Biological Characteristics of Central Indian Basin Waters During the Southern Summer

Phytoplankton biomass, taxonomy, primary productivity, and photosynthetically available radiation (PAR) were studied as part of baseline data collection for prospective nodule mining in the Central Indian Basin during the ORV Sagar Kanya cruise SK-120 in January 1997. The phytoplankton cell counts and chlorophyll a estimates showed low biomass level, suggesting low rates of primary productivity in the region studied. The average chlorophyll a value was 0.775 mg m^?3 at surface and 17.75 mg m^?2 in the water column. Similarly, average primary productivity at surface was 3.72 mg C m^?3 d^?1 and was 51.23 mg C m^?2 d^?1 in column. The chlorophyll a maxima at 50 to 80 m was the characteristic feature of the euphotic zones of the area. Average phytoplankton counts at the surface were low (3960 cells/l), compared to those at 25 m (6421 cells/l) and 75 m (5187 cells/l). At most of the stations mesozooplankton biomass was maximum in the top 50 m water column, indicating the importance of grazing in the euphotic zone. Appreciable quantities of mesozooplankton were observed below the euphotic zone, where settlement of chlorophyll a occurs. The low iron concentration in the water and its relationship with the water column productivity were correlated. The results show that waters in the CIB have low productivity in the surface as well as subsurface layers. This is expected to change in this case of a mining discharge in to these layers, possibly locally affecting the existing marine ecosystems. The final impact of such mining activity may remain negligible in the deep sea environment.     

Biomass, Abundance, and Vertical Distribution of Micronekton and Large Gelatinous Zooplankton in the Subarctic Pacific and the Bering Sea during the Summer of 1997

The biomass, abundance, and vertical distribution of micronekton, including enidarians, mysids, euphausiids, decapods, thaliaceans, and fishes, were studied on the basis of samples collected with an 8-m² opening-closing rectangular midwater trawl (RMT-8, mesh size: 4.5 mm) at three stations in the subarctic Pacific (the western subarctic gyre, the central Subarctic, and the Gulf of Alaska) and one station in the oceanic Bering Sea. The total biomass in the 0–1000 m water column ranged from 2.9 to 5.1 gDW m^–2. Except for primary consumers that showed highly variable biomass (thaliaceans and euphausiids), biomass was highest in the oceanic Bering Sea followed by the central (boundary between eastern and western gyres), western gyre, and eastern Gulf of Alaska. The biomass compositions by higher taxa were basically similar between regions: fishes were most dominant, followed by enidarians at all stations, except for the marked predominance of thaliaceans in the Gulf of Alaska. High biomasses of gelatinous animals (31% of overall dry weight), occasionally comparable to those of fishes and crustaceans, suggest their potential importance in the subarctic Pacific. Characteristics in vertical patterns of micronekton biomass common in all stations were: (1) a mesopelagic peak around 500–600 m both day and night, (2) a layer of low biomass in the cold intermediate water and/or in the upper mesopelagic zone, (3) a nighttime shift of biomass to upper layers, and (4) an highly variable biomass of epipelagic/interzonal migrants (euphausiids and thaliaceans).     

Seasonal change of oceanographic conditions and chlorophyll <Emphasis Type="Italic">a</Emphasis> vertical distribution in the southwestern Okhotsk Sea during the non-iced season

Seasonal changes in oceanographic conditions related to primary productivity was investigated in the southwestern Okhotsk Sea during non-iced seasons, using the observation data conducted in 2000∼2006. Based on hydrographic characteristics, the studied area could be classified into two regions, the Coastal Region which is influenced under the Soya Warm Current and the Forerunner Water of the Soya Warm Current, and the Offshore Region where the Intermediate Cold Water was located in the subsurface layer. This study is the first report on seasonal change of nutrient and chlorophyll a concentrations in the offshore region of the southwestern Okhotsk Sea. Variability of concentrations of chlorophyll a and nutrients is temporally and regionally high in the Coastal Region. The maximum chlorophyll a concentration in April was observed at the surface layer of both regions. The most remarkable feature on the vertical structure in the Offshore Region was the consistent existence of the Intermediate Cold Water and the development of seasonal thermocline in the subsurface layer during summer and autumn. The stratification formed within the euphotic zone in the Offshore Region resulted in the formation of the subsurface chlorophyll a maximum (SCM) from May to October. Throughout the research period, although less amplitude of nutrients at the surface was observed in the Coastal Region than that in the Offshore Region, comparable amplitude of chlorophyll a concentration was observed between regions. These results suggested differences of environmental conditions for primary production between the two regions. Depending on the presence of SCM, relationships between chlorophyll a concentration at the sea surface and chlorophyll a standing stock within the euphotic layer were different. At most stations with SCM, the surface chlorophyll a concentration was lower than 0.6 mg m-3. This suggests that the presence of SCM and the chlorophyll a standing stock within the euphotic layer may be estimated using the surface chlorophyll a concentration from spring to autumn in the studied area.     

