Temporal dynamics of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) produced in a microcosm with red tide forming algae <Emphasis Type="Italic">Chattonella marina</Emphasis> and its associated bacteria

Acute and severe hypoxia associated with harmful algal bloom has become one of the major causes for the environmental deterioration of coastal areas. Although it is generally thought that a large part of the dissolved oxygen consumption at a bloom site is initiated by heterotrophic bacteria that attack organic matter derived from dead or dying algal cells, precise microbial processes leading to the hypoxia are yet to be examined. Here we show temporal dynamics of extracellular dissolved organic carbon (DOC) of the red tide forming raphidophyte Chattonella marina and bacterial populations associating with the algae under laboratory conditions. During the growth of non-axenic strains of C. marina, we monitored abundance of algae, associated bacteria, and DOC in the culture media. Bacterial cell abundance increased in response to the increase in DOC both at the beginning and the late log phase of the algal growth. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that transient increase in the percentage of respiratory-active bacterial cells also coincided with the timing of the increase in bacterial abundance and DOC. These results strongly suggest that DOC released from growing C. marina fuels respiration and growth of planktonic bacteria surrounding the algae. This has implications for the role of DOC released from C. marina bloom before the collapse in mediating interactions between neighboring algae and bacterial assemblage which may eventually lead to algal bloom-associated hypoxia.     

Characterization of dissolved organic matter fluorescence in the South Atlantic Bight with use of PARAFAC model: Relationships between fluorescence and its components,absorption coefficients and organic carbon concentrations

In this study, the CDOM absorption coefficient at 350 nm [a_CDOM(350)] and CDOM excitation emission matrix (EEM) fluorescence were used to estimate annual fluxes of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) from the Cape Fear River to Long Bay in the South Atlantic Bight. Water samples were collected during a 3.5 year period, from October 2001 through March 2005, in the vicinity of the Cape Fear River (CFR) outlet and adjacent Onslow Bay (OB). Parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC) of CDOM EEM spectra identified six components: three terrestrial humic-like, one marine humic-like and two protein-like. Empirical relationships were derived from the PARAFAC model between DOC concentration and a_CDOM(350), total fluorescence intensity and the intensities of respective EEM components. DOC concentration and CDOM optical parameters were very well correlated and R² values ranged from 0.77 to 0.90. Regression analyses revealed that the non-absorbing DOC fraction, in DOC concentration estimated from CDOM optical parameters, varied with the qualitative composition of the CDOM. DOC concentration and intensity of the humic-like CDOM components characterized by excitation maxima at longer wavelengths have significantly higher estimated non-absorbing DOC compared to the analogous relationships between DOC and intensity of the humic-like CDOM components characterized by excitation maxima at shorter wavelengths. The relationships between DOC concentration and intensity of one of the protein-like components resulted in significantly reduced non-absorbing DOC fraction in DOC concentration estimation. Results of regression analyses between fluorescence intensities of specific EEM components and CDOM-specific absorption coefficients suggest that the relative proportion of humic-like CDOM components (characterized by excitation maximum at longer wavelengths) and the main protein-like component have the most impact on the values of a?_CDOM(350). Based on the relationships between a_CDOM(350), Cape Fear River flow, and DOC concentrations, DOC fluxes were estimated for 2002, 2003 and 2004. DOC fluxes varied from 1.5 to 6.2 × 10¹⁰ g C yr^? 1, depending on river flow.     

2011年夏季胶州湾表层溶解有机物荧光特征的时空变化

利用三维荧光光谱技术(EEMs)结合平行因子分析(PARAFAC)的方法,对2011年8月至9月胶州湾表层海水溶解有机物荧光特征的时间与空间变化进行了研究。PARAFAC模型共鉴别出四个荧光组分:类蛋白质荧光组分(C1),陆源类腐殖质荧光组分(C2,C4)和海源类腐殖质荧光组分(C3)。类蛋白组分在调查期间的荧光强度最强(0.14±0.06),其余三个组分荧光强度相近(0.07±0.02,0.09±0.02,0.05±0.02)。这四种组分在8月下旬多雨期和9月上旬受径流影响的时期荧光强度较高,在9月下旬雨季影响消退后荧光强度显著降低。研究表明各组分荧光强度总体上与叶绿素a浓度显著正相关,与盐度负相关,说明胶州湾夏季FDOM浓度主要受降雨引发的生物活动影响。     

