Typhoon-induced precipitation impact on nutrient and suspended matter dynamics of a tropical estuary affected by human activities in Hainan,China

Typhoons regularly hit the coasts along the northern South China Sea during summer monsoon. However, little is known on the effects of typhoon-related heavy precipitation on estuarine dynamics and coastal ecosystems. We analyzed physico-chemical characteristics, and concentrations and composition of dissolved and suspended matter in the Wenchang/Wenjiao Estuary (WWE) on the tropical island of Hainan, China, prior to and after typhoon Kammuri in August 2008. Before the typhoon, the estuary displayed vertical and horizontal gradients. High nutrient inputs from agriculture and widespread aquaculture were to a large extent converted into biomass inside the estuarine lagoon resulting in low export of nutrients to coastal waters and a mainly autochthonous origin of total suspended matter (TSM). Heavy typhoon-associated precipitation increased river runoff, which moved the location of the estuarine salinity gradient seaward. It resulted in an export of dissolved and particulate matter to coastal waters one day after the typhoon. Dissolved nutrients increased by up to an order of magnitude and TSM increased approximately twofold compared to pre-typhoon values. Lower δ¹³C_org and δ¹⁵N and elevated C/N ratios of TSM together with lower chlorophyll a (chl a) concentrations indicated an increased contribution of terrestrial material originating from typhoon-induced soil erosion. Local uptake of excess nutrients inside the lagoon was inhibited because of reduced water transparency and the lack of phytoplankton, which had been washed out by the initial freshwater pulse. Two weeks after the typhoon, TSM concentration and composition had almost returned to pre-typhoon conditions. However, physico-chemical properties and nutrients were still different from pre-typhoon conditions indicating that the estuarine system had not fully recovered. Unusually high chl a concentrations in the coastal zone indicated a phytoplankton bloom resulting from the typhoon-induced nutrient export. The typhoon-induced flushing of the WWE resulted in hyposalinity, reduced water transparency, siltation, as well as temporary eutrophication of coastal waters. These are physiological stressors, which are known to impair the performance of adjacent seagrass meadows and coral reefs. The predicted increase in typhoon frequency and intensity will lead to a frequently recurring exposure of coastal ecosystems to these threats, particularly in the South China Sea region where aquaculture is widespread and tropical cyclone frequency is at a maximum.     

Mercury in the Southern North Sea and Scheldt estuary

Dissolved and particulate mercury and methylmercury concentrations were determined in the Southern Bight of the North Sea and the Scheldt estuary in the period 1991–1999. Mercury and methylmercury concentrations are higher before 1995 than after 1995, especially in the fluvial part.The North Sea: In the offshore stations, dissolved Hg concentrations are generally higher in winter than in summer while the reverse is true for particulate Hg K_D values (K_D=the concentration of particulate Hg (Hg_P in pmol kg⁻¹) divided by the concentration of dissolved Hg (Hg_D in pmol l⁻¹)) range from 100,000 to 1000,000 l kg⁻¹. Dissolved methylmercury concentrations vary from 0.05 to 0.25 pmol l⁻¹ in summer and from d.l. to 0.23 pmol l⁻¹ in winter and particulate methylmercury concentrations from 1.8 to 36 pmol g⁻¹ in summer and from 0.9 to 21 pmol g⁻¹ in winter. The K_D ranges from 9,000 to 219,000 l kg⁻¹.The Scheldt estuary: In winter, dissolved Hg concentrations are elevated in the upper estuary, decrease exponentially in the low salinity range followed by a very slow decrease towards the mouth. In summer, they are low in the fluvial part, increase in the low salinity range or in the mid-estuary and sometimes show an increase in the lower estuary. Particulate Hg concentrations do not show any seasonal trend.Dissolved MMHg concentrations are much lower in winter, when maximum concentrations are found in the upper estuary, than in summer. In summer, the MMHg concentrations are low at low salinity, they show a first increase in the salinity range from 3 to 12, a decrease in the mid-estuary and a second increase in the lower estuary.The highest particulate MMHg concentrations are found in the upper estuary, while in the lower estuary generally lower and more constant values are observed. The ratio of dissolved MMHg to dissolved Hg (cruise averages between 1.3% and 20%), is higher than the ratio of particulate MMHg to particulate Hg (cruise averages of 0.27–0.90%). The K_D values for MMHg are lower in the summer (30,000–65,000) than in autumn and winter (77,000–114,000).The Scheldt river: In the fluvial part of the Scheldt, dissolved increases in the most upstream stations, while particulate Hg shows no particular pattern. Dissolved MMHg ranges from 0.1 to 0.39 pmol l⁻¹ and particulate MMHg from 3.1 to 43.5 pmol g⁻¹. The MMHg concentrations are comparable to those found in the estuary and no seasonal variations could be observed.     

