ECOLOGY OF AQUATIC MICROORGANISMS IN SOUTHERN BRAZIL: STATE OF ART

Abstract

In this work we accomplish an analysis of the past and ongoing research on aquatic microbial ecology carried out by the Laborat6rio de Ecologia do Fitoplancton e de Microorganismos Marinhos, Departamento de Oceanografia -FURG since 1985. The studies were conducted in the Patos Lagoon (10,360 KIn'), its estuarine sector and adjacent beach and coastal region. We present information about the abundance and biomass of microorganisms, as well as their production respiration and decomposition rates. It is concluded that microorganisms represent an important componentofthemicrobial foodweb oftheseenvironmentsduetotheirhighbiomass, representing an important food source, as well as by their high metabolic activity. Key-words: bacteria, aquatic microbial ecology, Southern Brazil.