This research investigated the seasonal and spatial distributions of picophytoplankton, including Prochlorococcus, Synechococcus and picoeukaryotes, in the northern South China Sea. Monitoring experiments including light intensity control and nutrient enrichment were conducted concurrently with on board sampling to examine factors affecting their cell densities dynamics. Quantification of cell numbers was carried out by flow cytometry. Averaged Synechococcus abundance in the South China Sea was 1¡Ñ104 cells ml-1, high in winter (1.37¡Ó0.30¡Ñ104 cells ml-1) and low in summer or fall (0.51¡Ó0.13¡Ñ104 cells ml-1 and 0.53¡Ó0.22¡Ñ104 cells ml-1, respectively). During a same season of the year, there was more Synechococcus in the shelf-slope region than in the basin. The cell density in summer, but not in winter, was significantly positively related to surface water nutrient concentration. Nutrient enrichment experiment carried out in winter also indicated that the growth of Synechococcus did not respond to addition of nitrate. On the other hand, Synechococcus seemed to prefer high illumination. In the light intensity experiment, Synechococcus collected from surface water grew better at 100% surface illumination than <100% light intensities. Synechococcus collected from deep water grew best at 30% and 18% of surface illuminations. Vertically, Synechococcus concentrated mostly in surface water with maximum cell number occurring at the surface or a few meters deep. Nutrient enrichment experiment in winter also showed that Synechococcus responded significantly to iron addition. Average cell density of picoeukaryotes was always less than 0.5¡Ñ104 cells ml-1, being high in winter (0.46¡Ó0.10¡Ñ104 cells ml-1) and low in summer or fall (0.15¡Ó0.02¡Ñ104 cells ml-1 and 0.19¡Ó0.03¡Ñ104 cells ml-1, respectively). Picoeukaryotes was always more concentrated in the shelf-slope region than in the basin, especially in winter when cell density in the shelf-slope region was 0.70¡Ó0.11¡Ñ104 cells ml-1. Although in winter picoeukaryotes was significantly positively related to surface water nutrient concentration, enrichments of nitrate or iron did not enhance their growth. Prochlorococcus had a cell density > 5.5¡Ñ104 cells ml-1 in the euphotic zone, and distributed as deep as 200 m. Light intensity monitoring experiment showed that Prochlorococcus from surface water grew better under high illumination than those from deep water and vice versa. Under 9% of surface illumination, deepwater Prochlorococcus population showed a positive growth, corresponding well with its deep distribution. Nutrient enrichment experiment conducted in winter showed that Prochlorococcus did not respond to enrichment of nitrate or iron.

Picoplankton, cells between 0.2 - 2 μm, play a vital role in the carbon flow and nutrient cycling in marine food webs. Auto- and heterotrophic picoplankton dominate the biomass of oligotrophic tropical and subtropical oceans. However, little is known about their vertical distribution, changes in space and time and their relationships with environmental variables in the central Red Sea. The goal of this Ph.D. dissertation is to obtain baseline knowledge about their abundance, cellular characteristics (cell size, relative pigment and nucleic acid content) and biomass at seasonal and high-frequency temporal resolution (every 2 hours). This dissertation also aims at assessing picoplankton responses to separate and joint effects of nutrients additions (inorganic, organic and mixed) and temperature in order to be able to predict the relative contribution of eutrophication and warming in the future standing stocks of picoplankton in the Red Sea. I conducted a total of 63 vertical profiles (15 at around noon plus 48 more from the high-frequency diel samplings) from the surface down to the bottom (ca. 700 m) at a station situated 6 km off the coast of King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC) in the central Red Sea and performed 4 nutrient and temperature experiments lasting each 6 days with surface waters from the harbor of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST). Flow cytometry allowed me to consistently identify five groups of autotrophs (Prochlorococcus, two populations of Synechococcus separated by their relative phycoerythrin fluorescence, and two differently-sized groups of picoeukaryotes) and two groups of heterotrophic prokaryotes characterized by their different relative nucleic acid content. One of the most surprising findings is the relatively lower abundances and to a lesser extent also growth rates of picoplankton compared with other tropical and subtropical oceans. Seasonality in environmental conditions emerged as an important factor in the response of picoplankton to nutrient additions and temperature. Picoplankton mostly responded to inorganic and mixed nutrient additions rather than warming. Overall, the information provided in this dissertation fills the gap of a critical component of Red Sea pelagic ecosystems and expands the information available on picoplankton communities in tropical waters.

