Cyanobacterial toxins in Lake Baringo, Kenya

This paper presents data on the first identification, characterization and quantification of hepatotoxic microcystins and neurotoxic anatoxin-a in water samples of Lake Baringo, Kenya. The shallow turbid Lake Baringo was investigated five times between June 2001 and May 2002. The phytoplankton community was mainly dominated by the cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa. Due to the high turbidity the phytoplankton biomass was low, ranging between 1.5 and 8.2 mg L⁻¹. High mean total phosphorus concentration (1.0 mg L⁻¹) and mean total nitrogen concentration (2.8 mg L⁻¹) typical for hypertrophic lakes were found. Using HPLC technique the hepatotoxins microcystin-LR, -RR and -YR and the neurotoxin anatoxin-a were detected in the water samples. The microcystin concentrations varied from 310 to 19800 μg microcystin-LR equivalents g⁻¹ DW and the anatoxin-a concentration ranged from 270 to 1260 μg g⁻¹ DW. To our knowledge this is the first evidence of cyanobacterial toxins in Lake Baringo.     

Lake morphometry and wind exposure may shape the plankton community structure in acidic mining lakes

Acidic mining lakes (pH <3) are specific habitats exhibiting particular chemical and biological characteristics. The species richness is low and mixotrophy and omnivory are common features of the plankton food web in such lakes. The plankton community structure of mining lakes of different morphometry and mixing type but similar chemical characteristics (Lake 130, Germany and Lake Langau, Austria) was investigated. The focus was laid on the species composition, the trophic relationship between the phago-mixotrophic flagellate Ochromonas sp. and bacteria and the formation of a deep chlorophyll maximum along a vertical pH-gradient. The shallow wind-exposed Lake 130 exhibited a higher species richness than Lake Langau. This increase in species richness was made up mainly by mero-planktic species, suggesting a strong benthic/littoral - pelagic coupling. Based on the field data from both lakes, a nonlinear, negative relation between bacteria and Ochromonas biomass was found, suggesting that at an Ochromonas biomass below 50 μg C L⁻¹, the grazing pressure on bacteria is low and with increasing Ochromonas biomass bacteria decline. Furthermore, in Lake Langau, a prominent deep chlorophyll maximum was found with chlorophyll concentrations ca. 50 times higher than in the epilimnion which was build up by the euglenophyte Lepocinclis sp. We conclude that lake morphometry, and specific abiotic characteristics such as mixing behaviour influence the community structure in these mining lakes.     

Planktonic algae and epiphyton of the littoral in lake Peipsi, Estonia

The littoral plankton of Lake Peipsi (3555 km², mean depth 7.1 m) was studied in summer 1980 and 2000–2002, and the epiphyton was studied on two dominating macrophytes, Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud. and Potamogeton perfoliatus L., in 2000. The purpose of the study was to estimate to what extent the littoral phytoplankton and epiphytic algae (their biomass, chlorophyll a content and dominant species) can be used as a criterion for the trophic state of the lake. In wind-open areas, phytoplankton biomass in the littoral is commonly more than ten times higher than in open water due to the presence of the macroscopic cyanobacterium Gloeotrichia echinulata (J.S. Smith) P. Richter. This alga is abundant in the moderately eutrophic northern lake's part and rare in the strongly eutrophic southern part; hence also biomass in the southern part is considerably lower. In open water, phytoplankton biomass increases southward with increasing trophy. Algal biomass in the littoral depends on wind direction and can change completely in a few days. Epiphyton biomass and Chla content increased southward with increasing trophic state. They both revealed significant Spearman correlations (P < 0.05) with wind index and transparency (negative), and with abundance of the host plant, both reed and pondweed (positive). The phytoplankton biomass of the littoral of the large and shallow Lake Peipsi can not be used as a criterion of trophic state, however, the species composition of the dominants, particularly cyanobacteria, is well applicable for this purpose. The biomass and Chla content of the epiphyton can be used as a criterion for trophic state.     

