Di-nitrogen fixation in a eutrophic tropical bay

Di-nitrogen fixation, measured in situ by the acetylene reduction technique, was shown to be associated with regular summer blooms of Oscillatoria erythraea in Mazatlán bay, a eutrophic tropical embayment on the Pacific Coast of Mexico. The Oscillatoria population density and the rate of di-nitrogen fixation per cell were of similar magnitude to those observed by other workers in the oligotrophic Caribbean Sea. Since the non-nitrogen limited fraction (Oscillatoria) of the total population was generally less than 10% and the nutrient supply to the bay is relatively abundant, di-nitrogen fixation does not appear to play an important role in the eutrophication of the bay.     

Seasonal variations in dissolved organic carbon concentrations and characteristics in a shallow coastal bay

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) composition and dynamics in temperate shallow coastal bays are not well described although these bays may be important as local sources of organic carbon to ocean waters and are often sites of economically-important fisheries and aquaculture. In this study surface water samples were collected on a monthly to bi-monthly basis over two years from a mid-Atlantic coastal bay (Chincoteague Bay, Virginia and Maryland, USA). Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations and light absorbance characteristics were measured on sterile-filtered water, and high-molecular weight (> 1 kDa) dissolved OM (DOM) was isolated to determine stable isotope composition and molecular-level characteristics. Our time series encompassed both a drought year (2002) and a year of above-average rainfall (2003). During the dry year, one of our sites developed a very intense bloom of the brown tide organism Aureococcus anophagefferens while during the wet year there were brown tide bloom events at both of our sampling sites. During early spring of the wet year, there were higher concentrations of > 1 kDa DOC; this fraction represented a larger proportion of overall DOC and appeared considerably more allochthonous. Based upon colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM) and high-molecular weight DOM analyses, the development of extensive phytoplankton blooms during our sampling period significantly altered the quality of the DOM. Throughout both years Chincoteague Bay had high DOC concentrations relative to values reported for the coastal ocean. This observation, in conjunction with the observed effects of phytoplankton blooms on DOM composition, indicates that Chincoteague Bay may be a significant local source of “recently-fixed” organic carbon to shelf waters. Estimating inputs of DOC from Chincoteague Bay to the Mid-Atlantic Bight suggests that shallow productive bays should be considered in studies of organic carbon on continental shelves.     

Soft-bottom macrofauna and responses to organic enrichment in the subarctic wates of Tromsø, northern Norway

The soft-bottom macrofauna (> 1 mm) of Tromsøysund and Sandnessund near Tromsø, northern Norway (69°40′N, 19°0′E) was sampled quantitatively in 1983, 1990 and 1992 in order to assess enrichment effects from discharges of municipal sewage and fish factory effluents. The studies comprised 30 stations between 7 and 40 m depth at varying distances from effluent outfalls. In total 395 species/taxa were recorded. The polychaetes were the most important group both with regard to the numbers of species (146) and specimens (80% of total), but bivalves and amphipods were also common. Most stations had species numbers between 40 and 100 and densities between 2000 and 8000 ind. per m². The species assemblages could be related to organic enrichment, depth and sampling year. Evidence suggests that the organic discharges did not seriously affect the waters surrounding Tromsø, but the generally high abundances, the prevalence of polychaetes and a numerical importance of ‘opportunistic’ species (Polydora, Chaetozone, Heteromastus) might suggest that the whole area was stimulated by the organic inputs. Sharply delimited strongly enriched zones characterized by dense populations of Capitella capitata were found on shallow sites close to large outfalls in Tromsøysund. These local and restricted effects of the discharges may be related to strong tidal currents and wave action that disperse effluent components. The faunal composition remained largely stable from 1983 to 1992 at 9 revisited stations, but the number of small bivalve and crustacean taxa increased and the abundance of the dominant polychaete Polydora socialis strongly decreased. The effluent discharges were supposed to have increased from 1983 to 1992, but the faunal changes did not provide evidence of an increased enrichment of the area during the period.     

