Role of environment and hydrography in determining the picoplankton community structure of Sagami Bay,Japan

Seasonal variations in the picoplankton community were investigated from June 2002 to March 2004 within the photic zone of Sagami Bay, Japan. The study area was mostly dominated by coastal waters during the warm period (mixed layer water temperature ≥ 18°C). During the cold period (mixed layer water temperature ≤ 18°C), the water mass was characterized by low temperature and high saline waters indicative of the North Pacific Subtropical Mode Water (NPSTMW). Occasionally, a third type of water mass characterized by high temperature and low saline properties was observed, which could be evidence of the intrusion of warm Kuroshio waters. Synechococcus was the dominant picophytoplankton (5−28 × 10¹¹ cells m⁻²) followed by Prochlorococcus (1−5 × 10¹¹ cells m⁻²) and picoeukaryotes during the warm period. Heterotrophic bacteria dominated the picoplankton community throughout the year, especially in the warm period. During the Kuroshio Current advection, cyanobacterial abundance was high whereas that of picoeukaryotes and heterotrophic bacteria was low. During the cold period, homogeneously distributed, lower picophytoplankton cell densities were observed. The dominance of Synechococcus in the warm period reflects the importance of high temperature, low salinity and high Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR) on its distribution. Cyanobacterial and heterotrophic bacterial abundance showed a positive correlation with temperature. Prochlorococcus and picoeukaryotes showed a positive correlation with nutrients. Picoeukaryotes were the major contributors to the picophytoplankton carbon biomass. The annual picophytoplankton contribution to the photosynthetic biomass was 32 ± 4%. These observations suggest that the environmental conditions, combined with the seasonal variability in the source of the water mass, determines the community structure of picoplankton, which contributes substantially to the phytoplankton biomass and can play a very important role in the food web dynamics of Sagami Bay.     

Picoplankton community structure on the Atlantic Meridional Transect: a comparison between seasons

Samples collected from 10 depths at 25 stations in September–October 1996 and 12 depths at 28 stations in April–May 1997 on an Atlantic Meridional Transect between the British Isles and the Falkland Islands were analysed by flow cytometry to determine the numbers and biomass of four categories of picoplankton: Prochlorococcus spp, Synechococcus spp, picoeukaryotic phytoplankton and heterotrophic bacteria. The composition of the picoplankton communities confirmed earlier findings (Zubkov, Sleigh, Tarran, Burkill & Leakey, 1998) about distinctive regions along the transect and indicated that the stations should be grouped into five provinces: northern temperate, northern Atlantic gyre, equatorial, southern Atlantic gyre and southern temperate, with an intrusion of upwelling water off the coast of Mauritania between the northern Atlantic gyre and equatorial waters. Prochlorococcus was the most numerous phototrophic organism in waters of both northern and southern gyres and in the equatorial region, at concentrations in excess of 0.1×10⁶ml⁻¹; it also dominated plant biomass in the gyres, but the biomass of the larger picoeukaryotic algae equalled that of Prochlorococcus in the equatorial region; higher standing stocks of both Prochlorococcus and picoeukaryotes were present in spring than in autumn in waters of both gyres. In temperate waters at both ends of the transect the numbers and biomass of picoeukaryotes and, more locally, of Synechococcus increased, and the Synechococcus, particularly, were more numerous in spring than in autumn. There was a pronounced southward shift of the main populations of both Synechococcus and Prochlorococcus in April–May in comparison to those of September–October, associated with seasonal changes in solar radiation, the abundance of Prochlorococcus dropping sharply near the 17°C contour, while Synechococcus was still present at temperatures below 10°C. Picoeukaryotes were more tolerant of low temperatures and lower light levels, often being more abundant in samples from greater depths, where they contributed to the deep chlorophyll maximum. Heterotrophic bacterial numbers and biomass tended to be highest in those samples where phototrophic biomass was greatest, with peaks in temperate and equatorial waters, which were shifted southwards in April–May compared with September–October.     