Possible effects of climate change on estuarine nutrient fluxes: a case study in the highly nutrified Schelde estuary (Belgium, The Netherlands)

Global change models predict effects of climate change on hydrological regimes at the continental scale in Europe. The aim of this study was to gain a better understanding of the possible effect of changing external forcing conditions on the functioning of estuarine ecosystems. In densely populated areas, anthropogenic nutrient enrichment and consequent alteration of nutrient biogeochemical cycles have already had a big impact on these ecosystems. The average yearly discharge of the upper Schelde estuary increased nearly threefold over the period 1996–2000, from 28 m³ s⁻¹ in 1996 to 73 m³ s⁻¹ in 2000. The continuously rising discharge conditions over the five-year period were used as a reference situation for possible future effects of climate on ecological functioning through increase of discharge. At high discharges, nutrient (NH₄⁺, NO₃⁻, dissolved silica and PO₄³⁻) concentrations in the tidal fresh- and brackish water showed a decrease of up to 50% while total discharged nutrient loadings increased up to 100%. Opposite effects of increasing discharge on NH₄⁺, NO₃⁻ and dissolved silica concentrations in summer and winter, resulted in the flattening out of seasonal cycles for these nutrients. Under high discharge conditions, silica uptake by diatom communities was lowered. Dissolved silica loadings to the coastal area increased concurrently with total silica loadings upstream. Salt intrusion to the marine parts of the estuary decreased. This resulted in a downstream shift of the salinity gradient, with lower salinity observed near the mouth. As a result, TDIN, NO₃⁻ and dissolved silica concentrations doubled at the mouth of the estuary.     

Hydrochemistry of the Tumen River Estuary,Sea of Japan

The hydrological and hydrochemical parameters of the Tumen River estuary were collected at 13 stations in May and October 2015. Vertical temperature, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll fluorescence, and turbidity profiles were obtained. Water was sampled from the surface and bottom layer. The water samples were analyzed for major ions, pH, salinity, concentrations of dissolved oxygen, major nutrients, dissolved organic carbon, humic matter, and δ¹⁸О and δD isotopes. This estuary is attributed to microtidal type with a flushing time of about 10 h. A phytoplakton bloom occurred in the top layer of the estuary. For surface horizons, the hydrochemical parameters show a linear correlation with salinity. In the bottom horizons, all these parameters, except for major ions and δ¹⁸О and δD isotopes, reveal substantial nonconservative behavior. The nonconservative behavior of the hydrochemical parameters in the bottom waters was mainly caused by degradation of the phytoplankton biomass at the water/sediment interface. Hypoxic conditions were established in the bottom waters of the estuary in May.     

Fate modeling of nonylphenol ethoxylates and their metabolites in the Dutch Scheldt and Rhine estuaries: validation with new field data

