Vertical and seasonal differences in biogenic silica dissolution in natural seawater in Suruga Bay, Japan: Effects of temperature and organic matter

Vertical and seasonal characteristics of biogenic silica (BSi) dissolution in seawater were investigated by multiple dissolution experiments using seawater collected from surface and mesopelagic layers in Suruga Bay during the period 2002–2004. The dissolution rate coefficients calculated based on temporal changes of BSi concentration varied with the season of sample collection. They ranged from 0.023–0.057 day^− 1 for surface samples and 0.0018–0.0025 day^− 1 for mesopelagic samples for temperatures approaching in situ conditions. Experiments at various temperatures confirmed that BSi dissolution depends on temperature in natural seawater. Dissolution rate coefficient (day^− 1) of BSi correlated significantly with temperature (°C), and Q₁₀ was 2.6. Addition of bioavailable organic matter to low-bioactivity seawater enhanced the protease activity and abundance of bacteria, and increased BSi dissolution rate by a factor of 1.4–2.0. There is clear evidence that BSi dissolution is accelerated by bacterial activity and potentially limited by bioavailable organic matter in natural seawater. Dissolution rates and total decreases of BSi concentration were lower during experiments using mesopelagic samples than in those using surface samples. This suggests that dissolution of BSi varies with depth and that BSi in the mesopelagic water is more resistant to the dissolution than that in the surface water. This lower dissolution rate was caused by lower temperature and lower bacterial activity due to less bioavailable organic matter in mesopelagic water. Our results provide a mechanistic understanding of variations in silica cycling within the seasonally and vertically differing marine environment.     

Removal of trace metals from seawater during a phytoplankton bloom as studied with sediment traps in Funka Bay,Japan

To study biological effects on the particulate removal of chemical elements from seawater, sediment trap experiments were carried out successively ten times throughout the spring phytoplankton bloom in Funka Bay. Sediment traps were deployed every one to two weeks at 1, 40 and 80 m depths. The settling particles obtained were analyzed for trace metals, phosphate and silicate. The propagation of diatoms in spring results in larger particulate fluxes than that of dinoflagellates. The biogenic silicate concentration is higher in the earlier period, when diatoms are predominant, than in the subsequent period, when dinoflagellates are predominant. The concentrations of aluminum, iron, manganese and cobalt in the settling particles comprising largely biogenic particles are lower during phytoplankton bloom. The concentration of copper is not reduced by the addition of biogenic particles, and its vertical flux is approximately proportional to the total flux, indicating that its concentration in the biogenic particles is nearly equal to that in the non-biogenic particles. The results for nickel and lead show the same tendency as for copper. Cadmium is more concentrated in biogenic particles than in non-biogenic particles, and the concentration of cadmium in the settling particles decreases with depth, similarly to phosphate and organic matter. Thus, metals in seawater are segregated by biological affinities, and the degree of incorporation into biogenic particles is in the order Cd > Pb, Ni, Cu > Co > Mn, Fe, Al. Biogenic particles are the most important agent controlling the vertical distribution of metals in the ocean. They remove the metals from the surface water, transport them through the water column, and regenerate them in the deep.     

Survivorship characteristics and adaptive mechanisms of phytoplankton assemblages in ballast water

Phytoplankton diversity and abundance were determined in ballast water from 26 vessels in the Shanghai Yangshan Deep-Water Port from April 2015 to January 2016. In total, 84 species of phytoplankton were identified, belonging to 43 genera and 5 phyla. Bacillariophyta (75.0%, including 30 genera and 63 species) were the dominant algae in the ballast water. Their density ranged from (5.55±9.62) SD to (1.878±0.872)×10 3 cells/L, with a mean of 410.1 cells/L. Nine potentially harmful phytoplankton taxa were detected: Ceratium furca , Ce . marcroceros , Leptocylindrus danicus , Coscinodiscus radiatus , Co . granii , Prorocentrum micans , Melosira sulcata , Meuniera membranacea and Skeletonema costatum . Our survey and identification results showed that Microcystis aeruginosa , Ankistrodesmus falcatus and Scenedesmus survived in the high-salinity ballast water, even though they are freshwater species. We identified the common features of surviving phytoplankton and impacts on the phytoplankton assemblage of ballast water age and source. Our goal was to understand the adaptative mechanisms of phytoplankton in ballast water, providing statistical and theoretical support for future ballast water research and suggesting a scientific basis of ballast water management and inspection of vessels entering the port.     

