ABSTRACT

The watershed of the Amazon River discharges about 120,000 m³・s⁻¹ of freshwater into the adjacent platform and oceanic region. The aim of this work was to analyze the distribution of oceanographic parameters, chlorophyll a and primary productivity under the influence of the Amazon River plume, during the period of greatest extension of the Amazon plume. Collections were carried out in September 14 in 16 stations including continental platform and oceanic region. It was possible to observe superficial currents along the coast in the northwest direction, but with less intensity and currents with greater speeds towards the east due to the North Brazil Current retroflexion at this time of the year, transporting the plume to the central Atlantic Ocean. The spatial influence of the plume was observed in the salinity, which ranged from 28 to 36.75, although the high precipitation in the region may also have contributed as a source of freshwater. However, the sampled region showed strong negative linear correlation of silicate, chlorophyll a and primary productivity with salinity. The primary productivity values ranged from 0.04 to 18.81 mg C m⁻³ day⁻¹, whereas chlorophyll a concentrations ranged from 0.15 mg・m⁻³ to 1.83 mg・m⁻³, decreasing their values as they move away from the coast. The Amazon River plume can reach and influence the oceanographic and biological parameters in a large area of this oligotrophic region. However, the results also suggest that the export of material from the adjacent coastal region is another determinant of the region’s productivity.

Keywords:

Amazon River Plume, Continental Shelf, Oceanic Region, Environmental Variables, Phytoplankton Biomass, Primary Productivity

1. Introduction

Primary production and chlorophyll a concentrations are always dependent on synergistic effects among meteorological, physical, chemical and biological factors that limit or stimulate the activity of photosynthetic planktonic organisms [1] [2] . Environmental alterations that cause changes in parameters such as light, temperature, salinity, pH and nutrient availability directly affect biomass, density, community structure and primary productivity [3] .

Fluvial inflows carry significant amounts of nutrients, affecting especially continental platform regions, which act as a final recipient of these waters and have a major impact on the phytoplankton community structure. The dynamic structure resulting from this process is a mass of floating water with density lower than that of coastal waters, called a river plume [4] [5] [6] [7] .

The watershed of the Amazon River discharges about 120,000 m³・s⁻¹ of freshwater, but is also responsible for about 30% of the freshwater flow to the Atlantic Ocean [8] [9] . It presents a surface plume of approximately 3 - 10 m thick, which covers an area that varies between 2.31 × 10⁶ km² and 5.26 × 10⁶ km². In this way, it significantly influences the flow of nutrients, and other suspended materials, interfering in the biogeochemistry of many elements present along the continental platform [10] [11] [12] [13] . Due to this influence, the plume has a differentiated phytoplankton structure in relation to the adjacent oceanic region, with high concentrations of photosynthetic pigments [14] .

Previous works in the Western Tropical North Atlantic ( [11] [14] - [20], among others) have reported that the influence of the Amazon River plume has implications on the distribution of phytoplankton productivity, chlorophyll a and on the hydrological characteristics in the adjacent platform and oceanic zone.

Previous works in the Western Tropical North Atlantic [11] [15] [16] [17] have reported that the influence of the Amazon River plume has implications on the distribution of phytoplankton productivity, chlorophyll a and on the hydrological characteristics in the adjacent platform and oceanic zone. [7] [14] [18] quantified the phytoplankton biomass and productivity primary and reported the strong related to group of diatom in plume waters [19] [20] . [1] [20] classified through chlorophyll a as the areas of influence of the river are eutrophic (1.67 mg・m⁻³), while [21] reported its influence on the planktonic community along the Amazon River―Ocean Continuum in the period of minimum discharge.

The aim of this study was to analyze the distribution of chlorophyll a and primary productivity in the northern region of Brazil, evaluating factors that influence net primary productivity and environmental parameters in plume waters and adjacent ocean waters during the period of greatest spatial extension of the Amazon River plume in the Atlantic Ocean.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. Description of the Study Area

The study area is characterized by humid tropical climate (Köppen type AF), with high and constant rainfall (>60 mm/month⁻¹; >1500 mm・year⁻¹) and temperature > 20˚C. The discharge of water from the Amazon River varies seasonally, with peak flow in May/June and minimum flow in October/November [22] [23] [24] . Despite the great fluvial contribution that interferes in the movement of waters in the platform, physical forces such as tides, rainfall and winds are determining factors. The dominant trade winds are more intense from December to April, increasing the wave energy and modifying the flow of the Amazon on the platform [25] .