Cladoceran community composition in tropical semi-arid highland reservoirs in Tigray (Northern Ethiopia): A metacommunity perspective applied to young reservoirs

A field survey of zooplankton communities was carried out in 32 recently established tropical semi-arid reservoirs in the highlands of Northern Ethiopia with the aim to identify to what extent environmental factors determine species composition of the cladoceran community in such isolated and young reservoirs. To address seasonal variation, the survey was carried out both at the beginning and the end of the dry season. A total of 15 species of cladocerans were identified. Daphnia was the most abundant cladoceran genus, and was present in all reservoirs. Using presence-absence data, no association between cladoceran community composition and geographic distance was found. RDA results indicate that the set of environmental variables that explained cladoceran community composition differed among seasons. Depth, altitude and fish biomass showed a significant association with cladoceran community composition during the wet season, whereas variation in cladoceran community structure was associated with phytoplankton biomass in the dry season. The relative abundance of Daphnia was much higher in the pelagic than in the littoral zone of our study systems. Two key groups of pelagic filter-feeding cladocerans, Diaphanosoma and Daphnia, showed a clear pattern, in which one or the other tended to strongly dominate the community. In addition, we observed a negative association between dominance of Daphnia in the zooplankton community and dominance of cyanobacteria in the phytoplankton community.     

Isolation, identification and characterization of phytoplankton-lytic bacterium CH-22 against Microcystis aeruginosa

A bacterial strain named CH-22 showing phytoplankton-lytic activity against bloom-forming cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa was isolated from Lake Chaohu of Anhui Province, China. The isolated strain was identified as Pseudomonas putida by morphology and homology research based on 16S rDNA. The phytoplankton-lytic activity was confirmed by reduction in cell number and chlorophyll a concentration of M. aeruginosa in an infected culture for a defined period. The initial bacterial and M. aeruginosa densities affected the phytoplankton-lytic activity significantly. When the 15% (150 μL/mL) concentration of bacterial cultures was infected, the highest phytoplankton-lytic activity reached to 98.8% after 7 days. When the initial M. aeruginosa density was less than 3×10⁶ cells/mL, about 90.0% of chlorophyll a was removed. Obvious reduction in phycocyanin concentration in the treated M. aeruginosa suggests that isolated strain may possibly inhibit the synthesis of photosynthetic apparatus. Supernatants of bacterial cultures showed higher phytoplankton-lytic activity, suggesting that phytoplankton-lytic bacterium P. putida indirectly attacked M. aeruginosa cells by secretion of extracellular antialgal substances, which is characterized as anti-heat shock. The isolated P. putida also showed effective phytoplankton-lytic activity against a wide range of phytoplankton. These results suggest that indigenous bacteria isolated from eutrophic lake may be employed to regulate the ecological balance between the phytoplankton and bacteria, and consequently, to reduce the occurrence of cyanobacterial blooms in freshwaters.     

Chlorella-bearing ciliates (Stentor, Ophrydium) dominate in an oligotrophic, deep North Patagonian lake (Lake Caburgua, Chile)

The aim of this study was to present quantitative data on the population dynamics of Chlorella-bearing ciliates (Stentor, Ophrydium) compared to the total zooplankton community in a deep, oligotrophic North Patagonian lake. Mixotrophic and heterotrophic ciliates, rotifers and microcrustaceans, and important ecological parameters were sampled during a 1-year study. The results showed a low biodiversity with only a few dominant species in every zooplankton group. Three mixotrophic ciliates - Stentor araucanus, S. amethystinus and Ophrydium naumanni - were found. They peaked in summer and autumn with maximum values of 152-313 Ind L⁻¹ (Stentor) and 1880 Ind L⁻¹ (Ophrydium). Their contribution to the total ciliate abundance was 16±17% (annual average). Both Stentor species displayed a distinct vertical zonation during the stratification period with peak depth between 10 and 15 m (metalimnion). The contribution to total zooplankton biomass was 59.4% on an annual average (Stentor: 41%, O. naumanni: 18.4%) and 83% during the stratification period. Both abundance and biomass of mixotrophic ciliates correlated strongly with temperature and to a lesser degree with copepods, rotifers and small cladocerans. According to this study mixotrophic ciliates were by far the dominant zooplankton group in Lake Caburgua. We report for the first time the importance of O. naumanni in a deep Chilean North Patagonian lake.     