Vertical Distribution of Phytoplankton in the Central and Northern Part of the Gulf of California (June 1982)

Abstract. Vertical profiles of temperature, nutrients (silicate, phosphate, and nitrate), chlorophyll a and phytoplankton abundance are given for six stations located in the Gulf of California, June 1982, above 1 % of light intensity. The vertical distribution of phytoplankton was related to the water column structure: stratified stations had a defined nutricline and subsurface chlorophyll and phytoplankton abundance maxima were present, which were found to be related to the depth of the principal thermocline; vertical distribution of taxa was not uniform and low affinity values (< 0.5) were calculated among depths at these stations. Despite the irregular vertical distribution of chlorophyll and cell number, there was a great affinity in the species composition throughout the euphotic zone at well-mixed or weakly stratified stations. Nanoplankton organisms, mainly coc-colithophorids, were the most important numerical contributors at the chlorophyll maxima, except when this was superficial, in which case diatoms were the most numerous group. Some patterns of the vertical distribution of the main phytoplankton groups ( e.g. , diatoms, dinoflagellates, and microflagellates) are shown. The spectrum of diversity in the water column was useful only for mixed-waters. The relationship between stability, nutrients, and phytoplankton - regarding their vertical distribution - and the importance of physical and biological processes on phytoplankton ecology are discussed.     

Phytoplankton dynamics associated with the monsoon in the Sulu Sea as revealed by pigment signature

Phytoplankton dynamics during the northeast monsoon was investigated in the Sulu Sea from algal pigment analysis. We visited the Sulu Sea in February 2000, a mid period of the northeast monsoon, and in November and December 2002, the beginning of the northeast monsoon. SeaWiFS images showed generally low concentrations of surface chlorophyll a (Chl a) during the southwest monsoon and higher concentrations with several peaks during the northeast monsoon. In the beginning of the northeast monsoon, subsurface chlorophyll maxima (SCM) occurred, where vertical variation in class-specific composition as estimated from pigment signatures was prominent. Prochlorococcus, cyanobacteria, prymnesiophytes and crysophytes were important groups above the SCM, and the contribution of cyanobacteria to Chl a became much lower at and below the SCM. Contributions of chlorophytes and prasinophytes to Chl a generally showed maxima near the SCM. This distribution was accompanied by vertical changes in the concentration of photoprotective pigments relative to photosynthetic accessory pigments. During the mid northeast monsoon, the upward supply of nutrients was probably enhanced at some stations due to vertical mixing, and as a consequence diatoms dominated in the upper 100 m water column of these stations, and other eukaryotic flagellates including prymnesiophytes, chrysophytes and cryptophytes were secondary major components of the community. The elevation of Chl a concentration and changes in phytoplankton community during the northeast monsoon likely influence the variation in biological production at higher trophic levels in the Sulu Sea.     

Microbial Biomass Dynamics Along a Trophic Gradient at the Atlantic Barrier Reef off Belize (Central America)

