浮游植物生长上行效应的研究进展

归纳了海洋浮游植物生长营养盐限制的研究方法,综述了国内外关于海水中氮、磷、硅、铁等营养元素限制浮游植物生长的研究结果。在氮、磷营养元素限制时,海水中上述两个元素的浓度不仅限制了浮游植物的生长,而且还改变了浮游植物的种群结构,随着营养盐浓度的降低,浮游植物从小型向微型、微微型转变;而硅的缺乏,使浮游植物由硅藻向非硅藻转变;在大洋海域,铁的限制,甚至还影响到浮游植物对常量营养盐的吸收。铁施肥虽然促进了浮游植物的生长,降低了大气中CO2的浓度,缓解了温室效应,但同时也伴随着有毒藻类的生长以及DM S气体增加等带来的诸多问题。     

大亚湾营养物质变异特征

利用大亚湾现场调查和室内模拟数据,以及大亚湾生态网络17～18年8个航次的现场调查资料,采用营养状态质量指数(NQI)的方法评价大亚湾海域富营养化水平,结果表明,大亚湾海域除部分养殖海区为中营养状态外,大部分为贫营养状态;溶解态的无机磷和硅在过去10a多有较大幅度的下降,而溶解态的无机氮、溶解氧和叶绿素a则上升;浮游植物生长由过去认为由氮控制转变为现在由磷控制.分析了养殖海区底层海水、上覆水、沉积物间隙水中营养盐的含量及其化学形态.估算了沉积物-海水界面营养盐扩散通量,NH₄+,NO₂-,NO₃-,HPO₄2-,H₄SiO₄平均通量分别为302.0,-0.06,-1.82,2.53,47.6μmol/(m2·d).室内模拟了天然海水体系表层沉积物营养盐的吸附-解吸及其磷酸盐在沉积物上的吸附等温线.论述了大亚湾海域营养盐与赤潮的关系.     

胶州湾水体和表层沉积物营养环境现状及影响因素

为了解胶州湾水体和表层沉积物营养环境状况及其主要影响因素,于2019年8月在胶州湾30个站位点采集了海水和表层沉积物样品,并于2021年5月在胶州湾沿岸采集了18个站位点的水样,对水体溶解无机态营养盐浓度和组成以及表层沉积物中总有机碳、总氮、总磷及生物硅含量和碳、氮稳定同位素(δ¹³C、δ¹⁵N)进行了分析。结果表明,胶州湾内水体和沿岸水体中溶解无机氮、溶解无机磷和溶解硅酸盐浓度空间分布相近,高值均位于湾东北部,主要受到河流输入和沿岸污水排放的影响,低值主要出现在湾中部和湾口处。结合近30年来的历史数据分析发现,胶州湾夏季营养盐浓度在1990-2008年期间呈持续上升的趋势,政府实施的污染物总量控制措施以及河流径流量下降使得2006年以来营养盐浓度呈现下降的趋势,该变化在空间上主要体现为大沽河氮、磷输入量的减少及其对应的湾西部营养盐高值的消失。胶州湾氮、磷营养盐输入的不平衡使得“磷限制”在2000年后逐渐加剧。胶州湾表层沉积物中总有机碳、总氮、总磷含量高值均集中于东北部和东部沿岸,结合生物硅和水体营养盐含量分析显示,这主要是河流与排污输入及其...     

2002年春、夏季东海赤潮高发区营养盐结构及分布特征的比较

20 0 2年 8月 2 6日— 9月 4日在东海赤潮高发区 ( 2 9°0 0′— 32°0 0′N、1 2 2°0 0′— 1 2 3°30′E)进行了夏季航次的调查 ,利用春、夏季东海赤潮高发区的调查数据 ,系统分析比较了其营养盐结构和分布特征 ,并初步探讨了夏季爆发的中肋骨条藻赤潮与营养盐的关系。与 2 0 0 2年春季相比 ,2 0 0 2年夏季调查海区中SiO3 Si、PO4 P、NH4 N、DON和PN平均浓度比春季有所增加 ,而NO3 N、NO2 N、DOP和PP浓度则有所减小。夏季各种形态磷营养盐主要由PO4 P和PP组成 ,其中PO4 P比春季明显增加 ,PP略有减少 ,DOP显著减少 ;各种氮形态营养盐主要由DIN和DON组成 ,与春季相比DON比例略有增加 ,DIN略有减少。DIN仍以NO3 N为主并有所增加 ,而NH4 N比例基本不变 ,NO2 N有所减少。主要溶解无机态营养盐 ,如SiO3 Si、PO4 P和NO3 N ,以及PP的平面分布整体上呈沿岸海域浓度高、外海浓度低的趋势 ,等值线与海岸线平行的趋势已减弱 ,甚至消失。NO2 N和NH4 N具有明显的水团分布特征 ,与春季有所不同 ;DON和PN与春季具有相同的斑点状分布趋势。另外 ,本航次调查中在 1 1站发现中肋骨条藻赤潮 ,该站表层SiO3 Si浓度较高 ,PO4 P很低 ,其余溶解态氮营养盐及PP与调查海区表层平均浓度接近 ,PN较高。营养盐结构中 1 1站表层     