Spatial and temporal variability of phytoplankton and environmental factors in a temperate estuary of South America (Atlantic coast,Argentina)

A spatial and temporal study on data collected along the longitudinal gradient of the Principal Channel of Bahía Blanca estuary, Argentina, was carried out during 1992–1993. At nine stations, phytoplankton abundance, chlorophyll a (Chl-a) concentration, inorganic nutrient levels, Secchi disk depth, euphotic depth:mixing depth ratio (Z_eu:Z_m), salinity and temperature were recorded. Phytoplankton abundance, Chl-a concentration and nutrient levels decreased towards the outer zone of the estuary. The inner zone (stations 1 and 2), which was characterized by high turbidity, high nutrient concentrations and high Z_eu:Z_m (>0.16, [critical mixing ratio]), registered the highest phytoplankton abundance and Chl-a concentrations. Temporal variability of data was also noteworthy in this zone. The highest biomass values thus corresponded to June, July, August and the beginning of spring (18 μg Chl-a L⁻¹ and 9×10⁶ cells L⁻¹) concomitantly with a diatom bloom. In the middle zone (stations 3–6), a strong phytoplankton biomass decrease was observed and it coincided with both deep-mixed depths and low Z_eu:Z_m (<0.16). The outer zone (stations 7–9), which was characterized by low phytoplankton biomass values and low nutrient levels all along the year, was the area mostly influenced by waters from the adjacent continental shelf. In view of the above, it can be concluded that the most important primary production in the Bahía Blanca would be produced in the shallow inner zone during winter, being the spatial reach of the phytoplankton biomass principally limited to estuarine waters. Presumably, less than 5% of such biomass may reach the coastal area of the estuary.     

First record of Prorocentrum lima (Dinophyceae) inside harbor areas and along the Abruzzo region coast, W Adriatic

Prorocentrum lima (Ehrenberg) Dodge has been found for the first time during the summer of 2007 inside Ortona harbor and along the coast of the Abruzzo region, a slightly eutrophic area influenced by runoff from a nearby river. The investigations were conducted in two harbors and at six coastal sampling stations. Samplings were conducted using a phytoplankton net and with a pump. Average P. lima cellular concentrations were 3.2 × 10⁴ cells L⁻¹. Other well-known toxic and potentially toxic phytoplankton species have been considered. The number of toxic cells from net samples were higher than the numbers of toxic cell samples collected without the net. Occurrences of P. lima with abiotic factors revealed that temperature was positively correlated with P. lima abundance (p = 0.01), while salinity was highly negatively correlated with P. lima presence (p = 0.001). The total phytoplankton community was studied.     

丰水期鄱阳湖超微型浮游植物空间分布特征及其影响因子

2014年夏季对鄱阳湖进行采样调查,以探究超微型浮游植物在鄱阳湖中的空间分布特征及其与环境因子的关系.结果表明,丰水期鄱阳湖超微型浮游植物细胞丰度较高,平均值为1.04×108cells/L,超微蓝藻是超微型浮游植物的优势种群,尤其在北部通江湖区,占总超微藻丰度的比例超过80%.超微藻对总浮游植物净初级生产力和生物量(以叶绿素a浓度表示)贡献率的均值分别为44%和46%.鄱阳湖超微藻在空间分布上存在差异,超微藻丰度和叶绿素a浓度在南部湖区最高,其次是北部湖区,在东部和中部湖区相对较低.北部湖区超微藻对总浮游植物净初级生产力和生物量的贡献率全湖最高,分别能达到60%和50%.相关性分析表明,营养盐对超微型浮游植物生长的作用表现不明显,超微藻对总浮游植物净初级生产力的贡献率与水体透明度呈极显著负相关,水体p H值对超微真核藻丰度有显著影响.     

鄱阳湖河湖转换期间鱼腥藻(Anabaena)的变化

鄱阳湖作为我国长江目前仅存的两个通江湖泊之一,年内水位变幅巨大.通过在鄱阳湖2013年河湖转换期间(5—11月)对鄱阳湖主航道都昌段进行每月3~4次的高频监测,以考察鄱阳湖水体中鱼腥藻(Anabaena)的动态变化,分析鄱阳湖中鱼腥藻生长并占优势的影响因素.结果表明,蓝藻为鄱阳湖浮游植物的次级优势种,8月蓝藻生物量平均占浮游植物生物量的57%,蓝藻取代硅藻成为暂时的优势种.夏、秋季水华蓝藻以固氮鱼腥藻为主,主要与夏、秋季水温较高以及适宜的营养盐条件等有关.研究期间鄱阳湖水体氮磷比平均在15左右,鱼腥藻能够产生有固氮能力的异形胞,并在水华蓝藻中成为优势种,也反映了鄱阳湖某些湖区存在氮相对缺乏的阶段.     

