DOM Biological Lability in an Estuarine System in Two Contrasting Periods

Estuarine processes play a key role in determining the amount and quality of land-derived dissolved organic matter (DOM) reaching oceans. Microbial-mediated reactions can affect concentration, quality, bioavailability DOM within an estuary. In this study, we investigated biological removal small estuary its variability two contrasting seasons (spring autumn) characterized by natural differences concentration riverine DOM. Two incubation experiments were carried out using heterotrophic prokaryotes community collected at March September. Dissolved carbon (DOC) fluorescence, abundance (HPA) showed marked between seasons. These parameters followed through time for up to months. Despite initial conditions, DOC rates surprisingly similar periods (16 µM month−1 18 September), with biggest first 48 h. The trend fluorescent (FDOM) during periods. March, net all FDOM components was observed consistently decrease DOC; whereas, September, production humic-like substances observed.