The North continental platform has maximum length of 320 km at the mouth of the Amazon River [24] [26] [27] . The near-surface circulation is characterized by the presence of the North Brazil Current (NBC) and its sub-surface component, the North Brazil Sub-current(NBSC), formed from the bifurcation of the South Equatorial Current (SEC) [28] [29] . In the period from February to June, the NBC shows a continuous flow along the Brazilian coast, in the northwest direction. From July to January, the northward migration of the trade winds promotes the retroflexion of the NBC, crossing the Equatorial Line and feeding the North Equatorial Counter-current (NECC), between latitudes 5˚N and 10˚N [7] [30] [31] [32] .

2.2. Sampling

2.2.1. Sample Data

Collections were carried out in the “Camadas Finas V” oceanographic campaign held in September/2014 at 16 stations along the continental shelf of the Amazon and adjacent oceanic region, aboard of the NHo 38 ship (“Cruzeiro do Sul” hydro-oceanographic ship), which belongs to the Brazil Navy, at two depths (surface and DCM-depth chlorophyll maximum) (Figure 1).

At each station, surface vertical profiles (up to 400 m) of hydrodynamic, physical, chemical and biological parameters were measured. Hydrodynamic parameters were determined through an ADCP Hull Profiler, while salinity, temperature and depth were measured using a Seabird 25 CTD profiler.

In addition, water samples were collected with Niskin bottles at the two depths selected for the determination of dissolved oxygen, nutrients, chlorophyll a and phytoplankton productivity.

2.2.2. Preprocess of the Data

Dissolved oxygen analyses were determined by the modified Winkler method described in [33] ; nitrite and nitrate were analyzed by the method of [33] and ammonia, silicate and phosphate, following standard colorimetric methods [34] .

For the total chlorophyll a analysis, filtrations were performed using Whatman GF/C filters of 47 mm in diameter. The filtrate volume ranged from 1 to 3 L depending on the amount of material trapped in the filter. After this procedure, chlorophyll a was extracted in 90% acetone for 24 hours at −18˚C. In a similar manner to chlorophyll a determination, chlorophyll a corresponding to a fraction < 20 μm was also determined. For this fractionation, samples passed through a 20 μm mesh prior to filtration. Phytoplankton biomass was quantified through the chlorophyll a concentration using the UNESCO spectrophotometric method [35] and calculations were based on the [36] equation, and results were expressed in mg・m⁻³.

At each station and measurement depth, phytoplankton productivity was determined through the Steemann-Nielsen ¹⁴C method using a Dupont 10 μCi NaHCl ampoule for each three 120 ml borosilicate flasks (one dark and two transparent) and with simulated incubation on the ship for 3 hours and in-situ temperature [37] . After incubation, samples were vacuum filtered on Whatman 47 mm GF/F filters. Filters were read in the Packard Tri-Carb liquid scintillator from the Oceanographic Institute of the University of São Paulo. Productivity calculations were based on [38], where net primary productivity resulting from the subtraction and gross production and respiration was considered, and the results expressed in mg C m⁻³ h⁻¹ were later recalculated to g C m⁻² d⁻¹. The dissolved inorganic carbon, required for productivity calculations, was measured at the same collection depths and the results are presented in [39] .

In addition to data obtained in the sampling, the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) daily data [40] (http://precip.gsfc.nasa.gov/; 0.25˚ resolution) were used to estimate the influence of rain associated with ZCIT in the sampling region. TRMM data corresponding to the sampling days were linearly interpolated to the ship position.

2.2.3. Statistical Analysis

For statistical analysis, Pearson’s correlation was used to analyze the relationships between variables. Calculations were performed using the software PAST version 3.02.

3. Results

The influence of the Amazon plume on the surface salinity of the sampled region was notorious. Salinity levels ranged from 28 (E16) to 36.8 (E2), with mean value of 34.5 (±2.73). At DMC, values ranged from 35.08 (E16) to 36.07 (E4). Lower salinity values (<35) were observed at stations 11 to 16 (Figure 2); in the other stations, the values found are typical of oceanic areas.

The mean temperature was 27.9˚C (±0.71) at the surface and 26.7˚C (±1.4) at DMC. From the CTD profiles, thermocline from 80 to 120 m in depth was observed (E5 to E9), and at Stations 10 to 13, a shallow thermocline was observed, from about 10 to 30 m in depth (Figure 2).

From ADCP data, it was possible to observe surface currents along the coast in the northwest direction, but with lower intensity, with mean values between 0.30 and 0.44 m・s⁻¹ and currents with higher velocity towards the east, showing mean values between 1.30 and 1.37 m・s⁻¹, in the oceanic region at approximately 6˚-8˚N (Figure 3).

