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Diazotrophic cyanobacteria signatures and their relationship to hydrographic conditions in the Gulf of Gabes, Tunisia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 January 2016

Zaher Drira ,
Dorra Chaari ,
Asma Hamza ,
Malika Bel Hassen ,
Marc Pagano  and
Habib Ayadi
Zaher Drira*
Affiliation:
Département des Sciences de la Vie, Université de Sfax, Faculté des Sciences de Sfax, Unité de recherche UR/11ES72 Biodiversité et Ecosystèmes Aquatiques, Route Soukra Km 3, 5. BP 1171 - CP 3000 Sfax, Tunisie
Dorra Chaari
Affiliation:
Département des Sciences de la Vie, Université de Sfax, Faculté des Sciences de Sfax, Unité de recherche UR/11ES72 Biodiversité et Ecosystèmes Aquatiques, Route Soukra Km 3, 5. BP 1171 - CP 3000 Sfax, Tunisie
Asma Hamza
Affiliation:
Institut National des Sciences et Technologie de la Mer, Centre de Sfax BP1035- CP 3018 Sfax, Tunisie
Malika Bel Hassen
Affiliation:
Institut National des Sciences et Technologie de la Mer, 2025 Salammbô Tunis, Tunisie
Marc Pagano
Affiliation:
Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography, Université d'Aix Marseille, CNRS, Université de Toulon, IRD, MIO UM 110, 13288, Marseille, France
Habib Ayadi
Affiliation:
Département des Sciences de la Vie, Université de Sfax, Faculté des Sciences de Sfax, Unité de recherche UR/11ES72 Biodiversité et Ecosystèmes Aquatiques, Route Soukra Km 3, 5. BP 1171 - CP 3000 Sfax, Tunisie
*
Correspondence should be addressed to:Z. Drira, Département des Sciences de la Vie, Université de Sfax, Faculté des Sciences de Sfax, Unité de recherche UR/11ES72 Biodiversité et Ecosystèmes Aquatiques, Route Soukra Km 3,5. BP 1171 – CP 3000 Sfax, Tunisie email: [email protected]
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Abstract

Changes in the planktonic cyanobacteria structure, composition and diversity were followed over three consecutive years (2005–2006–2007) in the Gulf of Gabes (Eastern Mediterranean Sea, Tunisia). Cyanobacteria abundances, biomasses and cell lengths were measured together with selected environmental variables (pH, salinity, temperature and nutrients). The space and time variations of the cyanobacteria in relation to the environmental factors showed a close relationship between these plankton communities and the hydrographic structure of the water column. Cyanobacteria developed over semi-mixed conditions (May–June 2006) and during the thermal stratification (July 2005). The cyanobacterial abundance and biomass was evident between 20 and 35 m in inshore stations and between 20 and 25 m in deeper stations during the semi-mixing conditions and stratification. This thermocline level coincided with the euphotic layer (21.85 ± 3.76 m) allowing access of light radiation. The cyanobacteria bloom occurred during May–June 2006 when the N/P ratio (<10) was clearly below the accepted standard molar ratio of N/P = 16/1. Commonalities among cyanobacterial genera include being highly competitive for low concentrations of inorganic P (DIP) and the ability to acquire organic P compounds. Our study showed that both diazotrophic (N2-fixing) cyanobacteria such as Anabaena sp., Chroococcus sp., Trichodesmium erythraeum, Spirulina sp. and Spirulina subsalsa and non-diazotrophic cyanobacteria such as Pseudoanabaena sp. and Microcystis display a great flexibility in the N sources which allow formation of blooms.

Keywords

Gulf of Gabesdiazotrophic cyanobacteriawater columninshore areaoffshore areamixing conditionsstratificationthermoclinenutrient compoundsN/P ratio
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 97 , Issue 1 , February 2017 , pp. 69 - 80
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2016 

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