No description available.

Part 1: Prophage induction has been demonstrated to be a sensitive indicator for a wide variety of toxic and mutagenic compounds and, as a consequence, has been utilized for biologically based carcinogen screenings. Fourteen marine bacterial isolates were screened for development into the Marine Prophage Induction Assay (MPIA), for marine samples. The selected isolate (P99-4S3) was identified by 16S rDNA sequencing as Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This isolate demonstrated a log-linear response to increasing dose of mutagens, and sensitivity to known environmental contaminants. Field-testing of the assay over two years demonstrated the MPIA would be a useful screening tool for environmental contamination. Part 2: The observed resistance of natural populations of Synechococcus to viral infection may be due to lysogeny with associated homoimmunity. A thirteen-month study of lysogeny in natural populations of Synechococcus demonstrated that lysogeny does occur and exhibits a seasonal pattern. Experiments were performed along a transect of the Mississippi River plume, which provided a variety of ambient nutrient regimes for comparison of lysogeny in Synechococcus. Nutrient amendments did not enable induction and often led to a decrease in viral production. Lysogeny in Synechococcus was primarily correlated with ambient host and cyanophage abundance. Cross-infectivity studies demonstrated cyanophage isolates possess variable virulence. The 35 isolates were examined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), with 33 identified as myoviruses and two as podoviruses. This dominance of myovirus lytic cyanophage is consistent with prior observations. Twenty-five Synechococcus isolates were screened for prophage induction utilizing the inducing agent Mitomycin C. Eleven isolates demonstrated a statistically significant increase in virus-like particles (VLP’s) in treatment samples. No correlation was observed between their resistance to lytic viral infection and prophage induction. Isolate P99-14, with consistently high levels of prophage induction, was investigated further. In contrast to lytic cyanophage, the induced cyanophage is non-tailed. Differential staining and nuclease digestion experiments indicate that the induced particle contains single-stranded DNA. Environmental conditions potentially leading to prophage induction were investigated with Synechococcus cultures and natural populations. The isolate P99-14 demonstrated that high, continuous light caused prophage induction. Natural populations determined that shifts in salinity, temperature and phosphate are not triggers of prophage induction.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / O picoplâncton (0,2 - 2,0 m) e ultraplâncton (> 2,0 - 5,0 m) despertam interesse por utilizarem ativamente a matéria orgânica dissolvida, estabelecendo a alça microbiana. Responsáveis por 50-80% da produção primária em águas oligotróficas, essas frações apresentam elevadas eficiência luminosa e razão superfície/volume que as permitem alcançar alto desenvolvimento mesmo sob baixas luminosidade e disponibilidade de nutrientes. Buscando relacionar a distribuição espacial e composição da comunidade pico e ultraplanctônica aos controles bottom-up na plataforma continental e talude ao largo dos Estados do Rio de Janeiro e São Paulo (22S a 26S), foram coletadas amostras de água em 39 estações oceanográficas e utilizadas as imagens dos sensores MODIS Terra e Aqua, bem como dados de hidrografia, para a descrição dos fenômenos oceanográficos de mesoescala. A abundância total de ambas as frações de tamanho, assim como a dominância do picoplâncton, reduziu em função do distanciamento da costa. Os organismos autotróficos foram em média (102 cél.mL-1 a 104 cél.mL-1 ) majoritariamente uma ordem de grandeza inferiores aos heterotróficos (103 cél.mL-1 a 105 cél.mL-1). A Água Central do Atlântico Sul (ACAS) e as plumas das baías de Guanabara e Sepetiba (RJ) permaneceram na plataforma interna favorecendo o aumento na concentração dos macronutrientes e refletindo na mudança da estrutura da comunidade através do aumento da