Single particle analysis of oceanic suspended matter during the SEEDS II iron fertilization experiment

Suspended particles collected from surface seawater during the SEEDS II (Subarctic Iron Experiment for Ecosystem and Dynamics Study II) experiment were analyzed individually using an electron probe X-ray micro analyzer and characterized by size and elemental composition. Their numbers, relative abundances, and relative particle volume all showed clear differences between samples collected inside vs. outside the phytoplankton bloom that developed following the addition of iron. Throughout the study, Si-rich, Ca-rich and Organic particles were dominant and their number increased inside the fertilized patch; these particles accounted for 21%, 13% and 58% of the particles examined, respectively. Si-rich or Ca-rich particles commonly consisted of fragments of diatom frustules and coccolithophorids. There was consistently greater percentage of Ca-rich particles and lower percentage of Si-rich particles inside the patch than outside of it in number, but both types of these particles apparently occupied a larger volume inside the patch than outside of it. Organic particles, that showed having peaks in smaller diameter particles, increased apparently inside the patch with time after iron fertilization. The Organic particles had a more diverse mixture of both bio-related and crustal trace elements than the other types of particles. These results suggest that the increase in suspended particles following the iron enrichment was due to a combination of detrital material and live phytoplankton.     

Properties of coarse particles in suspended particulate matter of the North Yellow Sea during summer

Fine particles in seawater commonly form large porous aggregates. Aggregate density and settling velocity determine the behavior of this suspended particulate matter(SPM) within the water column.However, few studies of aggregate particles over a continental shelf have been undertaken. In our case study, properties of aggregate particles, including size and composition, over the continental shelf of the North Yellow Sea were investigated. During a scienti?c cruise in July 2016, in situ ef fective particle size distributions of SPM at 10 stations were measured, while temperature and turbidity measurements and samples of water were obtained from surface, middle, and bottom layers. Dispersed and inorganic particle size distributions were determined in the laboratory. The in situ SPM was divided into(1) small particles(<32 μm),(2) medium particles(32–256 μm) and(3) large particles(>256 μm). Large particles and medium particles dominated the total volume concentrations(VCs) of in situ SPM. After dispersion, the VCs of medium particles decreased to low values(<0.1 μL/L). The VCs of large particles in the surface and middle layers also decreased markedly, although they had higher peak values(0.1–1 μL/L). This suggests that almost all in situ medium particles and some large particles were aggregated, while other large particles were single particles. Correlation analysis showed that primary particles <32 μm in?uenced the formation of these aggregates. Microscopic examination revealed that these aggregates consisted of both organic and inorganic ?ne particles, while large particles were mucus-bound organic aggregates or individual plankton.The vertical distribution of coarser particles was clearly related to water strati?cation. Generally, medium aggregate particles were dominant in SPM of the bottom layer. A thermocline blocked resuspension of?ne material into upper layers, yielding low VCs of medium-sized aggregate particles in the surface layer.Abundant large biogenic particles were present in both surface and middle layers.     

Sublittoral meiofauna with particular reference to nematodes in the southern Yellow Sea, China

Densities of major meiofaunal taxa were investigated at 34 sampling stations during six cruises by R/V Beidou to the southern Yellow Sea, China from 2000 to 2004, and the community structure of free-living marine nematodes was studied during one of the cruises in 2003. Meiofauna abundance ranged from 487.4 to 1655.3 individuals per 10 cm². Nematodes and harpacticoid copepods were the two most dominant groups, contributing 73.8–92.8% and 3.5–18.7%, respectively, to the total meiofauna abundance. One-way ANOVA showed no significant annual fluctuation of meiofauna and nematode abundances from 2000 to 2004 in the southern Yellow Sea. However, two-way ANOVA based on six stations sampled in 4 years (2001–2004) showed that there were significant differences among the six stations and the 4 sampling years for meiofauna, nematode and copepod abundance. Correlation analysis demonstrated that meiofauna abundance was mainly linked to chloroplastic pigments. Other environmental factors could not be ruled out, however. A total of 232 free-living marine nematode species, belonging to 149 genera, 35 families and 4 orders, were identified. The dominant species in the sampling area were the following: Dorylaimopsis rabalaisi, Microlaimus sp.1, Prochromadorella sp., Promonohystera sp., Cobbia sp.1, Daptonema sp.1, Leptolaimus sp.1, Halalaimus sp.2, Aegialoalaimus sp., Chromadorita sp., Parodontophora marina, Parasphaerolaimus paradoxus, Quadricoma sp.1, Campylaimus sp.1, Halalaimus gracilis, Paramesacanthion sp.1, Paramonohystera sp.1, and Metalinhomoeus longiseta. CLUSTER and SIMPROF analyses revealed three main types of nematode community (or station groups) in the sampling area, including I: coastal community, II: transitory community between coastal and YSCWM (Yellow Sea Cold Water Mass), and III: YSCWM community. Each community was indicated by a number of dominant nematode species. Bio-Env correlation analysis between the nematode community and environmental variables showed that water depth, sediment water content, organic matter, chlorophyll a (Chl-a) and phaeophorbide a (Pha-a) were the most important factors to determine the community structure.     

