A daily study of the diatom spring bloom at Roscoff (France) in 1985. I. The spring bloom within the annual cycle

The repeated occurrence of a monospecific bloom of the plankton diatom Rhizosolenia delicatula at Roscoff (western English Channel) was made the subject of an interdisciplinary research programme. Samples were taken at daily intervals from April to July and at longer intervals during the remaining part of the year 1985. Routine physical parameters, light transmission, nutrients, dissolved oxygen, particle load, particulate N and P, chlorophyll content, phytoplankton counting, and zooplankton biomass were measured as a basis for more specific studies (to follow as subsequent papers in this series).The area is characterized by: high tidal range, permanent mixing throughout the year, low attenuation coefficients, moderate nutrient supply, and the dominance of benthic algae over phytoplankton. The spring bloom is significantly delayed with respect to the usual model for the temperate seas. Tidal cycles are expected to exert the main influence on bloom dynamics at the time scale of phytoplankton growth.     

Blooms of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Trichodesmium erythraeum</Emphasis> in the South Eastern Arabian Sea during the onset of 2009 summer monsoon

This study presents in situ evidence for the blooms of Trichodesmium erythraeum observed in the shelf waters of the South Eastern Arabian Sea (SEAS) during the onset of the southwest monsoon in June 2009. Evidence showed that water surface discoloration was caused by the accumulation of T. erythraeum, and that the water column contained a colony of T. thiebautii. The surface water color in the bloom region varied from pale brown to pinkish red. Pale brown indicated healthy algae at the peak of its photosynthetic activity, while pinkish red indicated the presence of photosynthetically less active filaments. Zooplankton abundance, especially copepodites, in the bloom area substantiated the theory that Trichodesmium filaments are excellent epiphytes to which the copepodites cling. The bloom area was very fertile with copious quantities of dissolved oxygen (6.85 ml L^?1), PO₄-P (0.108 μmol L^?1) and SiO₄ (1.29 μmol L^?1). Lower NO₃-N (0.028 μmol L^?1) values in the bloom area did not appear to affect Trichodesmium growth from molecular nitrogen fixation. However, lower NO₃-N values altered the normal phytoplankton composition of this area.     

Eau colorée à Lingulodinium polyedrum (Stein) Dodge,dans une zone aquacole du littoral du Doukkala (Atlantique marocain)

A red tide of Lingulodinium polyedrum occured along the moroccan atlantic coast in july 1999. Observed in the beginning of the month in the Kenitra area, it spreads with the coastal drift as far as the south of safi, passing on its way upon a sanitary monitored area. This area which is submitted to an all year round bimonthly monitoring analysis of phytoplankton, contains significant natural beds of oysters, clams and mussels, as well as shellfish farms in Oualidia and Sidi Moussa lagoons. However, during this period of bloom, there was weekly monitoring of hydrologic and climatic data associated with phytoplankton analysis to identifiy the causes of this bloom.This bloom occured in 17–18°C surface waters, temperatures which are favourable to dinoflagellate encystment and development. The observation of two to three colored strips parallel to the coast suggests phytoplankton aggregation generated by internal waves created by moderate winds blowing constantly in the same direction and at constant speed at the time of the bloom. A change of climatic conditions might also be the cause of the dispersal of the phenomenon. We remark that this exceptional bloom has never reached the coastal shellfish sites, nor the monitored lagoons. The maximum Lingulodinium concentration observed was 79.10³ cell l^–1 at Sidi Moussa lagoon and minimum concentrations ranged from 1,6.10³ cell l^–1 to 18.10³ cell l^–1 at coastal stations. The diarrheic toxicity found in the shellfish (mussels, oysters) cannot be imputed to L. polyedrum but to associated species such as Dinophysis acuminata and D. acuta which were present, though in low density in these waters.However, taking into account the controversy on the L. polyedrum toxicity and its frequent involvement in red tides, it is necessary to include it among the potentially harmful species that should be monitored along Moroccan coasts.     

