Is Copper an Inhibiting Factor for Primary Production in the Upwelling Waters of Cabo Frio?

Abstract

The goal of the present work was to test the hypothesis that inorganic species of copper may inhibit primary production in upwelling waters from the Cabo Frio region. Water samples were collected from four different depths up to 50 m at three stations of Cabo Frio and nutrient concentration, pH, dissolved oxygen, alkalinity, seston, chlorophyll a, primary production, NPP, copper speciation, Cu(II) and Cu(I) and complexing capacity were determined. The results indicate that the rate of photosynthesis in nutrient rich waters with higher copper content and lower complexing capacity is significantly reduced. Cu(I) made up 2-15% of the total copper, however, there was no evidence to suggest that the photochemical production of Cu(I) affects NPP.