The cycling of biogenic compounds and their diagenetically transformed products in seawater

Results are presented for two studies concerned with the sources, transport and transformation mechanisms of two classes of organic compounds. An emphasis is placed on the importance of collecting and correlating related chemical and oceanographic data with the qualitative and quantitative organic compound analyses. The first study involves the analysis of seawater samples for a class of relatively labile, biogenic compounds, the sterols. From the vertical profiles of the sterols, along with hydrographic, particulate organic carbon, and total particulate matter data, an attempt is made to understand sterol distributions in the ocean and the transport mechanisms governing their movement into the deep sea. The second study involves the analysis of Sargasso Sea water samples for a class of more resistant, transformed biogenic compounds, humic and fulvic acids. Their isolation, structural elucidation, mechanism of formation and fate are discussed.     

Annual variation of methane in seawater in Funka bay,Japan

The concentration of methane in seawater was determined approximately once a month for one year from August 1990 to July 1991 at a station close to the center of Funka bay (92 m depth) and some supplementary observations were also carried out. The concentration of methane was usually increased with increasing depth, suggesting that methane was emitted from the bottom of the bay. While highly variable both spatially and temporally, the emission was intense in March and April, a period immediately after the spring bloom of phytoplankton. The maximum of methane found in the intermediate water suggests its source from the slope of the bay. The concentration of methane in the surface water changed seasonally and also interannually. The annually averaged flux of methane transferred to the atmosphere in the bay was estimated to be 6×10^–3 gCH₄m²/day. The coastal zone in the world may be a significant source of the atmospheric methane, although its source strength has yet to be accurately estimated from more data in different coastal seas.     

2011年南黄海辐射沙脊群海域浮游植物种类组成和密度的时空变化

于2011年2～12月,在南黄海辐射沙脊群海域设置6个采样站位,每逢双月份调查1次,研究该海域浮游植物密度及优势种的时空变化.调查共获得浮游植物87种,以硅藻种类最多.浮游植物密度呈周年双峰变化,分别在4月和8月成峰,4月峰值最大,水样浮游植物平均密度为1.59×104cells/dm3,网样浮游植物平均密度为2.71×106cells/m3,8月峰次之,水样浮游植物的平均密度为1.28×104cells/dm3,网样浮游植物平均密度为7.38×105cells/m3;浮游植物密度在2月和4月,北高南低,6月和8月中部高,外围较低,10月和12月南部高北部低.2月和4月,中肋骨条藻（Skeletonema costatum）为第一优势种,6月和12月虹彩圆筛藻（Coscinodiscus oculus-iridis）为第一优势种,8～10月琼氏圆筛藻（Coscinodiscus jonesianus）为第一优势种,枯水期（2月）铁氏束毛藻（Trichodesmium thiebautii）在局部海域形成优势.     

长江口生物硅的组成、行为和收支

基于在长江口开展的三个综合航次对河口生物硅组成、行为和收支进行了研究。结果表明,长江口生物硅主要是由植硅体、硅藻和海绵骨针三部分组成,其中植硅体有16种形态,在高混浊区对生物硅的贡献量为23%-83%。收支计算显示,长江输送的生物硅是河口区获取外部生物硅的主要途径,占河口生物硅总输入量的95%;维持河口生物硅水平的主要过程是初级生产（55 Gmol a^-1）和沉积过程（46 Gmol a^-1）;初级生产所贡献的生物硅分别是长江生物硅输送量的2.3倍和河口区向外输送生物硅的63%。从河口区向东海和黄海输送的生物硅是26 Gmol a^-1,与长江的生物硅输送量相当;河口区沉积的生物硅是向外输送量的1.7倍,在其中植硅体贡献了53%至88%的生物硅,表明河口是陆源生物硅汇的作用;反风化作用也是河口活性硅去除的一个重要途径。本研究显示植硅体是河口生物硅的重要组成部分,长江口在生物硅收支与循环中表现出汇的作用。     

Structure and photosynthetic properties of phytoplankton assemblages in a highly dynamic system, the Northern Adriatic Sea

