Methane levels in shallow subtropical lake sediments: Dependence on the trophic status of the lake and allochthonous input

The vertical sediment profiles (10 cm) of the margins of three shallow subtropical lakes (Rio Grande, Brazil) with different trophic states and surrounding areas were evaluated to identify the effects of the allochthonous input on the methane concentration in the sediment. Sediment cores were collected to quantify the organic matter content (OM) and total carbon (TC), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorous (TP) and methane (CH₄) concentrations.The three lakes were distinguished according to the trophic status and classified as oligotrophic, dystrophic and eutrophic. The natural characteristics of the dystrophic and eutrophic lakes have been changed due to the allochthonous input of leaves and twigs (Eucalyptus sp.) and the excreta of birds, respectively. In the eutrophic lake, the allochthonous input contributed to high autochthonous production. The highest values of OM, TC, TN and TP were found in the superficial sediments of the dystrophic and eutrophic lakes. The accumulation of allochthonous organic matter in the littoral zone promoted changes in the vertical sediment profiles and contributed to increases in the CH₄ concentrations in the sediment.     

Seasonal succession of cyanobacterial protease inhibitors and Daphnia magna genotypes in a eutrophic Swedish lake

Lakes are well known for having a pattern of seasonal succession of phytoplankton and zooplankton. The succession of different taxa of phytoplankton results in a succession of zooplankton taxa, and within the genus Daphnia, into a succession of different genotypes (clones). One cause for this succession of Daphnia clones might be the production of digestive protease inhibitors by cyanobacteria, which usually bloom in summer. Here we report seasonal changes in the frequency and the abundance of Daphnia magna haplotypes in a eutrophic lake, which developed a chymotrypsin-inhibitor-producing cyanobacterial bloom in May. These seasonal changes were not related to changes of biotic and abiotic lake parameters. However, a very high content of chymotrypsin inhibitors was observed in May (but not in other months). This was assumed to have exerted a strong punctual selection pressure on the Daphnia population and on the direct targets of the protease inhibitors, i.e. the digestive chymotrypsins of Daphnia. Actually, D. magna from before and during the cyanobacterial bloom showed a different protease pattern on activity stained SDS-PAGE in comparison to clones from the month after the bloom. However, no difference in tolerance, measured as IC₅₀ values, to inhibition by natural lake seston from May was found between the clones from before and after the bloom. Thus, the hypothesis that a seasonal adaptation of D. magna subpopulations from either April/May or June might have occurred could not be proven. This suggests that the Daphnia population investigated here is locally adapted to cyanobacterial protease inhibitors.     

Population and trophic dynamics of Trichodesmium thiebautii in the SE lagoon of New Caledonia. Comparison with T. erythraeum in the SW lagoon

While Trichodesmium erythraeum is prevalent in the semi-closed SW lagoon of New Caledonia, T. thiebautii is dominant in the more open SE lagoon. This led to the comparison of the two species from the results of two high-frequency surveys focused on T. erythraeum (Rodier and Le Borgne, 2008) and T. thiebautii (the present paper). (1) Environmental conditions and triggers of the blooms are the same: calm weather and/or temperature >26 °C, and temporary nutrient inputs are required for both; (2) growth rates under favorable conditions are similar (0.14–0.27 d⁻¹) but (3) T. thiebautii has lower net ascent rates along the water column during blooming events, due to distinct buoyancy capacities and the resulting vertical distributions; (4) carbon and dinitrogen fixation rates are not significantly different and contribution of Trichodesmium spp. represent less than 35% and 5% of the total phytoplankton carbon and nitrogen requirements, respectively. It is concluded the two species can be mixed in ecological studies, except for their vertical distributions during the bloom periods.     