contribuição de autótrofos no centro da plataforma, principalmente do ultraplâncton à superfície (cerca de 21%) e na profundidade do máximo de clorofila (44%). O transporte de águas costeiras carreadas por uma corrente de origem sul gerou o vórtice de plataforma identificado nas imagens de satélite para a região da plataforma interna de Ubatuba (SP), onde concentrações mais elevadas de amônio (0,28 M) e fosfato (9,64 M) a partir dos 50 m sustentaram maior densidade do ultra autótrofo (2,89 x 103 cél.mL-1) que superou a densidade de heterótrofos (2,50 x 103 cél.mL-1) no máximo de clorofila. Os resultados destacaram um forte gradiente nerítico-oceânico na distribuição dos organismos. Sugerem ainda a predominância do metabolismo heterotrófico na maior parte das águas oligotróficas da plataforma e talude entre o Rio de Janeiro e São Paulo, bem como a presença de caráter autotrófico naquelas regiões influenciadas por feições de mesoescala, como plumas estuarinas e vórtices de plataforma. / The picoplankton (0.2 2.0 m) and ultraplankton (>2.0 5.0 m) arouse interest because they actively use the dissolved organic matter and establishe the microbial loop. Responsible for 50-80% of primary production in oligotrophic waters, these fractions have high luminous efficiency and high surface/volume ratio that enable them to achieve high development even under low light and low nutrient availability. Seeking to relate the spatial distribution and composition of pico and ultraplanktonic community to the bottom-up control and mesoscale oceanographic features in the Brazilian continental shelf and slope off Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo (22S to 26S), water samples were taken in 39 oceanographic stations and images of MODIS Terra and Aqua sensors, toghether with hidrography, were employed to decribe the mesoscale oceanographic features.The total abundance of both size fractions, as well as the dominance of picoplankton, decreased as a function of distance from the coast. Autotrophic organisms were, predominantly, on average (102 cell.mL-1 to 104 cell.mL-1) one order of magnitude lower than the heterotrophic (103 cell.mL-1 to 105 cell.mL-1). The South Atlantic Central Water (SACW) and the plumes of Guanabara and Sepetiba bays (RJ) remained in the inner shelf favoring an increase in macronutrients concentration and reflecting changes in community structure by the increase of autotrophs contribution, especially in the central portion of the shelf, mainly ultraplankton at surface (21%) and in maximum chlorophyll depth (44%). The transport of coastal waters carried by a current from south caused the shelf eddy identified by water colour/chlorophyll images for the region of Ubatuba inner shelf (SP), where high concentrations of ammonium (0,28 M) and phosphate (9,64 M) near the depth of 50 m supported higher density of autotrophic ultraplankton (2.89 x 103 cells.mL-1) which exceeded the density of heterotrophs at the chlorophyll maximum (2.19 x 103 cells.mL-1). Our results highlighted a strong neritic-oceanic gradient in the distribution of these organisms. They also suggest the predominance of the heterotrophic metabolism in the majority of the oligotrophic waters of the shelf and slope between Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, as well as the presence of an autotrophic nature in those regions influenced by mesoscale features, such as estuarine plumes and shelf eddies.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / O picoplâncton (0,2 - 2,0 m) e ultraplâncton (> 2,0 - 5,0 m) despertam interesse por utilizarem ativamente a matéria orgânica dissolvida, estabelecendo a alça microbiana. Responsáveis por 50-80% da produção primária em águas oligotróficas, essas frações apresentam elevadas eficiência luminosa e razão superfície/volume que as permitem alcançar alto desenvolvimento mesmo sob baixas luminosidade e disponibilidade de nutrientes. Buscando relacionar a distribuição espacial e composição da comunidade pico e ultraplanctônica aos controles bottom-up na plataforma continental e talude ao largo dos Estados do Rio de Janeiro e São Paulo (22S a 26S), foram coletadas amostras de água em 39 