Brocco Jaime, Belitza A.

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Influence of the Orinoco River Plume on the balance between plankton primary production and respiration in the Caribbean Sea
(2010-12) Brocco Jaime, Belitza A.; Morell Rodríguez, Julio M.; College of Arts and Sciences - Sciences; Corredor, Jorge E.; López Díaz, José M.; Aponte, Nilda; Department of Marine Sciences; Alfaro Lozano, Mónica
Influence of the Orinoco River Plume (ORP) on plankton metabolic balance in the Eastern Caribbean was estimated along the plume’s dispersal axis. Planktonic gross primary production (GPP), net community production (NCP) and community respiration (CR) were determined from changes in dissolved oxygen concentration after 24h light/dark incubations. ORP has marked influence on near surface plankton metabolism; less impact was observed at low irradiance. GPP and CR showed maximum values in the near field. NCP shows this area to be highly autotrophic. Dilution of the ORP with Caribbean waters results in reduction of GPP and CR. Comparing GPP and CR with studies in the Atlantic show the highly productive southern ORP region to fit well into a subsidized region regression. The mid to far field exhibit metabolic ratios closer to those observed in isolated regions. This suggests that riverine DOC in the mid and far fields is refractive to planktonic respiration.