The photosynthetic properties of phytoplankton populations as related to physical–chemical variations on small temporal and spatial scales and to phytoplankton size structure and pigment spectra were investigated in the Northern Adriatic Sea off the Po River delta in late winter 1997. Large diatoms (fucoxanthin) dominated the phytoplankton in the coastal area whereas small phytoflagellates (mainly 19′-hexanoyloxyfucoxanthin, chlorophyll b, 19′-butanoyloxyfucoxanthin) occurred outside the front. The front was defined by the steep gradient in density in the surface layer separating low-salinity coastal waters from the offshore waters.Physical features of the area strongly influenced phytoplankton biomass distributions, composition and size structure. After high volumes of Po River discharge several gyres and meanders occurred in the area off the river delta in February. Decreasing river discharge and the subsequent disappearance of the gyres and the spreading dilution of the river plume was observed in March. The dynamic circulation of February resulted in high photosynthetic capacity of the abundant phytoplankton population (>3.40 mg m⁻³). In March, the slow circulation and an upper low-salinity water layer, segregated from the deeper layers, resulted in lack of renewal of this water mass. The huge phytoplankton biomass, up to 15.77 mg chl a m⁻³, became nutrient depleted and showed low photosynthetic capacity. In February, an exceptionally high P_max^B, 20.11 mg C (mg chl a)⁻¹ h⁻¹ was recorded in the Po River plume area and average P_max^B was three-fold in February as compared to the March recordings, 10.50 mg C (mg chl a)⁻¹ h⁻¹ and 3.22 mg C (mg chl a)⁻¹ h⁻¹, respectively.The extreme variability and values of phytoplankton biomass in the innermost plume area was not always reflected in primary production. Modeling of circulation patterns and water mass resilience in the area will help to predict phytoplankton response and biomass distributions. In the frontal area, despite a considerable variability in environmental conditions, our findings have shown that the phytoplankton assemblages will compensate for nutrient depression and hydrographic constraints, by means of size and taxonomic composition and, as a result, the variability in the photosynthetic capacity was much less pronounced than that observed for other parameters.     

The effect of low, chronic levels of no. 2 fuel oil on natural phytoplankton assemblages in microcosms: 1. Species composition and seasonal succession

No. 2 fuel oil-sea water dispersions were added to three large scale (13 m³) microcosms twice weekly for a period in 1977 and a 4 month period in 1978. Water column concentration of total hydrocarbons averaged 190 μg litre⁻¹ in 1977 and 93 μg litre⁻¹ in 1978. Several responses of t the phytoplankton community in the oiled microcosms, relative to control microcosms, were similar during both periods of oil addition: total phytoplankton abundance and chlorophyll concentration were elevated, species diversity was higher and diatoms represented a greater proportion of the total p phytoplankton abundance than flagellates during 4 months of oil addition in 1977 and the entire period of oil addition in 1978. Phytoplankton species composition in the oiled microcosms was similar to the source water, Narragansett Bay, but the microcosm assemblages were numerically dominated by populations of the diatom Chaetoceros spp. and nanoflagellates in 1977 and several Chaetoceros spp. in 1978. Reduced predation pressure and altered herbivore feeding behaviour combined with the low level, non-lethal (to the majority of phytoplankton populations), concentrations of No. 2 fuel oil in the water column are postulated as mechanisms that can account for the elevated phytoplankton abundance in the oiled microcosms relative to the controls.     

Seasonal dynamics of the phytoplankton community in Sendai Bay,northern Japan

Sendai Bay is located on the Pacific coast of northern Japan and suffered serious damage following the 2011 off the Pacific coast of Tohoku earthquake and tsunami in March 2011. To assess the impact on the marine ecosystem, information was needed on the phytoplankton communities and their seasonal variation. However, such information was limited. Therefore, an intensive monitoring of the phytoplankton was carried out from March 2012 to April 2014. Seasonal variation of the phytoplankton community was similar at coastal and offshore stations. Total phytoplankton biomass, based on Chl a concentration, peaked in spring and then decreased to a minimum in summer, before gradually increasing during early winter and peaking again in the following spring. This seasonal pattern was consistent with previous studies conducted before the earthquake and tsunami. Also, size structure of the phytoplankton community and its four main groups was estimated from the size-fractioned samples of Chl a. Our results also showed that the spring bloom consisted of large diatoms, with their growth ceasing due to nitrogen depletion. The bloom was followed by a summer period where cyanobacteria and picoeukaryote became dominant, with high cell densities in spite of low nutrient concentrations. In addition, sporadic environmental changes, such as those following typhoons, were observed. These resulted in large increases/decreases in individual phytoplankton groups.     