Population dynamics of phytoplankton, heterotrophic bacteria, and viruses during the spring bloom in the western subarctic Pacific

We characterized the community composition of phytoplankton in the western subarctic Pacific from the pre-bloom to the decline phase of the spring bloom with special reference to decreases in the silicic acid concentration in surface waters as an index for diatom bloom development. Furthermore, responses of heterotrophic bacteria and viruses to the spring bloom were also concomitantly investigated. Under pre-bloom conditions when nutrients were abundant but the surface mixed layer depth was relatively deep, chlorophyll (Chl) a concentrations were consistently low and green algae (chlorophytes and prasinophytes), cryptophytes, and diatoms were predominant in the phytoplankton assemblages as estimated by algal pigment signatures. Together with the shallowing of the mixed layer depth and the decrease in silicic acid concentration, diatoms bloomed remarkably in the Oyashio region, though the magnitude of the bloom in the Kuroshio-Oyashio transition (hereafter Transition) region was relatively small. A total of 77 diatom species were identified, with the bloom-forming diatoms mainly consisting of Thalassiosira, Chaetoceros, and Fragilariopsis species. It has become evident that the carotenoid fucoxanthin can serve as a strong indicator of the diatom carbon biomass during the spring diatom bloom. Differences in the species richness of diatoms among stations generally enabled us to separate the Oyashio bloom stations from the Transition and the Oyashio pre-bloom stations. Relatively high values of the Shannon-Wiener index for the diatom species were also maintained during the Oyashio bloom, indicating that a wide variety of species then shared dominance. In the decline phase of the Oyashio bloom when surface nutrient concentrations decreased, senescent diatom cells increased, as inferred from the levels of chlorophyllide a. Although the cell density of heterotrophic bacteria changed little with the development of the diatom bloom, viral abundance increased toward the end of the bloom, suggesting an increased likelihood of mortality among organisms including diatoms resulting from viral infection. This is the first report on the microbial trophodynamics, including viruses, during the spring diatom bloom in the western subarctic Pacific.     

Flushing rate and salinity may control the blooms of the toxic dinoflagellate Alexandrium tamarense in a river/estuary in Osaka Bay, Japan

The first observation of a red tide of the toxic dinoflagellate Alexandrium tamarense in the Yodo River estuary, Osaka Bay, Japan was in the spring of 2007. To clarify which environmental factors controlled the abundance of A. tamarense, field surveys were conducted in 2008 and 2009. In 2008, the increase of A. tamarense occurred from early to mid-March and temperatures ranged from 9 to 13 °C. In contrast, in 2009, the increase was 1 month later, from early to mid-April and therefore temperatures were higher. In both years, A. tamarense was most abundant when salinities were relatively high (15–25), river discharge was low, and the water column was stable. There were no cells during periods of low salinity (<10), high discharge. In 2008, possibly silicate and phosphate were limiting during the simultaneous diatom and A. tamarense bloom in early March with silicate restricting the further growth of diatoms. In this estuarine basin, freshwater discharge from the weir increased the flow rate at stations downstream of the weir and deterred bloom formation by A. tamarense. Conversely, the lack of discharge increased the salinity and stability of the water column and decreased in the flow rate in the river/estuary. This process promoted the initiation of the bloom of A. tamarense and the subsequent accumulation of paralytic shellfish toxin in the brackish water clam Corbicula japonica. It is recommended that a constant discharge from the weir is maintained in order to prevent blooms of A. tamarense and subsequent paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) incidents in this area.     