The concentration of suspended particulate material (SPM) was higher on the surface, at the first stations (1 - 5), with maximum of 4.95 mg・L⁻¹ (E1), with mean value of 2.17 mg・L⁻¹ (±1.41).

The surface dissolved oxygen (DO) value varied from 3.46 ml・L⁻¹ (E13) to 6.46 ml・L⁻¹ (E16) with mean value of 4.83 ml・L⁻¹ (±0.68). AtDMC, the variation was lower, with minimum value of 3.90 ml・L⁻¹ (E12) and maximum value of 4.88 ml・L⁻¹ (E8), with mean value of 4.7 ml・L⁻¹ (±0.25) (Figure 4).

In relation to nutrients, silicate was the one that stood out, with concentrations ranging from 0.19 μmol・L⁻¹ (E6) to 37.20 μmol・L⁻¹ (E16) on the surface, with mean value of 6.7 μmol・L⁻¹ (±9.19) (Figure 4). In addition, silicate presented a strong negative correlation with salinity. AtDMC, the variation was from 0.37 μmol・L⁻¹ (E9) to 10.9 μmol・L⁻¹ (E14), with mean value of 3 μmol・L⁻¹ (±2.53). The surface DIN values ranged from 0.02 μmol・L⁻¹ (E5) to 5.24 μmol・L⁻¹ (E13), with mean value of 1.3 μmol・L⁻¹ (±1.43), and the variation was 0.02 μmol・L⁻¹ (E3 and E6) and 7.3 μmol・L⁻¹ (E8), with mean value of 1.5 μmol・L⁻¹ (±1.84). The mean surface phosphate was 0.1 (±0.03) μmol・L⁻¹ and at DMC, the value was 0.1 μmol・L⁻¹ (±0.04). Nitrate was the dominant form of nitrogenous nutrients. In general, nitrogenous nutrients and phosphate presented low values, characteristic of oligotrophic environments.

The total chlorophyll a concentration on the surface ranged from 0.07 mg・m⁻³ (E7) to 1.83 mg・m⁻³ (E16) with mean value of 0.42 mg・m⁻³ (±0.42). At DMC, it ranged from 0.18 mg・m⁻³ (E8) to 0.92 mg・m⁻³ (E15) with mean value of 0.51 mg・m⁻³ (±0.22) (Figure 5). Chlorophyll < 20 μm corresponded to 51.56% and 63.85% of the total chlorophyll a, on the surface and at DMC, respectively.

Station 16 showed the highest primary production values, together with the highest chlorophyll a and silicate values. Productivity had maximum value of 18.81 mg C m⁻³ h⁻¹, followed by E13 (1.58 mg C m⁻³ h⁻¹), E1 (1.44 mg C m⁻³ h⁻¹) and E2, 44 mg C m⁻³ h⁻¹), all on the surface. At DMC, the maximum value was 1.02 mg C m⁻³ h⁻¹ at station 16, in the other stations, values were below 1 mg C m⁻³ h⁻¹. The average of all stations sampled on the surface was 2.7 mg C m⁻³ h⁻¹ (±7.68) and 0.4 mg C m⁻³ h⁻¹ (± 0.26) at DMC (Figure 5). Phytoplankton productivity was positively correlated with total chlorophyll a and silicate. In addition, these two parameters (productivity primary and silicate) showed a strong negative correlation with surface salinity, that is, these concentrations increase in plume waters (Table 1).

4. Discussion

Fluvial plumes may extend over long distances and are important areas for biological productivity due to their nutrient supply [41] . The expansion of the Amazon River plume depends not only on its volumetric flow, but also on the dynamics of circulation on its platform as a consequence of the direction and velocity of winds [15] . In the period from February to June, the North Brazil Current (NBC) presents a continuous flow along the Brazilian coast, in the northwest direction, and from July to January, the northward migration of the Southeast trade winds promotes NBC retroflexion, crossing the equator line and feeding the North Equatorial Counter-current (NECC) between latitudes 5˚N and 10˚N [7] [30] [31] [32] .