The estimation of annual production by phytoplankton in Akkeshi Bay,Japan

The annual net and gross primary production by phytoplankton in Akkeshi Bay Hokkaido, are estimated to be 146±25 g C m^–2y^–1 and 416±53 g C m^–2y^–1, respectively. The annual means of the net and gross efficiency between primary production and solar radiation are estimated to be 0.26 % and 0.79 %, respectively.     

Abundance,biomass and species composition of nearshore fish assemblages in Ghana,West Africa

Many of the world's fish populations are overexploited, including Ghana's fish resources. This study examines spatio-temporal trends in fish species composition in relation to biotic, abiotic and anthropogenic factors, towards achieving better-informed management of the beach-seine fisheries. Fishery-dependent data were collected between November 1999 and October 2001 from 94 beach-seine hauls fished at two stations along the Ghanaian coast. The catch consisted of fish, crustaceans, other invertebrates, and macroalgae. Generally, juveniles of species that are exploited by offshore fisheries were found in the catches. Species abundance and their occurrence generally peaked between November and January. Duration of solar radiation and tide level appeared to be important predictors of fish biomass. It is important to exploit the nearshore fish assemblage sustainably because of its nursery role. A co-managed (fishers and government) three-month ban on beach-seining (between May and July) is recommended as the most appropriate control measure towards the sustainability of Ghanaian fish stocks.     

调水调沙后黄河口邻近海域浮游植物群落响应特征

为研究黄河调水调沙对邻近海域浮游植物群落的影响,2013年7月在黄河第16次调水调沙事件后,开展了水文、化学与生物综合调查。研究结果表明,黄河口邻近海域温度、营养盐浓度整体呈现由河口向离岸区域逐渐递减的分布趋势,盐度呈现由河口向离岸区域逐渐递增的分布趋势,显示了黄河水输入的影响程度。叶绿素a与营养盐浓度在空间分布上呈现出较好的对应关系,在黄河口偏渤海湾侧明显高于偏莱州湾侧,且近河口区明显高于离岸区。营养盐结构分析表明,黄河口邻近海域普遍存在磷酸盐(DIP)的绝对和相对限制;但黄河水沙输入在局部站位缓解了硅(DSi)限制。浮游植物群落结构的空间变化显著受到盐度的影响,在受黄河水输入影响显著的C、D、E断面,蓝藻与绿藻的生物量比例明显增高;影响相对较弱的断面则以硅藻、甲藻为主。浮游植物群落结构与环境因子的主成分分析结果表明,DSi、DIP和盐度是影响该海域浮游植物空间变化的关键环境因子。甲藻、蓝藻与绿藻群落受盐度变化的影响程度明显大于硅藻群落;但甲藻群落对营养盐结构的敏感性低于硅藻、蓝藻和绿藻群落。     

厦门东侧海域浮游植物的种类组成与分布

共鉴定厦门东侧海域浮游植物４３属１１１种,其主体是广温性种类（５６种）,占浮游植物总种数的５０％。主要优势种的季节性演替明显。四季浮游植物的平均细胞总量达３６５００千个／ｍ＾３,最重要的优势种是施链角毛藻（Ｃｈａｅｔｏｃｅｒｏｓｃ ｃｕｒｖｉｓｅｔｕｓ）（占总量的５３．３％）和中肋骨条藻（Ｓｋｅｌｅｔｏｎｅｍａ ｃｏｓｔａｔｕｍ）（占２０．０）。浮游植物的繁盛时期在春、夏两季,但高峰期出现在春季,不同于相邻的厦门外港和厦门西港。     

Seasonal phytoplankton composition, productivity and biomass in the Neuse River estuary, North Carolina