北黄海冷水团对獐子岛微微型浮游生物分布的影响

Picoplankton distribution around the Zhangzi Island(northern Yellow Sea)was investigated by monthly observation from July 2009 to June 2010.Three picoplankton populations were discriminated by flow cytometry,namely Synechococcus,picoeukaryotes and heterotrophic prokaryotes.In summer(from July to September),the edge of the northern Yellow Sea Cold Water Mass(NYSCWM)resulting from water column stratification was observed.In the NYSCWM,picoplankton(including Synechococcus,picoeukaryotes and heterotrophic prokaryotes)distributed synchronically with extremely high abundance in the thermocline(20 m)in July and August(especially in August),whereas in the bottom zone of the NYSCWM(below 30 m),picoplankton abundance was quite low.Synechococcus,picoeukaryotes and heterotrophic prokaryotes showed similar response to the NYSCWM,indicating they had similar regulating mechanism under the influence of NYSCWM.Whereas in the non-NYSCWM,Synechococcus,picoeukaryotes and heterotrophic prokaryotes exhibited different distribution patterns,suggesting they had different controlling mechanisms.Statistical analysis indicated that temperature,nutrients(NO3–and PO43–)and ciliate were important factors in regulating picoplankton distribution.The results in this study suggested that the physical event NYSCWM,had strong influence on picoplankton distribution around the Zhangzi Island in the northern Yellow Sea.     

Flow cytometry investigation of picoplankton across latitudes and along the circum Antarctic Ocean

Using a flow cytometer (FCM) onboard the R/V Xuelong during the 24th Chinese Antarctic cruise, picoplankton community structure and biomass in the surface water were examined along the latitude and around the Antarctic Ocean. Salinity and temperature were automatically recorded and total Chla was determined. Along the cruise, the abundance of Synechococcus, Prochlorococcus, pico-eukaryotes and heterotrophic bacteria ranged in 0.001-1.855×10⁸ ind./L, 0.000-2.778￡108 ind./L, 0.002-1.060×10⁸ ind./L and 0.132-27.073×10⁸ ind./L, respectively. Major oceanic distribution of Synechococcus and Prochlorococcus appeared between latitudes 30°N and 30°S. Prochlorococcus was mainly influenced by water temperature, water mass combination and freshwater inflow. Meanwhile, Synechococcus distribution was significantly associated with landing freshwater inflow. Pico-eukaryotes and heterotrophic bacteria were distributed all over the oceans, but with a relatively low abundance in the high latitudes of the Antarctic Ocean. Principal Component Analysis showed that at same latitude of Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean, picoplankton distribution and constitution were totally different, geographical location and different water masses combination would be main reasons.     

獐子岛海域和胶州湾表层微微型浮游植物丰度和生物量的季节变化比较

为全面了解黄海典型海区微微型浮游植物的季节变化特征,于2009年7月至2010年6月在北黄海獐子岛海域和2010年1~12月在南黄海胶州湾进行逐月调查采样,利用流式细胞仪检测了表层海水中微微型浮游植物(picophytoplankton)的丰度,包括聚球藻(Synechococcus,SYN)和微微型真核浮游植物(picoeukaryotes,PEUK),并分析了其与环境因子的关系。獐子岛海域和胶州湾SYN和PEUK全年广泛分布,獐子岛海域SYN丰度范围在0.05×10³~120.00×10³cells/mL之间,丰度在秋季最高;胶州湾SYN丰度范围在0.02×10³~61.80×10³cells/mL之间,丰度在夏季最高。獐子岛海域PEUK丰度范围在0.01×10³~18.76×10³cells/mL之间,丰度在秋季最高;胶州湾PEUK丰度范围在0.25×10³~95.57×10³ cells/mL之间,丰度在春季最高。獐子岛海域微微型浮游植物丰度组成以SYN为主;而胶州湾以PEUK为主。PEUK是两海区微微型浮游植物生物量的主要贡献者。相关性分析结果表明,温度是影响两海区SYN丰度季节变化的最主要因素;影响PEUK季节分布的因素不完全一致,獐子岛海域PEUK丰度主要受温度调控;胶州湾PEUK丰度主要受温度和营养盐浓度影响。与已有研究比较,这两个海区的微微型浮游植物生物量对浮游植物生物量的贡献明显高于其他温带沿岸海域,预示微微型浮游植物在獐子岛海域和胶州湾生态系统中的重要作用,值得进一步深入研究。     

黄海春季水华过程中微微型浮游生物的变化特点

于2007年3—4月在黄海中部海域采用流式细胞术研究了春季水华过程中聚球藻、微微型真核浮游生物和异养细菌的生物量变化。聚球藻和微微真核型浮游生物的生物量与叶绿素a浓度变化基本呈现相反的趋势,在水华前期较高,水华期迅速下降,直至水华后期又有所升高。异养细菌在整个水华过程中变化较小,生物量在水华期最高,与水柱叶绿素a浓度呈极显著正相关(r=0.319,p<0.01)。水华期这三类微微型浮游生物对浮游植物总碳生物量的贡献很低。纤毛虫和鞭毛虫捕食可能是导致聚球藻和微微型真核浮游生物在水华期生物量降低的主要原因。     