Variability of suspended organic matter in the northwestern Black Sea

The peculiarities in the distribution pattern of the concentration of suspended organic matter (SOM) components were studied for the long-term period of 1979–1995. We have analyzed their seasonal, annual, and interannual variability in the surface water layer and in the photosynthetic water layer in the northwestern Black Sea. Four areas pertaining to different concentrations of SOM components were defined according to the effect of riverine discharge and of open sea water masses, i.e. western, northern, central, and eastern areas. We have found an increase in the concentrations of SOM components in the summer-autumn period in the late 1980s and early 1990s, with the highest values observed in 1992. The concentration of suspended organic carbon was estimated for the concentration of Chlorophyll a in the surface water layer. These calculations are based on the regression relationship between simultaneous measurements of these two parameters in situ. It was found that the seasonal interannual variability in the concentrations of SOM components was affected by the volume of riverine discharge, its run to the sea, and climatic shifts.     

The distribution of suspended particles in the Southern Beaufort Sea

The Mackenzie River estuary serves as an avenue for suspended particles to pass seaward. The horizontal distribution of surface suspended particles is compartible with the distribution of low-salinity surface waters. The water structure in the shelf area is highly stratified in summer due to a thin upper layer of low-salinity which has a high concentration of suspended particles. The concentration of suspended particles decreases with depth, but near the bottom a turbid layer had often been observed. It is likely that bottom current energy high enough to erode and maintain in suspension the bottom sediments below 15m in diameter does occur over this shelf area.     

Mineral composition of the suspended particulate matter in the White Sea

The mineral composition of the suspended particulate matter (SPM) was studied for the White Sea area. The comparative analysis of the composition of the marine SMP and the SPM of the rivers of the White Sea catchment area was performed, including the Severnaya Dvina River, one of the major sources of the terrigenous suspended matter to the sea. The research of such kind is faced with numerous methodological difficulties, which slows down the study process. Data on the mineral composition of the SPM are scarce. Applying the method of X-ray powder diffractometry, we assessed the bulk mineral composition of the SPM with special regard to its clay fraction.     

南黄海悬浮体浓度的平面分布特征及其输运规律

重点分析和探讨了南黄海悬浮体浓度的平面分布及其水平输运,结果显示悬浮体浓度具有显著的空间区域化分布特征,其与该海域环流场的布局和季节转换存在良好的对应关系,南黄海环流是该海域悬浮体运移的主要动力和控制因素;江苏近岸海域在一年四季均为悬浮体浓度的最高值区,其悬浮体主要来源于潮流和海浪所引起的沉积物再悬浮以及苏北沿岸水的携带和输送,而且夏季悬浮体在该海域的累积还可为冬半年在黄海西部沿岸流作用下将其输运至东南海域提供很好的物源保证;长江口东北部海域在春、夏、秋三季出现东北向扩展的高值区,体现了长江冲淡水的影响;石岛外海在冬、春、秋三季也存在悬浮体浓度高值区,并具有向南黄海中部泥质区扩展的态势,这是鲁北沿岸流将现代黄河物质输运至此的结果。发现调查海域中部表底层在春秋季均存在云团状高值区,而且该海域悬浮体浓度自春季至秋季出现"双峰现象",这与春秋季水华期间浮游植物繁殖所产生的有机碎屑有关,并使作为悬浮体组成的海洋浮游生物有机质向沉积物转移,据此进一步指出这一物源可能对南黄海冷涡泥质区的形成、发育也具有一定的作用,该观点深化了对南黄海中部冷涡泥质区受上层生物活动影响以及泥质区物源的认识。     