Biomass and estimated productivity of the benthic macrofauna in the New York Bight: A stressed coastal area

Waste disposal in the apex of the New York Bight has resulted in the contamination of sediments by toxic chemicals and some alteration to the community composition of the benthic macrofauna. The significance of these alterations to other communities in the area, e.g. its fishery resources, has not been clearly demonstrated. This paper presents data on an extensive survey of the macrofauna biomass, that many fish and lobster feed on, in the waste disposal impacted areas of the apex, using samples from both 1973 and 1980–1982. Variable mean production to biomass (P:B) ratios were used to estimate secondary production from the biomass of each major taxon. The macrofaunal biomass (wet wt.) of most of the apex area impacted by waste disposal was relatively high, with a mean biomass of 127 g m^?2 for 1973 and 344 g m^?2 for 1980–1982. Estimated secondary production was also high, being 201 Kcal m^?2 year^?1 in 1973 and 383 Kcal m^?2 year^?1 in 1980–1982. These values suggest there has been no inhibition of at least biomass, as the values were similar to or greater than values found in other areas of the Bight with similar bathymetric characteristics.     

Zooplankton responses to sandbar opening in a tropical eutrophic coastal lagoon

The effects of a disturbance by sandbar opening on the zooplankton community were evaluated through a long-term study in an eutrophic and oligohaline system, Imboassica Lagoon, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Zooplankton samples and limnological data were collected monthly from March 2000 to February 2003. Before the sandbar was opened in February 2001, the lagoon showed eutrophic conditions, with high mean nutrient concentrations and low salinity (total nitrogen – TN = 190.28 μM, chlorophyll a content – Chl. a = 104.60 μg/L and salinity = 0.87′). During this period, the zooplankton species present, such as the rotifers Brachionus calyciflorus and Brachionus havanaensis, were typical of freshwater to oligohaline and eutrophic environments. After the sandbar opening, the lagoon changed to a lower trophic status and increased salinity (TN = 55.11 μM, Chl. a = 27.56 μg/L and salinity = 19.64′). As a result, the zooplankton community came to consist largely of the rotifer Brachionus plicatilis, marine copepods and meroplanktonic larvae, mainly Gastropoda. Salinity was the main force structuring the zooplankton community after the sandbar opening. Two years after this episode, the prior zooplankton community had not reestablished itself, indicating a low resilience to this disturbance. The conditions developed prior to a sandbar opening can be crucial to the community responses in the face of this disturbance and for the capacity of the original zooplankton community to re-establish itself.     

Phytoremediation by benthic microalgae (BMA) and light emitting diode (LED) in eutrophic coastal sediments

Ocean Science Journal - In this study, we examined whether phytoremediation using benthic microalgae (BMA) and a light emitting diode (LED) can remediate eutrophic sediments caused by promoting the...     

两种评价大型底栖动物堵塞滨海核电站冷源系统的风险指数

大型底栖动物是滨海湿地常见生物类群,有报道属于大型底栖动物的海地瓜(Acaudina molpadioidea)等堵塞滨海核电厂冷源系统。本研究根据2017年10月至2018年7月在大亚湾潮下带52个站位用采泥器获得的4个季节大型底栖动物数据,以及2021年3月在大亚湾潮下带4个站位底拖网获得的海地瓜数据,建立了2种评价大型底栖动物堵塞滨海核电站冷源系统的风险指数,即采泥器法风险指数(grappler method risk index,GMRI)和底拖网法风险指数(bottom trawl risk index,BTRI)。在大亚湾7种大型底栖动物中,除了冬季和春季的双鳃内卷齿蚕(Aglaophamus dibranchis),以及夏季的短吻铲荚螠(Listriolobus brevirostris)的GMRI超过50%外,毛头梨体星虫(Apionsoma trichocephala)、冠奇异稚齿虫(Paraprionospio cristata)、波纹巴非蛤(Paratapes undulatus)、海地瓜和棘刺锚参(Protankyra bidentata)等的GMRI均小于50...     

