Document of bibliographic reference 359596

BibliographicReference record

Type

Bibliographic resource

Type of document

Journal article

BibLvlCode

AS

Title

Seasonal dynamic of diazotrophic activity and environmental variables affecting it in the Gulf of Riga, Baltic Sea

Abstract

The semi-enclosed Baltic Sea experiences regular summer blooms of diazotrophic cyanobacteria. Previously, it has been conclusively demonstrated that in open nitrogen-limited parts of the Baltic Sea, cyanobacteria successfully fix atmospheric N2. At the same time, diazotrophic activity is still poorly understood in Baltic Sea sub-regions where nitrogen and phosphorus are co-limiting primary production. To address this gap in research, we used the15 N tracer method for in situ incubations and measured the N2-fixation rate of heterocyst-forming cyanobacteria and picocyanobacteria in the Gulf of Riga, Baltic Sea, from April to September. Physicochemical variables and phytoplankton community composition were also determined. Our results show that the dominant species of cyanobacteria for this region (Aphanizomenon flosaquae) was present in the phytoplankton community during most of the study period. We also establish that the N2-fixation rate has a strong correlation with the proportion of A. flosaquae biomass containing heterocysts (r = 0.80). Our findings highlight the importance of a heterocyst-focused approach for an accurate diazotrophic activity evaluation that is one of the foundations for future management and protection of the Baltic Sea.

WebOfScience code

https://www.webofscience.com/wos/woscc/full-record/WOS:000892840400001

Bibliographic citation

Liepina-Leimane, I.; Barda, I.; Jurgensone, I.; Labucis, A.; Suhareva, N.; Kozlova, V.; Maderniece, A.; Aigars, J. (2022). Seasonal dynamic of diazotrophic activity and environmental variables affecting it in the Gulf of Riga, Baltic Sea. FEMS Microbiol. Ecol. 98(12): 1-11. https://dx.doi.org/10.1093/femsec/fiac132

Topic

Marine

Is peer reviewed

true

Access rights

open access

Is accessible for free

true