三峡水库香溪河库湾蓝藻水华暴发特性及成因探析

2008年夏季,香溪河库湾自三峡水库建库以来第1次暴发蓝藻水华,水华波及整个库湾,持续时间达1个月之余.为了解这次水华暴发特性及发生原因,本文对蓝藻水华的发生发展过程进行了跟踪调查,6-7月水华发生期间每周采样1次.调查表明本次蓝藻水华的优势种为鱼腥藻(Anabaena sp.)、铜绿微囊藻(Microcystis aeruginosa)、惠氏微囊藻(Microcystis wesenbergii)等,细胞密度高达3.82×10⁸ cells/L,蓝藻相对密度达到90%以上.本文将2008年5-7月与2007年同期理化指标比较发现,2007年5月的N:P为18.6,而2008年5月的N:P较低,为6.2,据文献报道N:P < 8有利于微囊藻的复苏,因此2008年水华前期的低N:P利于微囊藻的复苏,为微囊藻在适宜条件下的大量增殖提供了种源基础.方差分析表明,2008年5-7月各采样点真光层深度显著高于2007年同期,使得底泥中的微囊藻获得一定强度的光照而复苏,这可能是2008年蓝藻水华在香溪河库湾暴发的原因之一.综上所述,在具备充足的营养盐基础、较强的水体稳定性以及较高水温的前提下,香溪河库湾水华发生前期较低的N:P以及较高强度的光照可能是微囊藻复苏的诱导因子,为蓝藻水华暴发提供了种源基础.     

Occurrence of the toxic dinoflagellate Ostreopsis cf. ovata in relation with environmental factors in Monaco (NW Mediterranean)

To study environment characteristics favoring the toxic benthic dinoflagellate Ostreopsis cf. ovata, a survey was conducted in Monaco (NW Mediterranean Sea), in summers 2007 and 2008. Epiphytic and planktonic blooms occurred almost simultaneously and a high variation of abundances at low spatial scales was observed. An early and very marked bloom occurred in 2007, compared to a later and less abundant development in 2008. These distinct patterns in bloom timing corresponded with very different hydroclimatic scenarios in 2007 (hot spring and relatively cold summer) and 2008 (standard year compared to the median year profile estimated with data from 1995 to 2008). No clear impacts of summer seawater temperature, rainfall or nutrient concentrations were evident. Strong wind may favor the dispersal of benthic and planktonic cells. Our study suggests that further investigations are needed to examine the potential role of Ostreopsis nutritional mode (i.e. autotrophy vs. mixotrophy).     

Studies on phytoplankton distribution and primary production in the western English Channel in 1980 and 1981

The distribution of chlorophyll on a transect of the English Channel was measured during 1980 and 1981. In both years, high concentrations of chlorophyll a were measured in midchannel in July and August and this was due to a bloom of Gyrodinium aureolum. At a near-shore station close to Plymouth, regular measurements of water transparency and primary production were made during 1981. Values of diffuse attenuation coefficient increased in the spring with increasing chlorophyll concentration; this was followed by a period of low attenuation coefficients when chlorophyll maxima developed on the thermocline. The attenuation coefficient was greatly increased in late summer as the result of a bloom of G. aureolum. The high cell density resulted in self-limitation and specific rates of photosynthetic carbon fixation were low during the bloom. The total water-column light utilization index (Ψ) is calculated to be 0.48 g C g Chl a^?1 E^?1 m^?2 and the possible use of this index to calculate production from depth-integrated chlorophyll a concentrations is discussed.     

Association between trophic state,watershed use,and blooms of cyanobacteria in south-central Chile

An increase in the distribution and frequency of cyanobacterial blooms has been reported for many regions worldwide. Due to this fact, we studied the variables that influence the abundance of natural populations of planktonic cyanobacteria in temperate lakes of central and southern Chile. These lakes differed in trophic state and watershed use. Cyanobacteria dominated in meso- and eutrophic systems and their occurrence correlated to watershed use (tree plantations and urban). Ochrophyta and Bacillariophyta were dominant in oligotrophic lakes, where native forest dominated land usage. In these lakes, the maximum depth of the euphotic zone influenced the community structure and the genera of cyanobacteria. Dolichospermum was the most abundant, frequent, and widely distributed genus, found in oligotrophic and eutrophic lakes, forming blooms in eutrophic systems.The concentration of total phosphorus and total nitrogen positively influenced cyanobacterial abundance and bloom formation, mainly by Aphanizomenon, Aphanocapsa, Aphanothece, and Dolichospermum, and Microcystis.In contrast to many reports on their occurrence in the northern hemisphere, these genera occurred widely at less than 20 °C, forming dispersive blooms, at low temperatures in autumn and winter (10.8–15.6 °C). This shows that eutrophication is the main factor for bloom formation and these genera can form blooms independent of temperature. However, some genera, such as Microcystis, increased their abundance and presented more intense blooms (scums) at high temperatures. Our study provides baseline data to document long-term changes in lentic systems of the western south-central area of South America, including genera that could respond by increasing their abundance with eutrophication and projected climatic changes.     