莱州湾荧光溶解有机物的时空分布

利用三维荧光光谱-平行因子分析法(EEMs-PARAFAC)技术结合多元统计方法研究了莱州湾海域春季(2020年5月)和秋季(2020年10月)荧光溶解有机物(FDOM)的来源及时空分布特征。结果显示莱州湾海域FDOM由2类共4个荧光组分组成:C1、C4为类蛋白质组分,分别为色氨酸和酪氨酸; C2、C3为类腐殖质组分。并对各组分的来源及分布特征分析:春季FDOM分布主要受到陆源输入的影响,其中表层C1、C2、C3也受微生物活动影响。秋季表层C1、C2、C3分布受到陆源输入和浮游植物生产共同影响,秋季表层C4主要受生物现场生产影响,秋季底层C1、C2、C3主要受陆源输入影响,C4受陆源输入和浮游植物生产共同影响。各荧光组分在表层的季节性差异主要是由于春季部分FDOM经陆源输入后受偏南风作用,在莱州湾西部及南部海域扩散。FDOM在底层的季节性差异主要由于受到沉积物再悬浮的影响。HIX高值分布表明莱州湾西部和南部FDOM受陆源输入影响显著,BIX高值分布表明莱州湾远海FDOM受生物活动影响程度较高。总体上,陆源输入影响莱州湾FDOM分布的主要因素。     

浒苔绿潮暴发期间海水溶解有机碳的生物可利用性及其碳汇作用

自2007年以来,浒苔绿潮已经连续15年在南黄海暴发。浒苔(Ulva prolifera)作为主要肇事藻种,在暴发过程中向海水释放大量的溶解有机碳(DOC)。然而,这些藻源DOC能否长期保存在海洋中,主要取决于它们的生物可利用性,目前关于此方面的研究甚少。本研究在浒苔绿潮大规模暴发时期(2019年6月),分别在浒苔暴发海区和无浒苔海区各选择3个站位富集表层海水,在实验室进行长期(300 d)的DOC降解实验。结果发现,在60 d内,不同站位富集海水中的DOC浓度随着微生物的利用快速下降,微生物丰度也在第60天达到峰值,表明这些被消耗的DOC是生物可利用性高的活性DOC(LDOC)。60 d后,剩余的DOC可抵抗微生物的降解,在60～300 d内保持稳定,表明这些DOC是具有强稳定性的惰性DOC(RDOC)。最终发现,浒苔暴发海水的RDOC占富集DOC的46%,明显高于无浒苔海水的(36%)。并且,荧光溶解有机物(FDOM)中活性的类蛋白组分随着微生物的利用被快速消耗,惰性的类腐殖质组分逐渐积累,暗示了在降解过程中LDOC逐渐向RDOC转化。可见,浒苔绿潮暴发除了在短时间内增加海水中的D...     

Contrasting complexing capacity of dissolved organic matter produced during the onset,development and decay of a simulated bloom of the marine diatom Skeletonema costatum

The capacity of natural dissolved organic matter (DOM) produced during the onset, development and decay of a simulated bloom of the marine diatom Skeletonema costatum to complex free copper has been followed for a 2 week period. Copper binding capacity of the culture was measured by anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV) with a hanging mercury drop electrode (HMDE). The concentration of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and two fluorophores, M (humic-like, Ex/Em: 320 nm/410 nm) and T (protein-like, Ex/Em: 280 nm/350 nm), were followed during the course of the incubation. Models using DOC concentrations alone could not accurately predict the complexing capacity of the culture, especially at the end of the bloom, and better predictions were obtained when fluorescence measurements were considered. They were helpful in characterising two types of copper ligands produced in the culture. The first type, traced by the fluorescence of peak T, was related to labile DOC directly exuded by phytoplankton. The second type, traced by the fluorescence of peak M, was the refractory humic-like material presumably produced in situ as a by-product of the bacterial degradation of phytogenic materials. During the onset and development of the bloom (days 0 to 7), the fluorescence of peak T explains 60–80% of the total complexing capacity of the culture, suggesting that exuded “protein-like” compounds among other exuded complexing agents efficiently complexed free copper. On the contrary, during the decay (days 8 to 13), these ligands were replaced by humic substances as the complexing agent for copper.     

