Chlorophylls and Phycoerythrins as Markers of Environmental Forcings Including Cyclone Erica Effect (March 2003) on Phytoplankton in the Southwest Lagoon of New Caledonia and Oceanic Adjacent Area. (25th November 2009)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Neveux, J.; Tenório, M. M. B.; Jacquet, S.; Torréton, J.-P.; Douillet, P.; Ouillon, S.; Dupouy, C.
• Other Names: Frouin Robert Academic Editor.
• Is Part Of: International journal of oceanography. Volume 2009(2009)
• Publication Date: 2009-11-25
• Subjects: Oceanography -- Periodicals; Oceanography; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 551.46
• DOI: 10.1155/2009/232513
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1687-9406

Abstract

Abstract : Spatio-temporal variations of chlorophylls and phycoerythrins, inferred by spectrofluorometric methods, were studied from April 2002 to June 2003 in the southwest lagoon and oceanic waters of New Caledonia. Trade winds blew 75% of the time and appeared as the main factor influencing surface Tchla (sum of monovinyl- and divinyl-chlorophylla ) variations in the ocean, near the barrier reef. Lagoon and oceanic waters differed in the composition of picoplanktonic cyanobacteria with a relative dominance of Prochlorococcus and high-phycourobilin Synechococcus in the ocean, and a relative dominance of high-phycoerythrobilin Synechococcus in the lagoon. Main pigment variations in the lagoon were associated with cyclone Erica in March 2003 and showed a 5-6 fold Tchla increase around Nouméa. The cyclone stimulated mainly diatom growth as indicated by the high chlorophyll (c 1 + c 2 )/chlorophylla ratio and by the lowest values for the other pigment ratios. The relative importance of divinyl-chlorophylla concentration and fluorescence excitation spectra of phycoerythrins appeared as useful tools for characterizing lagoon-ocean exchanges.