Abstract. Recent findings indicate that heterotrophic bacteria and not phytoplankton are the most numerous biomass components even in the euphotic zone of oligotrophic, open oceans. In this study it was hypothesized that the microbial biomass components change within a few hundred meters as oligotrophic water flows across the reef and becomes enriched with nutrients. Along a trophic gradient, four stations at the Atlantic Barrier Reef off Belize (Central America) were sampled for microbial biomass components. Phytoplankton biomass (measured as chlorophyll a) ranged from the most oligotrophic station (St. 1) to the most eutrophic station (St. 4) from 6.9–415.5 μg CI"' (assuming a C:chl a ratio of 30): heterotrophic bacterial biomass increased 4-fold (from 10.1–46.4μg C 1^-1), heterotrophic nanoflagellate (HNAN) biomass increased from 4.6-19ug C 1^-1, and cyanobacteria from 0.9-4.5 μg C-1^-1. Production estimates derived from seawater cultures revealed a 5-fold increase in bacterial production from the oligotrophic station (3.7 ug C 1^-1 d^-1) to the eutrophic St. 4 (17.8ug C-1-d1^-1)- Cyanobacterial production rose from 1.1–3.5ug C-1–d^-1 and HNAN production from 0.65-1.13 μg C-1^-1 -d^-1. While cyanobacteria contributed between 13 and 20% to the autotrophic plankton component in the oligotrophic waters, their contribution dropped to about 1 % at the eutrophic stations.     

Phytodetritus and the abundance and biomass of abyssal nematodes in the central,equatorial Pacific

The abundance and biomass of abyssal (4300–5000 m) nematodes were investigated along a latitudinal gradient of phytodetritus deposition from 0 to 23°N in the central, equatorial Pacific (140–158°W). Nematode abundance in the oligotrophic, central, North Pacific gyre was 50% lower than at the equator while macrofauna abundance increased 6.5 times over the same transect. Nematode abundance and biomass in the surface (0–1 cm) sediment layer were significantly higher at phytodetritus stations than at non-phytodetritus stations. Abundance and biomass were within the range recorded from other sites of comparable depth that also receive an input of phytodetritus. Abundance was also strongly correlated with microbial biomass. An increase in body size was associated with an increase in food supply. The results demonstrate that the equatorial Pacific represents an immense zone of relatively high nematode standing stock.     

Monsoonal influence on the distribution of phytoplankton pigments in the Arabian Sea

Variations in the distribution of chemotaxonomic pigments were monitored in the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman at the end of the SW monsoon in September 1994 and during the inter-monsoon period in November/December 1994 to determine the seasonal changes in phytoplankton composition. The Gulf of Oman was characterized by sub-surface chlorophyll maxima at 20-40 m during both seasons, and low levels of divinyl chlorophyll a indicated that prochlorophytes did not contribute significantly to the total chlorophyll a. Prymnesiophytes (19′-hexanoyloxyfucoxanthin), diatoms (fucoxanthin) and chlorophyll b containing organisms accounted for most of the phytoplankton biomass in September, while prymnesiophytes dominated in November/December. In the Arabian Sea in September, high total chlorophyll a concentrations up to 1742 ng l^-1 were measured in the coastal upwelling region and a progressive decline was monitored along the 1670 km offshore transect to oligotrophic waters at 8°N. Divinyl chlorophyll a was not detected along this transect except at the two most southerly stations where prochlorophytes were estimated to contribute 25–30% to the total chlorophyll a. Inshore, the dominance of fucoxanthin and/or hexanoyloxyfucoxanthin indicated that diatoms and prymnesiophytes generally dominated the patchy phytoplankton community, with zeaxanthin-containing Synechococcus also being important, especially in surface waters. At the southern oligotrophic localities, Synechococcus and prochlorophytes dominated the upper 40 m and prymnesiophytes were the most prominent at the deep chlorophyll maximum. During the inter-monsoon season, total chlorophyll a concentrations were generally half those measured in September and highest levels were found on the shelf (1170 ng l^-1). Divinyl chlorophyll a was detected at all stations along the Arabian Sea transect, and we estimated that prochlorophytes contributed between 3 and 28% to the total chlorophyll a, while at the two oligotrophic stations this proportion increased to 51–52%. While procaryotes were more important in November/December than September, eucaryotes still accounted for >50% of the total chlorophyll a. Pigment/total chlorophyll a ratios indicated that 19′-hexanoyloxyfucoxanthin-containing prymnesiophytes were the dominant group, although procaryotes accounted for 65% at the two southerly oligotrophic stations.     

