Trichodesmium in Coastal Waters of Tanzania: Diversity, Seasonality, Nitrogen and Carbon Fixation

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dc.contributor.authorLugomela, Charles
dc.contributor.authorLyimo, Thomas J.
dc.contributor.authorBryceson, Ian
dc.contributor.authorSemesi, Adelaida K.
dc.contributor.authorBergman, Birgitta
dc.date.accessioned2016-06-19T21:28:45Z
dc.date.available2016-06-19T21:28:45Z
dc.date.issued2002
dc.description.abstractSeasonal distribution, nitrogen fixation and primary productivity of Trichodesmium species were intermittently studied in the coastal waters of Tanzania. Samples were collected in 1975/6, 1980, 1993/4, 1994/5 and 1998/9. Four colony forming species were found, i.e. T. erythraeum, T. tenue, T. thiebautii and one unidentified Trichodesmium sp. while T. contortum was rarely encountered, and only as individual trichomes. T. erythraeum was most abundant, although other Trichodesmiumspecies dominated during particular periods of the year. The occurrence of Trichodesmium showed a consistent seasonal pattern. High Trichodesmium biomass was promoted by the NE monsoon (December–April) while it was low or absent during the SE monsoon (June–October). The biomass was highest at the surface especially during calm weather periods. The NE monsoon was characterized by elevated rainfall, temperature and nitrate concentrations while salinity, light intensity and turbidity tended to decrease. Phosphate concentrations did not show systematic variations with season. The rate of nitrogen fixation by Trichodesmium species in surface waters was 1.8 1.6 pmol N trichome–1 h–1 giving an average N2 fixation of 42.7 mmol N m–3y–1. The mean rate of carbon fixation was 1.15 0.3 ng C trichomes–1 h–1 in the upper 5 m depth. It is estimated that Trichodesmium contributes about 0.03–20% of the total CO2 fixation in the coastal surface waters during the SE and NE monsoon, respectively.en_US
dc.identifier.citationLugomela, C., Lyimo, T.J., Bryceson, I., Semesi, A.K. and Bergman, B., 2002. Trichodesmium in coastal waters of Tanzania: diversity, seasonality, nitrogen and carbon fixation. Hydrobiologia, 477(1-3), pp.1-13.en_US
dc.identifier.doi10.1023/A:1021017125376
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11810/2609
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherSpringer Linken_US
dc.subjectTrichodesmium sppen_US
dc.subjectSeasonal distributionen_US
dc.subjectNitrogen fixationen_US
dc.subjectCarbon fixationen_US
dc.subjectWestern Indian Oceanen_US
dc.titleTrichodesmium in Coastal Waters of Tanzania: Diversity, Seasonality, Nitrogen and Carbon Fixationen_US
dc.typeJournal Article, Peer Revieweden_US
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