Spatiotemporal variability and trophic relations of bacterioplankton and phytoplankton in Cuban oceanic waters

• Lugioyo Gallardo, Gladys Margarita ^[1] ; Álvarez, Sandra Lupe Loza ^[1]
  1. [1] Instituto de Ciencias del Mar, Havana, Cuba
• Localización: Bulletin of Marine Science, ISSN 0007-4977, Vol. 94, Nº. 2, 2018 (Ejemplar dedicado a: Marine Ecology and Conservation in Cuba), págs. 283-295
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • Studying the temporal variability of lower trophic levels allows a better understanding of the type and degree of coupling that exists in the pelagic ecosystem in the Caribbean region. The aim of the present study was to characterize the structure and functioning of the <20 μm planktonic fractions in oligotrophic oceanic waters of Cuba and their relation with environmental parameters, as well as the role played by heterotrophic components in the microbial loop in the pelagic ecosystem. The distribution of picoplanktonic and nanoplanktonic biomass in the oceanic waters of Cuba did not differ significantly among years in the same season. The highest biomass values were found in the northern vs the southern region, which may be related to coastal upwelling, as well as to the contributions of nutrients and organic matter from coastal ecosystems. Furthermore, the biomass of the heterotrophic component was much larger than that of the autotrophic component, confirming the role played by small (<20 μm) heterotrophic organisms in the microbial loop. The present findings may be useful for tracking future variation in bacterioplankton and phytoplankton in the Caribbean region.