Distribution and activity of bacteria in the headwaters of the Rhode River Estuary, Maryland, USA.

A transect along the axis of the headwaters of a tidal estuary was sampled for microbial, nutrient, and physical parameters. Chlorophylla averaged 42μg 1(-1) and phytoplankton comprised an estimated 80% of the total microbial biomass as determined by adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Bacterial concentrations ranged from 0.3-53.9×10(6) cells ml(-1) and comprised about 4% of the total living microbial biomass. Bacterial production, determined by(3)H-methyl-thymidine incorporation was about 0.05-2.09× 10(9) cells 1(-1) h(-1), with specific growth rates of 0.26-1.69 d(-1). Most bacterial production was retained on 0.2μm pore size filters, but passed through 1.0μm filters. Significant positive correlations were found between all biomass measures and most nutrient measures with the exception of dissolved inorganic nitrogen nutrients where correlations were negative. Seasonal variability was evident in all parameters and variability among the stations was evident in most. The results suggest that bacterial production requires a significant carbon input, likely derived from autotrophic production, and that microbial trophic interactions are important.