Impact of vehicles on benthic macrofauna on a subtropical sand beach

Our study aimed to identify possible relationships between the structure of the benthic macrofauna and the intense use of vehicles in Cassino Beach. Physical changes in the sediment were identified, with high compaction in the sector most affected by the vehicles, especially during the summer. The benthic macrofauna was significantly affected by vehicles, with lower densities observed in the most impacted sector, mainly in the summer, unlike the control sector, where higher densities were observed during the pre-summer and summer. We concluded that the vehicle traffic changes the physical environment of the beach and consequently affects the benthic community in the face of this disturbance. We conclude that the benthic macrofauna is highly impacted by vehicle traffic at Cassino Beach, mainly in the period with the highest traffic, and alternatives are needed for this impact, helping to recover this ecosystem.     

Structure and distribution of the benthic macrofauna on a Northwest African sandy beach close to a freshwater river discharge

The effects of the freshwater discharge of the Oued Sebou River on the macroinfauna, was studied on the sandy beach of Mehdia through the analysis of the abiotic parameters and of the macrozoobenthos. In autumn 2002 and spring 2003, three beach sites, each with two transects, localized at 50, 3500 and 5720 m from the river mouth respectively, were studied. Positive correlations were recorded for beach slope and pH whereas negative ones were obtained for organic matter content and salinity at increasing distances from the river mouth. Significant differences between beach sites and seasons occurred for median grain size, organic matter content and pH. For each beach site, mean macroinfauna abundance varied between 30 and 100 ind.·m⁻² and in spring there was a significant correlation between this parameter and the increasing distance from the river mouth. No significant correlation was instead found between species richness and the increasing distance, although the farthest beach site from the mouth had the highest number of species during both seasons. The results indicated the importance of organic matter content and salinity for the macrofaunal abundance whereas the diversity indices were more affected by beach slope and grain size. The results showed that there was no clear spatial trend in compound indices of the macrofauna across the sampled sites and the influence of the river discharge of Sebou River did not seem to be significant and consistent on the macrobenthos of this mesotidal shore. Comparison with microtidal shores revealed the influence of the tidal excursion and swell characteristics on the response of the benthic structures of sandy beaches to discharges of freshwater.     

Changes in benthic macrofaunal assemblages in relation to bottom trawling in Cuddalore and Parangipettai coastal waters, Southeast coast of India

Variations in benthic biodiversity owing to bottom trawling were studied in the inshore waters of Parangipettai (Lat.11°24′N; Long. 79°464′E) and Cuddalore (Lat. 11°434′N; Long. 79°494′E), India from February 2009 to January 2010. Four stations each in Parangipettai and Cuddalore were prepared and established. A total of 114 species in Parangipettai and 101 in Cuddalore were found. The population density showed a maximum (10,387 no. m-2) in Parangipettai in the sample collected before trawling and a minimum (40no. m^?2) in Cuddalore in the samples collected after trawling. Among the faunal groups, polychaetes topped the list followed by other groups of organisms both in the samples before and after trawling. Shannon diversity varied from 2.23 to 4.24, 1.85 to 3.45; Margalef richness from 3.2 to 5.9, 2.57 to 4.25; Pielou’s evenness varied from 0.79 to 0.94, 0.81 to 0.88 in the samples collected before and after trawling respectively in Parangipettai. In Cuddalore waters, Shannon diversity ranged from 2.15 to 3.85, 1.92 to 3.15; Margalef richness from 2.95 to 5.2, 2.24 to 3.95 and Pielou’s evenness index from 0.84 to 0.91, 0.79 to 0.82 in the samples before and after trawling respectively. Multivariate methods also showed distinct variations in terms of species composition and abundance between regions and samples.     