广西近海营养盐的时空分布特征

利用2006～2007年4个航次的大面调查数据,分析讨论了广西近海4个季节营养盐的时空分布变化特征。结果表明,该海域在春、夏、秋三季,活性硅酸盐和溶解无机氮分布趋势是近岸高,远岸低,由北向南呈梯度快速递减,高值区主要出现在廉州湾、铁山港和茅尾海三个区域;夏季磷酸盐在雷州半岛与涠洲岛之间出现高值;冬季3类营养盐在调查海区内分布均匀且为一年最低值。对该海区营养盐结构分析表明,硅在该海区过剩,溶解无机氮基本能满足浮游植物的生长需要,但在春季溶解无机氮和磷浓度都较低,属于寡营养型;夏季该海区磷浓度充足,在秋冬两季磷为该海区的限制性元素。     

东海赤潮高发区营养盐时空分布特征及其控制要素

东海长江口、舟山渔场附近海域是我国近海赤潮爆发严重的区域之一。在影响该海域营养盐分布的水团中 ,长江冲淡水向表层输入了大量的氮、磷、硅营养盐 ,台湾暖流主要对底层和长江口外上升流区有贡献 ,苏北沿岸水、闽浙沿岸水主要影响近岸区域。同时 ,营养盐在海水 -沉积物界面的交换作用 ,大气湿沉降作用等也影响着该海域营养盐的时空分布。结合2002年4月～2003年3月对29°00′～32°00′N、122°00′～124°00′E海域四季航次调查的营养盐分布规律 ,该海域可分为三片区域 ,由岸边向外海分别为高营养盐、低浮游植物区 ,较高营养盐、高浮游植物区和较低营养盐、低浮游植物区。随着近年来营养盐输入通量的增加 ,富营养化程度加大 ,受化学、物理、生物等因素综合作用 ,高浮游植物区赤潮爆发频率和规模逐年增加 ,已为中国近海典型的赤潮高发区     

香港近岸海域营养盐结构特征及其对浮游植物生长的影响

本文利用2000年3月至2001年5月在香港近岸牛尾海海域(Porter Shelter, Hong Kong)14个航次的现场调查数据, 对水体中营养盐组成结构和叶绿素a含量进行了分析研究。结果表明, 该海域表层和底层水体中溶解无机氮(DIN, 包括NO3?-N+NO2?-N, NH4+-N)平均浓度范围分别为1.24—9.72mol/L及1.30—7.49mol/L, 均表现为冬季最高、秋季最低。不同季节表层水体中PO43?-P浓度范围为0.14—0.46mol/L, 夏季平均浓度最底; 底层 PO43?-P浓度变化不大, 但夏季仍低于其他季节。不同季节表层和底层水体中SiO32?-Si的变化趋势基本相似, 平均浓度范围分别为7.80—18.47mol/L 和8.13—16.87mol/L, 均在冬季最高, 其它季节差别不大。叶绿素 a分析结果显示, 表层水体高生物量大多出现在夏末秋初季节(如8月份), 春季(4月份)次之; 底层水体叶绿素 a秋季最高, 夏季次之。进一步分析了该海域营养盐对浮游植物生长的可能限制因子, 结果表明表层水体春季呈现氮–磷协同限制的可能性、夏季磷限制较明显, 秋季表现为显著的氮限制。底层水体春、夏季呈现氮–磷协同限制的趋势, 秋季也表现为明显的氮限制。冬季磷酸盐浓度相对氮、硅的含量较低, 但各种营养盐相对于浮游植物生长的最低阈值都比较丰富, 所以, 冬季表、底层水体中营养盐对浮游植物的生长均不形成限制因素。另外, 除了夏季表层水体外, 其它季节该水域浮游植物生长受溶解无机硅限制的可能性较少。     