In the present study, ADCP data highlight higher intensity currents directing to the east and incorporating the NECC. This is due to the influence of the NBC retroflexion, which in this period, due to the displacement of the ITCZ (Intertropical Convergence Zone) more to the north, causing current intensification [31] [42] [43] [44] . A similar pattern has been reported by [45], who recorded NBC current velocities above 90 cm・s⁻¹ in the first 50 m of depth in September. It is because of this circulation pattern that the Amazon plume shows strong seasonality in its distribution in the tropical Atlantic, being transported towards the center of the tropical Atlantic during the second half of the year. During the sampling period of this study (September 2014), the Amazon plume is close to its greatest extent, although it corresponds to the period of lowest river evasion. Thus, stations 11 to 13 have surface salinity significantly lower than that of adjacent ocean waters even though they are located very far from the coast (between 4˚ and 6˚N). In these oceanic stations characterized by relatively low salinities, shallower halocline and thermocline were observed with depths of approximately 10 to 30 m, corroborating with [14], who reported that in waters influenced by the plume, there is stratification and shallow halocline. However, the region presents another source of freshwater that can significantly alter surface salinity and generate shallow halocline and thermocline: rainfall. ITCZ presents high rainfall throughout the year and during the campaign presented here; ITCZ was in the sampled northern region (Figure 6). Precipitation data interpolated at the position of the sampled stations show that stations 10, 11 and 12 are the most affected by precipitation. According to [46] [47], intense rainfall associated with ITCZ increases the extent of surface brackish waters in the region, which spatially coincide with the Amazon plume and may result in overestimation of the plume area by more than 20% when estimated only based on salinity. The impact of ITCZ on the salinity of the region could thus explain that in stations 11 and 12, the reduced salinity observed is not accompanied by the increase of productivity, chlorophyll a and silicate concentrations in the comparison with sampled ocean waters.

The flows show the direction of the currents to the north with smaller velocity vectors (Figure 3), influencing the phytoplankton productivity distribution, where it is observed that the stations with the highest productivity were the first stations (E1 and E2), E13 corresponding to the platform limit and especially E16, located in the internal platform with approximately 400 km of distance from the river mouth, the latter two being considered plume waters.

According to the classification of [48], in general, productivities presented in this study are typical of oligotrophic tropical waters, with the exception of E16, which is classified as eutrophic. A similar pattern was reported by [14], who found productivities between 0.02 and 0.13 g C m⁻² day⁻¹ in plume waters and 0.02 to 0.12 g C m⁻² day a⁻¹ in ocean waters. Other work [20], recorded slightly higher values, but there was no significant difference between waters with different salinities, presenting productivities of 0.42 (Low salinity), 0.68 (mesohaline), and 0.70 g C m⁻² day⁻¹ (mean salinity) (oceanic). Other previous research [49], recorded values between 0.01 and 0.86 g C m⁻² day⁻¹ in the period of greatest river flow (April-May). A more recent work [11], divided the area into three zones based on turbidity and salinity. They found productivity concentrations in zone with salinity < 32 (transition zone), mean value of 2.61 C m⁻² day⁻¹ and in the oceanic zone (salinity > 32), value of 0.81 C m⁻² day⁻¹ in the period of minimum discharge, and for the maximum flow period, values of 6.91 C m⁻² day⁻¹ were recorded in the transition zone. E16 differs from the other stations because it presents significantly higher primary productivity (28.22 mg C m⁻³ h⁻¹), chlorophyll a (1.83 mg・m⁻³), silicate (37.20 μmol・L⁻¹) and dissolved oxygen values (6.46 mL・L⁻¹), being typically plume water (salinity of 28). These higher silicate concentrations favor a greater development of diatoms in relation to the other groups, a fact reported by [14] . In addition, the high contribution of silicate carried by the plume also supports the association of diatoms with atmospheric N₂ fixers, which results in high productivity rates in the plume [20], as found in this station.

Chlorophyll a followed the same pattern of phytoplankton productivity. According to [11], for the minimum discharge period, as found in the present study, similar values of 1.5 μg・l⁻¹ were found in the transition zone (salinity < 32), corresponding to the area of E16; these high values are expected by the increase in phytoplankton growth due to abrupt variations in water transparency and nutrient availability.

In the other stations with high salinity (>35), the values recorded were similar to those found by [11] (op.cit.), [14] and [20] . For the oceanic region, using the classification of [50], the environment studied during the low discharge period was characterized as oligotrophic, with values ≤ 0.5 mg・m⁻³.

We included a comparison of different studies that reported primary productivity and chlorophyll-a in this region (Figure 7). The values observed in this study are within the range of values reported by other authors. The standard deviation of primary productivity in the months of August and September is high and can be explained by the wide region studied, including stations near the coast.

Chlorophyll < 20 μm (picoplankton) corresponded to more than 50% of total chlorophyll in almost all sampled stations. According to [51], oligotrophic environments, such as the tropical oceanic zone, are characterized by low chlorophyll a concentrations and generally present small cells (picoplankton). It is important to note that picoplankton may be the main component of phytoplankton

in some places, permanently or temporarily, and this tendency is often related to its great capacity to compete for nutrients and its high tolerance to variations in environmental conditions [52] . The exception to this general pattern is E16, where the microphytoplankton fraction (>20 μm) corresponds to 65%.