基于光合色素化学分类和流式细胞术结合的珠江口自养微微型浮游生物种群时空分布特征

为探究珠江口海域自养微微型浮游生物种群时空分布特征及其与环境之间的关系,于2013年5～11月,运用高液相色谱(HPLC)法和流式细胞术对珠江口海域表层水体中微微型浮游生物进行测定。流式细胞计数结果显示,珠江口海域自养微微型浮游生物由聚球藻(Synechococcus, Syn)和微微型真核生物(Picoeukaryotes,PEUK)组成。聚球藻始终占据总细胞丰度的主导地位。光合色素化学分类法(Chemotaxonomy,CHEMTAX)分析表明,自养微微型浮游生物群落结构具有明显的季节性变化,春季和夏季生物量以聚球藻为主,秋季生物量以青绿藻为主。CHEMTAX分析和流式细胞计数结果的相关性分析表明,在春季和夏季Syn细胞丰度与CHEMTAX生物量(即Syn贡献chla)之间呈现极显著正相关(P<0.01),PEUK细胞丰度与CHEMTAX生物量(即PEUK贡献chla)也存在显著正相关(P<0.05);然而,在秋季则无显著性相关关系(P>0.05)。冗余分析表明,温度和营养盐浓度是影响自养微微型浮游生物群落分布与组成的重要因素。另外,盐度、透明度、悬浮颗粒物对自养...     

Consumption of bacteria by larvae of a deep-sea polychaete

We investigated whether trochophore larvae of the polychaete Hesiocaeca methanicola, which lives on exposed ice‐like methane hydrates between 500 and 600 m, could consume near‐bottom picoplankton. In laboratory trials larvae significantly reduced the growth rates of all types of picoplankton, including heterotrophic bacteria, Prochlorococcus sp., Synechococcus‐type cyanobacteria and phototrophic eucaryotes <3 μm. Our findings suggest that these types of plankton may be important food sources for deep‐sea planktotrophic larvae.     

黄海冷水团海域微型异养鞭毛虫对异养细菌和蓝细菌摄食作用的初步研究

2006年10月在黄海冷水团海域的三个站点开展了微型异养鞭毛虫、异养细菌和蓝细菌的密度和生物量调查,进行了微型异养鞭毛虫的现场摄食实验,通过荧光标记细菌法和消化系数法获得该海区微型异养鞭毛虫对异养细菌和蓝细菌的摄食率,并估算了微型异养鞭毛虫对异养细菌和蓝细菌现存量及生产力的摄食压。结果显示,微型异养鞭毛虫、异养细菌和蓝细菌的密度分别为0.36×103~1.13×103,0.39×106~1.13×106和0.04×104~3.74×104cells/cm3,温跃层以上明显高于底层。微型异养鞭毛虫对异养细菌的摄食率为5.33~14.89个/(HF·h),对蓝细菌的摄食率为0.26×102~23.10×10-2cells/(HF·h),摄食率随深度而下降。微型异养鞭毛虫每天能消耗9.27%~33.08%的异养细菌现存量和8.12%~16.09%的蓝细菌现存量。同时,微型异养鞭毛虫对异养细菌和蓝细菌的日摄食量各占它们生产力的2.66%~13.10%和8.12%~16.09%。研究表明微型异养鞭毛虫的摄食可能不是秋季黄海冷水团海域浮游细菌及其生产力的主归宿。     

2009年冬、夏季南海北部超微型浮游生物的分布特征及其环境相关分析

2009年2月(冬季)和8月(夏季)在南海北部海域(nSCS)采用流式细胞术对聚球藻、原绿球藻、超微型光合真核生物3类超微型光合浮游生物和异养浮游细菌的丰度和碳生物量的时空分布特征进行了研究,并分析了其与环境因子之间的关系。结果表明,夏季聚球藻和原绿球藻的平均丰度高于冬季,超微型光合真核生物和异养浮游细菌的丰度反之,为冬季高于夏季。聚球藻、超微型光合真核生物和异养浮游细菌在富营养的近岸陆架海域丰度较高,而原绿球藻高丰度则出现在陆坡开阔海域。在垂直分布上,聚球藻主要分布在跃层以上,跃层以下丰度迅速降低;原绿球藻高丰度主要出现在真光层底部;超微型光合真核生物在水层中的高值同样出现在真光层底部,且与Pico级份叶绿素a浓度分布一致;异养浮游细菌在水体中的分布与聚球藻类似。这些分布格局的差异,取决于环境条件的变化和4类超微型浮游生物生态生理适应性的差异。在超微型光合浮游生物群落中,各类群碳生物量的贡献因季节和海域类型的不同而发生变化:聚球藻在夏季近岸陆架区占超微型光合浮游生物总碳生物量的41%,原绿球藻在陆坡开阔海成为主要贡献者(50%),超微型光合真核生物碳生物量以冬季为高(在近岸陆架区占比68%)。冬、夏季异养浮游细菌碳生物量均高于超微型光合浮游生物碳生物量。     