北极孔斯峡湾表层沉积物中溶解有机质的来源与转化历史

在北极地区孔斯峡湾采集28个表层沉积物样品,测定了其中水溶性有机质(也称溶解有机质,DOM)的分子量分布、紫外/可见吸收光谱和三维荧光光谱特征,并利用平行因子分析(PARAFAC)模型对DOM的荧光组分和来源进行了解析。结果表明:孔斯峡湾表层沉积物中有色溶解有机质(CDOM)及其中的荧光溶解有机质(FDOM)含量均从内湾向外湾方向呈逐渐累积的趋势,但CDOM中的FDOM所占比例逐渐减小,与DOM趋于老龄化密切相关。沉积作用减弱以及长期的光化学降解和微生物降解作用对此起主要贡献,并导致腐殖质和小分子组分在沉积物DOM中所占的比例呈逐渐递增的趋势。沉积物DOM包含陆源类腐殖质、自生源类腐殖质和类蛋白等三个荧光组分,但是其组成比例空间差异很大。吸收光谱斜率比(S_R)随自生源所占百分比增加而减小,随DOM腐殖质组分中陆源与自生源的比值增加而增加;腐殖化指数(HIX)随类腐殖质与类蛋白质比值和水深的增加而增加,生物源指数(BIX)随自生源比例增加而增加。峡湾沉积物DOM的组成和来源存在着高度的空间差异,在冰川湾区由水体颗粒有机质(POM)的近期转化和迁移而来,而在峡湾中央及口门附近以较老的腐殖质为优势,主要源于水体DOM长期迁移和转化。研究表明,FDOM/CDOM,S_R,HIX和BIX等构成的CDOM光谱指纹信息可以作为揭露沉积物溶解有机质来源及迁移转化历史的工具,对探索海洋与冰川相互作用影响下的峡湾环境演变有着重要意义。     

西太平洋冬季上层水体有色溶解有机物的分布和转化特征

为深入解析西太平洋溶解有机碳的生物地球化学过程,本研究于2015年12月至2016年1月,开展了西太平洋上层水体有色溶解有机物（CDOM）吸收光谱和荧光光谱特征研究。研究结果表明,西太平洋上层水体CDOM吸收系数a（320）变化范围为0.01~1.07 m-1,平均值为0.18 m-1;其较高值位于100~200 m水层,表层的海水相对含量较低,主要以有机物的光化学分解为主。采用PARAFAC分析CDOM三维荧光光谱特征,得到1种类腐殖质组分C2（252（310 nm）/405 nm）及2种类蛋白组分C1（224（276 nm）/335 nm）和C3（224（260 nm）/300 nm）,其中类腐殖质荧光组分占总荧光强度的11%~22%,蛋白质荧光组分占总荧光强度的78%~89%,蛋白质荧光中类色氨酸和类络氨酸组分对荧光强度的贡献相当。洋流在大尺度上控制西太平洋CDOM的分布特征,两流交界处和环流形成区域的CDOM相对含量较高,荧光信号较强。西太上层水体CDOM相对含量和荧光信息,与温度、盐度、DO和营养盐等理化因素之间的相关分析结果表明,CDOM主要成分类蛋白质的产生主要受上层水体初级生产过程控制。     

Vertical and horizontal distribution of fluorescent dissolved organic matter in the Southern Ocean

The vertical and horizontal distribution of fluorescent dissolved organic matter (FDOM), determined by fluorescence intensity at 320 nm excitation and 420 nm emission, were clarified in nine stations on two transects at the Southern Ocean, including a subtropical, subantarctic, polar frontal and Antarctic zone. All vertical profiles of fluorescence intensity showed that levels were lowest in the surface waters, increased with increasing the depth in mid-depth waters ( 2000 m), and then stayed within a relatively narrow range from there to the bottom. Such vertical profiles of FDOM were similar to those of nutrients, but were adverse to dissolved oxygen. In water columns below the temperature-minimum subsurface water (dichothermal waters) in the Antarctic zone and below the winter mixed layer in the other zones, we determined the relationships of fluorescence intensity to concentrations of nutrients and apparent oxygen utilization (AOU) over the entire area of the present study, and found significant linear correlations between the levels of fluorescence intensity and nutrient concentrations (r =  0.70 and 0.71 for phosphate and nitrate + nitrite, respectively) and AOU (r = 0.91). From the strong correlation coefficient between fluorescence intensity and AOU, we concluded that FDOM in the Southern Ocean is formed in situ via the biological oxidation of organic matter. The regeneration of the nutrients/consumption of the oxygen/formation of FDOM was active in mid-depth waters. However, the correlations between fluorescence intensities and nutrients and AOU were different in the mid-depth water masses, Subantarctic Mode Water (SAMW), and Antarctic Intermediate Water (AAIW), indicating that the sources of organic matter responsible for FDOM formation were different. A considerable amount of FDOM in the SAMW is thought to be produced by the remineralization of DOM in addition to sinking particulate organic matter, while DOM is less responsible for FDOM formation in the AAIW.     