At stations near the mouth (E1 to E4), there is a slight increase in chlorophyll a concentration and primary production, coinciding with higher MPS concentrations compared to ocean stations (E5 to E9). These stations are close to the coastal region towards the east of the river mouth. This coastal region is highly dynamic and productive, with the largest continuous mangrove system on the planet and submitted to a semidiurnal macro tidal regime with amplitudes around 4 to 6 m, which can determine high export rates of MPS and nutrients, stimulating primary production on the platform, even without the direct participation of the plume (salinity > 35) [19] [53] [54] . In these stations, high amounts of dissolved organic material with terrestrial origin were measured [39], which suggests that the export of coastal material to the platform also contributes significantly to the primary productivity in the region.

In the remaining sampled stations, the MPS concentration was <2 mg・L⁻¹ including at E16. The Amazon River carries large amounts of suspended matter, which severely limits primary productivity and determines that they dominate the heterotrophic processes at the river mouth [39] . However, according to [6], there is a reduction in the turbulence that reduces the capacity of the transport of suspended materials in the platform, thus increasing the light penetration. Other authors, [19] and [55] correlated these high sedimentation rates with high oxygen values due to the increased water transparency, which results in phytoplankton growth. The increase in transparency determines the high primary productivity rates such as those found in this study at station 16 located on the Amazonian platform and transform the plume into a liquid autotrophic system.

From the analysis of data collected in September 2014 on the “Camadas Finas V” oceanographic ship, it is possible to conclude that even considering the minimum discharge period of the Amazon River, the Amazon River plume can reach and influence the oceanographic parameters in the region, including the 4˚ - 7˚N region. This is due to the presence of NBC retroflexion of at this time of the year, promoted by the migration of winds. Thus, higher speeds were measured to the east in the 4˚ - 7˚N region than to the west along the coast. This circulation pattern determines the high area of influence of the Amazon pen at this time of the year.

The transport of the Amazon plume due to the local ocean circulation pattern determines the decrease of the surface salinity, increasing the nutrient content, mainly silicate, the chlorophyll a contents and primary productivity. This transition zone that includes, depending on its discharge period, a very significant area of the continental shelf and oceanic zone, plays an important ecological role for the pelagic community, increasing the productive capacity of the system. However, the results presented here also show that the export of material from the adjacent coast is another determinant of the region productivity, increasing productivity near the coast in this oligotrophic oceanic region.

5. Conclusions

The objective of this work was to analyze the distribution of oceanographic parameters, chlorophyll a and primary productivity under the influence of the Amazon River plume, during the period of greatest extension of the Amazon plume. The surface currents along the coast were of lower intensity in the northwest direction, while currents with higher intensities were observed in the east direction, mainly due to the retroflexion of the North Current of Brazil at this time of the year. The spatial influence of the plume was observed in the salinity, although the high precipitation in the region may also have contributed as a source of freshwater. However, the sampled region showed strong negative linear correlation of silicate, chlorophyll a and primary productivity with salinity. The primary productivity and chlorophyll a decrease their values as they move away from the coast.

The values of primary productivity and chlorophyll a observed were similar to those recorded by previous studies in this region.

The results also suggest that the export of material from the adjacent coastal region is a determinant factor of the productivity of the studied region, mainly due to the geographic extension of the plume of the Amazon River at this time of the year.

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the scientific and crew members of the NHo. Cruzeiro do Sul-H38 (DHN/Brazilian Navy) for their efforts and dedication during the oceanographic cruise CFV. The Project Prod Pluma-Modelo Regional de Produtividade Primária da Pluma do Amazonas (CNPq grant 460687/2014-0). We are grateful to Keyla Travassos for her help with the analyses of nutrients.

Financial Support

This work was supported by the Brazilian National Institute of Science and Technology for Tropical Marine Environments-INCT Amb Tropic (CNPq/FAPESB grants 565054/2010-4 and 8936/2011). Camadas Finas 5 cruise were funded by the Brazilian Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI), grants 01/2013.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper.

Cite this paper

Otsuka, A., Feitosa, F., Araújo, M., Veleda, D., Cunha, M. da G.S., Lefévre, N., Gaspar, F., Montes, M.F., Borges, G. and Noriega, C. (2018) Dynamics of Primary Productivity and Oceanographic Parameters under Influence of the Amazon River Plume. Open Journal of Ecology, 8, 590-606. https://doi.org/10.4236/oje.2018.811035

References