Wax and wane of Chattonella (Raphidophyceae) bloom with special reference to competition between Skeletonema (Bacillariophyceae) in the Ariake Sea, Japan

The raphidophyte Chattonella and the bacillariophyte Skeletonema are representative bloom-causing organisms in the Ariake Sea, Japan. Changes in their abundance were monitored to clarify the role of river discharge in the red tides caused by these organisms in the innermost area of the sea. In late June 2010, heavy rain occurred and subsequently river discharge increased. A Chattonella bloom occurred after heavy rain on July 5, although Chattonella abundance was very low (<1?cell?ml^?1) before the heavy rain (June 29). Maximum cell density reached 4.2?×?10³?cells?ml^?1 at the surface. Thus, the bloom developed as the river plume extended in the estuary. During the course of extension of the river plume, the Chattonella population rapidly developed using the nutrients supplied by the river. Just after the Chattonella bloom, heavy rain occurred again and a very large quantity of river water flowed into the estuary. Consequently, the salinity of the surface decreased to 5 in the study area on July 16. Chattonella did not migrate to the surface probably because of the overlying low-salinity water; Chattonella formed a thin layer (20–50?cm in thickness) at the depth where salinity was 10. However, a Skeletonema population developed at the surface. On July 20, Skeletonema density at the surface exceeded 10⁵?cells?ml^?1. With the decline of the Skeletonema abundance due to the nutrient limitation, Chattonella again formed bloom probably using deep-nutrient pool by their vertical migration behavior. The present study clearly demonstrates that the Chattonella can form dense bloom after the heavy rain. The seed population awaiting the river discharge is probably essential to the rapid development of Chattonella in the estuary.     

A Massive Coccolithophorid Bloom Observed in Mikawa Bay, Japan

In April 1996, a massive algal bloom of the coccolithophorid Gephyrocapsa oceanica developed in both Chita Bay and Atsumi Bay which comprise the bay known as Mikawa Bay of Japan. It was the first record of such a bloom in this area. In Chita Bay, the bloom persisted until the middle of May, however in Atsumi Bay, it remained until early June. From the analysis of salinity, water temperature, and current velocity and direction data, it is considered that the following mechanism accounts for the occurrence and maintenance of the bloom: Before the bloom, the standing crop of phytoplankton was poor, resulting in relatively rich nutrients throughout the bay. Thereafter, with the influx of oceanic water into Mikawa Bay, high salinity occurred firstly in Chita Bay. Under these hydrographic conditions, the bloom occurred first in Chita Bay, and extended throughout the bay with the clockwise circulation of water into Atsumi Bay. In Chita Bay, the bloom was influenced by rainfall and G. oceanica flowed out from this area. Whereas, in Atsumi Bay, the bloom persisted for longer due to the clockwise circulation and another influx of oceanic water.     

Description of the oceanographic condition off Sanriku, northwestern Pacific, and its relation to spring bloom detected by the Ocean Color and Temperature Scanner (OCTS) images

We describe the oceanographic condition as observed by hydrographic data and phytoplankton spring bloom detected by OCTS images off Sanriku, northwestern Pacific, during the spring bloom period in 1997. The relationship between the two is discussed. OCTS images detected the bloom in early April in the coastal area around the Izu ridge north of the Kuroshio and the eastern coastal area of Hokkaido to the Oyashio front. The bloom areas were seen along the offshore Kuroshio Extension from the end of April, in the upstream region of the Oyashio south of the Kurile Islands, except for a part of coastal area from the end of May, and in the Kuroshio warm-core ring 93A (KWCR 93A) from early June. The temperature difference between the surface and subsurface layer is used as a stratification index. This was large in the upstream region of the Oyashio south of the Kurile Islands and KWCR 93A from early June. Previous research has pointed out that the spring bloom usually corresponds to the development of stratification in the water column due to seasonal warming. In addition to that, we suggest that the transportation of water containing a high chlorophylla concentration by advection due to strong currents, like the Kuroshio and the Oyashio, is important for the formation of an area of high chlorophylla concentration. These results indicate that the OCTS images are useful for a knowledge of the distribution and the change of chlorophylla concentration in the northwestern Pacific region.     