营养盐在东海春季大规模赤潮形成过程中的作用

为研究营养盐在东海大规模赤潮形成过程中的作用,分别于2004,2005年春季在东海赤潮爆发前进行了2个航次的海上调查。调查结果显示:DIN,PO4-P,SiO3-Si浓度分别高达15,0.55,15μmol.L-1以上,调查海域整体上处于富营养化状态;受陆源输入影响,调查区域营养盐分布呈现出近岸高、外海低,等值线走向与岸线基本平行的特点。同2004年相比,2005年春季调查海域营养盐高值区明显外扩,营养盐水平整体升高:其中DIN浓度升高9%、PO4-P升高18%、SiO3-Si升高60%,硅磷比上升60%,硅氮比上升了47%。研究结果表明,较高的营养盐浓度水平,较高的硅酸盐含量以及较高的硅磷比、硅氮比值是2005年春季优先爆发大规模硅藻赤潮的重要原因之一。     

近10年涠洲岛周边海域表层海水营养盐含量变化特征

根据2004~2013年间涠洲岛邻近海域共30个航次的营养盐监测结果,分析了涠洲岛邻近海域海水中营养盐的组成和变化特征.结果表明:无机氮(DIN)和活性磷酸盐(PO3-4-P)浓度的季节变化特征均为冬季秋季夏季,Si O2-3-Si各季节浓度差别不大.受陆源输入的影响,无机氮年际变化幅度比较大,整体上呈现上升趋势,NO-3-N与DIN的变化趋势基本相似,且对无机氮的贡献最大;Si O2-3-Si和NH+4-N呈现出逐渐下降的趋势,其中Si O2-3-Si下降趋势比较明显;PO3-4-P则呈现先增加后下降的趋势.营养盐化学计量比以及浮游植物生长营养盐限制因素分析结果显示,涠洲岛邻近海域主要属于磷限制,整个海域处于贫营养化程度.近10年来涠洲岛邻近海域海水中的Si/N逐年降低,N/P先降低后增加,这种变化趋势可能会导致浮游植物种群的变化.     

荣成湾营养盐分布和变化特征

根据2006-2007年4个季节的调查资料,分析了荣成湾无机氮、磷酸盐和硅酸盐的平面分布特征和季节变化规律。结果显示,荣成湾营养盐浓度基本符合二类海水水质标准,季节性变化明显,夏、秋营养盐浓度较低,春季营养盐浓度较高。根据营养盐相对和绝对限制法则,Si是冬季浮游植物生长的限制因子,其它季节浮游植物生长具有P限制的潜在可能性。潜在性富营养化评价结果表明夏季荣成湾处于贫营养水平,秋季处于P限制的中度营养水平,春季和冬季处于P中等限制潜在性富营养化水平。     

2010-2011年胶州湾叶绿素a与环境因子的时空变化特征

2010年4、6、8、10月和2011年1、3月在胶州湾开展了6个航次的综合调查,研究了表层海水温度、盐度、营养盐和叶绿素a浓度的时空变化特征。调查期间,总无机氮(DIN)、磷酸盐(PO4)和硅酸盐(SiO3)多呈现东北部湾边缘高,而湾内和湾口低的空间分布特征。季节变化表明,DIN和PO4主要受养殖排放、河流径流输入和浮游植物生长消耗的影响,呈现初夏和秋季高,夏末和冬季低的特点;而SiO3主要受河流径流输入和浮游植物消耗的影响,呈现夏、秋高,而冬、春低的特点。营养盐浓度和结构分析表明,胶州湾存在PO4和SiO3的绝对和相对限制;SiO3限制尤其严重,是控制胶州湾浮游植物生长的主要环境因子。SiO3和PO4的限制主要表现在冬季,几乎遍布整个海湾;夏季降水可有效缓解海域的SiO3限制。叶绿素a浓度呈现春、夏季高,秋、冬季低的季节分布,温度、营养盐浓度与结构和季节性贝类养殖活动是控制胶州湾叶绿素a浓度时空分布的关键因素。     