Production of chromophoric dissolved organic matter fluorescence in marine and estuarine environments: an investigation into the role of phytoplankton

We tested whether phytoplankton are a direct source of chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) fluorescence in a series of experiments. In the first experiment, sonication of 11 dense algal cultures from several algal classes revealed no immediate release of CDOM fluorescence. In a second experiment, using nutrient addition bioassays from a range of sites in the mid-Atlantic region, we found no increase in CDOM fluorescence when nutrient limitation was alleviated despite large increases in chlorophyll a over 3–5 days. In a third experiment, the change in CDOM fluorescence over a 28-day period in five non-axenic algal batch cultures was measured. There was little or no increase in CDOM fluorescence until the cultures entered the stationary phase, whereupon an exponential increase in CDOM fluorescence was observed. In a fourth set of experiments, the production of CDOM fluorescence was examined in a series of cultures of Skeletonema costatum and Prorocentrum minimum. In the dark, in the absence of autotrophic growth, we observed slow rates of CDOM fluorescence production (0.02–0.05 NFlU day⁻¹). Rates were much higher in parallel lighted cultures (0.1–0.2 NFlU day⁻¹) but were more related to bacterial counts than to algal biomass. In a third phase of this experiment, when illuminated, stationary phase cultures were filtered through 1-μm pore size filters and incubated in the dark, CDOM fluorescence production continued unchanged. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that phytoplankton are not a direct source of CDOM fluorescence in marine and estuarine environments and that CDOM fluorescence is produced by bacteria using non-fluorescent organic matter derived from phytoplankton.     

Glucose fluxes and concentrations of dissolved combined neutral sugars (polysaccharides) in the Ross Sea and Polar Front Zone, Antarctica

We hypothesized that dissolved carbohydrates would be large components of the labile dissolved organic carbon (DOC) pool and would support much bacterial growth in Antarctic waters, especially the Ross Sea, since previous work had observed extensive phytoplankton blooms with potentially high production rates of carbohydrates in Antarctic seas. These hypotheses were tested on cruises in the Ross Sea and Antarctic Polar Front Zone as part of the US JGOFS program. Concentrations and fluxes of free glucose (the only free sugar detected) were very low, but dissolved polysaccharides appeared to be important components of the DOC pool. Concentrations of dissolved combined neutral sugars increased >3-fold during the phytoplankton bloom in the Ross Sea and were a large fraction (ca. 50%) of the semi-labile fraction of DOC. The relatively high concentrations of dissolved combined neutral sugars, which are thought to be quite labile, appear to explain why DOC accumulated during the phytoplankton bloom was degraded so quickly once the bloom ended. Some of the polysaccharides appeared to be more refractory, however, since dissolved combined neutral sugars were observed in deep waters (>550 m) and in early spring (October) in the Ross Sea, apparently having survived degradation for >8 months. The molecular composition of these refractory polysaccharides differed from that of polysaccharides sampled during the phytoplankton bloom. Fluxes of DOC were low in the Ross Sea compared to standing stocks and fluxes of particulate material, but the DOC that did accumulate during the phytoplankton bloom appeared to be sugar-rich and relatively labile.     