Phytoplankton variation and its relation to nutrients and allochthonous organic matter in a coastal lagoon on the Gulf of Mexico

In tropical and subtropical zones, coastal lagoons are surrounded by mangrove communities which are a source of high quantity organic matter that enters the aquatic system through litter fall. This organic matter decomposes, becoming a source of nutrients and other substances such as tannins, fulvic acids and humic acids that may affect the composition and productivity of phytoplankton communities. Sontecomapan is a coastal lagoon located in the southern Gulf of Mexico, which receives abundant litter fall from mangrove. To study the phytoplankton composition and its variation in this lagoon from October 2002 to October 2003, we evaluated the concentrations of dissolved folin phenol active substances (FPAS) as a measure of plant organic matter, salinity, temperature, pH, O₂, N-NH₄⁺, N-NO₃⁻, P-PO₄³⁻, Si-SiO₂, and phytoplanktonic cell density in different mangrove influence zones including the three main rivers that feed the lagoon. Nutrients concentrations depended on freshwater from rivers, however these varied seasonally. Concentrations of P-PO₄³⁻, N-NH₄⁺ and FPAS were the highest in the dry season, when maximum mangrove litter fall is reported. Variation of these nutrients seemed to depend on the internal biogeochemical processes of the lagoon. Blooms of diatoms (Skeletonema spp., Cyclotella spp. and Chaetoceros holsaticus) and dinoflagellates (Peridinium aff. quinquecorne, Prorocentrum cordatum) occurred seasonally and in the different mangrove influence zones. The high cell densities in these zones and the occurrence of certain species and its ordination along gradient of FPAS in a canonical correspondence analysis, suggest that plant organic matter (i.e. mangrove influence) may contribute to phytoplankton dynamics in Sontecomapan lagoon.     

Using benthic macrofauna to assess environmental quality of four intertidal mudflats in Hong Kong and Shenzhen Coast

Abstract-Intertidal zone is a significant wetland between land and ocean. It plays an important rolein maintaining local ecological balance. Both Mai Po and Futian intertidal mudflats are located in Shen-zhen Bay and are important "refueling" point along the East Asian/Australian flyway of migratory birds.The environmental quality of Mai Po and Futian mudflats have aroused great concern due to rapid eco-nomic developments in Hong Kong and Shenzhen in recent decades. Microinfauna of Mai Po and Futianmudflats was investigated in December 2000 and the faunal data were used to assess their environmentalquality. Two other mudflats, namely Ma Wan Typhoon Shelter (a more disturbed area) and Luk Kengintertidal mudflat (a place with relatively less human disturbance), were also sampled for macroinfaunaand used as reference mudflats. Shannon-Weaver species diversity index (I_(sd)), biotic coefficient (C_b)and macrofaunal pollution index (I_(mp)) of the macrofauna community on four intertidal mudflats wereused to     

Biodiversity and seasonal variation of benthic macrofauna in Minicoy Island, Lakshadweep, India

From the Indian coast only limited data are available on the benthic fauna of the seagrass communities. In this study, seasonal variation in the distribution of macrobenthos and influence of environmental parameters was explored at four seagrass beds and two mangrove stations along the Minicoy Island, Lakshadweep, India, from September 1999 to August 2001. A total of 160 macrobenthic species from eight major groups represented the macrofauna of the Minicoy Island. Of the identified taxa, molluscs 70（gastropods 41.46%, bivalves 7.5%）, polychaetes 27（16.88%）, crustaceans 30（18.75%）, echinoderms 11（6.88%） and remaining others. Average seasonal abundance of benthic macrofauna ranged from 219 to 711 ind./m2, species diversity varied from 1.45 to 3.64 bits per individual, species richness index ranged from 4.01 to 26.17, evenness 0.69 to 1.66. In general, the higher abundance and species diversity was noticed in southern seagrass stations and northern seagrass stations, but in the mangrove stations comparatively low species diversity was observed. Three-way analysis of variance indicated that all communities resulted as being significantly different between seagrass and mangrove station, mainly when the seasonal interaction was considered. Multivariate analyses were employed to help define benthic characteristic and the relationship between environmental parameters at the six monitoring stations. Results of cluster analyses and multidimensional scale plot suggest that for mangrove region, different physiographic provinces, lower salinity, dissolved oxygen and sediment biotic structure have a higher influence on the species composition and diversity than other oceanographic conditions.     