长江口及邻近海区营养盐结构与限制

通过研究长江口及邻近海域溶解无机氮(DIN=NO₃-+NO₂-+NH₄+)、磷酸盐(PO₄3-)、硅酸盐(SiO₃2-)所表征的营养盐区域结构特征及影响因素,在分析营养盐绝对限制情况的基础上,划分了潜在相对营养限制区域。结果表明,123°E以西近岸表层区域DIN/P比值全年均高于16,而Si/DIN除秋季外基本小于1,显示出长江冲淡水影响下"过量氮"的特征。春夏季河口锋面区(31°~32.5°N,122.5°~124°E)硅藻的大量生长可使DIN/P异常升高和Si/DIN异常降低。秋季研究区域北部DIN/P西低东高且Si/DIN西高东低是由于在高DIN、低PO₄3-的长江冲淡水影响下,近岸受相对低DIN、高SiO₃2-的苏北沿岸流南下入侵影响而被分割而成。冬季长江口门东北部存在的高DIN/P和低Si/DIN区则主要由于寡营养盐的黑潮水深入陆架,向东北输送的部分长江冲淡水和增强的苏北沿岸流共同作用造成DIN升高所致。利用Redfield比值进行了不同站位表层潜在相对营养限制情况的区分。近岸123°E以西受高DIN、SiO₃2-长江冲淡水影响,四季多呈现PO₄3-潜在相对限制,而在春夏季由于浮游植物的大量吸收PO₄3-,造成局部PO₄3-绝对限制及潜在相对限制。春夏季氮限(DIN潜在相对限制)一般发生在外海部分站位,但较为零散。秋季除了东南外海大部分站位外,受苏北沿岸流影响在长江口北部近岸也存在氮限。随着低DIN/P的黑潮表层水(KSW)的入侵加强,冬季外海氮限站位增多。硅限(SiO₃2-潜在相对限制)在夏季发生在赤潮高发区,而冬季南部存在较多硅限站位表明KSW中SiO₃2-相对较为缺乏。     

Seasonal dynamics of inorganic nutrients and phytoplankton biomass in the NW Alboran Sea

The seasonal dynamics of inorganic nutrients and phytoplankton biomass (chlorophyll a), and its relation with hydrological features, was studied in the NW Alboran Sea during four cruises conducted in February, April, July and October 2002. In the upper layers, the seasonal pattern of nutrient concentrations and their molar ratios (N:Si:P) was greatly influenced by hydrological conditions. The higher nutrient concentrations were observed during the spring cruise (2.54 μM NO₃⁻, 0.21 μM PO₄³⁻ and 1.55 μM Si(OH)₄, on average), coinciding with the increase of salinity due to upwelling induced by westerlies. The lowest nutrient concentrations were observed during summer (<0.54 μM NO₃⁻, 0.13 μM PO₄³⁻ and 0.75 μM Si(OH)₄, on average), when the lower salinities were detected. Nutrient molar ratios (N:Si:P) followed the same seasonal pattern as nutrient distribution. During all the cruises, the ratio N:P in the top 20 m was lower than 16:1, indicating a NO₃⁻ deficiency relative to PO₄³⁻. The N:P ratio increased with depth, reaching values higher than 16:1 in the deeper layers (200–300 m). The N:Si ratio in the top 20 m was lower than 1:1, excepting during spring when N:Si ratios higher than 1:1 were observed in some stations due to the upwelling event. The N:Si ratio increased with depth, showing a maximum at 50–100 m (>1.5:1), which indicates a shift towards Si-deficiency in these layers. The Si:P ratio was much lower than 16:1 throughout the water column during the four cruises. In general, the spatial and seasonal variation of phytoplankton biomass showed a strong coupling with hydrological and chemical fields. The higher chlorophyll a concentrations at the depth of the chlorophyll maximum were found in April (2.57 mg m⁻³ on average), while the lowest phytoplankton biomass corresponded to the winter cruise (0.74 mg m⁻³ on average). The low nitrate concentrations together with the low N:P ratios found in the upper layers (top 20 m) during the winter, summer and autumn cruises suggest that N-limitation could occur in these layers during great part of the year. However, N-limitation during the spring cruise was temporally overcome by nutrient enrichment caused by an intense wind-driven upwelling event.     

Changes of nutrient concentrations and N: P: Si ratios and their possible impacts on the Huanghai Sea ecosystem

To investigate the impacts of nutrient concentrations and N:P:Si ratios on the ecosystem of the Huanghai Sea (Yellow Sea), the current status and long-term variation of nutrients concentrations and ratios as well as phytoplankton community structure in the Huanghai Sea were collected and analyzed. The results reveal great annual and seasonal fluctuations in the nutrient concentrations and N:P:Si ratios during 1998-2008 with no clear pattern observed in the whole region. Yet on a seasonal scale of spring and in the coastal regions such as the Jiaozhou Bay and Sanggou Bay, the increase of DIN concentration and N:P ratio as well as the decrease of phosphate and silicate concentrations and Si:N ratios were relatively significant. Many pelagic ecosystem changes have occurred concurrent with these changes of the nutrient regime, such as the recent increase of primary production, changes of phytoplankton chlorophyll a biomass and abundance, an increase of eutrophication, and occurrence of HABs. In addition, new trends in the variation of nutrients seem to be developing in some particular transect such as 36°N, which suggests that long-term and systematic ecosystem monitoring in the Huanghai Sea is necessary.     