白令海北部悬浮体含量分布及其颗粒组分特征

对中国第四次北极科学考察期间在白令海北部获取的海水样品进行悬浮体含量及其颗粒组分特征的分析。结果表明,白令海陆架海区悬浮体含量大体呈现出表层浓度低而底层浓度高的特点。表层海水悬浮体含量在白令海峡西侧和陆架东侧靠近阿拉斯加沿岸含量较高,而底层海水中悬浮体含量则在白令海峡西侧,以及白令海陆架西南部的圣马修岛西北侧较高。陆架流系对底床物质的再悬浮作用致使白令海悬浮颗粒物浓度的高值区多位于近底层海水中。受白令陆坡流沿陆架坡折带输运作用,研究区西南部悬浮体浓度较高。白令海陆架水以及阿纳德尔流携带悬浮颗粒向北输运,使得底层悬浮体浓度呈现出自南向北逐渐减弱的模式。圣劳仑斯岛以北靠近楚科奇半岛一侧海域,受高营养盐的阿纳德尔流的影响,悬浮颗粒物以藻类为主;东侧阿拉斯加沿岸流区悬浮颗粒则以陆源的碎屑矿物为主。     

Relationship between the suspended particulate matter and microorganisms in the White Sea waters

During the summer periods of 2003–2005, the spatial and vertical distributions of the suspended particulate matter and bacteria in stratified and homogeneous waters of the White Sea was studied. The results of the study of various quantitative characteristics of the suspended particulate matter (first of all, the area of the surface and the volumetric and mass concentrations) and the abundance of microorganisms in the water are discussed. A direct correlation between the value of the surface area of the suspended particulate matter and the total number of bacteria in the water is revealed. However, it was manifested only during the early summer period of the observations and was not expressed at the end of the summer. The enhanced surface area of the suspended particulate matter can indicate the higher biochemical activity of its particles. The influence of the pelitic fraction on the bacteria abundance in different parts of the sea during the summer is estimated.     

粤西及琼东北海区悬浮体浓度及海水浊度特征分析

通过对粤西及海南岛东北部海区现场调查,取得了大量悬浮体浓度及海水浊度数据,分析后发现调查海区悬浮体浓度值普遍较低,绝大部分海域为清洁海域。对悬浮体浓度及海水浊度平面图及断面图分析后发现,春夏季粤西悬浮物主要来源于珠江口及琼州海峡,且两处悬浮物在电白外海存在明显的分界,琼东北海域悬浮物主要来自于海南岛及外海。近岸及底层悬浮体浓度及海水浊度具有较好的相关性,浊度能够很好地反映悬砂含量,但是不能反映生物活动及分布状况,如琼东上升流区的生物活动较剧烈,虽然其悬浮物浓度值偏高,但其浊度值并没有明显升高。     

Seasonal variation in the transport of suspended matter in the East China Sea

Seasonal variation in the transport of suspended matter across the East China Sea is investigated with the use of results of field observations and diagnostic numerical experiments. Suspended matter is transported from the shelf edge to the inner shelf in summer and from the inner shelf to the shelf edge in autumn and winter due to the vertical circulation mainly induced by the monsoon wind. The maximum transport of suspended matter from the inner shelf to the shelf edge occurs in autumn.     

Vertical distribution of suspended particulate matter in the Caspian Sea in early summer