Picophytoplankton dynamics and production in the Arabian Sea during the 1995 Southwest Monsoon

Phytoplankton community structure is expected to shift to larger cells (e.g., diatoms) with monsoonal forcing in the Arabian Sea, but recent studies suggest that small primary producers remain active and important, even in areas strongly influenced by coastal upwelling. To better understand the role of smaller phytoplankton in such systems, we investigated growth and grazing rates of picophytoplankton populations and their contributions to phytoplankton community biomass and primary productivity during the 1995 Southwest Monsoon (August–September). Environmental conditions at six study stations varied broadly from open-ocean oligotrophic to coastal eutrophic, with mixed-layer nitrate and chlorophyll concentrations ranging from 0.01 to 11.5 μM NO₃ and 0.16 to 1.5 μg Chl a. Picophytoplankton comprised up to 92% of phytoplankton carbon at the oceanic stations, 35% in the diatom-dominated coastal zone, and 26% in a declining Phaeocystis bloom. Concurrent in situ dilution and ¹⁴C-uptake experiments gave comparable ranges of community growth rates (0.53–1.05 d⁻¹ and 0.44–1.17 d⁻¹, to the 1% light level), but uncertainties in C:Chl a confounded agreement at individual stations. Microzooplankton grazing utilized 81% of community phytoplankton growth at the oligotrophic stations and 54% at high-nutrient coastal stations. Prochlorococcus (PRO) was present at two oligotrophic stations, where its maximum growth approached 1.4 d⁻¹ (two doublings per day) and depth-integrated growth varied from 0.2 to 0.8 d⁻¹. Synechococcus (SYN) growth ranged from 0.5 to 1.1 d⁻¹ at offshore stations and 0.6 to 0.7 d⁻¹ at coastal sites. Except for the most oligotrophic stations, growth rates of picoeukaryotic algae (PEUK) exceeded PRO and SYN, reaching 1.3 d⁻¹ offshore and decreasing to 0.8 d⁻¹ at the most coastal station. Microzooplankton grazing impact averaged 90, 70, and 86% of growth for PRO, SYN, and PEUK, respectively. Picoplankton as a group accounted for 64% of estimated gross carbon production for all stations, and 50% at high-nutrient, upwelling stations. Prokaryotes (PRO and SYN) contributed disproportionately to production relative to biomass at the most oligotrophic station, while PEUK were more important at the coastal stations. Even during intense monsoonal forcing in the Arabian Sea, picoeukaryotic algae appear to account for a large portion of primary production in the coastal upwelling regions, supporting an active community of protistan grazers and a high rate of carbon cycling in these areas.     

Nutrients, Chlorophyll a and Phytoplankton in the İskenderun Bay (Northeastern Mediterranean)

Abstract. The monthly changes in chlorophyll a , phytoplankton abundance and nutrient concentrations at two stations, one at the inshore and the other at the deep waters of the northern part of İskenderun Bay, were investigated between 1994 – 1995. The vertical distribution of nutrients and phytoplankton biomass were also studied at the deep station. The concentrations of NO₃+NO₂-N, PO₄-P and SiO₄-Si of surface water at both stations were 0.31 – 1.63 µg-at · l^-1, 0.08 – 0.60 µg-at · l^-1 and 0.50 – 2.7 µg-at · l^-1, respectively. The highest concentrations were measured at the inshore station and clear differences were found between the inshore and deep-water stations. Chlorophyll a concentrations ranged from 0.17 to 2.78 µg · l^-1 and the highest value was measured in March. At the inshore station, which was affected by land run-off, phytoplankton abundance reached the highest value (21,308 cells · l^-1) in October 1995, with a marked dominance of Pseudonitzschia pungens (20,200 cells · l^-1). The nutrient and chlorophyll a concentrations at the inshore station were higher than those at the deep station. One reason for this is the land-based nutrient input into the coastal area here. In spite of these effects, the bay is not eutrophicated because of circulation events in the northeastern Mediterranean.     