Recurrence of the world’s largest green-tide in 2009 in Yellow Sea, China: Porphyra yezoensis aquaculture rafts confirmed as nursery for macroalgal blooms

In the summer of 2008, the world’s largest green-tide occurred in the Yellow Sea, China. The hypothesized cause was the expansion of Porphyra yezoensis aquaculture along the Jiangsu coastline and the re-occurrence of a green-tide in 2009 was predicted. In this study, satellite and field images showed the formation of the June 2009 green-tide which again originated from the Jiangsu coast. The responsible species, its source and biomass accumulation were studied to support the previous hypothesis. Morphological and phylogenetic analysis demonstrated the homology of Ulva prolifera in the 2008 green-tide with the U. prolifera from P. yezoensis aquaculture rafts. About 91-505 kg/ha of U. prolifera was attached to the P. yezoensis aquaculture rafts and a total biomass of 4956 tonnes was estimated during the harvesting of P. yezoensis. This is sufficient to seed a bloom when they are dislodged from the rafts as a result of harvesting practices.     

Distribution and photoreactivity of chromophoric dissolved organic matter in northern Gulf of Mexico shelf waters

The distribution and photoreactivity of chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) in the northern Gulf of Mexico along the Louisiana coastal shelf were examined during three cruises in summer 2007, fall 2007, and summer 2008. The influence of the Mississippi River plume was clearly evident as CDOM levels (defined as a₃₀₅) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations were well-correlated with salinity during all cruises. Elevated CDOM and CDOM:DOC ratios of surface samples collected offshore of Atchafalaya Bay and the Breton-Chandeleur Sound complex indicated emanations of organic-rich waters from coastal wetlands are also an important source to nearshore shelf waters. Generally, CDOM and DOC levels were highest in surface waters and decreased with depth, but during summer 2007 and summer 2008, CDOM levels in near-bottom samples were occasionally higher than at mid-depths without concomitant increases in DOC. CDOM photobleaching was measured during 24 irradiations using a SunTest XLS+ solar simulator with photobleaching rate coefficients (k₃₀₅) ranging from 0.011 to 0.32 h⁻¹. For fall 2007 and summer 2008, higher k₃₀₅ values were generally observed in samples with higher initial CDOM levels. However, samples collected during summer 2007 did not exhibit a similar pattern nor were there differences in photobleaching rates between surface and bottom samples. Spectral slope coefficients (S_275-295 or S_350-400) and DOC levels were largely unchanged after 24 h irradiations. Modeled CDOM photobleaching for northern Gulf of Mexico mid-shelf waters predicts that during the summer when solar irradiance is high and the water column becomes stratified, nearly 90% of the CDOM in the upper 1 m may be lost to photobleaching, with losses up to 20% possible even at 10 m depth.     

A nitrogen fixation estimate for the Baltic Sea based on continuous pCO2 measurements on a cargo ship and total nitrogen data