Phytoplankton community composition, productivity and biomass characteristics of the mesohaline lower Neuse River estuary were assessed monthly from May 1988 to February 1990. An incubation method which considered water-column mixing and variable light exposure was used to determine phytoplankton primary productivity. The summer productivity peaks in this shallow estuary were stimulated by increases in irradiance and temperature. However, dissolved inorganic nitrogen loading was the major factor controlling ultimate yearly production. Dynamic, unpredictable rainfall events determined magnitudes of seasonal production pulses through nitrogen loading, and helped determine phytoplankton species composition. Dinoflagellates occasionally bloomed but were otherwise present in moderate numbers; rainfall events produced large pulses of cryptomonads, and dry seasons and subsequent higher salinity led to dominance by small centric diatoms. Daily production was strongly correlated (r = 0·82) with nitrate concentration and inversely correlated (r = −0·73) with salinity, while nitrate and salinity were inversely correlated (r = −0·71), emphasizing the importance of freshwater input as a nutrient-loading source to the lower estuary. During 1989 mean daily areal phytoplankton production was 938 mgC m⁻², mean chlorophyll a was 11·8 mg m⁻³, and mean phytoplankton density was 1·56 × 10³ cells ml⁻¹. Estimated 1989 annual areal phytoplankton production for the lower estuary was 343 gC m⁻².     

Species composition, distribution, and invertebrate prey of fish assemblages in the Columbia River Estuary

The fish community of the Columbia River Estuary was sampled with trawl, beach seine, and purse seine over an 18 month period during 1980–1981. Seasonality of abundance and species richness in the estuary reflect the timing of migrations and the reproductive cycles of marine and anadromous species. Composition of the fish community and dominant species in the Columbia River estuary are similar to many smaller estuaries in the Pacific Northwest. These similarities reflect the influence of the nearshore marine environment on fish community structure throughout the West Coast as well as the wide geographic distribution and considerable physiological tolerance of many dominant euryhaline species. The distribution of fish assemblages within the Columbia River estuary is influenced by large seasonal variation in river discharge and salinity. Within large areas or salinity zones, species assemblages use different habitats and invertebrate prey. The distribution of abundance and the stomach fullness of fishes vary directly with the density of potential prey. We hypothesize that fish production may be limited by dynamic physical processes that control prey availability or the feeding efficiencies of predators in the highly turbid estuary.     

Alkaline phosphatase activity and phosphatase hydrolyzable phosphorus for phytoplankton in hiroshima bay, Japan

We investigated the seasonal variability of free alkaline phosphatase activity in seawater and alkaline phosphatase hydrolysable phosphorus (APHP) at 3 stations in Hiroshima Bay using alkaline phosphatase extracted from the dinoflagellates Alexandrium tamarense and Gymnodinium catenatum. The dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP) was lower than 1 μM in all samples; the lowest values were in May. The amount of APHP was high at the surface and bottom waters of all stations in May, showing DIP-depleted conditions. In August and November, the amount of APHP was much less than the amount of APHP in May, indicating that the availability of dissolved organic phosphorus (DOP) for these species was low and/or uptake during the dinoflagellate blooming might have occurred in the area. The results obtained from short-term variations of AP activity might suggest that the growth of dinoflagellates in this season may be partly supported by the AP produced by other diatoms.     

Nutrient dynamics and seasonal succession of phytoplankton assemblages in a Southern European Estuary: Ria de Aveiro, Portugal

The spatial and temporal dynamics of dissolved inorganic nitrogen, dissolved phosphate, dissolved silica and chlorophyll a were measured seasonally at eight stations in the Ria de Aveiro. Between December 2000 and September 2001, the seasonal succession of phytoplankton assemblages, inferred after the spatial and seasonal variation of silica and of chlorophyll a concentrations, showed that diatoms (μmol Si L⁻¹) dominated from late autumn until early spring, while chlorophytes (μg Chl a L⁻¹) bloomed during late spring and summer. The Si:N:P ratios and Si concentrations indicated no seasonal depletion in dissolved silica, as in other temperate systems, possibly because of abnormal precipitation and flood events prolonging the supply of dissolved Si to the system. The Si:N:P ratios suggested P limitation at the system level. Despite the relative proportions of available nutrients, the mean phosphorus concentration (5.3 μmol L⁻¹) was above the reported half-saturation constants for P uptake by phytoplankton. Thus, in Ria de Aveiro, the seasonal succession of phytoplankton assemblages may also be dependent on the grazing capacity of the pelagic community through top-down regulation.