The environmental behavior of nonylphenol ethoxylates (A₉PEO) in the Rhine and Scheldt estuaries (The Netherlands) was investigated using a hydrodynamic advection-dispersion fate model (ECoS 3). The model was validated with the results of field studies, in which A₉PEO as well as the metabolites nonylphenoxy ethoxy acetic acids (A₉PEC) and nonylphenol (NP) were analyzed in sediment, water and suspended particulate material (SPM) samples using LC–MS methods. Maximum actual concentrations observed in surface sediments were 620, 560 and 1100 ng g⁻¹ d.w. for A₉PEO, A₉PEC and NP, respectively. In the dissolved phase, maximum observed concentrations amounted to 1100 ng L⁻¹ (A₉PEO), 6500 ng L⁻¹ (A₉PEC) and 960 ng L⁻¹ (NP). Clear spatial trends were observed for dissolved A₉PEO and metabolites in the Scheldt estuary, with decreasing concentrations going downstream. This concentration decrease was steeper than for conservatively behaving compounds. This trend was not visible in the Rhine estuary. The fate model was applied to A₉PEO and metabolites in both estuaries. Transport of chemicals in the water column was considered as a longitudinal one-dimensional process through a number of estuary segments. For the Rhine estuary, to cope with the stratification observed, a model structure was chosen consisting of two water layers above each other, between which exchange was possible. Sedimentation/erosion processes were included in the model. A biodegradation scheme was incorporated, and rates were adjusted to fit the calculated concentration profiles with the actual profiles of both A₉PEO and its metabolites. In this way, field biodegradation rates for A₉PEO, A₉PEC and NP could be derived, which were in agreement with values from literature. The measured dissolved concentration profiles as well as salinity and concentrations of SPM could be described successfully by the model. The concentrations calculated in SPM and sediment were of the same order of magnitude as the actual concentrations. In the Rhine estuary, additional sources of A₉PEO had to be included to account for the relatively high concentrations in the middle of the estuary. The fate model for the Scheldt estuary could be slightly improved by using salinity-dependent biodegradation rates. A sensitivity analysis of the model showed that in the Scheldt estuary, the environmental process with the strongest influence on the dissolved concentration profiles of A₉PEO and metabolites is biodegradation. In the Rhine estuary, the water residence time is too short for significant biodegradation to occur, and in this estuary the dissolved concentration profiles were mainly influenced by the additional A₉PEO sources.     

2012年长江口及其邻近海域营养盐分布的季节变化及影响因素

根据2012年3、5、8和12月4个航次长江口及邻近海域的调查数据,研究了氮、磷、硅营养盐及总氮(TN)、总磷(TP)的浓度特点,及其与盐度的相关性和叶绿素a的变化特征。结果表明,总溶解无机氮(DIN)、硅酸盐(Si O3)和TN的浓度分布均表现出自长江口至外海迅速降低的特征,且与盐度呈现显著负相关性。磷酸盐(PO4)的浓度降低程度随远离河口而减弱,且与盐度的相关性相对较弱,可能存在外海水补充;而TP则在长江口浑浊带海域呈现出较高浓度,且与盐度的相关性不明显,可能是受浑浊带泥沙吸附所致。在调查海区内,DIN与TN的平均值在夏季较低,结合叶绿素a数据分析,认为浮游植物吸收作用降低了DIN和TN的浓度。通过分析各营养盐之间的比值特征,进一步考察了营养盐来源及其对浮游植物生长的可能限制情况,其中N/P比值的变化同样揭示了N主要来自于长江水而P有部分来自于外海水的特征。该比值呈现远离河口而降低的特征,且在浑浊带无明显季节变化。春季和夏季有超过90%的调查站位显示潜在P限制,且均位于外海区。与历史资料对比发现,春季和夏季潜在P限制站位的比例明显升高,而潜在Si限制站位比例在春季和夏季降低。本文研究认为,营养盐含量及组成结构反映了该海域浮游植物群落组成和优势种的演替。     

The effect of a tidal cycle on the dynamics of nutrients in a tidal estuary in the Seto Inland Sea, Japan

A 24 hour time series survey was carried out during a spring tide (tidal range ca.2 m) of May 1995 on a tidal estuary in the Seto Inland Sea, Japan, in the context of an integrated program planned to quantify the dynamics of biophilic elements (carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus) and the roles played by the macrobenthos on the processes. Three stations were set along a transect line of about 1.4 km, which linked the river to the rear to the innermost part of the subtidal zone. Every hour, at each station, measurements were made of surface water temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen concentration, and surface water was collected for the determination of nutrients [NH₄ ⁺−N, (NO₃ ⁻+NO₂ ⁻)−N, PO₄ ³⁻−P and Si (OH)₄−Si]. During the ebb flow, riverine input of silicate and nitrate+nitrite significantly increased the concentrations of both the intertidal and the subtidal stations. Conversely, during the high tide, river nutrient concentrations were lowered by the mixing of fresh water with sea water. As a result, best (inverse) correlations were found at the river station for salinity against silicate (y=-2.9 Sal.+110.7,r ²=0.879) and nitrate+nitrite (y=-1.3 Sal.+48.4,r ²=0.796). In contrast, ammonium nitrogen concentrations were higher at intermediate salinities. Indeed, no significant correlation was found between salinity and ammonium. The effect of the macrobenthos, which is abundant on the intertidal flat, is discussed as a biological component that influences the processes of nutrient regeneration within the estuary. The effect of the tidal amplitude is an important one in determining the extent of the variations in nutrient concentrations at all three stations, which were stronger between the lower low tide and the higher high tide.     