The influence of lateral mixing on a phytoplankton bloom: Distribution in the Kerguelen Plateau region

A unique phytoplankton bloom appears every year during the austral spring/summer in the northern Kerguelen Plateau region. The Kerguelen Ocean and Plateau compared Study (KEOPS) showed that an increase in subsurface iron coming up from the seafloor through vertical mixing was responsible for the observed increase in chlorophyll-a above the plateau. We demonstrate that the bloom pattern is not a simple increase of biomass over shallow water: it is strongly influenced by the bathymetry and its spatial extent controlled by strong currents around the plateau. Here we focus on lateral mixing process to explain the particular shape of the bloom. We use the Smagorinsky [1963. General circulation experiments with the primitive equations. I. The basic experiment. Monthly Weather Review 91 (3), 99–164] formula to estimate and map fields of lateral mixing time scales (τ) due to barotropic tidal currents, barotropic atmospheric forced currents, Ekman velocities and geostrophic velocities. Results show that short time scale mixing is strongly influenced by the tides while the other processes have minor influences. Comparisons of τ and satellite chlorophyll-a images show that the spatial pattern of the bloom seems to be delimited by a barrier of high lateral mixing that is essentially due to tides. This emphasises the role played by the tides over the Kerguelen Plateau in supplying iron to the phytoplankton and containing the horizontal shape of the bloom. This is one of the first times such a link has been demonstrated, which has implications for the study of iron advection in the ocean.     

Effect of meteorological conditions on interannual variability in timing and magnitude of the spring bloom in the Irminger Basin,North Atlantic

Interannual variability in the spring bloom in the Irminger Basin, northern North Atlantic, is investigated using SeaWiFS-derived chlorophyll-a (chl-a) concentration and satellite or model-derived meteorological data. Variability in the timing and magnitude of the spring bloom in the basin is evaluated. A method for estimating a time series of Sverdrup's critical depth from satellite-derived data is introduced. Comparison with modelled mixed layer depth and chlorophyll concentration demonstrates that Sverdrup's critical depth model is valid for the Irminger Basin spring bloom. The dependence of the timing and magnitude of the spring bloom on winter pre-conditioning is investigated. We find that in the Irminger Basin the start of the spring bloom can be estimated from the preceding winter's mean wind speed and net heat flux. We also find that the maximum chl-a concentration during the bloom can be estimated from the frequency of winter storms. Increased storm activity results in a reduced bloom chlorophyll maximum by delaying the development of spring stratification, resulting in the bloom missing the ‘window of opportunity’ for optimum phytoplankton growth.     

Springtime coupling between chlorophyll a, sea ice and sea surface temperature in Disko Bay, West Greenland

Alterations in sea ice and primary production are expected to have cascading influences on the food web in high Arctic marine ecosystems. This study spanned four years and examined the spring phytoplankton production bloom in Disko Bay, West Greenland (69°N, 53°W) (using chlorophyll a concentrations as a proxy) under contrasting sea ice conditions in 2001 and 2003 (heavy sea ice) and 2002 and 2004 (light sea ice). Satellite-based observations of chlorophyll a, sea ice and sea surface temperature were used together with in situ depth profiles of chlorophyll a fluorescence collected at 24 sampling stations along the south coast of Disko Island (5-30 km offshore) in May 2003 and 2004. Chlorophyll a and sea surface temperatures were also obtained from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS: EOS-Terra and AQUA satellites) between March 2001 and July 2004. Daily SMMR/SSMI sea ice data were obtained in the same years. An empirical regional algorithm was developed to calibrate ratios of remotely sensed measurements of water leaving radiance with in situ chlorophyll a fluorescence. The optimal integration depth was 0-4 m, explaining between 70% and 91% of the variance. The spatial development of the phytoplankton bloom showed that the southwestern corner of the study area had the earliest and the largest spring phytoplankton bloom. The eastern part of Disko Bay, influenced by meltwater outflow from the glaciers, shows no signs of an early phytoplankton bloom and followed the general pattern of an accelerated bloom soon after the disappearance of sea ice. In all four years the coupling between phytoplankton and sea ice was bounded by average open water between 50% and 80%, likely due to the combined availability of light and stable open water. The daily incremental growth in both mean chlorophyll a density (chlorophyll a per volume water, μg l⁻¹) and abundance (density of chlorophyll a extrapolated to ice free areas, tons) estimated by linear regression (chlorophyll a vs. day) between 1 April and 15 May was highest in 2002 and 2004 (light ice years) and lowest in 2001 and 2003 (heavy ice years). In years with late sea ice retreat the chlorophyll a attained only slightly lower densities than in years with early sea ice retreat. However, the abundance of chlorophyll a in light ice years was considerably larger than in heavy ice years, and there was an obvious effect of more open water for light-induced stimulation of primary production. This observation demonstrates the importance of estimating chlorophyll a abundance rather than density in sea ice covered areas. This study also presents the first regional calibration of MODIS chlorophyll a data for Arctic waters.     

