Microphytobenthic biomass and species composition in intertidal flats of the Nakdong River estuary, Korea

Intertidal microphytobenthos (MPB) were investigated monthly from August 2006 to March 2008 at four different sites in the sand flats of Nakdong River estuary, Korea. Samples of surface sediment (ca. 1 cm) were collected, and chlorophyll a was extracted as biomass estimation. Species identification and enumeration were carried out by light microscopy, assisted where necessary by scanning electronic microscopy. Biomass varied between 0.47 and 16.58 μg cm⁻³, abundance changed from 5.25 to 414.75 × 10³ cells cm⁻³, while the Shannon diversity indexes ranged between 0.69 and 2.35 H′. Thirty-nine MPB taxa were identified, primarily composed of epipelic diatoms, among which Amphora and Navicula were the most abundant genera. Based on the biomass, abundance, species composition and their dynamics, MPB assemblages of sampling sites were grouped into three distinct communities corresponding to their sediment composition characteristics. Multivariate correlation analysis revealed that biomass was positively related to mud and very fine sand, negatively related to fine and medium sand, but not significantly related to environmental factors such as pore water nutrients, light intensity and salinity, which fluctuated rapidly during emersion period. Cluster analysis corroborated the division of MPB communities according to site types on seasonal scales, and also showed seasonality between sites by cluster of all summer groups. Principal component analysis identified that variability in species composition was significantly affected by mud, very fine sand, fine sand, light intensity, and sediment temperature. This study suggests that sediment composition plays an important role in the functioning of intertidal MPB communities in estuarine ecosystems.     

Temporal and vertical distribution of microphytobenthos biomass in mangrove sediments of Zhujiang (Pearl River) Estuary

Being a primary producer, Microphytobenthos (MPB) play an important role in the benthic ecosystem of mangrove swamps. The temporal and vertical distribution of MPB biomass, expressed as chlorophyll a (Chla), was investigated in mangrove swamps on the Qi’ao island and the Futian Mangrove Nature Reserve, Guangdong Province, South China. Both locations are situated in the Zhujiang (Pearl River) Estuary. For each location, bi-monthly sampling was carried out at four sites during low tide period. Except one site on the Qi’ao Island, which was in Phragmites australis marsh, all sites were in mangrove swamps. The Chl a concentration in surface (0-1 cm) sediment ranged from 0.2 μg/cm 3 to 8.3 μg/cm3 in the Qi’ao Island and from 2.1 μg/cm3 to 15.6 μg/cm3 in the Futian Mangrove Reserve. The peak Chl a concentration occurred in winter or early spring, while the lowest Chl a concentration, with a value of about one quarter of the peak, was observed in summer or early autumn. The vertical distribution of Chl a concentration exhibited an exponential decline with depth, which indicated a muddy sediment with high organic matter, and the slope of the curve was positively related to Chl a concentration in the surface sediment. The MPB biomass of the Qi’ao Island was significantly lower than that of the Futian Mangrove Reserve. Our results suggest that the overlaying water quality might influence the MPB biomass in surface sediments.     

The vertical distribution of zooplankton in the western Irish Sea

Zooplankton diel vertical migration is evident on the mixed isothermal side of the western Irish Sea frontal system but is often influenced by large tides and persistent geostrophic currents. On the stratified side of the front, temperature acts as a controlling factor with most of the zooplankton occurring above the thermocline and carrying out pronounced vertical migration when chlorophyll a levels are low and diffuse. At higher chlorophyll levels, when discrete chlorophyll a maxima form, zooplankton vertical movement may be greatly modified with a large number of species and stages concentrating within these maxima at all times of the diel light cycle.     

茅尾海钦江河口光滩时空变化过程研究

河口潮滩一般由生长于中高潮滩的植被和植被前缘光滩（裸滩）构成,光滩的时空变化直接关联潮滩冲淤及植被演替状态。本文基于Landsat 5 TM及Sentinel-2 MSI等多期遥感影像,利用随机森林分类算法与数字岸线分析系统探讨茅尾海钦江河口光滩在1986—2021年期间的变化过程。结果表明：①近40年钦江河口光滩面积总体呈现明显损失的状态,可分为1986—2002年冲淤平衡、2002—2007年快速淤积、2007—2014年急剧降低和2014—2021年缓慢淤涨4个阶段;②光滩淤积的区域主要分布于钦江沙井河口口门及内侧河槽与潮汐通道边缘,侵蚀出现在钦江沙井河口及钦江沙冲河口航道及潮沟区域;③茅尾海清淤工程是引起钦江河口光滩自2008年到2014年面积减少的直接因素,潮间带植被扩张和2015年之后大范围生蚝养殖引起的水动力减弱导致光滩向海淤涨。当前海平面上升未对光滩造成明显影响,但入海泥沙的变化一定程度上影响光滩冲淤演变。本研究可为区域河口潮滩资源的可持续高效利用提供部分理论与技术支撑。     