Organic matter production and nitrogen fixation in the central Baltic Sea were studied on the basis of high-resolution CO₂ partial pressure data that were obtained from an automated measurement system deployed on a cargo ship. The net organic carbon (OC) production was calculated from a surface water CO₂ mass balance and used to estimate the nitrogen uptake by organic matter during the period March to August 2005. It was shown that the net OC production continued despite the exhaustion of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) after the spring bloom in April. The nitrogen demand for this production was calculated on the basis of the C/N ratio of organic matter. It was of the same order of magnitude than the winter DIN concentration that fuelled the spring bloom. Since the atmospheric DIN deposition was negligible and no indications of alternative DIN sources were found, it was assumed that N₂ fixation had taken place despite the low temperatures (4–8 °C) in April/May. This “cold fixation” amounted to 74 mmol m^?2 whereas a value of 99 mmol m^?2 was obtained for the summer N₂ fixation during June/July. Due to the contribution of the April/May N₂ fixation, a total annual rate (173±35 mmol m^?2) was obtained for 2005 which is considerably higher than presently accepted estimates. These findings were confirmed by a nitrogen budget based on long-term data (1993–2006) for total nitrogen and total phosphorus concentrations. Furthermore, these data revealed a 30% increase in N₂ fixation during the years 1994–2006.     

Dynamics of dissolved organic carbon after a cyanobacterial bloom in hypereutrophic Lake Taihu (China)

To establish the influence of the cyanobacterial bloom collapse on the characteristics of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in Lake Taihu, high-molecular-weight dissolved organic matter (HMW-DOM), with sizes between 1 kDa and 0.5 μm, were collected using cross-flow ultrafiltration, from three different eutrophic regions. Isolated HMW-DOM was further characterized by atomic carbon to nitrogen ratio and neutral sugars composition by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. The results indicated that the cyanobacterial cell lysis induced by nitrate depletion is the likely mechanism for DOC release. The relatively high DOC level was associated with the high chlorophyll a concentration in Meiliang Bay, one of the most eutrophic bays in the northern part of the lake. However, no significant correlations were observed between chlorophyll a concentration and HMW-DOC concentration during the demise of the cyanobacterial bloom in Lake Taihu. No significant differences were found in the HMW-DOC concentration among the three sampling sites, which were selected to represent different eutrophic status. However, a significant difference in the HMW-DOC concentration was found between October 2009 and January 2010 in all three sampling sites (p = 0.02). The HMW-DOC release may be attributed to the cyanobacterial cell lysis after the peak of summer bloom. The similarity in neutral sugar composition between the HMW-DOM and cyanobacterial exopolysaccharides suggests that the cyanobacterial bloom is the source of HMW-DOM. However, the significant correlation between the carbon to nitrogen ratio in HMW-DOM and chlorophyll a concentration was only observed in Meiliang Bay, which implies that apart from the cyanobacteria-derived DOC, a fraction of DOC was from riverine input. The decline of the cyanobacterial bloom also changed the overall DOM pool, leading to a shift in the component of HMW-DOM from a C-enriched material to an N-enriched material, as revealed by the variation in the carbon to nitrogen ratios. Overall, these results demonstrate that the quantitative and qualitative DOM is affected by the post-cyanobacterial bloom in Lake Taihu.     

World’s largest macroalgal bloom caused by expansion of seaweed aquaculture in China

In late June 2008, just weeks before the opening of the Beijing Olympics, a massive green-tide occurred covering about 600 km² along the coast of Qingdao, host city for Olympic sailing regatta. Coastal eutrophication was quickly attributed with the blame by the international media and some scientists. However, we explored an alternative hypothesis that the cause of the green-tide was due to the rapid expansion of Porphyra yezoensis aquaculture along the coastline over 180 km away from Qingdao, and oceanographic conditions which favoured rapid growth of the bloom and contributed to transport of the bloom north into the Yellow Sea and then onshore northwest to Qingdao. At its peak offshore, the bloom covered 1200 km² and affected 40,000 km². This is the largest green-tide ever reported, the most extensive translocation of a green-tide and the first case of expansive seaweed aquaculture leading to a green-tide. Given similar oceanographic conditions to those that occurred in 2008, these green-tides may re-occur unless mitigation measures such as those proposed here are taken.     