Seasonal and interannual variability of sea surface chlorophyll a concentration in the Japan/East Sea (JES)

Seasonal and interannual variability of chlorophyll a concentration in the Japan/East Sea (JES) was detected spatially by ocean color satellite remote sensing. Start timing of the spring bloom was different spatially. The spring bloom started at the subpolar front and southward of it in March, northward of subpolar front, along the Primorye coast and off Hokkaido in April and in the middle of the Japan Basin in May. The start of the spring bloom showed interannual variability that corresponded with the wind speed in the area. The spring bloom in 1998 and 2002 appeared about four weeks earlier than in 1997, 1999 and 2001, and it corresponded with weak winds that can lead to an early development of the thermocline. The bloom was late in 1999 and 2001 in the Japan Basin and along the Primorye coast, and in the southern area in 2000. It corresponded with stronger wind stress that delayed seasonal thermocline formation. The bloom along the Primorye coast appeared later in 1999, and it corresponded with stronger wind stress, and at the same time, it seemed to be related with the delay of melting of sea ice in Mamiya Strait. The fall bloom appeared from early October to early December, and it did not have a clear temporal transition. The area where chlorophyll a concentration exceeded 0.8 μg l⁻¹ was wider in the western area than in the eastern area every year. The magnitude of the fall bloom was different between years, but it did not show a correlation with average wind speed in fall. Those results indicated that the timing of the seasonal bloom in the JES is largely affected by the variability of global climate such as ENSO events.     

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.     

Decreases in turbidity during neap tides initiate late winter blooms of Eucampia zodiacus in a macrotidal embayment

Eucampia zodiacus Ehrenberg is harmful, as it causes reduction in the quality of the aquacultured Porphyra thalli owing to nutrient depletions during dense blooms in the late winter in the macrotidal Ariake Sea, Japan. To understand the mechanism of bloom development, changes in the abundance of E. zodiacus during a bloom were investigated along vessel transects from February to April 2012. In addition, marine environmental variables were continuously monitored by the Ariake Sea Monitoring Tower, which revealed that turbidity periodically decreased during neap tides. During the 16 February neap tide, a high Secchi depth (4.3 m) was recorded at offshore stations and the Z _1% depth, at which the light intensity attenuates to 1 % of that at the sea surface, exceeded the water depth. On 16 February, the abundance of E. zodiacus was 52–732 cells mL^?1, peaking at 7.0 m depth offshore. Subsequently, abundance increased at all stations. During the 22 February spring tide, abundance became vertically uniform. On 19 March, abundance at the tower reached 3758 cells mL^?1 at the surface. We conclude that an improvement in light conditions in the deeper layer triggered the bloom, although the size and the duration of the bloom were determined by nutrient availability. Thus, decreases in turbidity during neap tides and subsequent strong vertical mixing during spring tides may be instrumental in the population dynamics of the large diatom E. zodiacus in macrotidal environments.     