The features of the vertical distribution of chlorophyll a, particulate organic carbon and its isotopic composition, total suspended particulate matter (SPM), and the structure of the phytoplankton community in the Middle and South Caspian Sea in May–June 2012 are discussed. The subsurface chlorophyll a maximum (SCM) was found everywhere at depths of ~20 to 40–60 m. The position of this layer is confined to the depth of the seasonal thermocline, which is determined by the development of a cold-water (dark) phytocenosis. The genesis of this layer was studied. The increase in chlorophyll a concentration in this layer is caused by an abundance of phytoplankton or an increased concentration of this phytopigments per algal cell. The highest values of the studied organic compounds and phytoplankton biomass are revealed as close to the seasonal thermocline extending from the southern periphery of the Derbent Depression to the Apsheron Sill, which is determined by the bottom topography. The presence of chlorophyll a at depths exceeding 300 m (up to ≥1 mg/m³) was revealed. This was supported by findings of individual algal cells containing chlorophyll a and even their accumulations in the deep water layer. The most probable mechanisms responsible for the presence of these cells at the deep water level are discussed in the paper. The vertical distribution of the values of the organic carbon isotopic composition is primarily controlled by the vertical structure of phytoplankton and chlorophyll a in the water column up to ~500 m and by biogeochemical processes at the redox barrier (~600 m layer). The relative stability of chlorophyll a and the stability of pheophytin a in anaerobic environments were verified. A significant amount of weakly transformed chlorophyll a was found close the sea bottom.     

嵊泗海域大气总悬浮颗粒物的特征

以嵊泗海域为研究区域,研究了该区域大气总悬浮颗粒物(TSP)含量及TSP中重金属含量随季节变化的特征,通过对TSP中各重金属元素的相关系数、富集因子以及气象要素的分析来判断重金属的来源.结果表明:冬季该海域TSP含量最大,为夏季的4倍之多,季节变化很显著;冬季该海域TSP中重金属(Cu、Pb、Cd)含量最高,秋、春季次之,夏季最低.冬季Cu、Pb和Cd含量分别为夏季的17、27和27倍.TSP含量和TSP中的Cu、Pb、Cd含量的相关性不强,或基本不相关;但Cu、Pb、Cd含量之间的相关系数却很大,其中Pb与Cd含量的相关系数达到了0.95,说明它们的关系密切,可能来自同一个源.富集因子由大到小对应的3种重金属依次为Cd、Pb和Cu.从富集因子年平均值来看,Cu、Pb、Cd都被富集;冬季3种重金属都被严重富集,夏季3种重金属都没有被富集.冬季,嵊泗群岛盛行西北风且风速很大,非常有利于把上海及其周边城市的污染物输送到嵊泗海域,造成冬季该海域的TSP中重金属含量严重富集;春季,嵊泗群岛盛行的风向开始转变为东南风,风从海洋吹向大陆,所以春季该海域TSP中重金属含量急剧减少;夏季,嵊泗群岛的风向转变为东风,风还是从海洋吹向大陆,加之夏季是1年中降雨量最多的季节,加速了TSP中重金属的沉降速度,致使夏季该海域TSP中3种重金属含量都达到了最低值;秋季,嵊泗群岛的风向又转变为西北风,有利于陆源污染物的传输,虽然风速小于冬季,但依然造成重金属含量的严重富集.可以推断,嵊泗海域的TSP中重金属主要来源于上海及其周边城市的陆源污染物.     

夏季黄海、东海鞭毛虫的丰度与悬浮颗粒物的关系

对2001年8月黄海中部和南部以及东海北部海洋鞭毛虫的丰度及其与悬浮颗粒物的数量关系进行了研究,发现调查区域内的鞭毛虫丰度为44~12 600个/cm3,它们在悬浮颗粒中所占的比例可达60%以上.悬浮颗粒物的粒径谱可以分为平缓型、驼峰型、浮游生物型和混合型.鞭毛虫丰度的变化与悬浮颗粒物的数量分布具有相似的变化趋势,整体上来说,两者数量的相关性显著,而不同的粒径谱类型中,两者的关系有不同的特点.对两者的数量关系进行了初步的探讨,并为今后海域生态调查中鞭毛虫丰度的快速估计提供一条新的途径.     

Electron microprobe analysis of suspended matter in the Angola Basin

Electron microprobe analysis of suspended-matter samples collected at different water depths at ten stations in the Angola Basin indicated that at each station, from top to bottom, the elementary composition of the suspended matter was very similar and differed from the composition of the suspended matter at the adjacent stations. This indicates that the downward settling of the suspended matter is much faster than the horizontal transport and mixing by the currents. Assuming that the suspended matter settles in the form of flocs, or is scavenged by settling flocs, the suspended matter can indeed reach the bottom in a shorter period than needed for the currents to cover the distance between adjacent stations. Comparison with sediment trap data from the literature shows that also lateral transports and/or deep water gyres have to be invoked to further increase residence times of suspended matter in the water column.     