水体富营养化改善过程中浮游植物群落对非生物环境因子的响应:以武汉东湖为例

针对武汉东湖存在营养状态梯度的5个子湖（郭郑湖、汤菱湖、团湖、庙湖、水果湖）,结合"空间换时间"理论,研究湖泊富营养状况改善过程中浮游植物群落对环境因子的响应.全年调查期间,各子湖综合营养状态指数分布范围为45.4~76.8,浮游植物密度及生物量变化范围分别为2.03×10⁶~245×10⁶ cells/L和0.819~19.9 mg/L.冗余分析结果显示,浮游植物的物种分布与水温、总氮、透明度、总溶解性固体、氨氮呈显著相关.采用多元逐步回归分析构建浮游植物密度、生物量与环境因子之间的最优响应方程,结果显示,总氮、水温是影响浮游植物密度的主要因子;对于浮游植物生物量而言,总磷、总氮浓度降低能够降低浮游植物生物量.通过对富营养程度改善进程中浮游植物群落组成的动态变化进行分析,发现浮游植物密度及生物量显著下降,但物种组成及生物多样性并未发生明显转变.此外,浮游植物物种多样性与水体富营养水平梯度并不呈现简单的线性相关.因此,在对富营养化湖泊进行修复时,应制定短期修复与长期维护双重措施,同时应重视生物多样性的重建,进而达到理想的修复效果.     

Ecological engineering in a eutrophic lake: A case study of large aquatic macrophyte enclosures in Baima Lake,China

Ecological restoration of eutrophic lakes using aquatic macrophytes is an important and practical technology. Here, we investigated the response of phytoplankton and zooplankton to a large-scale 2015-built aquatic macrophyte enclosure (AME, 200,000 m²) screened of by a PVC net in Baima Lake, a eutrophic lake, from spring to autumn of 2019. AME significantly improved water quality by increasing water transparency, and reducing total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a content during the growing season. AME significantly decreased phytoplankton abundance and biomass and marginally increased zooplankton abundance and biomass. Phytoplankton and zooplankton communities were closely related to environmental factors, such as water temperature, conductivity, total phosphorus, chemical oxygen demand, and chlorophyll-a inside and outside the AME. The zooplankton:phytoplankton biomass ratio inside was slightly higher than outside the AME. Zooplankton and phytoplankton biomass were significantly positively correlated inside and outside the AME, as were chlorophyll-a and total phosphorus. We found phosphorus to be a key factor limiting primary productivity in Baima Lake, and that bottom-up effects were the main driver to control phytoplankton in the AME. Using aquatic macrophytes to reduce nutrient loads is an effective way to manage eutrophication in Baima Lake.     

太湖不同生态型湖区枝角类组成和丰度长期变化的差异性

枝角类作为淡水湖泊生态系统中的初级消费者之一,对生存环境的改变极为敏感.本文分析了太湖西、中和东部等湖区的钻孔沉积物、表层沉积物以及春夏秋季活体枝角类的组成与丰度.结果表明:活体枝角类组成以象鼻溞(Bosmina spp.)为优势种,秋季枝角类属种数量最多.太湖不同生态型湖区表层沉积物枝角类组成均以象鼻溞为优势种,其中西部与中心湖区的枝角类组成与丰度较为相似,种类单一,枝角类绝对丰度高;东部湖区枝角类属种较为丰富,绝对丰度低,优势种由浮游种象鼻溞以及沿岸种圆形盘肠溞(Chydorus sphaericus sl)和西方笔纹溞(Graptoleberis testudinaria)等种属构成.百年以来,太湖枝角类组成与丰度随着营养水平增加而改变,富营养指示种(Bosmina longirostris)丰度的增加与贫营养指示种(Bosmina longispina)丰度的下降,响应了湖区生态环境的演变过程.1970s末期,太湖西部与中心湖区在进入富营养化阶段,枝角类组成单一,象鼻溞占有绝对优势,与东部湖区相比,沿岸种、底栖种稀少.东部湖区在1960s以后,枝角类属种数量增加,但丰度下降,响应了1960s以来该区域营养水平提高、沉水植被生物量增加以及沼泽化加剧的环境过程.     