Bacterioplankton and phytoplankton biomass and production during summer stratification in the northwestern Mediterranean Sea

We examined bacterioplankton biomass and heterotrophic production (BHP) during summer stratification in the northwestern Mediterranean in four successive stratification seasons (June–July of 1993–1996). Values of phytoplankton biomass and primary production were determined simultaneously so that the data sets for autotrophic and heterotrophic microbial plankton could be compared. Three standard stations were set along a transect from Barcelona to the channel between Mallorca and Menorca, representing coastally influenced shelf waters, frontal waters over the slope front, and open sea waters. Conversion factors from ³H-leucine incorporation to BHP were empirically determined and varied between 0.29 and 3.25 kg C mol^-1. Bacterial biomass values were among the lowest found in any marine environment. BHP values (between 0.02 and 2.5 μg C L^-1 d^-1) were larger than those of low nutrient low chlorophyll areas such as the Sargasso Sea and lower than those from high nutrient low chlorophyll areas such as the equatorial Pacific. Growth rates of bacterioplankton were highest at the slope front (0.20 d^-1) and lowest at the open sea station (0.04 d^-1). Phytoplankton growth rates were similar at the three stations (∼0.50 d^-1). Integrated values of bacterioplankton biomass, BHP and bacterial growth rates did not show significant differences among years, but differences between the three stations were clearly significant. Phytoplankton biomass, primary production, and phytoplankton growth rates did not show significant differences either with year or with station. As a consequence the bacterioplankton to phytoplankton biomass (BB/BPHY) and production (BHP/PP) ratios varied from the coastal to the open sea stations. The BB/BPHY ratio was 0.98 at the coast and ∼0.70 at the other two stations. These ratios are similar to those found in other oligotrophic marine environments. The BHP/PP ratio was 0.83 at the coast, 0.36 at the slope and 0.09 at the open sea station. The last value is also similar to values found in other oligotrophic marine environments. Vertical distribution of these ratios was also examined.The comparison of microbial parameters at the three stations indicates a different kind of relationship between bacterioplankton and phytoplankton in oligotrophic open sea waters and in coastal, nutrient-richer waters. According to such parameters and to the values of the BB/BPHY and BHP/PP ratios, open waters in the northwestern Mediterranean (despite their relatively short distance from the shore) were intermediate between the extremely oligotrophic waters of the eastern Mediterranean or the Sargasso Sea and the more productive waters of the equatorial Pacific.     

Diatom biomass and productivity in oceanic and plume-influenced waters of the western tropical Atlantic ocean

Whereas diatoms (class Bacillariophyceae) often dominate phytoplankton taxa in the Amazon estuary and shelf, their contribution to phytoplankton dynamics and impacts on regional biogeochemistry are poorly understood further offshore in the western tropical Atlantic Ocean (WTAO). Thus, relative contribution of diatoms to phytoplankton biomass and primary production rates and associated environmental conditions were quantified during three month-long cruises in January–February 2001, July–August 2001, and April–May 2003. The upper water column was sampled at 6 light depths (100%, 50%, 25%, 10%, 1% and 0.1% of surface irradiance) at 64 stations between 3° and 14°N latitude and 41° and 58°W longitude. Each station was categorized as ‘oceanic’ or ‘plumewater’, based on principal component analysis of eight physical, chemical and biological variables. All stations were within the North Brazil Current, and plumewater stations were characterized by shallower mixed layers with lower surface salinities and higher dissolved silicon (dSi) concentrations than oceanic stations. The major finding was a much greater role of diatoms in phytoplankton biomass and productivity at plumewater stations relative to oceanic stations. Mean depth-integrated bSi concentrations at the plumewater and oceanic stations were 14.2 and 3.7 mmol m⁻², respectively. Mean depth-integrated SiP rates at the plumewater and oceanic stations were 0.17 and 0.02 mmol m⁻² h⁻¹, respectively. Based on ratios of SiP and PP rates, and typical Si:C ratios, diatoms contributed on average 29% of primary productivity at plumewater stations and only 3% of primary productivity at oceanic stations. In contrast, phytoplankton biomass (as chlorophyll a concentrations) and primary production (PP) rates (as ¹⁴C uptake rates) integrated over the euphotic zone were not significantly different at plumewater and oceanic stations. Chlorophyll a concentrations ranged from 8.5 to 42.4 mg m⁻² and 4.0 to 38.0 mg m⁻² and PP rates ranged from 2.2 to 11.2 mmol m⁻² h⁻² and 1.8 to 10.8 mmol m⁻² h⁻² at plumewater and oceanic stations, respectively. A conservative estimate of annual integrated SiP in offshore waters of Amazon plume between April and August is 0.59 Tmol Si, based on mean SiP rates in plumewaters and satellite-derived estimates of the area of the Amazon plume. In conclusion, river plumewaters dramatically alter the silicon dynamics of the WTAO, forming extensive diatom-dominated phytoplankton blooms that may contribute significantly to the global Si budget as well as contributing to energy and matter flow off of the continental shelf.     

