Influence of river-ocean plumes upon bacterioplankton production of the Strait of Georgia, British Columbia

Stin~ulation in bacterioplankton glucose heterotrophic activities and productivities occurs when river water (Fraser, Squamish and Homathko-Southgate rivers) enter the saline surface waters of the Strait of Georgia, British Columbia, Canada. As the lower salinity water of the Fraser plume (ca. half of the fresh water flow into this Strait comes from this river) mixes into adjacent surface waters of the Strait, bacterioplankton production remains significant till the salinity exceeds ca. 20 % S. Since lower salinity water (i.e. 5 ca. 20 %o S) from rlver plumes covers extensive areas of the Strait of Georgia during the annual freshet (ca. April to July) there 1s a significant annual bacterial contribution to total microbial production within this estuarine ecosystem.