Seasonal variations in nutrients and chlorophyll-a concentrations in the Northern east China sea

Nutrients, chlorophyll-a, particulate organic carbon (POC), and environmental conditions were extensively investigated in the northern East China Sea (ECS) near Cheju Island during three seasonal cruises from 2003 to 2005. In spring and autumn, relatively high concentrations of nitrate (2.6~12.4 μmol kg^-1) and phosphate (0.17~0.61 μmol kg^-1) were observed in the surface waters in the western part of the study area because of the large supply of nutrients from deep waters by vertical mixing. The surface concentrations of nitrate and phosphate in summer were much lower than those in spring and autumn, which is ascribed to a reduced nutrient supply from the deep waters in summer because of surface layer stratification. While previous studies indicate that upwellings of the Kuroshio Current and the Changjiang (Yangtze River) are main sources of nutrients in the ECS, these two inputs seem not to have contributed significantly to the build-up of nutrients in the northern ECS during the time of this study. The lower nitrate:phosphate (N:P) ratio in the surface waters and the positive correlation between the surface N:P ratio and nitrate concentration indicate that nitrate acts as a main nutrient limiting phytoplankton growth in the northern ECS, contrary to previous reports of phosphate-limited phytoplankton growth in the ECS. This difference arises because most surface water nutrients are supplied by vertical mixing from deep waters with low N:P ratios and are not directly influenced by the Changjiang, which has a high N:P ratio. Surface chlorophyll-a levels showed large seasonal variation, with high concentrations (0.38~4.14 mg m^-3) in spring and autumn and low concentrations (0.22~1.05 mg m^-3) in summer. The surface distribution of chlorophyll-a coincided fairly well with that of nitrate in the northern ECS, implying that nitrate is an important nutrient controlling phytoplankton biomass. The POC:chlorophyll-a ratio was 4~6 times higher in summer than in spring and autumn, presumably because of the high summer phytoplankton death rate caused by nutrient depletion in the surface waters.     

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

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

Variability of nutrients and phytoplankton primary production in a shallow macrotidal coastal ecosystem (Arcachon Bay,France)

Seasonal and spatial variations of phytoplankton primary production were studied using a high frequency sampling strategy in the external (ENW) and internal (INW) part of Arcachon Bay, during 2002 and 2003. In order to better assess the availability of nutrients and their relationship with phytoplankton primary production, nutrient variability was studied in relation to environmental conditions and phytoplankton production. During winter, when primary production rates were the lowest, nutrient concentrations were maximal but did not show excessive levels compared to highly urbanised areas. Seasonal and spatial variations of nutrient concentrations (especially DIN-nitrate + nitrite + ammonium- and Si) were largely influenced by Leyre River loads coupled with high tidal exchange with the Atlantic Ocean creating a nutrient gradient between the INW and ENW. By February, diatom growth leads to an early severe nutrient depletion in the entire bay. Examination of nutrient ratios showed that the potential limiting nutrient during spring was P in 2003, and Si in 2002. During summer 2003, N and Si concentrations reached their lowest values, and nutrient ratios revealed a N-deficient environment, more pronounced in the INW. The high Si:N ratios during this period might be explained by (1) important N-uptake by all autotroph communities and (2) benthic-pelagic coupling with high Si regeneration. This study shows that nutrient levels in Arcachon Bay seem to play an important role in the control of phytoplankton primary production rates during the productive period and explain their spatial, seasonal and inter-annual variability. Our estimates of annual integrated phytoplankton primary production (103 g C m⁻² y⁻¹) place this bay within the low to moderate phytoplankton primary production systems.     