Specific oceanographic characteristics and phytoplankton responses influencing the primary production around the Ulleung Basin area in spring

The East Sea(Sea of Japan)is a marginal,semi-closed sea in the northwestern Pacific.The Ulleung Basin area,which is located near the subpolar front of the East Sea,is known to have high primary production and good fisheries in spring season.After episodic wind-driven events during the spring of 2017,horizontal and vertical profiles of physical chemical biological factors were investigated at 29 stations located in the Ulleung Basin area.In addition,growth responses of phytoplankton communities to nutrient additions were evaluated by bioassay experiments to understand the fluctuation of phytoplankton biomass.Because of strong northwestern wind,phytoplankton biomass was scattered and upwelling phenomenon might be suppressed in this season.The phytoplankton abundances in the coastal stations were significantly higher than offshore and island stations.In contrast,the nutrient and chlorophyll a(Chl a)concentrations and the phytoplankton biomass were quite low in all locations.Bacillariophyceae was dominated group(>75.1%for coastal,40.0%for offshore and 43.6%for island stations).In the algal bioassays,the phytoplankton production was stimulated by N availability.The in vivo Chl a values in the+N and+NP treatments were significantly higher than the values in the control and the+P treatments.Based on the field survey,the higher nutrients in coastal waters affected the growth of diatom assemblages,however,little prosperity of phytoplankton was observed in the offshore waters despite the injection of sufficient nutrients in bioassay experiments.The growth of phytoplankton depended on the initial cell density.All of results indicated that a dominant northwestern wind led to a limited nutrients condition at euphotic layers,and the low level of biomass supply from the coasts resulted in low primary production.Both supplying nutrients and introducing phytoplankton through the currents are critical to maintain the high productivity in the Ulleung Basin area of the East Sea.     

The ecology of the deep-sea benthic and benthopelagic fish on the slopes of the Rockall Trough,Northeastern Atlantic

A total of over 28,000 benthic and benthopelagic fish belonging to 34 families and comprising at least 85 species were collected from the Hebridean Terrace in the Rockall Trough between soundings of 500 and 2000 m. Commercial type trawls (20.6 m Granton or 140 foot German bottom trawls) fished on paired warps at 33 stations accounted for 89% of all individual caught, the remainder being caught by a 16.4 m prawn trawl fished on a single warp (22 stations) and a 3 m Agassiz trawl (12 stations). The stations sampled, with a few exceptions, fell into discrete bathymetric zones separated by increments of approximately 250 m and different combinations of nets were used at each of these zones. The catch composition of the commercial trawls differed from those of the other nets. The most obvious difference was that squalid sharks, the alepocephalid Alepocephalus bairdii and the black scabbard fish Aphanopus carbo were important in the commercial type trawls but were absent or poorly represented in the other nets. Net size and towing speed were considered to be important factors influencing the catch composition. Net selectivity was most apparent on the upper and mid slopes but less apparent on the lower slopes.Relatively few families contribute to the total biomass at a given bathymetric zone and because the families Squalidae and Alepocephalidae contribute significantly to the biomass on the upper and mid slope it is therefore concluded that small nets must grossly underestimate the biomass at these depths. The greatest biomass occurred at mid slope depths (750–1000 m).     

Carbon production and export from Biscayne Bay,Florida. I. Temporal patterns in primary production,seston and zooplankton

Five stations along a transect from the western shore of Biscayne Bay, Florida to the Florida Current were sampled monthly for one year. The variability and amount of seston particulate organic carbon, adenosine triphosphate, chlorophyll a, primary production and zooplankton decreased along the seaward transect. The greater inshore biomass and variability of seston were the result of the allochthonous input of detritus and inorganic nutrients via terrestrial runoff. Annual primary production in this subtropical coastal lagoon ranged from 13 to 46 g C m^?2 yr^?1. Chlorophyll a in the bay ranged from 1 to 3 mg chlorophyll a m^?2. In contrast, chlorophyll a in the surface centimetre of the sediment ranged from 50 to 300 mg chlorophyll a m^?2. In this clear, shallow (2 to 3 m), oligotrophic lagoon, over 90% of total primary production is by submerged macrophytes and benthic algae. The high zooplankton biomass in the bay is most likely sustained by macrophyte detritus and the resuspension of benthic diatoms by the high winds associated with summer squalls and winter cold fronts.     