2013年夏秋季黄、渤海悬浮颗粒物及粒径分布特征研究

悬浮颗粒物及粒径是水质重要参数,其分布特征研究有助于加深对海洋生态环境的了解。利用2013年6月和2013年11月LISST-100观测数据,研究了黄、渤海区域悬浮物粒径和浓度的分布情况,浓度分布整体上呈现近岸高远岸低的状况,粒径分布呈现近岸细远岸粗的特征,季节分布特征明显;通过典型断面分析,悬浮物粒径和浓度随着水深变化明显,连续站数据分析结果表明大风对底层颗粒物的再悬浮作用显著,潮流对悬浮物的时空分布有着重要影响;水体衰减系数随着体积浓度变化明显;此外,还研究了悬浮颗粒物粒径Junge分布在黄、渤海区域的适用性。     

Geochemistry of suspended matter from the Baltic Sea 2. Results of bulk trace metal analysis by AAS

In 1984, on a transect covering the whole Baltic Sea and parts of the adjacent North Sea, 160 water samples were taken and analysed for their concentrations of particulate and dissolved metals. In addition, the suspended materials were investigated for their elemental bulk composition.The particulate fractions represented from about 5% (Cd, Cu and Ni) to 50% (Fe and Pb) of the total (particulate plus dissolved) concentrations. For some elements (Ba, Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn), the particulate matter from the surface microlayer was enriched with respect to those suspended materials taken from 0.2 m depth. This could reflect the atmospheric input of metal-rich aerosols. In anoxic deep waters, maximum contents of Zn (6400 μg g⁻¹), Cu (1330 μg g⁻¹) and Cd (12 μg g⁻¹) were observed in the particulate matter, indicating sulphidic forms. On the other hand, under oxic conditions the distribution coefficients (K_d) decreased with the water depth (Cd, Fe and Pb).Relative to global background levels, the particulate matter contained metal “excesses” amounting to more than 90% of the total contents (Cd, Mn, Pb and Zn). Automated electron probe X-ray microanalysis (EPXMA) revealed that the elemental composition of sediments is mainly governed by post-depositional processes of early diagenesis and is only weakly related to the composition of suspended matter in the overlying water body. For instance, in relation to surface mud sediments of the central Baltic net-sedimentation basins, Zn, Cd, Cu and Mn had 30–100% higher levels in the suspended materials. The general pattern of metal contents of particulate matter taken from 10 m depth on a transect between the Bothnian Bay and the North Sea were—possibly as a result of anthropogenic inputs—rather similar for Pb, Zn and Cu. For Fe and Mn, the distribution patterns along the transect were probably governed by the natural loading characteristics and by the biogeochemistry of those elements.     

Transformation of suspended particulate matter into sediment in the Kara Sea in September of 2011

The biogeochemical processes participating in the transformation of the particulate matter into sediment along the Yenisei River-St. Anna Trough (Kara Sea) meridional profile were studied using hydrochemical, geochemical, microbiological, radioisotope, and isotope methods. The water-sediment contact zone consists of three subzones: the suprabottom water, the fluffy layer, and the surface sediment. The total number, biomass, and integral activity of the microorganisms (dark ¹⁴CO₂ assimilation) in the fluffy layer are usually higher than in the suprabottom water and sediment. The fluffy layer shows a decrease in the oxygen content and the growth of the dissolved biogenic elements. It was provided by the particulate organic matter supporting the vital activity of the heterotrophs from the overlying water column and by the flux of reduced compounds (NH₄, H₂S, CH₄, Fe²⁺, Mn²⁺, and others) from the underlying sediments. The C_org isotopic composition of the fluffy layer and the sediments is 2–4 ‰ heavier than that of the particulate matter and sediment due to the presence of the isotopically heavy biomass of microorganisms. A change in the isotopic composition of the C_org in the fluffy layer and surface sediment as compared to the C_org of the particulate matter is a widespread phenomenon in the Arctic shelf seas and proves the leading role of microorganisms in the transformation of the particulate matter into sediment.