Nutrient and Grazing Control of Estuarine Phytoplankton Growth and Community Composition

Estuarine phytoplankton growth is often controlled by nitrogen availability. In addition to overall nitrogen loads, nitrogen form (organic vs. inorganic) is an important factor affecting estuarine phytoplankton growth and community composition. Recent studies have shown that in addition to nitrogen availability, trophic cascades and relaxation of grazing pressure may also be important for phytoplankton bloom formation in estuaries.

With a goal of better understanding how nitrogen availability and grazing pressure interact to control estuarine phytoplankton growth and community composition, we examined the individualistic as well as the combined effects of nitrogen (varying availability and form) and grazing pressure on estuarine phytoplankton growth and community composition in the Neuse River Estuary, North Carolina, USA. During each of three sampling events (June 2011, August 2011, March 2012) natural phytoplankton assemblages were manipulated with added nitrogen (as urea or nitrate) and reduced grazing pressure (by filtering out zooplankton grazers). Treatments were incubated for 48 hours in an experimental pond, and subsamples taken daily to assess phytoplankton growth responses to treatments through chlorophyll a, diagnostic photopigments and cell enumerations.

The effects of nitrogen additions and reduced grazing pressure varied throughout the events. In June, only nitrogen addition stimulated phytoplankton community growth (chlorophyll a), while in August, only grazing reduction had a significant impact on community growth. Neither treatment had a significant effect on community growth in March, as the phytoplankton community faced phosphorus-limitation and decreased grazing pressure associated with cooler winter/spring temperatures. While both treatments did not continuously effect overall phytoplankton growth throughout all experiments, there were always effects seen in some diagnostic photopigments, indicating varying taxa-specific responses to treatments throughout the year, which can be explained by shifts in phytoplankton community composition and environmental factors.

These results demonstrate the importance of both bottom-up (nutrient availability and form) and top-down (grazing) controls in a temperate, eutrophic estuary. Results also hint at the potential for other factors (i.e. light and phosphorus-limitation) to play a role in phytoplankton growth as well. Phytoplankton growth, biomass and community dynamics are relevant indicators of environmental change and this study highlights the need to consider the potential interactive effects of controlling factors for proper management of estuarine ecosystems.