Choon-Weng Lee, Chui-Wei Bong, Mohamed-Azroie Mohamed Yusoff and Siti-
Aisah Alias (2005) Bacteria-mediated carbon flux in mangrove waters: A Malaysian 
Perspective. International Journal of Ecology and Environmental Sciences 31(3): 
203-211.

Abstract	Sampling was carried out regularly from March 2003 until April 2004, 
at a fringe mangrove forest at Cape Rachado, Malaysia. Seawater temperature ranged 
22-32慢 whereas salinity ranged 23-33. Nitrate ranged from 0.27 to 3.86 然 
whereas both nitrite and ammonium ranged 0.04-0.95 然 and 0.73-2.13 然, 
respectively. Phosphate ranged 0.16-2.42 然, and silicate ranged 2.44-38.67 然. 
Chlorophyll a (Chl a) fluctuated within a small range (0.89-5.15 痢 L-1), and 
correlated  positively with silicate (R2=0.503, n=9, p<0.05), suggesting silicate 
limitation. Biovolume measurements were carried out, and carbon conversion factor 
estimated was 31.6 fg C bacterium-1 and 0.17 pg C protist-1. Bacterial abundance 
varied from 1.4 to 4.4 x 106 cells mL-1 whereas protists were from 4.8 to 21.7 x 103 
cells mL-1. There was a highly significant coupling between bacteria and protists 
(R2=0.543, n=9, p<0.05), suggesting that bacterial abundance was controlled by 
protists. Bacterial production (BP) ranged 90-169 mg C m-3 d-1, and annual BP was 
calculated at 42.7 g C m-3 yr-1 whereas bacterial carbon demand (BCD) was 
estimated at 474 g C m-3 yr-1 (assuming a bacterial growth efficiency of 9%). In this 
sampling site, annual gross primary production was estimated at 374 g C m-3 yr-1, and 
was not sufficient to support BCD. Other sources of organic matter for example from 
mangrove trees could have made up this deficit.