estações oceanográficas e utilizadas as imagens dos sensores MODIS Terra e Aqua, bem como dados de hidrografia, para a descrição dos fenômenos oceanográficos de mesoescala. A abundância total de ambas as frações de tamanho, assim como a dominância do picoplâncton, reduziu em função do distanciamento da costa. Os organismos autotróficos foram em média (102 cél.mL-1 a 104 cél.mL-1 ) majoritariamente uma ordem de grandeza inferiores aos heterotróficos (103 cél.mL-1 a 105 cél.mL-1). A Água Central do Atlântico Sul (ACAS) e as plumas das baías de Guanabara e Sepetiba (RJ) permaneceram na plataforma interna favorecendo o aumento na concentração dos macronutrientes e refletindo na mudança da estrutura da comunidade através do aumento da contribuição de autótrofos no centro da plataforma, principalmente do ultraplâncton à superfície (cerca de 21%) e na profundidade do máximo de clorofila (44%). O transporte de águas costeiras carreadas por uma corrente de origem sul gerou o vórtice de plataforma identificado nas imagens de satélite para a região da plataforma interna de Ubatuba (SP), onde concentrações mais elevadas de amônio (0,28 M) e fosfato (9,64 M) a partir dos 50 m sustentaram maior densidade do ultra autótrofo (2,89 x 103 cél.mL-1) que superou a densidade de heterótrofos (2,50 x 103 cél.mL-1) no máximo de clorofila. Os resultados destacaram um forte gradiente nerítico-oceânico na distribuição dos organismos. Sugerem ainda a predominância do metabolismo heterotrófico na maior parte das águas oligotróficas da plataforma e talude entre o Rio de Janeiro e São Paulo, bem como a presença de caráter autotrófico naquelas regiões influenciadas por feições de mesoescala, como plumas estuarinas e vórtices de plataforma. / The picoplankton (0.2 2.0 m) and ultraplankton (>2.0 5.0 m) arouse interest because they actively use the dissolved organic matter and establishe the microbial loop. Responsible for 50-80% of primary production in oligotrophic waters, these fractions have high luminous efficiency and high surface/volume ratio that enable them to achieve high development even under low light and low nutrient availability. Seeking to relate the spatial distribution and composition of pico and ultraplanktonic community to the bottom-up control and mesoscale oceanographic features in the Brazilian continental shelf and slope off Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo (22S to 26S), water samples were taken in 39 oceanographic stations and images of MODIS Terra and Aqua sensors, toghether with hidrography, were employed to decribe the mesoscale oceanographic features.The total abundance of both size fractions, as well as the dominance of picoplankton, decreased as a function of distance from the coast. Autotrophic organisms were, predominantly, on average (102 cell.mL-1 to 104 cell.mL-1) one order of magnitude lower than the heterotrophic (103 cell.mL-1 to 105 cell.mL-1). The South Atlantic Central Water (SACW) and the plumes of Guanabara and Sepetiba bays (RJ) remained in the inner shelf favoring an increase in macronutrients concentration and reflecting changes in community structure by the increase of autotrophs contribution, especially in the central portion of the shelf, mainly ultraplankton at surface (21%) and in maximum chlorophyll depth (44%). The transport of coastal waters carried by a current from south caused the shelf eddy identified by water colour/chlorophyll images for the region of Ubatuba inner shelf (SP), where high concentrations of ammonium (0,28 M) and phosphate (9,64 M) near the depth of 50 m supported higher density of autotrophic ultraplankton (2.89 x 103 cells.mL-1) which exceeded the density of heterotrophs at the chlorophyll maximum (2.19 x 103 cells.mL-1). Our results highlighted a strong neritic-oceanic gradient in the distribution of these organisms. They also suggest the predominance of the heterotrophic metabolism in the majority of the oligotrophic waters of the shelf and slope between Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, as well as the presence of an autotrophic nature in those regions influenced by mesoscale features, such as estuarine plumes and shelf eddies.