Recurrent Red-tides in the Southampton Water Estuary Caused by the Phototrophic CiliateMesodinium rubrum

In the Southampton Water estuary (southern England, U.K.), red-tides caused by the planktonic, phototrophic ciliateMesodinium rubrum(=Myrionecta rubra) occur during most summers and sometimes in autumn. These events were investigated in detail between 1985 and 1987 and were characterized by levels of chlorophylla(chl a) of over 100 μg l⁻¹, cell numbers ofM. rubrumof over 1×10³ ml⁻¹, oxygen saturations of around 150%, and depleted numbers of macrozooplankton. Initiation of red-water did not appear to be triggered by irradiance or nutrients, but coincided with an increase in temperature and water column stability. This enhanced stability was promoted by increased surface to bottom gradients of both temperature and salinity, and by reduced mixing during neap tides. Development of red-water was accompanied by removal of most of the dissolved NH⁺₄from the water column, whereas some NO⁻₃persisted, presumably maintained by freshwater input. NO⁻₃and NH⁺₄gradually returned to pre-bloom concentrations as the red-water declined in late summer. Maximal biomass ofM. rubrumappeared to be limited by irradiance, and self-shading probably imposed an upper limit of around 300 mg chl a m⁻²within the water column. At the observed levels of chl a, irradiance values within the population maximum between 1 and 3 m depth were only just of the order (≈15 μmol photons m⁻² s⁻¹) required to balance estimated respiratory demands. Oxygen concentration became undersaturated during the late bloom phase, with minimal values of 20–30% saturation recorded in deeper waters; however, despite this and reduced numbers of macrozooplankton, direct deleterious effects on other organisms were not observed.     

High partial pressure of CO2 and its maintaining mechanism in a subtropical estuary: the Pearl River estuary,China

We investigated distributions of surface water CO₂ partial pressure (pCO₂), dissolved oxygen (DO) and associated carbonate parameters in the Pearl River estuary, a large subtropical estuary under increasingly anthropogenic pressure in China, in the summer of 2000 and late spring of 2001. pCO₂ levels, measured underway using a continuous measurement system, were high during both seasons, with levels of >4000 μatm at salinity <0.5. pCO₂ distribution overall mirrored DO across the salinity gradient. Using the linear relationship between excess CO₂ and apparent oxygen utilization (AOU) in surface water, we conclude that aerobic respiration is the most important process in maintaining such high pCO₂ measured upstream. The material being respired is likely in a close association with the organic pollutants discharged into the system. Based on the measured excess CO₂ vs. AOU plots, we estimate that the upper limit of pCO₂ should be ∼7000 μatm in the Pearl River estuary assuming that CO₂ was produced solely by aerobic respiration.     

珠江口伶仃洋水域溶解氧特征

根据１９８７年６，８，１１月和１９８８年２月４个航次珠江口伶汀洋的调查资料，分析了溶解氧的特征。结果表明：溶解氧含量表层均高于底层，周年变化呈现从夏季到冬季逐渐上升，且明显受珠江径流的影响，溶解氧（基本上是不饱和状态）与盐度成负相关。有机物和营养盐均影响溶解氧，但水温仍为溶解氧主要影响因素。     

Semidiurnal Dynamics of Salinity, Nutrients and Suspended Particulate Matter in an Estuary in the Seto Inland Sea, Japan, during a Spring Tide Cycle

The physical and chemical variability of the water column at subtidal station of an estuary in the Seto Inland Sea, Japan, was studied over a 24-hour period during a spring tide (tidal range ca. 2 m) in May 1995. Surface water and several depths through the water column were monitored every one and two hours, respectively. At each occasion, water temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen concentration were measured and water samples were collected for the determination of nutrients and suspended particulate matter (SPM). Disruptive changes in the physical and chemical characteristics of the water was produced by the tidal cycle and the mixing of water masses of different origin. These changes were highly significant both spatially and temporally, yet with varying effects on physical parameters, nutrients and the different components of SPM. Significant differences in nutrient concentrations were also observed when the data-set was divided into ebb and flood components, irrespective of the depth. Nitrate and nitrite rose to 1.8 times higher during the flood. Spatial differences of SPM were less marked than those of nutrients, only particulate organic carbon (POC) being significantly higher at the surface than in the intermediate and the lower layer. Both POC and pheopigment concentrations increased markedly through the water column, being highest shortly before the lower low tide. In contrast, suspended solid (SS) content increased sharply after the lower low tide (>40 mg l⁻¹) and this coincided with a marked decrease of the C/SS content (<20 mg g⁻¹). The lagtime between POC and SS tidal transport was caused by particle resuspension from the exposed intertidal sediments as the tidal level rose, and particle transport selection in relation to the tidal state. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Observation of a red tide event in the Western Harbour, Xiamen