Grazing impact of the copepod community in the Oyashio region of the western subarctic Pacific Ocean

The role of copepod grazing on the ecosystem dynamics in the Oyashio region, western subarctic Pacific was investigated during six cruises from June 2001 to June 2002. In situ grazing rates of the copepod community (CGR) were measured by the gut fluorescence method in respect to developmental stages of dominant species. In terms of biomass, more than 80% of the copepod community was dominated by six large calanoid species (Neocalanus cristatus, Neocalanus flemingeri, Neocalanus plumchrus, Eucalanus bungii, Metridia pacifica and Metridia okhotensis) throughout the year. Resulting from the observed pattern of the interzonal migrating copepods, the CGR in the Oyashio region was divided into three phases, i.e. spring (bloom), summer (post-bloom) and autumn-winter phase. During the spring bloom, late copepodites of the interzonal migrating species, N. cristatus, N. flemingeri and E. bungii appeared in the surface layer (0-50 m) to consume the production of the bloom, resulting in a high grazing rate of the copepod community (7.9 mg Chl m⁻² d⁻¹), though its impact on phytoplankton community was low due to the high primary productivity. During the post-bloom period, although the copepod community which was dominated by N. cristatus, N. plumchrus, M. pacifica and newly recruited E. bungii still maintained a high biomass, the CGR was generally lower (1.8-2.6 mg Chl m⁻² d⁻¹ for June and August 2001), probably due to the lower availability of phytoplankton. Nevertheless, the highest CGR was also observed during this period (10.5 mg Chl m⁻² d⁻¹ in June 2002). The high CGR on autotrophic carbon accounted for 69% of the primary production, suggesting that the copepod community in the Oyashio region potentially terminates the phytoplankton bloom. Abundant occurrence of young E. bungii, which is a characteristic phenomenon in the Oyashio region, was largely responsible for the high grazing pressure in June 2002 suggesting that success of reproduction, growth, and survival in E. bungii during the spring bloom is an important factor in controlling phytoplankton abundance during the post-bloom season. During autumn and winter, CGR was the lowest in the year (0.29-0.38 mg Chl. m⁻² d⁻¹) due to the disappearance of the interzonal migrating copepods from the surface layer. Diel migrant M. pacifica was the most important grazer during this period. The annual ingestion of the copepod community is estimated as 37.7 gC m⁻² on autotrophic carbon (converted using C:Chl ratio of 30) or 137.9 gC m⁻² on suspended particles (using C:Chl ratio of in situ value, 58-191), accounting for 13% and 46% of annual primary production, respectively. This study confirms that copepod grazing is an important pathway in carbon flow in the Oyashio region and in particular their role in the phytoplankton dynamics is significant for the termination of the spring bloom.     

Coloured dissolved organic matter (CDOM) in Southern North Sea waters: Optical characterization and possible origin

The variability and origin of the Coloured Dissolved Organic Matter (CDOM) were studied in the Belgian coastal and adjacent areas including offshore waters and the Scheldt estuary, through the parameters: absorption at 375 nm, a_CDOM(375), and the slope of the absorption curve, S. a_CDOM(375) varied between 0.20 and 1.31 m⁻¹ and between 0.97 and 4.30 m⁻¹ in the marine area and Scheldt estuary, respectively. S fluctuated between 0.0101 and 0.0203 nm⁻¹ in the marine area and between 0.0167 and 0.0191 nm⁻¹ in the Scheldt estuary. The comparative analysis of a_CDOM(375) and S variations evidenced different origins of CDOM in the BCZ. The Scheldt estuarine waters showed decreasing a_CDOM(375) values with increasing salinity but constant S value of ∼0.018 nm⁻¹ suggesting a dominant terrestrial origin of CDOM. On the contrary, samples collected in the marine domain showed a narrow range of a_CDOM(375) but highly variable S suggesting the additional presence of autochthonous sources of CDOM. This source was evidenced based on the sorting of the marine offshore data according to the stage of the phytoplankton bloom when they were collected. A clear distinction was made between CDOM released during the growth stage characterized by high S (∼0.017 nm⁻¹) and low a_CDOM(375) and the decay phase characterized by low S (∼0.013 nm⁻¹) and high a_CDOM(375). This observation was supported by CDOM measurements performed on pure phytoplankton cultures which showed increased CDOM release along the wax and wane of the bloom but decreasing S. We concluded that the high variability of the CDOM signature in offshore waters is explained by the local biological production and processing of CDOM.     