Occurrence of brackish water phytoplankton species at a closed coral reef in Nansha Islands, South China Sea

The phytoplankton assemblage of Zhubi Reef, a closed coral reef in Nansha Islands (South China Sea, SCS) was studied in June 2007. A total of 92 species belonging to 53 genera and four phyla have been identified. The dominant taxa in the lagoon were the diatom Chaetoceros and cyanobacteria Nostoc and Microcystis, while in reef flats were cyanobacteria Trichodesmium erythraeum, dinoflagellates Gymnodinium and Prorocentrum. The species richness and diversity were consistently lower in the lagoon than in reef flats. Classification and nMDS ordination also revealed significant dissimilarity in phytoplankton community structure between the reef flat and lagoon, with statistical difference in species composition and abundance between them (ANOSIM, p = 0.025). Nutrient concentrations also spatially varied, with ammonium-enrichment in the lagoon, while high Si-concentration existed in reef flat areas. Both nutrient levels and currents in SCS may play important roles in determining the composition and distribution of microalgae in Zhubi Reef and SCS.     

Intertidal spring dynamics and coastal nutrient loading revealed through geophysics,drone surveys,and in-situ monitoring

Coastal eutrophication poses an increasing risk to ecosystem health due to enhanced nutrient loading to the global coastline. Submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) represents a significant pathway for nitrate-nitrogen (NO₃-N) transport to the coast, but diffusive SGD transport is difficult to monitor directly, given the low flux rates and expansive discharge areas. In contrast, focused SGD from intertidal springs can potentially be sampled and directly gauged, providing unique insight into SGD and associated contaminant transport. Basin Head is a coastal lagoon in Prince Edward Island, Canada that is a federally protected ecosystem. Nitrate-nitrogen is conveyed from agricultural fields in the contributing watershed to the eutrophic lagoon via intertidal groundwater springs and groundwater-dominated tributaries. We used several field methods to characterize groundwater discharge, nutrient loading, and in-channel mixing associated with intertidal springs. The tributaries and intertidal springs were gauged and sampled to estimate a representative summer nitrate load to the lagoon. Our analysis revealed that NO₃-N export to the lagoon through tributaries and springs throughout summer 2023 was on average 401 kg N/month, with the combined spring loading comparable in magnitude to the combined tributary loading. We collected thermal infrared and visual imagery using drone surveys and found spatial overlap between cold-water plumes from the spring discharge and macroalgae blooms, indicating the local thermal and ecosystem impacts of the focused SGD. We also mapped the electrical resistivity (salinity) distribution in the water column around one large spring with electromagnetic geophysics at different tidal stages to reveal the three-dimensional spring plume dynamics. Results showed that the fresher spring water floated above the saline lagoon water with the brackish plume oriented in the direction of the tidal current. Collectively, our multi-pronged field investigations help elucidate the hydrologic, thermal, and nutrient dynamics of intertidal springs and the cascading ecosystem impacts.     

Transport,sloughing and settling rates of estuarine macrophytes: Mechanisms and ecological implications

The study of plant-bound nutrient transport has been largely neglected in estuaries. Lately however, it has been shown that nutrients bound to macroalgae and seagrasses can constitute a major part of the nutrient transport in shallow tidal estuaries. Organic detritus in estuaries comes from various sources. This paper looks into the source of detritus from sloughing, and the transport behaviour of plant detritus under unidirectional flows. In order to determine the extent of the sloughing of macrophytes, the threshold current velocities for the traction and resuspension of the most common submersed macrophytes in Venice Lagoon (Ulva lactuca, Enteromorpha sp., Ceramium rubrum, Cladophora sp., and Chaetomorpha linum) were studied in a laboratory flume. It was found that all macrophytes subjected to flows of 1.5–3.0 cm s⁻¹ move initially as bed load. The threshold for suspension of the macrophyte tissue was at current speeds >3 cm s⁻¹. The exception was the filamentous macroalgae, C. linum, which moved as bed load at all current speeds. This implies that the advection of plant-bound nutrients in Venice Lagoon is widespread and takes place over virtually all stages of the tide.     