Ces travaux de recherche, menés par une approche écosystémique et par la mise en œuvre de plusieurs méthodes moléculaires (TSA-FISH, qPCR et pyroséquençage), ont eu pour objectif (i) d'acquérir des données quantitatives concernant divers groupes eucaryotes unicellulaires présents dans la fraction picoplanctonique lacustre, (ii) d'explorer la dynamique spatiale et temporelle de ces groupes picoeucayotes tant en terme d'abondance que de diversité phylogénétique, et ceci à différentes échelles d'observation, et (iii) d' apporter une profondeur d'analyse supplémentaire de la diversité et de la structure des picoeucaryotes par l'utilisation de séquençage massif. L'utilisation de sondes oligonucléotidiques spécifiques a mis en évidence l'importance quantitative d'organismes photosynthétiques appartenant aux Chrysophycées, Chlorophycées, ainsi que la présence récurrente de groupes potentiellement parasites-saprophytes (Perkinsozoa, Fungi, LKM11). L'étude de la répartition spatiale (verticale) et géographique (trois lacs) de ces groupes par cette même approche a mis en lumière des différences d'abondance selon le statut trophique et la profondeur. Ainsi, la présence dans des proportions significatives d'organismes pigmentés (Chlorophycées, Haptophycées) en zone hypolimnique non éclairée nous a conduit à émettre l'hypothèse de l'importance de la mixotrophie au sein de la fraction picoplanctonique. Par ailleurs, l'utilisation du séquençage à haut débit a permis de révéler une importante diversité (1017 OTUs) 10 à 100 fois supérieure à celle décrite classiquement (clonage-séquençage de l'ADNr 18S). Son application à une échelle temporelle fine (2/3 jours) a permis de mettre en évidence d'importants et continuels remaniements au sein de la communauté picoeucaryote impliquant principalement les 21 OTUs appartenant au “core taxa” (>1% des séquences), et des taxa présentant des abondances intermédiaires (0,01-1% des séquences). A contrario, l'assemblage des taxa rares (<0,01%) composant plus de la moitié de la diversité décrite, s'avère quant à lui relativement stable au cours du temps. Les données acquises au cours de ce travail contribuent à alimenter les débats concernant les patrons de diversité microbienne et suggèrent la nécessité de mieux intégrer la notion de diversité fonctionnelle dans ces réflexions. / The studies reported in this manuscript aimed (i) to acquire quantitative data on various unicellulareukaryotes detected in the lacustrine picoplanktonic size fraction, (ii) to explore the spatial and temporaldynamics of these picoeucayotic groups both in terms of abundance and phylogenetic diversity, atdifferent scales of observation, and (iii) to bring an additional in-depth analysis of the picoeukaryotesdiversity and structure by using massive sequencing. These questions were investigated by an ecosystemicapproach, and, by coupling different molecular techniques (TSA-FISH, qPCR and pyrosequencing).Theuse of specific oligonucleotide probes highlighted the quantitative importance of photosyntheticorganisms (Chrysophyceae, Chlorophyceae), especially in summer, and the recurrent presence of putativeparasites-saprophytes groups (Perkinsozoa, Fungi, LKM11) was also confirmed. The study of the spatial(vertical) and geographical distribution (three lakes) of these groups showed differences in abundanceaccording to the trophic status and depth. The presence, in the hypolimnion, of pigmented organisms insignificant proportions (Chlorophyceae, Haptophyceae) suggested a mixotrophic activity exerted by thesegroups. Furthemore, the analyses of the picoeucaryote community by high-throughput sequencingrevealed an important diversity (1017 OTUs), 1 to 2 orders of magnitude larger than classically obtainedby cloning-sequencing of 18S rDNA. Its application at short time scales (2/3 days) revealed important andcontinual rearrangements in the picoeukaryote community which mainly involved 21 OTUs belonging tothe "core taxa" (> 1% of sequences), and taxa with intermediate abundances (0.01 to 1% of sequences).Conversely, the rare taxa community (<0.01%), which represented more than half of the describeddiversity, is in turn relatively stable over time.The data acquired contribute to the debate about thepatterns of microbial diversity. They suggest the need to better integrate the concept of functionaldiversity in these reflections.

