Abstract Picoplankton are central global carbon (C) cycling players and often dominate the ocean plankton communities, especially in low latitudes. Therefore, evaluating picoplankton temporal dynamics is critical to understanding microbial stocks and C fluxes in tropical oceans. However, the lack of studies on low-latitude picoplankton communities translates into a common conception that there is an absence of seasonality. Herein, we studied the temporal variation in abundance (measured by flow cytometry), and carbon flux (taking bacterial production and respiration as proxies) of the picoplanktonic community for the first time, as well as their environmental drivers in a low-latitude (05° 59’ 20.7″S 035° 05’ 14.6″W) Atlantic coastal station. We performed monthly samplings between February 2013 and August 2016 in a novel microbial observatory – hereafter called the Equatorial Atlantic Microbial Observatory – established on the northeastern Brazilian Atlantic coast. Our results revealed stability in temporal dynamics of picoplankton, despite a considerable inter-annual variation, with some related to the El Niño (ENSO) event in 2015. However, weak environmental relationships found were not enough to explain the variation in picoplankton’s abundance, which suggests that other factors such as biological interactions may lead to picoplankton abundance variation over time. Heterotrophic bacteria dominated picoplankton during the entire study period and between photosynthetic counterparts, and Synechococcus showed greater relative importance than picoeukaryotes. These results bring a novel perspective that picoplankton may exhibit more pronounced fluctuations in the tropical region when considering inter-annual intervals, and is increasing prokaryotic contribution to carbon cycling towards the equator.

The goals were to estimate nutrients and carbon flow rates between Guanabara Bay and the adjacent coastal waters, to characterize the provenance of the exported/imported organic matter. Samples were collected from different depths over 25 h in two seasons at the bay entrance. Measurements included physicochemical parameters, nutrients, chlorophylls, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), particulate organic carbon (POC), particulate nitrogen (PN), carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) isotopic composition, sterols in suspended particulate matter (SPM) and bacterioplankton. Most variables showed higher values in ebb tide events. The flow rates calculated on daily basis and estimated on annual basis revealed the exportation to the continental shelf of 1.27 × 104 kmol year-1 dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN), 9.52 × 102 kmol year-1 dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP), 2.65 × 104 t year-1 DOC, 1.96 × 104 t year-1 POC, and 2.96 × 104 t year-1 PN. The estimates show the bay contributes with 0.01% of the total global carbon influx to the ocean.

Um estudo do bacterioplâncton foi realizado numa área extensa do Oceano Atlântico Sudoeste entre 13 e 25ºS e 28 e 42ºW. As amostras foram coletadas em 108 estações oceanográficas a 20 m de profundidade. A abundância bacteriana foi determinada por citometria de fluxo após coloração dos ácidos nucléicos com Syto13. Dois grupos de bactérias foram enumerados e distinguidos: bactérias com alto conteúdo de ácidos nucleicos (HNA) e bactérias com baixo conteúdo de ácidos nucleicos (LNA). O número de bactérias variou de 0,37 a 5,53 10(5) células mL-1. As células HNA representaram de 15 a 70% da abundância total enquanto as células LNA representaram de 30 a 85%. A produção bacteriana foi determinada por incorporação de leucina tritiada e variou de 2,7 a 171,07 ng C L-1 h-1. A correlação entre abundância e produção bacterianas não foi significativa. Entretanto uma análise multivariada realizada entre abundância, produção, clorofila a e outros dados oceanográficos revelou que a distribuição dos dois grupos em diferentes províncias oceânicas pode ser atribuída a disponibilidade de nutrientes. As bactérias HNA foram responsáveis pelo maior percentual de células na área ao norte de 19ºS e estiveram relacionadas às águas quentes e aos nutrientes de origem pluvial. As bactérias LNA foram dominantes ao sul dessa latitude e estiveram relacionadas à disponibilidade de nitrato cujos valores foram mais altos nessa região.

Bacterioplankton was studied in a large area of Southwest Atlantic Ocean between 13 and 25ºS and 28 and 42ºW. Samples were collected in 108 stations at 20 m depth. Bacteria were enumerated by flow cytometry after nucleic acid staining with syto13 and two subgroups were differentiated: low nucleic acid content (LNA) and high nucleic acid content (HNA) bacteria. Total bacterial numbers varied from 0.37 to 5.53 10(5) cells mL-1. HNA cells represented 15 to 70% of the total number while LNA cells represented 30 to 85%. Heterotrophic bacterial production was determined by incorporation of tritiated leucine and ranged from 2.7 to 171.07 ng C L-1 h-1. No significant correlation was found between abundance and production. Nevertheless with support of multivariate analysis between bacterial abundance, bacterial production, chlorophyll a and other oceanographic data the distribution of the groups in two different oceanic provinces could be explained by nutrient availability. HNA bacteria accounted for the high percentage of cells found in the area north of 19ºS, linked to higher temperature waters and riverine nutrients inputs. LNA bacteria were the dominant cells south of this latitude and were correlated to the higher values of nitrate found for the same area.