Measurements of red tide organism cell counting, chlorophyll a, water temperat-ure, salinity, pH, DO, COD, NH_4~ , NO_3, NO_2, active phosphate, dissolvable siliconwere made in a follow-up observation of a red tide event which occurred in the western harbourof Xiamen from 18th June to 3rd July in 1986.     

Arsenic,barium, germanium,tin, dimethylsulfide and nutrient biogeochemistry in Charlotte Harbor,Florida, a phosphorus-enriched estuary

Concentrations of dissolved nutrients (NO₃, PO₄, Si), germanium species, arsenic species, tin, barium, dimethylsulfide and related parameters were measured along the salinity gradient in Charlotte Harbor. Phosphate enrichment from the phosphate industry on the Peace River promotes a productive diatom bloom near the river mouth where NO₃ and Si are completely consumed. Inorganic germanium is completely depleted in this bloom by uptake into biogenic opal. The $\text{Ge}\text{Si}$ ratio taken up by diatoms is about 0·7 × 10^?6, the same as that provided by the river flux, confirming that siliceous organisms incorporate germanium as an accidental trace replacement for silica. Monomethylgermanium and dimethylgermanium concentrations are undetectable in the Peace River, and increase linearly with increasing salinity to the seawater end of the bay, suggesting that these organogermanium species behave conservatively in estuaries, and are neither produced nor consumed during estuarine biogenic opal formation or dissolution. Inorganic arsenic displays slight removal in the bloom. Monomethylarsenic is produced both in the bloom and in mid-estuary, while dimethylarsenic is conservative in the bloom but produced in mid-estuary. The total production of methylarsenicals within the bay approximately balances the removal of inorganic arsenic, suggesting that most biological arsenic uptake in the estuary is biomethylated and released to the water column. Dimethylsulfide increases with increasing salinity in the estuary and shows evidence of removal, probably both by degassing and by microbial consumption. An input of DMS is observed in the central estuary. The behavior of total dissolvable tin shows no biological activity in the bloom or in mid-estuary, but does display a low-salinity input signal that parallels dissolved organic material, perhaps suggesting an association between tin and DOM. Barium displays dramatic input behavior at mid-salinities, probably due to slow release from clays deposited in the harbor after catastrophic phosphate slime spills into the Peace River.     

Chromophoric dissolved organic matter and dissolved organic carbon in Chesapeake Bay

Chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) is the light absorbing fraction of dissolved organic carbon (DOC). The optical properties of CDOM potentially permit remote sensing of DOC and CDOM, and correction for CDOM absorption is essential for remote sensing of chlorophyll a (chl a) in coastal and estuarine waters. To provide data for this purpose, we report the distributions of CDOM, DOC, and chl a from seven cruises in Chesapeake Bay in 1994–1997. We observed non-conservative distributions of chl a and DOC in half of the cruises, indicating net accumulations within the estuary; however, there were no net accumulations or losses of CDOM, measured as absorption at 355 nm or as fluorescence. Freshwater end member CDOM absorption varied from 2.2 to 4.1 m⁻¹. Coastal end member CDOM absorption was considerably lower, ranging over 0.4–1.1 m⁻¹. The fluorescence/absorption ratio was similar to those reported elsewhere for estuarine and coastal waters; however, in the lower salinity/high CDOM region of the Bay, the relationship was not constant, suggestive of the mixing of two or more CDOM sources. Chl a was not correlated with the absorption for most of the cruises nor for the data set as a whole; however, CDOM and DOC were significantly correlated, with two groups evident in the data. The first group had high CDOM concentrations per unit DOC and corresponded to the conservative DOC values observed in the transects. The second group had lower CDOM concentrations per unit DOC and corresponded to the non-conservative DOC values associated with net DOC accumulation near the chl a maximum on the salinity gradient. This indicates the production of non-chromophoric DOC in the region of the chl a maximum of Chesapeake Bay. In terms of remote sensing, these data show that (1) the retrieval of the absorption coefficient of CDOM from fluorescence measurements in the Bay must consider the variability of the fluorescence/absorption relationship, and (2) estimates of DOC acquired from CDOM absorption will underestimate DOC in regions with recent, net accumulations of DOC.     