Factors affecting the distribution of benthic macrofauna in estuaries contaminated by urban runoff

Contaminants derived from urban runoff have been shown to accumulate in estuarine sediments, reaching concentrations potentially capable of causing biological effects. Demonstration of effects, however, is difficult due to strong natural environmental gradients and the effects of past or present point-sources of contamination. We used multivariate methods to test two hypotheses relating to the effects of urban-derived contaminants on estuarine benthic communities. First, that patterns of distribution and abundance of benthic invertebrates in two urbanised estuaries would be different from those in two non-urbanised estuaries. Second, that the distributions of benthic invertebrates within and among the four estuaries would be related to those of urban-derived contaminants. Concentrations of contaminants were larger in estuaries with urbanised catchments and concentrations of Cu, Pb, Zn and DDT in some samples exceeded those at which biological effects may be expected to appear. Tests of differences in composition of benthic communities among estuaries showed that the two urban estuaries were not significantly different, but that they differed from both rural estuaries, which also differed from each other. Distributions of benthic invertebrates were significantly related to those of environmental variables, and were ordinated along axes that correlated with both natural environmental variables (nature of the sediment, position in estuary) and contaminants. Differences in faunas between the urban and non-urban estuaries were not, however, clear-cut and nor were relationships between faunal assemblages and environmental variables (including contaminants) consistent between two times of sampling.     

Distribution of macrobenthic assemblages along a marine gradient in Mediterranean eutrophic coastal lagoons

Coastal lagoons can be characterised by strong environmental changes along the outer marine‐inner brackish gradient, which are reflected in the patterns of distribution of organisms and composition of assemblages. Close to the sea the assemblages are dominated by marine animals, while in the innermost confined areas, there would be estuarine taxa and organisms typical of organically‐enriched areas. During the last decades, human impact has been severe in these habitats and has often profoundly altered the distribution of animals and plants along the gradient. In this study we have analysed the distribution of macrofauna along the outer marine‐inner brackish gradient in five Italian lagoons, affected by severe human disturbance on the Adriatic, Tyrrhenian and Sardinian coasts. We aimed to measure changes in the composition of assemblages according to the distance from the sea, consistent among lagoons and time, after the occurrence of eutrophication, repeated distrophic crisis and other human interventions. We considered existing data from campaigns done during 1994, 1995 and 1999. We arranged different datasets according to the available data, in order to measure the spatial distribution of macrofauna genera with distance from the sea and through time. Analyses showed differences among assemblages related to the gradient. Nevertheless, the species characterizing the assemblages were all typical of organically‐enriched areas, which testified to an impoverishment of diversity and functioning of all these systems.     

拟建宁海电厂附近潮间带底栖生物群落生态

2002年12月对拟建宁海电厂附近海域3条潮间带断面的底栖生物生态进行了调查,共鉴定出潮间带大型底栖生物71种,平均生物量为1753.92g/m2,平均栖息密度为839个/m2。生物多样性指数和K-优势曲线都显示了位于拟建电厂选址区内的潮间带底栖生物群落已经受到了扰动。     

印尼混合海草床大型底栖生物丰度和多样性生态研究

海草床是海岸带最富生产力的生态系统之一,支撑着各种各样的伴生生物。热带的印度和太平洋地区被认为拥有海草植物种类多样性最高,且分布面积最广,然而,这个区域的海草床大型底栖生物我们知之甚少。为了填补认知的空白,我们在该区域开展了一项生态调查,旨在描述该区热带海草床大型底栖生物的丰度和多样性,以及确定大型底栖生物丰度、物种丰富度和群落结构是否明显存在断面内的站间变化和样地间变化。2014年5月和2015年10月我们分别在北苏拉威西省东海岸和西海岸开展野外工作,使用柱状取样器采集海草床大型底栖生物样品。所得样品共计鉴定14大类149种底栖生物,种类最为丰富的类别为多毛类（56种,占26%的总个体数）,十足类（20种,占9%的总个体数）和端足类（18种,占35%的总个体数）。东、西海岸海草床大型底栖生物表现出不同的空间分布模式。在东海岸,同一断面的大型底栖生物和端足类的丰度存在显著的站间差异;而在西海岸,大型底栖生物和多毛类的种类丰富度和丰度都表现出明显的站间变化,这可能归结于同一断面底质不均所造成。单因素ANOSIM以及MDS排序表明了北苏拉威西省东海岸和西海岸海草床大型底栖生物群落结构存在显著不同,正好对应于将海草床分成两大类型的栖息地,即西海岸的红树林-海草床-珊瑚连续体和东海岸的海草床-珊瑚连续体。与在热带海区开展的其他研究相比,本研究的大型底栖生物丰度和多样性处于中等水平。东、西海岸海草床大型底栖生物群落存在显著区别,其原因可能源于多方面,包括了沉积物模式,海草床结构和时间变化。     