Tintinnids (Ciliophora) and Other Net Microzooplankton (> 30 µm) in Southwestern Atlantic Shelf Break Waters

Abstract. Proportions of foraminifers, tintinnids, polycystine radiolarians, pteropods and crustacean larval stages were estimated in a collection of 76 vertically stratified (0 – 100 m) 30 µm net microplankton samples from 16 stations along the Argentine shelf-slope (around 200 m isobath – between 40 and 56° S), covered on 13 – 18 November 1996. Tintinnids were identified to species. Relative abundances of the microzooplankton assessed and chlorophyll a values allow to define two contrasting groups of stations: 'deep' and 'shallow'. The former, located in pelagic, purely subantarctic Malvinas Current waters, hosted higher proportions of foraminifers and lower proportions of tintinnids, as well as less chlorophyll a (all differences were significant at the 0.1 % level). 'Shallow' stations were located in the area of the thermohaline front where the Patagonian Current comes in contact with the Malvinas Current, and were generally characterized by higher chlorophyll a levels (up to 3.7 µg Chl a  · l^–1). The distribution of tintinnid species, on the other hand, allowed no discrimination between these two areas, although some of the dominant forms showed much higher relative abundances in one of the two groups of stations. Twenty-six tintinnid taxa were recorded, yet only 6 accounted for 95 % of the specimens identified. Tintinnid taxocoenoses were characterized by a few abundant species and many rare ones. Numbers of tintinnid species and specific diversity did not differ noticeably with depth and latitude. Cape Horn Current waters were detected in the area by the presence of expatriated organisms presumably originating at mid-latitudes in the South Pacific Ocean.     

Space and time variations in zooplankton distribution south of Marseilles

The mesozooplankton distribution in the upper water layer (up to 200 m) off Marseilles (NW Mediterranean Sea) was studied during 22 cruises performed between March 1992 and February 1995. Four stations (M1, M3, M5 and M7) were investigated along a coast-open sea transect. Spatial and seasonal variations of zooplankton were described using different quantitative parameters: biomass (dry weight, carbon, nitrogen), displacement volume (biovolurne) and abundance of total organisms. C/N ratio, dry weight per individual and volume per individual were also calculated. The seasonal quantitative variations occurring at the four stations were not well synchronized. Annual maximum biomass was observed during spring and summer at M1 but only in early spring at the other stations. Abundance and biovolumes followed the same general pattern of variation. The mean values of the different parameters were maximum near the coast, at M1, and minimum at the most distant station (M7), but the decrease towards the open sea was not regular: the values found at M5 were higher than at M3 and markedly exceeded those at M7. This seems to be related to the presence of the oligotrophic Northern Mediterranean Current flowing parallel to the coast. In most cases M3 was in the core of the current whereas M5 seemed to be frequently influenced by its external boundary. Locally, this frontal situation enhanced the primary production and consequently favoured an increase in zooplankton biomass or production as suggested by the strong temporal correlation between chlorophyll and Zooplankton at this station. Comparison between stations demonstrated the specificity of M5 zooplankton which showed the lowest variability in its specific dry weight and biovolurne and the highest C/N ratios.     

High-resolution phytoplankton diel variations in the summer stratified central Yellow Sea

Vertical distributions of phytoplankton biomass and community structure were studied in the summer stratified central Yellow Sea (YS) using a submersible spectrofluorometer (Fluoroprobe, bbe Moldaenke, Germany), along with photosynthetic pigments analysis (HPLC-CHEMTAX), and microscope observation. Above all, the results of the dominating group obtained from these methods generally coincided with each other on the transect 35°N. The concentrations of brown algae, green algae and total chlorophyll a (Chl a) biomass were highly correlated between the results of Fluoroprobe observations and pigments analysis (r?=?0.79, 0.91 and 0.82, respectively, n?=?54, p?<?0.01). In the summer stratified central YS, significant differences in phytoplankton compositions on the vertical distribution was observed. On the basis of HPLC-CHEMTAX results, the dominating group of phytoplankton composition generally changed from cyanobacteria to chrysophytes and then to diatoms, from surface to bottom. Interestingly, on the basis of high-resolution observations using Fluoroprobe, a periodic fluctuation of the pycnocline presumably due to the semidiurnal internal tides was observed at an anchor station (35°N, 123°E). In addition, both nutrients and Chl a concentrations at the depth of the subsurface chlorophyll maximum (SCM) seemed to coincide with the rhythm of the pycnocline fluctuation, indicating the latter might have a potential impact on the dynamics of SCM phenomena in the summer stratified central YS.     