Environmental controls on phytoplankton community composition in the Thames plume,U.K.

The aim of this study was to investigate controls on the phytoplankton community composition and biogeochemistry of the estuarine plume zone of the River Thames, U.K. using an instrumented moored buoy for in situ measurements and preserved sample collection, and laboratory-based measurements from samples collected at the same site. Instrumentation on the moored buoy enabled high frequency measurements of a suite of environmental variables including in situ chlorophyll, water-column integrated irradiance, macronutrients throughout an annual cycle for 2001 e.g. nitrate and silicate, and phytoplankton biomass and species composition. The Thames plume region acts as a conduit for fluvial nutrients into the wider southern North Sea with typical winter concentrations of 45 μM nitrate, 17 μM silicate and 2 μM phosphate measured. The spring bloom resulted from water-column integrated irradiance increasing above 60 W h m^− 2 d^− 1 and was initially dominated by a diatom bloom mainly composed of Nitzschia sp. and Odontella sinesis. The spring bloom then switched after ∼ 30 days to become dominated by the flagellate Phaeocystis reaching a maximum chlorophyll concentration of 37.8 μg L^− 1. During the spring bloom there were high numbers of the heterotrophic dinoflagellates Gyrodinium spirale and Katodinium glaucum that potentially grazed the phytoplankton bloom. This diatom–flagellate switch was predicted to be due to a combination of further increasing water-column integrated irradiance > 100 W h m^− 2 d^− 1 and/or silicate reaching potentially limiting concentrations (< 1 μM). Post spring bloom, diatom dominance of the lower continuous summer phytoplankton biomass occurred despite the low silicate concentrations (Av. 0.7 μM from June–August). Summer diatom dominance, generally due to Guinardia delicatula, was expected to be as a result of microzooplankton grazing, dominated by the heterotrophic dinoflagellate Noctiluca scintillans, controlling 0.7–5.0 μm ‘flagellate’ fraction of the phytoplankton community with grazing rates up to 178% of ‘flagellate’ growth rate. The Thames plume region was therefore shown to be an active region of nutrient and phytoplankton processing and transport to the southern North Sea. The use of a combination of moorings and ship-based sampling was essential in understanding the factors influencing nutrient transport, phytoplankton biomass and species composition in this shelf sea plume region.     

Short-term consequences of a benthic cyanobacterial bloom (Lyngbya majuscula Gomont) for fish and penaeid prawns in Moreton Bay (Queensland, Australia)

This study examined the phenology and ecological consequences of a benthic filamentous cyanobacterial bloom (Lyngbya majuscula) in Deception Bay (Moreton Bay, Queensland, Australia). Bloom initiation occurred in mid December 1999 and expanded to encompass an 8 km² area by April 2000. Small fish and penaeid prawns (<25 cm total length) were quantitatively sampled through periods designated as before, during and after the bloom using a combination of pop-netting within mangroves and beam trawling over adjacent seagrass beds. Data on larger-bodied fish were compiled from daily fishing logs provided by local commercial fishers. Changes in dry mass of bloom material caught in nets and changes in water chemistry were also measured. Mean concentrations of ammonia-N in residual water within mangroves were several orders of magnitude higher in the affected area than in the control and dissolved oxygen was markedly lower in affected areas. Across the study area, mean density, live mass and number of species declined during the bloom, with fish assemblages using mangroves showing greater decline than assemblages using seagrasses. Response at the species level was highly variable; generally, epibenthic species showed a more sustained decline than demersals. Mean monthly fish catch was significantly lower in bloom than non-bloom years. This study has also demonstrated that throughout the bloom, the affected area continued to support a highly diverse and abundant fish and prawn assemblage, and probably maintained its function as an important nursery habitat for many species.     