太湖叶绿素a的时空分布特征及其与环境因子的相关关系

2012年3月至2013年2月逐月对太湖水体叶绿素a含量、主要环境因子及不同门类浮游植物密度进行测定,分析太湖叶绿素a含量和不同门类浮游植物密度的时空分布特征,探讨太湖叶绿素a含量和环境因子与不同门类浮游植物密度之间的相关关系并建立逐步回归方程.结果表明:太湖叶绿素a含量全年平均值为22.33±37.65 mg/m³,变幅为0.48~347.85 mg/m³;叶绿素a含量随季节变化明显,夏季最高、秋冬季次之、春季最低;在空间分布上,太湖北部和西北部最高,东部和南部最低.蓝藻门、隐藻门、硅藻门、绿藻门密度随时间呈峰型变化,均在10月份达到最大值,黄藻门、金藻门和裸藻门密度的变化趋势呈"V"型,在春、冬两季出现较大值;不同门类浮游植物密度基本在西北区出现最大值.全湖叶绿素a含量的显著影响因子有总有机碳、亚硝态氮、溶解氧、pH、水温和磷酸盐;lg(Y_Chl.a)与lg(X_TN)呈显著负相关,与lg(X_TP)呈极显著正相关,与lg(X_N/P)呈极显著负相关.太湖叶绿素a含量与蓝藻门、隐藻门、裸藻门与甲藻门密度有显著相关关系.     

Comparison of C and N stable isotope ratios between surface particulate organic matter and microphytoplankton in the Gulf of Lions (NW Mediterranean)

Carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios of particulate organic matter (POM) in surface water and 63–200 μm-sized microphytoplankton collected at the fluorescence maximum were studied in four sites in the Gulf of Lions (NW Mediterranean), a marine area influenced by the Rhone River inputs, in May and November 2004. Some environmental (temperature, salinity) and biological (POM, Chlorophyll a and phaeopigments contents, phytoplankton biomass and composition) parameters were also analysed. Significantly different C and N isotopic signatures between surface water POM and microphytoplankton were recorded in all sites and seasons. Surface water POM presented systematically lower δ¹³C (∼4.2‰) and higher δ¹⁵N (∼2.8‰) values than those of microphytoplankton, due to a higher content of continental and detrital material. Seasonal variations were observed for all environmental and biological parameters, except salinity. Water temperature was lower in May than in November, the fluorescence maximum was located deeper and the Chlorophyll a content and the phytoplankton biomass were higher, along with low PON/Chl a ratio, corresponding to spring bloom conditions. At all sites and seasons, diatoms dominated the phytoplankton community in abundance, whereas dinoflagellate importance increased in autumn particularly in coastal sites. C and N isotopic signatures of phytoplankton did not vary with season. However, the δ¹⁵N of surface water POM was significantly higher in November than in May in all sites likely in relation to an increase in ¹⁵N/¹⁴N ratio of the Rhone River POM which influenced surface water in the Gulf of Lions. As it is important to determine true baseline values of primary producers for analysing marine food webs, this study demonstrated that C and N isotopic values of surface water POM cannot be used as phytoplankton proxy in coastal areas submitted to high river inputs.     

Effects of lanthanum(III) and EDTA on the growth and competition of Microcystis aeruginosa and Scenedesmus quadricauda

Rare earth elements (REEs) are widely used to increase crop production in China. However, little attention has been paid to their impacts on aquatic ecology. Batch cultivation was used here to study the effects of lanthanum (La) and EDTA on the growth and competition of the cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa and the green alga Scenedesmus quadricauda. When EDTA was present at a very low concentration (0.269 μmol L⁻¹), low lanthanum concentrations (?7.2 μmol L⁻¹) had little stimulative effect on the growth of M. aeruginosa and S. quadricauda, whereas a high lanthanum concentration (72 μmol L⁻¹) had significant inhibitory effect on both of them. The results of cultivation experiments suggested that the inhibitory effect on M. aeruginosa was higher than that on S. quadricauda and S. quadricauda could become dominant in mixed cultures. When lanthanum was not added to the culture medium, high EDTA concentrations (>13.4 μmol L⁻¹) had a great inhibitory effect on the growth of M. aeruginosa but little effect on the growth of S. quadricauda, which could become dominant in the mixed cultures.Lanthanum and EDTA had complex effects on the growth and competition of M. aeruginosa and S. quadricauda. EDTA did not change the stimulation of low lanthanum concentrations on both, but at intermediated concentrations (2.69-13.4 μmol L⁻¹) it could greatly alleviate lanthanum inhibition on M. aeruginosa; thus, M. aeruginosa would dominate S. quadricauda in these mixed cultures. Lanthanum at low concentration (7.2 μmol L⁻¹) could also alleviate the inhibition of high EDTA on M. aeruginosa, but did not alter the outcome of the competition.     