长江口海域水文环境要素分布及溶解氧垂向输运

本文基于2016年长江口海域(舟山绿华山)的连续观测数据,分析了该海域水文环境要素分布,并估算了溶解氧跨跃层垂向输运。本次观测发现,水体的温度、盐度和溶解氧剖面具有明显的分层结构,三者跃层具有相同的变化趋势且主要受潮流变化影响。通过计算,得到跃层浮性频率的平方(N2)在10–3—10–2/s2之间,剪切的平方(S2)介于10–5—10–2/s2。潮流活动会激发水体剪切不稳定促进水体中溶解氧的垂向交换。最后,采用简化的一维溶解氧垂向输运模型,得到观测周期内跨跃层输运的溶解氧的含量为4.75mmol/(m2·d),佐证层化是长江口海域出现氧亏损现象的主要原因之一。     

Dissolved organic carbon in the freshwater tidal reaches of the Schelde estuary

To unravel the factors that regulate DOC dynamics in the freshwater tidal reaches of the Schelde estuary, DOC concentration and biodegradability were monitored in the upper Schelde estuary and its major tributaries. Although the Schelde estuary possesses a densely populated and industrialized catchment, our data suggest that the bulk of DOC in the freshwater tidal reaches is not derived from waste water. This was concluded from the low biodegradability of DOC (on average 9%), DOC concentrations that are close to the mean for European rivers (4.61 mg l⁻¹) and the absence of an inverse relationship between DOC and discharge. Most DOC originating from waste water being discharged in tributaries of the estuary appears to be remineralised before these tributaries reach the main estuary. Although dense phytoplankton blooms were observed in the upper estuary during summer (up to 700 μg chl a l⁻¹), these blooms did not appear to produce large quantities of DOC in the freshwater tidal reaches as DOC concentrations were low when phytoplankton biomass was high. The fact that DOC concentrations were high in winter and decreased in summer suggests a predominantly terrestrial source of DOC in the freshwater tidal reaches of the Schelde estuary.     

Silver in Tokyo Bay estuarine waters and Japanese rivers

Dissolved and particulate concentrations of silver in Tokyo Bay estuarine waters and Japanese rivers were determined in this study. The dissolved silver concentrations in the surface water of Tokyo Bay range from 5.9 to 15.1 pmol kg⁻¹, which is comparable to those in the surface water of the Japan Sea, but two or three times higher than those in the surface water of the open ocean. However, elevated concentrations of dissolved silver are not found in Tokyo Bay compared with those in other highly urbanized estuaries, such as San Francisco Bay (20∼243 pmol kg⁻¹). In the Tokyo Bay estuary, silver typically exhibits non-conservative mixing behavior, which is a common feature in the other estuaries reported previously. Dissolved silver concentrations decrease with salinity from the rivers to the mouth of Tokyo Bay. Silver is efficiently scavenged by suspended particulates, as evidenced by the high conditional distribution coefficients for silver throughout the estuary (log K_d > 5.0 ± 0.6). The silver fluxes into Tokyo Bay via inflowing rivers and atmospheric deposition were estimated as 83 kg y⁻¹ and 15 kg y⁻¹, respectively. A simple budget calculation shows that the silver supplied from rivers and atmosphere must be rapidly scavenged within the Tokyo Bay estuary.     

Effects of the Anticyclonic Eddies on Water Masses, Chemical Parameters and Chlorophyll Distributions in the Oyashio Current Region