Role of sea ice on satellite-observed chlorophyll-a concentration variations during spring bloom in the East/Japan sea

The relationship between the spring bloom along the Primorye coast and the sea ice of the Tatarskiy Strait in the northern region of the East/Japan Sea, a semi-enclosed marginal sea in the North Pacific, was investigated using the ten-year SeaWiFS chlorophyll-a concentration data and DMSP/SSMI sea ice concentration data from 1998 to 2007. Year-to-year variations in the chlorophyll-a concentrations in the spring were positively correlated with those of the sea ice concentrations in the Tatarskiy Strait in the previous winter with a correlation coefficient of 0.77. Abrupt increases in nutrients, essential for the spring bloom in the upper ocean during spring, were supplied from sea ice-melted waters. Time series of vertical distributions of the nutrients indicated that phosphate concentrations were extremely elevated in the upper ocean (less than 100 m) without any connection to high concentrations in the deep waters below. The water mass from sea ice provided preferable conditions for the spring bloom through changes in the vertical stratification structure of the water columns. Along-coast ratios of stability parameters between two neighboring months clearly showed the rapid progression of the generation of a shallow pycnocline due to fresh water originating from sea ice. This study addressed the importance of the physical environment for biogeochemical processes in semi-enclosed marginal seas affected by local sea ice.     

Top-down control of spring surface phytoplankton blooms by microzooplankton in the Central Yellow Sea,China

Phytoplankton growth and microzooplankton grazing were studied during the 2007 spring bloom in Central Yellow Sea. The surveyed stations were divided to pre-bloom phase (Chl a concentration less than 2 μg L⁻¹), and bloom phase (Chl a concentration greater than 2 μg L⁻¹). Shipboard dilution incubation experiments were carried out at 19 stations to determine the phytoplankton specific growth rates and the specific grazing rates of microzooplankton on phytoplankton. Diatoms dominated in the phytoplankton community in surface waters at most stations. For microzooplankton, Myrionecta rubra and tintinnids were dominant, and heterotrophic dinoflagellate was also important in the community. Phytoplankton-specific growth rates, with an average of 0.60±0.19 d⁻¹, were higher at pre-bloom stations (average 0.62±0.17 d⁻¹), and lower at the bloom stations (average 0.59±0.21 d⁻¹), but the difference of growth rates between bloom and pre-bloom stations was not statistically significant (t test, p=0.77). The phytoplankton mortality rate by microzooplankton grazing averaged 0.41±0.23 d⁻¹ at pre-bloom stations, and 0.58±0.31 d⁻¹ during the blooms. In contrast to the growth rates, the statistic difference of grazing rates between bloom and pre-bloom stations was significant (after removal of outliers, t test, p=0.04), indicating the importance of the top-down control in the phytoplankton bloom processes. Average potential grazing efficiency on primary productivity was 66% at pre-bloom stations and 98% at bloom stations, respectively. Based on our results, the biomass maximum phase (bloom phase) was not the maximum growth rate phase. Both phytoplankton specific growth rate and net growth rate were higher in the pre-bloom phase than during the bloom phase. Microzooplankton grazing mortality rate was positively correlated with phytoplankton growth rate during both phases, but growth and grazing were highly coupled during the booming phase. There was no correlation between phytoplankton growth rate and cell size during the blooms, but they were positive correlated during the pre-bloom phase. Our results indicate that microzooplankton grazing is an important process controlling the growth of phytoplankton in spring bloom period in the Central Yellow Sea, particularly in the “blooming” phase.