渤海浮游植物群落结构时空分布及其影响因素

浮游植物群落结构的时空变化对生物地球化学循环、全球气候及渔业资源具有重要的影响。本文采用ROMS-CoSiNE高分辨率数值模拟结果,分析了渤海浮游植物生物量和群落结构的时空分布特征,讨论了浮游植物群落结构时空差异的主要影响因素。结果表明,渤海表层叶绿素浓度和甲硅藻比在冬季最低、夏季最高。叶绿素浓度呈条带状分布,甲硅藻比呈斑块状分布。冬季、春季和秋季浮游植物群落结构均以硅藻占绝对优势,夏季以硅藻和甲藻共同占优。不同因素对浮游植物群落结构的影响具有时空差异性。在辽东湾、渤海湾、莱州湾和渤海中部,各个季节浮游植物群落结构差异分别受磷酸盐、氮磷比、硅氮比、溶解无机氮的影响最大。在冬季、夏季和秋季,各个区域浮游植物群落结构差异均受溶解无机氮的影响最大,在春季则受硅氮比的影响最大。总体上,营养盐浓度及结构是浮游植物群落结构时空差异的主要影响因子。     

胶州湾围隔浮游生态系统氮、磷营养盐迁移-转化模型研究

通过对目前生态动力学模型的总结和综合,以生态系统中氮、磷营养盐循环为主线,建立了适用于海洋围隔浮游生态系统的多变量的营养盐迁移-转化动力学模型.该模型包括浮游植物、浮游动物、溶解无机态营养盐、溶解有机态营养盐和生物碎屑5个模块,涉及溶解无机氮、磷酸盐、溶解有机氮、溶解有机磷、浮游植物、浮游动物和生物碎屑7个状态变量.分别利用1999年秋季和2000年夏季胶州湾围隔生态实验数据进行了模型和验证工作,成功地模拟了富加营养盐条件下围隔浮游生态系统中氮、磷营养盐生物化学迁移-转化过程,并确定了20余个参数的量值.     

Annual Variation of Benthic Nutrient Fluxes in Shallow Coastal Waters (Gulf of Trieste, Northern Adriatic Sea)

Abstract. Benthic fluxes of dissolved N. Si and P nutrients, alkalinity, dissolved inorganic C (DIC), and O₂ from sediments in the Gulf of Trieste (northern Adriatic, Italy) were measured monthly for 16 months, using laboratory incubated flux chambers at in siru temperatures in the dark. The annual average fluxes were: 02 = -19.3 ± 8.2, DIC = 13.7 ± 9.6, NO3 = -0.04 ± 0.16, NH4 = 0.3 ± 0.4. PO₄= 4.001 ± 0.01, Si = 0.9 ± 0.1 mmol m-² d^-1, with strong temporal fluctuations. The highest effluxes of all nutrients and DIC were observed in the summer. Small effluxes of DIC and NH4 and influxes of Si and PO4 were observed in late winter. Only NH₄ (ca. 50%) and Si (ca. 70%) fluxes were significantly correlated with temperature. This correlation suggests that the rate of downward input and the quality of sedimented organic matter (autochthonous and allochthonous) were superimposed on the temperature fluctuations. High DIC, NH₄ and Si effluxes observed in May 1993 during low temperature were due to the degradation of sedimentary organic matter produced by an early spring bloom of benthic microalgae which occurred about 6 weeks earlies while the autumn phytoplankton bloom was simultaneously reflected in enhanced benthic fluxes due to higher temperature. The role of benthic biological advection in this transport across the sediment-water interface, evaluated by comparison between measured benthic and calculated diffusive fluxes from nutrient pore water concentrations, was of minor importance. This is probably due to low infaunal activity throughout the year it was localized mostly in the narrow surficial layer. The annual average diffusive fluxes of NH4 and PO4 were higher than those measured, probably due to the presence of nitrificationdenitrifi-cation processes and redox-dependent chemical reactions at the oxic sediment-water interface, respectively. Only during bottom-water hypoxia in September 1993 did strong PO₄ effluxes prevail. Calculations based on the Redfield stoichiometry of oxic decomposition of organic N to NH4 and NO3, and differences between diffusive and measured NH₄ fluxes showed that denitrifkation averaged 0.8 mmol m^-2 d^-1. Significant correlations between NH₄ and PO₄ DIC and Si, and NH4 and Si fluxes suggested their parallel regeneration and utilization at the sediment-water interface. The nutrient fluxes observed were not significantly linked to O₂ consumption, suggesting also that anaerobic oxidation processes were important at the sediment-water interface in the gulf. The N, P and Si nutriqnts released from sediment pore waters are probably utilized in benthic microalgal and bottorn-hater primary production. This indicates that pelagic and benthic communities in the central part of the Gulf of Trieste function relatively independently of each other.