Surface Water Metabolism Potential in a Tropical Estuary, Hilo Bay, Hawai'i, USA, During Storm and Non-storm Conditions

摘要

Surface water gross primary production potential (pGPP), respiration (RESP), metabolism potential (pMET), and CO_2 fluxes in Hilo Bay, Hawai'i, USA, were examined along two river plumes during storm (high-flow) and non-storm (low-flow) conditions. Significant differences in pGPP, RESP, and pMET were found between low- and high-flow conditions, with lowest rates of all processes occurring during high-flow conditions. CO_2 fluxes were influenced by metabolic processes at all but one site, with the bay's surface waters being autotrophic and a sink for atmospheric CO_2 during low-flow conditions and less autotrophic and a source of atmospheric CO_2 during high-flow conditions. Significant differences in pMET were found between the two river plumes during low-flow conditions at spatial scales of 1.5 km; however, no differences between river plumes were found during high-flow conditions. Our study suggests that an increase in storms associated with global climate change could impact surface water metabolic dynamics of tropical estuaries.