Tracing of dissolved organic matter from the Sepetiba Bay (Brazil) by PARAFAC analysis of total luminescence matrices

Fluorescent excitation-emission matrices (FEEM) of the fluorescent dissolved organic matter (FDOM) are widely used for DOM characterization and tracing. In this work, a set of FEEM from sampling campaigns in the Sepetiba Bay (Brazil) was decomposed into independent components using the parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC) algorithm. Four independent components were extracted describing the total fluorescence of the FDOM. The well described peaks A, C, M, B and T were found, and a new peak, A', linked to the C peak, was detected. Relative contribution of each of four components to the total fluorescence confirms that the coastal water has DOM of terrestrial origin, except for the 275Ex/400-500Em range (nm), which primarily occurs in marine waters.     

Growth and succession patterns of major phylogenetic groups of marine bacteria during a mesocosm diatom bloom

Our objective was to track microbial processes associated with serial degradation of organic matter derived from algal blooms. To do this, we analyzed population fluctuations and growth responses of major phylogenetic groups of free-living marine bacteria. We used bromodeoxyuridine immunocytochemistry–fluorescence in situ hybridization methodology to examine marine bacterial community development during and after a diatom bloom in a mesocosm. We revealed that the Roseobacter/Rhodobacter, SAR11, Alteromonas, and Bacteroidetes groups were clearly major phylotypes responsible for most free-living bacterial biomass and production throughout the experiment. The clearest bacterial response was a proliferation of the Alteromonas group (cells with large volumes) during development of the bloom (up to 30?% of actively growing cells). Populations of these bacteria declined sharply thereafter, likely due to grazing. Alteromonas group responses suggest that these bacteria strongly influenced the flux of organic matter at an early bloom stage. The growth potential of Bacteroidetes was relatively large as the bloom peaked; this early development probably contributed to the initial stage of bloom decomposition. In contrast, the contribution of Roseobacter/Rhodobacter to total bacterial production increased at a late stage of decomposing of the bloom. The contributions of Betaproteobacteria, SAR11, and SAR86 groups to total bacterial abundance and production were relatively minor throughout the experiment. These results imply that the ability to utilize organic matter derived from diatoms varies among bacterial phylotypes, and, frequently, less abundant but ecological specialist taxa such as Alteromonas may play major roles in the flux of organic matter during diatom blooms.     

Seasonal variations of dissolved organic matter and nutrients in sediment pore water in the inner part of Tokyo Bay

At four stations in Tokyo Bay, pore water profiles of dissolved organic carbon (DOC), nitrogen (DON), phosphorus (DOP), and inorganic nutrients were determined at 3-month intervals over 6 years. Concentrations of dissolved organic matter (DOM) and nutrients were significantly higher in pore waters than in the overlying waters. Pore water DOC, DON, and DOP concentrations in the upper most sediment layer (0–1 cm) ranged from 246 to 888 μM, from 14.6 to 75.9 μM, and from 0.02 to 9.83 μM, respectively. Concentrations of DOM and nutrients in pore waters occasionally showed clear seasonal trends and were highest in the summer and lowest in the winter. The seasonal trends in the pore water DOM concentrations were coupled with trends in the overlying water temperature and dissolved oxygen concentration. Benthic effluxes of DON and DOP were low compared with those of inorganic nutrients, accounting for only 1.0 and 1.5 % of the total benthic effluxes of nitrogen and phosphorus, respectively; thus benthic DOM fluxes were quantitatively insignificant to the inorganic nutrient fluxes in Tokyo Bay. The DOM fluxes represented about 7, 3, and 10 % of the riverine discharge of DOC, DON, and DOP to Tokyo Bay, respectively.     

Characterization of chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) in the Baltic Sea by excitation emission matrix fluorescence spectroscopy

Chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) is the major light absorber in the Baltic Sea. In this study, excitation emission matrix (EEM) fluorescence spectra and UV–visible absorption spectra of CDOM are reported as a function of salinity. Samples from different locations and over different seasons were collected during four cruises in 2002 and 2003 in the Baltic Sea in both Pomeranian Bay and the Gulf of Gdansk. Absorption by CDOM decreased with increased distance from the riverine source and reached a relatively stable absorption background in the open sea. Regression analysis showed that fluorescence intensity was linearly related to absorption by CDOM at 375 nm and a_CDOM(375) absorption coefficients were inversely related to salinity. Analysis of CDOM-EEM spectra indicated that a change in composition of CDOM occurred along the salinity gradient in the Baltic Sea. Analysis of percent contribution of respective fluorophore groups to the total intensity of EEM spectra indicated that the fluorescence peaks associated with terrestrial humic components of the CDOM and total integrated fluorescence decreased with decreasing CDOM absorption. In contrast, the protein-like fraction of CDOM decreased to a lesser degree than the others. Analysis of the percent contribution of fluorescence peak intensities to the total fluorescence along the salinity gradient showed that the contribution of protein-like fluorophores increased from 2.6% to 5.1% in the high-salinity region of the transect. Fluorescence and absorption changes observed in the Baltic Sea were similar to those observed in similar transects that have been sampled elsewhere, e.g. in European estuaries, Gulf of Mexico, Mid-Atlantic Bight and the Cape Fear River plume in the South Atlantic Bight, although the changes in the Baltic Sea occurred over a much smaller salinity gradient.     

Impact of diatom growth on trace metal dynamics (Mn,Mo, V,U)

In order to examine the specific role of diatoms in cycling of the trace metals manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo), vanadium (V), and uranium (U) Thalassiosira rotula, Skeletonema marinoi, Chaetoceros decipiens, and Rhizosolenia setigera were grown in batch cultures axenically and inoculated with three different bacterial strains isolated from the North Sea. Algal and bacterial growth, concentrations of trace metals and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) were monitored over time and showed that Mn and V were removed from the dissolved phase whereas Mo and U were not. R. setigera and T. rotula exhibited lowest growth and lowest removal whereas S. marinoi grew best and removed highest fractions of Mn and V. The high potential of Mn removal by S. marinoi was also evident from its 7 × higher Mn/P elemental ratio relative to T. rotula. The presence of bacteria modified the timing of the growth of S. marinoi but not directly trace metal removal whereas bacteria enhanced trace metal removal in the cultures of T. rotula and C. decipiens. Modeling of phytoplankton growth, concentrations of Mn and DOC fraction in axenic T. rotula cultures indicated that processes of binding and desorption of Mn to excreted organic components are important to explain the varying proportions of dissolved Mn and thus must be considered as an active component in Mn cycling. The results show distinct differences in the potential of the diatoms in the removal of Mn and V and that bacteria can play an active role in this context. S. marinoi presumably is an important player in Mn and V dynamics in coastal marine systems.     

Fluorescence characteristics of dissolved organic matter in the deep waters of the Okhotsk Sea and the northwestern North Pacific Ocean

Fluorescent dissolved organic matter (DOM), a fraction of chromophoric DOM, is known to be produced in the deep ocean and is considered to be bio-refractory. However, the factors controlling fluorescence properties of DOM in the deep ocean are still not well understood. In this study, we determined the fluorescence properties of DOM in the deep waters of the Okhotsk Sea and the northwestern North Pacific Ocean using excitation-emission matrix (EEM) fluorescence and parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC). One protein-like, two humic-like components, and one uncertain component, which might be derived from a fluorometer artifact, were identified by EEM-PARAFAC. Fluorescence intensity levels of the protein-like component were highest in the surface waters, decreased with depth, but did not change systematically in the bathypelagic layer (1000 m - bottom). Fluorescence characteristics of the two humic-like components were similar to those traditionally defined as marine and terrestrial humic-like fluorophores. The fluorescence intensity levels of the two humic-like components were lowest in the surface waters, increased with depth in the mesopelagic layer (200 - 1000 m), and then slightly decreased with depth in the bathypelagic layer. The ratio of the two humic-like components remained in a relatively narrow range in the bathypelagic layer compared to that in the surface layer, suggesting a similar composition of humic-like fluorophores in the bathypelagic layer. In addition, the fluorescence intensities of the two humic-like components were linearly correlated to apparent oxygen utilization (AOU) in the bathypelagic layer, suggesting that both humic-like components are produced in situ as organic matter is oxidized biologically. These findings imply that optical characteristics of humic-like fluorophores once formed might not be altered further biologically or geochemically in the deep ocean. On the other hand, relationships of fluorescence intensities with AOU and Fe(III) solubility were different between the two humic-like components in the mesopelagic layer, suggesting different environmental dynamics and biogeochemical roles for the two humic-like components.     