No description available.

Includes vita. / Title from PDF of title page. / Document formatted into pages; contains 329 pages. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of South Florida, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references. / Text (Electronic thesis) in PDF format. / ABSTRACT: River discharge leads to extensive phytoplankton blooms often observed in ocean color satellite images to extend far into the open ocean as high chlorophyll plumes. We investigated diversity, distribution and ecology of phytoplankton populations in the Mississippi River plume, both spatially and in the water column using molecular tools. A method was developed for the quantification of diatom/pelagophyte rbcL (large subunit of Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate Carboxylase/Oxygenase) mRNA using quantitative PCR and applied to cultures and in the plume. The vertical structure of phytoplankton species in the Mississippi River plume was described by flow cytometry, pigments, rbcL mRNA and rbcL cDNA libraries. High productivity in the plume was associated with a large population of Synechococcus and elevated levels of cellular form IA rbcL mRNA. / ABSTRACT: rbcL cDNA libraries indicated two vertically separated clades of Prochlorococcus (high-light and low-light adapted) in addition to a diverse group of prymnesiophytes and a microdiverse clade of prasinophytes, which may have dominated the SCM (Subsurface Chlorophyll Maximum). In situ sampling and satellite image analysis were used to estimate that the plume accounted for 41% and 13% of all surface water column ix productivity in the oligotrophic Gulf of Mexico, while covering less than 3% of its area. Coastally the plume is dominated by diatoms, which are replaced by a bloom of Synechococcus as the plume moves offshore. Diatoms as indicated by pigments and rbcL clone libraries again dominated the offshore, least productive plume. 15N uptake measurements indicated that rapid recycling of ammonium despite higher levels of nitrate primarily drives production in the offshore plume. / ABSTRACT: rbcL mRNA levels and photosynthetic capacity displayed strong diel patters in three out of four time series sampled during the GRIST (Geochemical Rate/mRNA Integrated Study). In addition it was demonstrated that transcriptional regulation of the global nitrogen regulatory protein NtcA in Synechococcus WH7803 may involve a small cis-encoded anti-sense mRNA. Methods for the generation of large insert BAC (Bacterial Artificial Chromosome) from cultures and the environment were refined. Partial sequencing and genomic comparison of an ntcA containing BAC clone obtained from Synechococcus WH7803 indicated that ntcA is not part of a larger nitrogen assimilation operon in cyanobacteria. / System requirements: World Wide Web browser and PDF reader. / Mode of access: World Wide Web.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-02T19:28:58Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 TeseAS.pdf: 2981431 bytes, checksum: 5aa43d392871f5fb8a0ab8af1836259a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006-06-02 / Universidade Federal de Sao Carlos / Studies related to the quality of the water in coastal environments as bays, estuaries and tidal creeks are important due to the high productivity and intense influence of anthropic activities in these areas. This study aims the physical, chemical and microbiological characterization of diverse tidal creeks along Paraná coast. We analized seasonal variations in four tidal creeks and differences among rainy and dry periods in two tidal creeks. The cellular density of the pico, nano and microplanktonic fractions in different trophic conditions, differentiating the auto and heterotrofic compartments were performed. The temperature, salinity, pH, alkalinity, CO2, dissolved oxygen, nitrite, nitrate, ammonium, phosphate, silicate, suspended matter, particulate