Variações do nanoplâncton (2-20µm) e bactérias filamentosas (diâmetro: 0.5-2.0 µm) da Baía de Guanabara (RJ, Brasil) são apresentadas, considerando densidade celular e biomassa de autótrofos e heterótrofos. A meta deste trabalho é contribuir para uma futura modelagem da dinâmica trófica neste sistema. Amostras subsuperficiais de água foram coletadas semanalmente durante um ano em dois pontos: Urca (próximo à entrada, mais salino, eutrófico) e Ramos (no interior, menos salino, hipertrófico). Foi feita análise por microscopia de epifluorescência, com densidade celular convertida para biomassa através do biovolume celular. A concentração do nanoplâncton total foi alta (10(8)cel.l-1) na maioria das amostras (>57%) e das bactérias filamentosas variou de 10(5) a 10(8)fil.l-1. A densidade de autótrofos em Ramos foi uma ordem de grandeza superior tanto para o nanoplâncton (Md: 10(8)cel.l-1 em Ramos e 10(7)cel.l-1 na Urca) quanto para as bactérias filamentosas (Md: 10(6)fil.l-1 em Ramos e 10(5)fil.l-1 na Urca). A biomassa autotrófica do nanoplâncton (Md: 10³µgC.l-1 em Ramos e 10¹µgC.l-1 na Urca) e das bactérias filamentosas (Md: 28µgC.l-1 em Ramos e 1,4µgC.l-1 na Urca) seguiu o mesmo padrão. A contribuição relativa de autótrofos aumentou após a conversão para biomassa. Uma tendência temporal foi evidenciada para as bactérias filamentosas em ambos os pontos e, para o nanoplâncton autotrófico, em Ramos, com valores máximos no período chuvoso (primavera-verão).

Variations of nanoplankton (2-20 µm) and filamentous bacteria (diameter: 0.5-2.0 µm) of Guanabara Bay (RJ, Brazil) are presented, considering cell density and carbon content of auto- and heterotrophs. Our goal is to contribute to future modeling of local trophic dynamics. Subsurface water samples were taken weekly during the year 2000 at two sites: Urca (close to the entrance, more saline, eutrophic) and Ramos (inner area, less saline, hypertrophic). Microscopic analysis was done by epifluorescence and cell density was converted to biomass through cell biovolume. Total nanoplankton was about 10(8) cells.l-1 in most samples (>57%), and total filamentous bacteria densities varied from 10(5) to 10(8) fil.l-1. Autotroph density was one order of magnitude higher at Ramos, both for nanoplankton (Md: 10(8)cells.l-1 at Ramos and 10(7)cells.l-1 at Urca) and for filamentous bacteria (Md: 10(6) fil.l-1 at Ramos and 10(5) fil.l-1 at Urca). The same was observed for autotrophic biomass (Md: 10³µgC.l-1 at Ramos and 10¹µgC.l-1 at Urca for nanoplankton; Md: 28µgC.l-1 at Ramos and 1.4µgC.l-1 at Urca for filamentous bacteria). The relative contribution of autotrophs increased after conversion to biomass. Seasonal variation was conspicuous for filamentous bacteria at both sites and for nanoplankton only at Ramos, with maximum autotrophic abundances during the rainy period (spring-summer).

A Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas (RJ, Brasil) é um importante ecossistema que vêm sendo submetido a um acelerado processo de degradação. O objetivo desse estudo foi determinar a abundância e a distribuição espacial das bactérias heterotróficas totais (citometria em fluxo) e cultivadas ("pour plate" em ágar R2A). Outro objetivo foi avaliar a influência da lagoa na qualidade das águas de Ipanema e do Leblon. Dados físico-químicos também foram adquiridos. Amostras de água sub-superficiais foram coletadas mensalmente, de dezembro de 1999 a outubro de 2000. Na lagoa, a abundância de bactérias cultivadas variou de 6,9x10(5) a 5,0x10(7) UFC.100 mL-1. Em Ipanema e no Leblon, esse parâmetro atingiu 1,4x10(5) e 2,8x10(6) UFC.100 mL-1, respectivamente. A abundância bacteriana total variou de 2,9x10(7) a 3,2x10(7) células.mL-1 na lagoa. Em Ipanema e no Leblon, este parâmetro alcançou, respectivamente, 8,7x10(6) a 1,1x10(7) células.mL-1. Dois sub-grupos bacterianos foram observados nas estações, com predomínio de células HNA. Amostras foram posteriormente coletadas visando um maior entendimento sobre as bactérias presentes nesses ambientes. A abundância bacteriana foi analisada apenas por citometria em fluxo e os resultados oscilaram entre 8,3x10(6) e 2,5x10(7) células.mL-1 na lagoa. Na praia, esse parâmetro atingiu 6,9x10(6) células.mL-1. Dois sub-grupos bacterianos também foram observados, com predomínio de células HNA na lagoa e LNA na praia adjacente. Os resultados indicaram que a lagoa é um ecossistema eutrofizado, onde as bactérias e os parâmetros físico-químicos distribuem-se de modo uniforme. Os dados ainda indicaram que as águas poluídas da lagoa afetam a qualidade das praias de Ipanema e do Leblon.

The Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon (RJ, Brazil) is an important coastal ecosystem that has been submitted to an accelerated degradation process. The aim of this work was to determine the abundance and the spatial distribution of total heterotrophic (by flow cytometry) and cultivated bacteria ("pour plate" method on R2A agar). Another objective was to evaluate the lagoon's influence on water quality of Ipanema and Leblon beaches. Physical and chemical data were acquired too. Sub-superficial water samples were taken monthly, from December 1999 to October 2000. On lagoon, the cultivated bacteria abundance varied from 6.9x10(5) to 5.0x10(7) CFU.100 mL-1. On Ipanema and Leblon beaches, this parameter yielded 1.4x10(5) and 2.8x10(6) CFU.100 mL-1, respectively. Total bacterial abundance varied from 2.9x10(7) to 3.2x10(7) cells.mL-1 on lagoon. On Ipanema and Leblon, this parameter yielded 8.7x10(6) and 1.1x10(7) cells.mL-1, respectively. Two sub-groups were determined with dominance of HNA cells. Samples were added latter to better understand the bacteria present on these environments. Bacterial abundance were analyzed only by flow cytometry and the results varied from 8.3x10(6) to 2.5x10(7) cells.mL-1 on lagoon. On the beach, this parameter yielded 6.9x10(6) cells. mL-1. Two bacterial sub-groups were also observed, with dominance of HNA on lagoon and LNA on the beach. The results showed that the Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon is an eutrophic ecosystem where the bacterial populations and the physical and chemical parameters do not differ spatially. The data also confirmed that the outflow of the lagoon's polluted waters affect the sanitary conditions of Ipanema and Leblon beaches.

O objetivo desse trabalho foi realizar curvas de saturação a fim de otimizar a concentração de ³H-leucina necessária para avaliar produção bacteriana na Baía de Guanabara. Objetivou-se ainda a aquisição de dados preliminares de produção bacteriana em dois locais distintos em termos de qualidade de água : enseada da Urca e Ilha do Governador. As amostras para as curvas foram obtidas na região do Canal Central e na Ilha de Paquetá, além dos dois locais de coleta citados acima. Seguiu-se a metodologia descrita por Kirchman et al. (1985) e modificada por Smith & Azam (1992). As curvas de ³H-leucina mostraram um padrão semelhante para todas as áreas estudadas, indicando a concentração ótima de isótopo de 10 nM. A produção de biomassa bacteriana variou de 0,40 a 4,53 µgC L-1 h-1 na Urca e de 3,86 a 73,72 µgC L-1 h-1 na Ilha do Governador confirmando a relação entre a disponibilidade de nutrientes e matéria orgânica e o aumento da produtividade bacteriana. Essas análises poderão ser utilizadas para estudos sobre dinâmica trófica, ciclos biogeoquímicos além de iniciativas de modelagem na Baía de Guanabara.

The aim of this work was to evaluate the necessary ³H-leucine concentration to estimate bacterial production in Guanabara Bay through saturation curves. A second aim was to collect preliminary data of bacterial production in two distinct sites corresponding to different water qualities: Urca inlet and Governador Island. Saturation curves were made with water samples taken at the main circulation channel of the bay, Paquetá Island, and the two sites mentioned before. The ³H-leucine curves showed similar pattern for all studied areas, indicating the ideal isotope concentration to be 10 nM. Bacterial biomass production ranged from 0.40 to 4.53 µgC L-1 h-1 in Urca and from 3.86 to 73.72 µgC L-1 h-1 in Governador Island indicating the relationship between nutrients and organic matter supply and bacterial productivity. This work is an important reference for studies on trophodynamics, biogeochemical cycles and modelling in Guanabara Bay.