Release of dissolved organic matter during oxic and anoxic decomposition of salt marsh cordgrass

Chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM), as the light absorbing fraction of bulk dissolved organic matter (DOM), plays a number of important roles in the global and local biogeochemical cycling of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and in controlling the optical properties of estuarine and coastal waters. Intertidal areas such as salt marshes can contribute significant amounts of the CDOM that is exported to the ocean, but the processes controlling this CDOM source are not well understood. In this study, we investigate the production of DOM and CDOM from the decomposition of two salt marsh cordgrasses, Spartina patens, a C₄ grass, and Typha latifolia, a C₃ grass, in well-controlled laboratory experiments. During the seven-week incubation period of the salt marsh grasses in oxic and anoxic seawater, changes in dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations, dissolved nitrogen (DN) concentrations, stable carbon isotopic composition of DOC (DOC-δ¹³C), and CDOM fluorescence demonstrate a significant contribution of DOC and CDOM to estuarine waters from salt marsh plants, such as Spartina and Typha species. In the natural environment, however, the release processes of CDOM from different cordgrass species could be controlled largely by the in situ oxic and anoxic conditions present during degradation which affects both the production and decomposition of DOC and CDOM, as well as the optical properties of CDOM in estuarine and coastal waters.     

Attempting Consistent Simulations of Stn. ALOHA with a Multi-Element Ecosystem Model

We used a one dimensional, multi-element model to simulate the primary production (PP), recycling and export of organic matter at Stn. ALOHA, near Hawaii. We compared versions of the model with and without the cycling of dissolved organic matter (DOM) via the Microbial Food Web (MFW). We incorporated recently published measurements of high C:N ratios for uptake by diazotrophs. For other phytoplankton we included a formulation for overflow production of dissolved organic carbon (DOC), which occurs under nutrient-limited, light-replete conditions. We were able to match the observed mean DOC profile near the surface with both models, by tuning only the fraction of overflow DOC that is labile. The simulated bulk C:N remineralization ratio from the MFW model agreed well with a data-based estimate for the North Pacific subtropical gyre, but that from the Base model was too low. This is because the MFW model includes bacteria, with their low-C:N biomass. Simulated mean PP was lower than observed by 10% (Base) and 27% (MFW). This is consistent with the expectation that the ¹⁴C-method measures something greater than net production. DOC accounted for approximately half of simulated PP, most of this being overflow DOC. We find that overflow production and the MFW are key processes for reconciling the various data and PP measurements at this oligotrophic site. The impact of bacteria on the C:N remineralization ratio is an important link between ecosystem structure and the cycling of carbon.     

Biological organic carbon export estimated from the annual carbon budget observed in the surface waters of the western subarctic and subtropical North Pacific Ocean from 2004 to 2013

The annual flux of biologically produced organic carbon from surface waters is equivalent to annual net community production (NCP) at a steady state and equals the export of particulate and dissolved organic carbon (POC and DOC, respectively) to the ocean interior. NCP was estimated from carbon budgets of salinity-normalized dissolved inorganic carbon (nDIC) inventories at two time-series stations in the western subarctic (K2) and subtropical (S1) North Pacific Ocean. By using quasi-monthly biogeochemical observations from 2004 to 2013, monthly mean nDIC inventories were integrated from the surface to the annual maximum mixed layer depth and corrected for changes due to net air–sea CO₂ exchange, net CaCO₃ production, vertical diffusion from the upper thermocline, and horizontal advection. The annual organic carbon flux at K2 (1.49 ± 0.42 mol m^?2 year^?1) was lower than S1 (2.81 ± 0.53 mol m^?2 year^?1) (p < 0.001 based on t test). These fluxes consist of three components: vertically exported POC fluxes (K2: 1.43 mol m^?2 year^?1; S1: 2.49 mol m^?2 year^?1), vertical diffusive DOC fluxes (K2: 0.03 mol m^?2 year^?1; S1: 0.25 mol m^?2 year^?1), and suspended POC fluxes (K2: 0.03 mol m^?2 year^?1; S1: 0.07 mol m^?2 year^?1). The estimated POC export flux at K2 was comparable to the sum of the POC flux observed with drifting sediment traps and active carbon flux exported by migrating zooplankton. The export fluxes at both stations were higher than those reported at other time-series sites (ALOHA, the Bermuda Atlantic Time-series Study, and Ocean Station Papa).