Carbohydrate production by microbial mats communities in tidal flat from Bahía Blanca Estuary (Argentina)

MARTINEZ, A.M.; MARCOVECCHIO, J.E.; FERNÁNDEZ, E.M.; CUADRADO, D.G.; SPETTER, C.V.; AVENA, M.J.

Environmental Earth Sciences

Springer Verlag

Lugar: Berlin; Año: 2016 vol. 75 p. 1 - 14

1866-6280

The seasonal and spatial distribution of colloidaland capsular extracellular carbohydrates was assessedin three sites in the supratidal flat from Rosales Port(middle zone of Bahı´a Blanca Estuary, Argentina) wheremicrobial mats were developed. Extracellular carbohydrates,Chlorophyll a, phaeopigments, organic matter andmoisture content were determined in surface (0?5 mmdepth) and subsurface (5?10 mm depth) sediment layers.No differences in pH, Eh and temperature were observedamong sites but seasonal differences were found in Eh andtemperature. Organic matter content was statistically differentamong sites being higher in ST3, which has registeredfine sediments. In turn, ST3 differs significantly fromST1 and ST2 in the Chlorophyll a concentrations in thesubsurface layer and in colloidal and capsular carbohydratescontent. In the three study sites, the extracellularcarbohydrates concentration was higher in surface sedimentlayer than in subsurface layer. In addition, seasonaldifferences were found for all sites between surface andsubsurface sediment layers. Maximum extracellular carbohydratesconcentration was registered when theChlorophyll a concentration was high. The relationshipamong the physicochemical parameters evaluated, grainsize, Chlorophyll a and extracellular carbohydrates concentrationallows defining two different areas in the RosalesPort despite the proximity.