Picoplankton composition related to thermohaline circulation: The Albanian boundary zone (southern Adriatic) in late spring

Picoplankton distribution at the boundary zone of the southern Adriatic in May 2009 on a 75 km long shelf-continental slope transect was assessed by combining epifluorescence microscopy, flow cytometry and high-performance liquid chromatography data with hydrographic observations. The picoplankton distribution was greatly influenced by the hydrographic conditions prevailing in the southern Adriatic because of the influence of the Levantine Intermediate Water (LIW) and East Adriatic Current (EAC) forcing. Heterotrophic bacteria numerically dominated the picoplankton community through the entire transect with no significant accumulation. By contrast, picophytoplankton accumulated in the 50–75 m layer, forming a pronounced deep chlorophyll maximum. Synechococcus dominated the photosynthetic picoplankton, whereas picoeukaryotes were the least abundant. The intrusion of warm LIW observed in the layer between 100 and 350 m was followed by Prochlorococcus and Synechococcus peaks (10 × 10³ cells mL⁻¹ and 90 × 10³ cells mL⁻¹, respectively), as well as by the appearance of two Synechococcus ecotypes. Most picoeukaryotes were observed at the offshore stations, where geostrophic current calculation revealed the strongest EAC influence. A strong EAC spread over the central and eastern basin created a barrier for Prochlorococcus, whereas the picoeukaryote maxima coincided with the core of the EAC, suggesting its persistence to hydrological instabilities.     

Heterotrophic bacterial and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Synechococcus</Emphasis> spp. Growth and mortality along the inshore-offshore in the East China Sea in summer

This study used the dilution method to examine growth and grazing rates of heterotrophic bacteria and an autotrophic picoplankton, Synechococcus spp., from 1 to 11 July 2007 in the East China Sea. The main influence of oceanographic conditions in this aquatic system was the introduction of fresh, high-nutrient water from Changjiang River and the extremely nutrient-poor, high-salinity waters of Kuroshio Water. In these experiments, deviation from linearity in the relationship between dilution factor and net growth rate was significant in a large number of cases. Growth rates for heterotrophic bacteria ranged from 0.024 to 0.24, and for Synechococcus spp. from 0.03 to 0.21 h⁻¹. Grazing rates ranged from 0.02 to 0.19 and 0.01 to 0.13 h⁻¹, respectively. The spatial variations of Synechococcus spp. production to the primary production ratio (SP/PP) were low (<5%) in high Chl a environments and increased exponentially in low Chl a environments, indicating that Synechococcus spp. contributes to a large extent to the photosynthetic biomass in the open sea, especially in the more oligotrophic Kuroshio Water. Furthermore, the results of our dilution experiments suggest that nanoflagellates largely depend on heterotrophic bacteria as an important energy source. On average, heterotrophic bacteria contributes to 76 and 59% of carbon consumed by nanoflagellates within the plume (salinity <31) and outside of it (salinity >31).     

夏季南黄海主要环境因子对微微型浮游生物分布影响

利用流式细胞技术, 获取南黄海夏季微微型浮游生物丰度数据, 分析了其组成和分布规律, 并探讨了主要的影响因子。2011年夏季, 聚球藻、微微型真核藻、异养细菌在整个调查海区的平均丰度分别在1×104、1×103、1×106 cells/mL数量级上。在全调查海区, 聚球藻和微微型真核藻受温度和光照的限制明显, 主要集中分布在温跃层及其以上水层;而营养盐的限制较小, 它们的影响只有在沿岸流影响明显的西部海区才能较为明显的体现出来。结果表明在该海域浓度较高的营养盐能够促进微微型浮游生物的生长, 但不是其限制因素;异养细菌受环境因子限制较小, 即使在深海也保持着较高的丰度。     

Picoplankton abundance and biomass in the East China Sea during autumn and winter