天津近岸浮游植物群落对海洋酸化和硝酸盐加富的响应

为了评估海洋酸化和富营养化耦合作用对近海浮游生态环境的影响,本研究以天津市近岸海域浮游植物群落的生物地球化学指标为研究对象,分别采用一次性及连续培养的方式模拟自然水华及稳态条件,探究其对二氧化碳(CO₂)和硝酸盐浓度变化及二者耦合作用的响应。实验条件设置如下:1)对照:二氧化碳分压p(CO₂)40.53 Pa、无硝酸盐添加;2)酸化:p(CO₂)101.3 Pa、无硝酸盐添加;3)加N:p(CO₂)40.53 Pa、添加硝酸盐50 μmol·L^–1;4)酸化加N:p(CO₂)101.3 Pa、添加硝酸盐50 μmol·L^–1。实验结果表明,硝酸盐加富比酸化更加显著地促进浮游植物群落总叶绿素(Chl a)生物量及颗粒有机碳(POC)和颗粒有机氮(PON)积累,酸化和加N使浮游植物群落粒径大小升高。连续培养实验表明,酸化和N加富对Chl a、生物硅(BSi)、PON浓度、PON与颗粒有机磷(POP)比值(N/P)、POC与BSi比值(C/BSi)及沉降速率有协同交互作用,对POP和POC浓度及POC与PON比值(C/N)有拮抗性交互作用。在一次性培养后,酸化显著降低了浮游植物群落的沉降速率;而在连续培养后,酸化和N加富使浮游植物群落沉降速率显著升高。这些结果表明酸化和N加富对与近岸浮游植物相关的生物地球化学循环及在不同生长阶段的种群碳沉降存在不同的潜在影响及交互效应。     

Distribution of heterotrophic nanoflagellates and their importance as the bacterial consumer in a eutrophic coastal seawater

Seasonal and vertical changes in abundances of bacteria and heterotrophic nanoflagellates (HNF), and HNF grazing on bacteria were investigated in a small eutrophic inlet of Uranouchi-Wan throughout the years. Bacterial densities in the surface water ranged from 1.2 to 11 (average 4.3)×10⁶ cells ml^–1 with a couple of maxima following the algal blooming. Densities of HNF ranged from 0.54 to 73 (average 16.4)×10³ cells ml^–1 in the surface, and showed almost similar fluctuation pattern to that of bacteria with a time lag of about 1 to 2 weeks. Grazing rates of HNF on bacteria obtained by FLB method were 4.78 to 16.9 (average 10.3±SD 4.8) cells HNF^–1h^–1 in the surface layer in summer, and consequent total bacterial consumption rates by HNF fluctuated from 4 to 99×10⁴ cells ml^–1h^–1. In deeper layers, however, as HNF densities and grazing rates on bacteria were low, the grazing pressure of HNF on bacteria was small. Turnover times of bacteria by HNF grazing in the surface layer were calculated as relatively constant values of 40 to 60 h, however, it decreased to as low as 6 to 7 h when the HNF activity was highest. These results indicate that bacteria grew so actively by consuming organic matter in seawater as to compensate high HNF grazing pressure, and that bacteria and HNF in the microbial loop play important roles on the turnover of substrates in coastal ecosystems.