太湖河蚬(Corbicula fluminea)对富营养水体水质的改善作用

河蚬(Corbicula fluminea)为太湖优势大型底栖动物,通过受控实验研究其对富营养水体的水质改善效果.根据太湖河蚬的自然丰度设置4组密度处理,分别为无河蚬对照组、低密度河蚬组(生物量为130 g/m2)、中密度河蚬组(260 g/m2)和高密度河蚬组(520 g/m2).结果表明:河蚬滤食显著降低悬浮物浓度与叶绿素a含量,低、中、高密度河蚬组水体悬浮物浓度较对照组分别降低了20.85%、34.90%和53.79%,叶绿素a浓度分别降低了23.29%、48.32%和71.17%;放置河蚬还降低了水体TN、TP浓度,但是中密度河蚬组与高密度河蚬组没有显著差异.分析认为,河蚬通过滤食作用降低水体浊度、改善光照条件,有利于底栖藻类的生长及沉水植物的恢复,对富营养水体的生态修复具有重要意义;就太湖而言,河蚬对水质的改善效果可能受沉积物再悬浮造成的营养盐释放等因素的制约.     

The role of phosphorus in growth of phytoplankton in Lake Vesijärvi,southern Finland – a multitechnique approach

The role of phosphorus in phytoplankton growth was studied in Lake Vesijärvi, a large previously eutrophic body of water with a history of flourishing fishery. The study combined different approaches: long-term algal enrichment experiments with natural phytoplankton assemblages were carried out together with observations on nutrient and chlorophyll a concentrations, elemental ratios (N:P, C:P, C:N) of particulate matter, and analysis of P uptake using [³³P]. None of the approaches revealed periods of P limitation, but some growth experiments as well as elemental ratios indicated slight deficiency in early summer. Concentrations of total dissolved phosphorus (TDP), which were usually 20–30 g l^–1, also indicated luxurious P resources. Thermal stratification was weak and the lake mixed twice during the study period; this was reflected in the phytoplankton biomass that increased up to 4-fold. Results of elemental ratios usually suggested the occurrence of nitrogen limitation, and in general these ratios were low for a lake. All size fractions >0.22 m in the experiments with [³³P] showed P uptake. In August most of the P was taken up by picoplankton, but when the lake turned over in September, the uptake of P by this fraction was absent. Thus, there was always a plentiful supply of P for phytoplankton, but the shortage of inorganic N may have affected those algae not capable of fixing N₂. These conditions should have favoured the growth of heterocystous cyanobacteria, but these prokaryotes never attained high abundances. This may have been due to the weak stability of the water column, or the growth of cyanobacteria may have been limited by trace elements such as molybdenum or iron.     

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) in Daya Bay, China: An in situ study of primary production and environmental impacts

A month-long investigation of phytoplankton biomass and primary production (PP) was carried out during a harmful algal bloom (HAB) in Daya Bay, China, in 2003. During the bloom, the phytoplankton community was dominated by Scrippsiella trochoidea and Chattonella marina. The phytoplankton biomass (Chl a) and PP reached peak levels of 519.21 mg m⁻³ and 734.0 mgC m⁻³ h⁻¹, respectively. Micro-phytoplankton was the key contributor to Chl a and PP in a cage-culture area and in the adjacent HAB-affected waters, with percentages of up to 82.91% and 84.94%, respectively. The HAB had complicated relationships with hydrological and meteorological factors in Daya Bay. However, the water around the cage-culture area always showed statistically greater phytoplankton biomass and nutrient loadings than in adjacent waters, suggesting that this was the “trigger area” of the bloom. The spatial and temporal distribution of diverse HABs in Daya Bay, their ecological characteristics, and their environmental impacts are also discussed in this paper.     

Effects of copper and the sea lice treatment Slice on nutrient release from marine sediments

Copper-based antifoulant paints and the sea lice treatment Slice^® are widely used, and often detectable in the sediments beneath farms where they are administered. Ten-day, whole sediment mesocosm experiments were conducted to examine how increasing sediment concentrations of copper or Slice^® influenced final water column concentrations of ammonium-nitrogen (NH₄-N), nitrate + nitrite-nitrogen (NO_X-N) and phosphate-phosphorus (PO₄-P) in the presence of the non-target, benthic organisms Corophium volutator and Hediste diversicolor. Nominal sediment concentrations of copper and Slice^® had significant effects on the resulting concentrations of almost all nutrients examined. The overall trends in nutrient concentrations at the end of the 10-day incubations were highly similar between the trials with either copper or Slice^®, irrespective of the invertebrate species present. This suggests that nutrient exchange from the experimental sediments was primarily influenced by the direct effect of copper/Slice^® dose on the sediment microbial community, rather than the indirect effect of reduced bioturbation/irrigation due to increased macrofaunal mortality.