During Nov. 2006 and Feb. 2007, two investigations were carried out to investigate the abundance, carbon biomass, and distribution of picoplankton (Pico) and its relationship to the hydrological regime in the East China Sea (ECS). Pico consisted of three groups of photosynthetic picoplankton (phPico)—Synechococcus (Syn), Prochlorococcus (Pro) and Picoeukaryotes (PEuk)—and heterotrophic bacteria (HBAC). The average abundance of Pro, PEuk and HBAC was lower in autumn than in winter, but for Syn the opposite trend was observed. Water temperature, salinity, and stability of water column influenced Pico distribution in both seasons. Regression analysis showed distinct positive correlations between HBAC and phPico in both seasons. Syn contributed more to phPico in coastal waters, whereas Pro dominanted in the shelf and slope areas. PEuk was the major contributor to carbon biomass. In the Pico community, HBAC was predominant, both in abundance and in terms of carbon biomass. The phenomenon of subsurface chlorophyll maximum (SCM) was observed ubiquitously in the shelf and slope area, and Pico organisms were the major contributors.     

Heterotrophic bacteria of the Dapeng Bay in the South China Sea: community structure, abundance, and the relationships of culturablity with environmental factors

The community composition,abundance and culturablity of heterotrophic bacterioplankton in the Dapeng Bay of the South China Sea were investigated by morphological method,bacterial cultivation and biochemical methods over an annual cycle.Aeromonas and Pseudomonas were the predominant genera among the Gram-negative bacteria.The bacterioplankton abundance fluctuated from 2.07×10 8 to 2.44×10 9 cells/dm 3 ,and culturable bacteria abundance ranged between 0.1×10 6 and 16.07×10 6 CFU/dm 3 .The Culturablity of heterotrophic bacteria ranged between 0.01% and 1.31%.The relationship between bacterial culturablity and the environmental factors was also studied in different sites of the Dapeng Bay.Throughout the bay,a significantly positive relationship was evidenced between bacterial culturability and temperature,meanswhile bacterial culturability was significantly inversely related with salinity.The positive relationship was shown at the central bay while a negative relationship was observed at the bay mouth and there was no significant correlation at top bay between bacterial culturablity and chlorophyll a of sea water.A positive relationship was found between culturability and DIN all the bay,but DIP showed a significantly negative relationship with bacterial culturability only at the mouth of the bay.     

黄、东海夏季浮游植物群落特征及其影响因素分析

黄海和东海是西北太平洋重要的边缘海，复杂的海洋环流和丰富的陆源物质输入共同影响着海域环境和生态系统。为了解黄、东海浮游植物群落组成、分布状况及其影响因素，本研究于2015年8—9月期间，通过流式细胞仪和形态学观察等方法，调查了该海域微型真核藻类、微微型真核藻类、聚球藻（Synechococcus）、原绿球藻（Prochlorococcus）以及浮游植物优势种的组成、丰度与分布情况，并基于浮游植物种类和丰度状况进行了聚类分析。结果表明，黄、东海浮游植物群落组成存在明显差别，黄海海域微型浮游植物丰度高于东海，而微微型浮游植物丰度低于东海，原绿球藻主要分布在东海海域。黄、东海海域浮游植物群落组成及分布状况与海域环境特征密切相关。夏季黄海海域相对封闭，受黄海冷水团控制，表层海水中高丰度的微型真核藻类主要出现在冷水团西侧边缘锋面区。东海海域受到长江冲淡水和黑潮水向岸入侵的强烈影响，在长江口邻近海域出现硅藻赤潮，而原绿球藻呈现出自外海向近岸输送的分布态势。相关结果可望为进一步探讨陆源物质输入和邻近大洋对我国近海生态系统的影响及机理提供依据。     

胶州湾大肠菌群丰度变化及对环境污染的指示

采用MPN计数法对胶州湾大肠菌群丰度进行7年（84个月）连续监测,结果表明,大肠菌群丰度的周年变化明显,全年最高丰度与最低丰度相差约2.2倍。胶州湾大肠菌群丰度自2005—2009年明显下降,降幅达67%,说明胶州湾环境质量有所好转。研究还发现大肠菌群丰度变化具有明显的区域特征,河口区最高,湾内区最低,差异近11倍。大...     