Inter- and intra-annual patterns of Ulva prolifera green tides in the Yellow Sea during 2007-2009, their origin and relationship to the expansion of coastal seaweed aquaculture in China

The large green-tide events that occurred in the Yellow Sea in 2008 (3489 km²) and 2009 (4994 km²) are shown to be novel events preceded only once by a much smaller event in 2007 (82 km²). The blooms originated in the coastal area of Jiangsu province and spread north-east towards the Shandong Peninsula. The blooms grew at different rates and mesoscale variability in surface winds explained the differences in the spatial and temporal patterns of blooms in 2008 and 2009. The 2009 bloom was tracked to its origin immediately offshore of extensive intertidal flats between Yancheng and Nantong where recent rapid expansion of Porphyra aquaculture has occurred. We review published hypotheses which have been advanced to explain the occurrence of blooms and in light of our findings, we conclude that the accumulation and disposal of waste Ulva prolifera from Porphyra aquaculture rafts is the most likely cause of the blooms.     

太湖西北湖区浮游植物和无机、有机氮的时空分布特征

以太湖重度蓝藻水华发生的西北湖区为研究对象,从河口至湖心区设置5个采样点,于2012年10月至2013年10月逐月采集表层水体样品,测定了水温、溶解氧和浮游细菌丰度,并分析了浮游植物群落结构的组成、溶解性无机氮(DIN)和有机氮(DON)浓度以及氮磷比.研究结果表明,太湖西北湖区浮游植物主要由蓝藻、硅藻、绿藻和隐藻组成.可能由于风、浪等混合作用使太湖西北湖区不同采样点之间蓝藻细胞密度没有显著差异.蓝藻生物量在浮游植物中所占比例最高为34%±15%,春季部分点位隐藻生物量高于50%,表明隐藻与蓝藻的相互竞争趋势显著.CCA排序图结果表明,DIN、DON浓度以及总氮∶总磷比(TN∶TP比)是影响西北湖区浮游植物优势属分布的重要环境因子.5个采样点铵态氮(NH_4~+-N)与DIN浓度具有显著差异,与DON浓度没有显著差异.夏季蓝藻水华暴发期间,可能由于蓝藻的吸收利用引起NH_4~+-N和硝态氮(NO_3~--N)浓度迅速降低.此外,由于NH_4~+-N浓度还可能受到沉积物NH_4~+-N释放的影响,因此,蓝藻细胞密度与NO_3~--N的相关系数和显著水平均高于NH_4~+-N.夏季TN∶TP比和DIN∶TP比降至最低,表明该湖区浮游植物,尤其是蓝藻的生长可能受到氮限制.蓝藻细胞密度与DON浓度呈显著负相关,表明在氮限制条件下,DON可能是蓝藻氮素利用的重要补充.     

基于水华蓝藻固有光学特性的主要类群定量识别方法

蓝藻水华是湖泊水体富营养化的重要特征之一,不同水华蓝藻类群形成的水华特征、危害及其治理方法差异显著.因此,如何快速、准确地掌握不同蓝藻类群的时空分布特征成为实施富营养化湖泊污染治理与生态恢复、蓝藻生态灾害预测预警中一个亟待解决的科学问题.本研究基于纯藻种实验室培养和室内光学控制实验,在微囊藻(Microcystis)、鱼腥藻(Dolichospermum)、束丝藻(Aphanizomenon)3种主要水华蓝藻固有光学特性的基础上,通过甄别不同水华蓝藻的吸收、散射和后向散射光谱的特征波段,构建了基于吸收和散射特性的5种水华蓝藻类群的非线性最优化定量识别模型,其中,基于440、620和675 nm 3个波段吸收的a-CIM 440,620,675具有较为稳定的定量识别能力;并基于野外实测光学特性数据,实现了巢湖主要水华蓝藻类群的定量监测,初步分析了巢湖主要水华蓝藻类群的时空分布特性.研究表明,巢湖的水华蓝藻以鱼腥藻、微囊藻为主,束丝藻较少,鱼腥藻主要出现在温度较低的季节,微囊藻在夏季的西部湖区占优势;巢湖水华主要为微囊藻藻华和鱼腥藻藻华,且浓度较高的蓝藻主要存在于水体表面以下20 cm范围内;微囊藻和鱼腥藻在非藻华断面垂向上均匀分布.本研究可为富营养化湖泊蓝藻水华预测预警以及相关管理部门决策提供重要的理论依据和科学支撑.