organic and humic matter, total chlorophyll, total coliforms and Escherichia coli were analyzed. The pico- and the nanoplankton were analyzed by direct counting under epifluorescence microscopy, while the microphytoplankton and the protozooplankton were through the Utermöhl method. In relation to the physico-chemical and biological characteristics the Perequê tidal creek exhibited larger saline intrusion, and in the Olho d´Água tidal creek was detected great amount of discharged domestic effluents. Among the pico- and nanoplanktonic fractions prevailed the heterotrophic compartment, in both phases. On the other hand, the abundance of the phytoplankton prevailed under the protozooplankton in the microplanktonic fraction along the whole study. Differences between dry and rainy periods were confirmed. In the rainy period was observed in the two tidal creeks an increase in nitrite, suspended matter, organic particulate matter and picoplankton and a reduction of nitrate, chlorophyll, nanoplankton (auto- and heterotrophic) and of the autotrophic microplankton. Increase of phosphate, ammonium and humic substances were only observed in Barranco tidal creek and of dissolved oxygen and E. coli in Olho d´Água. These results show that in periods of high pluviosity elevated amounts of nutrients are exported by the tidal creeks to the adjacent internal continental shelf. It was not possible to define a pattern for none of the variables in relation to the tide and to the day and night periods. / xi Estudos relacionados com a qualidade da água em ambientes costeiros como baías, estuários e gamboas são importantes por serem regiões de alta produtividade e influenciadas por atividades antrópicas. Neste estudo foram avaliadas variáveis físicoquímicas e biológicas em diversas gamboas ao longo da costa do Estado do Paraná. Foram analisadas variações sazonais em quatro gamboas e diferenças entre períodos secos e de alta pluviosidade em duas das gamboas. A densidade celular das frações pico, nano e microplanctônicas, em diferentes condições tróficas e diferenciando os compartimentos auto e heterotróficos, foi avaliada. Foi realizada a análise de temperatura, salinidade, pH, alcalinidade, dióxido de carbono, oxigênio dissolvido, nitrito, nitrato, amônio, fosfato, silicato, material particulado em suspensão, matéria orgânica particulada, substâncias húmicas, clorofila total, coliformes totais e de Escherichia coli. O pico e o nanoplâncton foram analisados por contagem direta em epifluorescência, enquanto que o microfitoplâncton e o protozooplâncton foram determinados pelo método de Utermöhl. Em relação às características fisico-químicas e biológicas, foi detectada uma maior intrusão salina na Gamboa Perequê e a Gamboa Olho d´Água se diferenciou por causa da grande quantidade de efluentes domésticos que recebe. Entre as frações pico e nanoplanctônicas predominou o compartimento heterotrófico, em ambas as fases. Prevaleceu à abundância do fitoplâncton sob o protozooplâncton na fração microplânctonica ao longo de todo o estudo. No estudo sazonal confirmaram-se as diferenças entre os períodos seco e chuvoso. No período chuvoso foi observado aumento de nitrito, material particulado em suspensão, matéria orgânica particulada e picoplâncton e redução de nitrato, clorofila, nanoplâncton (auto e heterotrófico) e do microplâncton autotrófico nas duas gamboas. Foram observados aumento de fosfato, amônio e substâncias húmicas na Gamboa Barranco e de oxigênio dissolvido e E. coli na Gamboa Olho d´Água. Estes resultados mostram que em períodos de alta pluviosidade são exportadas pelas gamboas quantidades mais elevadas de nutrientes para a plataforma continental interna adjacente. Em relação à maré e aos períodos diurno e noturno, não foi possível definir um padrão para as diferentes variáveis analisadas. Palavas-chave: gamboa, picoplâncton, nanoplâncton, fitoplâncton, protozooplâncton, maré, estado trófico.