Dynamics in the size structure of Skeletonema costatum (Greville) Cleve under conditions of reduced photosynthetically available radiation in a dredged tropical estuary

This study investigates the size-fractionated productivity and chlorophyll a concentrations in Ponggol estuary, a heavily dredged, light-limited and eutrophic tropical estuary located on the northeastern coast of Singapore. A 90% reduction in the photosynthetically available radiation (PAR) was seen in the subsurface waters of the dredged stations, when compared to an average reduction of about 75% in the subsurface waters of the un-dredged station. High phytoplankton production rates and chlorophyll a concentrations were recorded in the surface waters, with a significant reduction in the subsurface waters, especially at the two dredged stations. Out of the four size-classes of phytoplankton (0.2–2 μm, 2–20 μm, 20–200 μm and >200 μm) investigated, the relative dominance of the smaller size class of 2–20 μm over the 20–200 μm size class shifted depending on the availability of PAR. The size class 2–20 μm was observed to contribute up to 60 and 57% of the total production, respectively, in the surface waters of the un-dredged and dredged stations of the estuary. A relatively major contribution of 49% came from the cells of the small size-fraction of 2–20 μm in the subsurface waters of the un-dredged station. On the contrary, cells of the 20–200 μm size-class contributed up to 58% in the subsurface waters of the dredged station. Microscopic examination of the phytoplankton cells sampled showed morphological differences in the cells of the phytoplankton species Skeletonema costatum with some cells being distinctly larger in size than others. The larger cells were predominant in the dredged subsurface waters. In situ mesocosms with treatments exposed to high light irradiation registered a significant contribution by the smaller size-class of 2–20 μm, in contrast to the larger 20–200 μm dominating in the two treatments subjected to low light conditions. Based on the observations in this study and a review of the literature, it is hypothesized that the cells of S. costatum may actually be of two genetically different strains, whose relative dominance in the environment may be controlled by the quantum of available light. Thus, this shift in the relative dominance of one size fraction over the other is a response to altered PAR levels as the result of dredging.