胶州湾表层沉积物中甲藻孢囊的分布

为了解胶州湾表层沉积物中甲藻孢囊的分布特征,于2015年7月采集胶州湾12个站位的表层沉积物进行甲藻孢囊分析,共鉴定甲藻孢囊37种(分属5个类群)和2种未定种,包括自养型20种和异养型17种,优势种为膝沟藻。其Shannon-Wiener多样性指数[H′(log2)]介于2.84—3.91,平均值为3.42;均匀度指数介于0.75—0.98,平均值为0.88,总体值较高。胶州湾海域各站位的甲藻孢囊丰度介于96—969cyst/g DW(干重),平均丰度为401cyst/g DW,呈现出临近湾口处丰度较高,而湾内较低的空间分布差异特征。尤其值得注意的是,有两种产虾夷扇贝毒素(Yessotoxin,YTX)甲藻[具刺膝沟藻(Gonyaulax spinifera)和多边舌甲藻(Lingulodinium polyedrum)]的孢囊和3种产麻痹性贝类毒素(PSP)甲藻[塔玛/链状亚历山大藻(Alexandrium catenella/tamarense)、微小/相似亚历山大藻(A.minutum/affine)和链状裸甲藻(Gymnodinium catenatum)]的孢囊在胶州湾海域大多数站位均有分布,尽管其数量不高,但其广泛的分布范围仍需引起我们的重视。     

Picophytoplankton in the equatorial Pacific: vertical distributions in the warm pool and in the high nutrient low chlorophyll conditions

Abundance distribution and cellular characteristics of picophytoplankton were studied in two distinct regions of the equatorial Pacific: the western warm pool (0°, 167°E), where oligotrophic conditions prevail, and the equatorial upwelling at 150°W characterized by high-nutrient low-chlorophyll (HNLC) conditions. The study was done in September–October 1994 during abnormally warm conditions. Populations of Prochlorococcus, orange fluorescing Synechococcus and picoeukaryotes were enumerated by flow cytometry. Pigment concentrations were studied by spectrofluorometry. In the warm pool, Prochlorococcus were clearly the dominant organisms in terms of cell abundance, estimated carbon biomass and measured pigment concentration. Integrated concentrations of Prochlorococcus, Synechococcus and picoeukaryotes were 1.5×10¹³, 1.3×10¹¹ and 1.5×10¹¹ cells m⁻², respectively. Integrated estimated carbon biomass of picophytoplankton was 1 g m⁻², and the respective contributions of each group to the biomass were 69, 3 and 28%. In the HNLC waters, Prochlorococcus cells were slightly less numerous than in the warm pool, whereas the other groups were several times more abundant (from 3 to 5 times). Abundance of Prochlorococcus, Synechococcus and picoeukaryotes were 1.2×10¹³, 6.2×10¹¹ and 5.1×10¹¹ cells m⁻², respectively. The integrated biomass was 1.9 g C m⁻². Prochlorococcus was again the dominant group in terms of abundance and biomass (chlorophyll, carbon); the respective contributions of each group to the carbon biomass were 58, 7 and 35%. In the warm pool the total chlorophyll biomass was 28 mg m⁻², 57% of which was divinyl chlorophyll a. In the HNLC waters, the total chlorophyll biomass was 38 mg m⁻², 44% of which was divinyl chlorophyll a. Estimates of Prochlorococcus, Synechococcus and picoeukaryotes cell size were made in both hydrological conditions.     

Community structure and grazing of the nano-microzooplankton on the continental shelf of the Bay of Biscay

In order to investigate the parameters controlling the heterotrophic protists (nano-microzooplankton) on the continental shelf of the southern Bay of Biscay, plankton communities and their physico-chemical environment were studied 4 times in February, April, June and September–October 2004 at three stations in the euphotic zone in the Bay of Biscay. The abundance and carbon biomass of heterotrophic protists (ciliates, heterotrophic dinoflagellates and nanoflagellates) as well as all the others groups of plankton (picoplankton, nanophytoplankton, diatoms, autotrophic dinoflagellates, metazoan microzooplankton and mesozooplankton), the environmental parameters and the primary and bacteria production were evaluated at each sampling period. Microzooplankton grazing experiments were undertaken at the same time. Ciliates and heterotrophic dinoflagellates accounted for the main major component of nano- and microzooplankton communities in term of biomass. The total carbon biomass of heterotrophic protists was highest in spring and lowest at the end of summer. The development of heterotrophic protists started after a winter microphytoplankton bloom (principally large diatoms), the biomass was lower in June and was low in September (through inappropriate prey). The carbon requirement of microzooplankton ranged from 50 to more than 100% of daily primary, bacterial and nanoflagellate production. The heterotrophic protist community was predominantly constrained by bottom-up control in spring and at the end of summer via food availability and quality.