508 TA Utrecht, The Netherlands
*Corresponding author: Email:

ABSTRACT: Flows of carbon and nitrogen in a natural phytoplankton assemblage from the plume of the Scheldt estuary were followed during and after a light-induced bloom by measuring changes in concentrations and stable isotope ratios in mesocosms after addition of 13C (as bicarbonate or glucose) and 15N (as ammonium or nitrate). Addition of 13C-bicarbonate showed a strong coupling between algal primary production and bacterial secondary production, while addition of 13C-glucose revealed bacteria as a carbon source for eukaryotes. Tracing the 13C into mesozooplankton, we identified selective grazing on algae during the phytoplankton bloom, transfer of carbon from bacteria to mesozooplankton and opportunistic feeding strategies after the bloom. Nitrogen labeling confirmed carbon labeling findings, identified bacteria rather than mesozooplankton as ammonium regenerators and allowed quantification of nitrification.


KEY WORDS: Plankton · Isotope · Estuarine


Full text in pdf format
Cite this article as: Van den Meersche K, Soetaert K, Middelburg JJ (2011) Plankton dynamics in an estuarine plume: a mesocosm 13C and 15N tracer study. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 429:29-43. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps09097

Export citation
Share:    Facebook - - linkedIn

 Previous article Next article