Latitudinal Differences in the Planktonic Biomass and Community Structure Down to the Greater Depths in the Western North Pacific

As part of the research program WEST-COSMIC Phase I (1997–2001), vertical profiles down to the greater depths (0–2000 m or 5800 m) of the plankton community structure composed of heterotrophic bacteria, phytoplankton, protozooplankton and metazooplankton were studied at one station in each subarctic (44°N) and in transitional region (39°N), and two stations in subtropical region (30°N and 25°N); all in 137–155°E in the western North Pacific Ocean. The biomass of all four taxonomic groups decreased rapidly with increasing depths at all stations, although the magnitude of depth-related decrease differed among the groups. As plankton community structure, metazooplankton biomass and bacterial biomass occupied >50% of the total in 0–2000 and 2000–4000 or 5000 m strata, respectively, at subarctic and transitional stations, while bacterial biomass contributed to >50% of the total consistently from 0 through 4800 or 5800 m at subtropical stations. Metazooplankton biomass integrated over the greater depths exhibited a clear latitudinal pattern (high north and low south), but this was not the case for those of the other taxonomic groups. As a component of metazooplankton, an appreciable contribution of diapausing copepods to the metazooplankton was noted at subarctic and transitional stations, but they were few or nil at subtropical stations. As protozooplankton assemblages, heterotrophic microflagellates (HMF) and dinoflagellates were two major components at subarctic and transitional stations, but were only HMF predominated at subtropical stations. From biomass ratios between heterotrophic bacteria, HMF and dinoflagellates, “sinking POC-DOC-heterotrophic bacteria-HMF-heterotrophic dinoflagellates” link was proposed as a microbial food chain operative in the deep layer of the western North Pacific. All results are discussed in the light of latitudinal differences in the structure and functioning of plankton community contributing to the ‘biological pump’ in the western North Pacific Ocean. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Basin-Scale Geographic Patterns of Bacterioplankton Biomass and Production in the Subarctic Pacific, July–September 1997

Bacterial biomass and production rate were measured in the surface (0–100 m) and mesopelagic layers (100–1,000 m) in the subarctic Pacific and the Bering Sea between July–September, 1997. Depth profiles were determined at stations occupied in oceanic domains including the subarctic gyres (western, Bering Sea, and Gulf of Alaska) and a boundary region south of the gyres. In the surface layer (0–100 m), both bacterial biomass and production were generally high in the western and Bering Sea gyres, with the tendency of decrease toward east. This geographic pattern was consistent with the dominant regime of phytoplankton biomass at the time of our survey. A significant portion of variation in bacterial production was explained by the concentration of chlorophyll a (r ² = 0.340, n = 60, P < 0.001) and, to the greater extent, by the concentration of semilabile total organic carbon (SL-TOC = TOC at a given depth—TOC at 1,000 m, r ² = 0.488, n = 59, P < 0.0001). Temperature significantly improved the regression model: temperature and chlorophyll jointly explained 60% of variation in bacterial production. These results support the hypothesis that bacteiral growth is largely regulated by the combination of temperature and the supply of dissolved organic carbon in subarctic surface waters. In the mesopelagic layer (100–1,000 m), the geographic pattern of bacterial production was strikingly different from the surface phytoplankton distribution: the production was high in the boundary region where the phytoplankton biomass was lowest. Bacterial growth appeared to be largely controlled by the supply of organic carbon, as indicated by the strong dependency of bacterial production on SL-TOC (r ² = 0.753, n = 75, P < 0.0001). The spatial uncoupling between surface phytoplankton and mesopelagic bacterial production suggests that the supply rate of labile dissolved organic carbon in the mesopelagic zone does not simply reflect the magnitude of the particulate organic carbon flux in the subarctic Pacific.