Data from the R/V Mirai cruise (May–June 2000) have been examined to discover how mesoscale processes associated with eddy dynamics direct affect the water masses, the distributions and the vertical fluxes of the dissolved oxygen, nutrients and dissolved inorganic carbon in the western subarctic Pacific. Using maps of the temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, nutrients, chlorophyll and sea-air pCO₂ difference we show that the boundaries of the anticyclone eddies in the study region were composed of high productivity coastal Oyashio water. The coastal waters were wrapped around the anticyclone eddies (thus creating a high productivity belt) and intruded inside of them. Using SeaWifs data we demonstrate that temporal variations in the position and the strength of anticyclone eddies advected the Kuril island coastal high productivity waters to the pelagic part, resulting in temporal variations of the chlorophyll in the Oyashio region. Computed vertical fluxes of the dissolved oxygen (DO), inorganic carbon (DIC) and silicate show that the anticylonic eddies in the Kuroshio-Oyashio Zone are characterized by enhanced vertical fluxes of the DO and DIC between the upper (σ_θ = 26.7–27.0) and lower (σ_θ = 27.1–27.5) intermediate layer, probably due to the intrusions of the Oyashio waters into the eddies. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

东海富营养化封闭海水养殖海域浮游植物分布与控制因子

The distribution of phytoplankton and its correlation with environmental factors were studied monthly during August 2012 to July 2013 in the Yantian Bay. A total of 147 taxa of phytoplankton were identified, and the average abundance was in the range of 0.57×10~4 to 7.73×10~4 cell/L. A total of 19 species dominated the phytoplankton assemblages, and several species that are widely reported to be responsible for microalgae blooms were the absolutely dominant species, such as Skeletonema costatum, Navicula sp., Thalassionema nitzschioides,Pleurosigma sp., and Licmophora abbreviata. The monthly variabilities in phytoplankton abundance could be explained by water temperature, dissolved oxygen, salinity, dissolved inorganic nitrogen(DIN), and suspended solids. The results of a redundancy analysis showed that p H and nutrients, including DIN and silicate(SiO_4), were the most important environmental factors controlling phytoplankton assemblages in specific months. It was found that nutrients and pH levels that were mainly influenced by mariculture played a vital role in influencing the variation of phytoplankton assemblages in the Yantian Bay. Thus, a reduction of mariculture activities would be an effective way to control microalgae blooms in an enclosed and intensively eutrophic bay.     

The effect of salinity on the microbial mineralization of two polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in estuarine sediments

Sediments from the lower Hudson River estuary and two other coastal environments were examined experimentally for their ability to mineralize (convert to CO₂) the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) naphthalene and anthracene over a range of salinities. Routine assays employed 1:1 (vol fresh sed:vol water) sediment slurrys in order to overcome natural variability in mineralization rates among replicates. Mineralization rates were stimulated by about 2·5 fold, compared to unslurried controls, while the coefficient of variation fell from 13% to 3·5%.Rates of naphthalene mineralization in surface sediments from along the mainstem of the Hudson River (salinities from 2 to 27%) ranged from 0·011 to 1·5 nmol cm⁻³ day⁻¹ (pool turnover [T_n] from 60 to 2040 days) with no discernible trends along the estuarine gradient. For two stations examined experimentally (mile point 5, salinity 23%; mile point 26, salinity 5%), microbial assemblages appeared acclimated to broad salinity variations as alter rates of mineralization compared to controls.Sediments from two upstream marshes of the Hudson (mile points 36 and 45) showed rates of naphthalene mineralization from 0·007 to 0·15 nmol cm⁻³ day⁻¹ (T_n from 14 to 368 days), while sediments from a third marsh in freshwater (mile point 76) had high rates (66 nmol cm⁻³ day⁻¹; T_n 40 days). For the two upstream marsh stations which rarely experienced salt intrusion, there was a substantial decrease in mineralization of naphthalene and anthracene with increasing salinity.Consistently high rates of naphthalene mineralization (780 to 1600 nmol cm⁻³ day⁻¹; T_n 5 to 6 days) were observed in petroleum contaminated sediments from Port Jefferson Harbor (PJH) on the north shore of Long Island. PJH has a relatively constant salinity regime (about 27%) and imposed decreases in salinity effected decreases in rates of naphthalene and anthracene mineralization. Lowest rates of naphthalene mineralization (0·003 to 0·004 nmol cm⁻³ day⁻¹; T_n from 714 days to 833 days) were found in sediments from two stations in the relatively pristine Carmans River estuary on the south shore of Long Island.The ability of increases or decreases in salinity to affect the rate of model PAH mineralization appeared to be dependent on the natural variation in the salinity regime from which a sample was obtained. Data from all the environments studied indicated a strong positive correlation between PAH concentration and the rates of mineralization of naphthalene. Rates of PAH mineralization in all environments examined appear to be primarily controlled by the extent of pollutant loading and not by natural variations in the salinity regime.