基于河口潮间带底栖微藻群落水平的环境质量状态评价

The feasibility of community-based bioassessment of environmental quality status was studied using microphytobenthos(MPB) in estuarine intertidal ecosystems.The sediment samples of MPB were collected monthly during a 1-year cycle(September 2006–August 2007) at four sampling stations in the Nakdong River Estuary,Korea.Environmental variables,such as salinity,radiation,grain size of sediment,Si(OH)_4(Si),nitrate(NO_3~–),nitrite(NO_2~–),ammonium(NH_4~+) and phosphates(PO_4~(3–)),were measured synchronously for comparison with biotic parameters.The statistical analyses were carried out for assessment the relationship between biotic and environmental parameters.The results showed that:(1) the MPB community structures were significant differences among four sampling stations;(2) spatial variation in the MPB communities were significantly correlated with environmental variables,especially the nutrient NH_4+ in combination with salinity and grain size;(3) three species(Navicula lacustris,Pleurosigma anglulatum and Fragilaria sp.1) were significantly correlated with nutrients and/or Si;and(4) the species richness and diversity were significantly correlated with the grain size.It is suggested that MPB communities may be used as a potentially robust bioindicator for assessing environmental quality status in estuarine intertidal ecosystems.     

Benthic macroinvertebrates' vertical distribution in the Tagus estuary (Portugal): The influence of tidal cycle

In this work we evaluated the vertical distribution pattern of benthic infauna during the tidal cycle at one of the most important mudflats of the Tagus estuary. Samples were collected hourly during 24 h periods at four complete tidal cycles, using a corer specifically designed for the study purpose that allowed easy and effective separation of 15 different sediment layers. A particular case of general linear models, the hurdle model, was used to analyse data sets. We found that different species have different distribution and abundance according to sediment layers. Results showed that individuals tend to go deeper into sediment with a lower water column height and that these migrations are more visible during spring tides.     

Aspects of larval,post-larval and juvenile ecology of Macrobrachium petersi (Hilgendorf) in the Keiskamma estuary,South Africa

Although Macrobrachium petersi has nine larval stages, only stage I and a minimal number of stage II M. petersi larvae were caught in the Keiskamma estuary. Stage I larvae undergo a vertical migration at night which is markedly influenced by salinity, especially under stratified conditions. Larvae remain in the water column on the ebb tide, a behavioural pattern which effectively carried them to favourable salinities for growth and development. Stage I larvae show an association with salt front regions. The sudden decline in larval abundance from stage I to stage II downstream from the front suggests a change from a pelagic to an epibenthic existence. Later larval stages failed to appear in the plankton. However, post-larvae were caught in the estuary and a juvenile migration from the estuary to freshwater was monitored.     

Factors controlling excess radium in the Nakdong River estuary,Korea: submarine groundwater discharge versus desorption from riverine particles

The activities of naturally occurring radium isotopes (²²⁶Ra and ²²⁸Ra) in estuarine water were measured downstream of the dam constructed in the Nakdong River, Korea. The sampling of surface waters for radium, silicate, and suspended solid (SS) analyses was conducted at 18 stations during three periods (July 1997, April 1998, and June 1999). In general, radium activities exceeded the value expected from the mixing of two freshwater and seawater endmembers. We characterized the responses of Ra and Si according to three different conditions: (1) when the freshwater discharge and the water level of the dam relative to the sea level at low tide were lower (April 1998), the excess Ra and Si contents were lower in the estuary; (2) when the fresh water discharge was larger following heavy precipitation (July 1997), both excess Ra and Si contents were higher in the estuary with conservative mixing of Si; and (3) when the water level of the dam relative to the sea level at low tide was highest under low freshwater discharge (June 1999), high excess Ra but low Si levels were observed. The occurrence of high Ra activity in June 1999 was likely due to the large submarine brackish groundwater discharge downstream of the estuary. Since brackish groundwater in general contains high concentrations of nutrients, Ba, Ra, etc, our result suggests an important role for the submarine groundwater discharge on the biogeochemistry of estuarine/coastal waters, especially when the water level of the dam (hydraulic head) is high.     

Pathways of organic matter through food webs of diverse habitats in the regulated Nakdong River estuary (Korea)

The benthic macroinvertebrates of the Nakdong River estuary were sampled at three different habitats: two salt marsh (Scirpus triqueter and Phragmites australis) beds and a bare intertidal flat. Fishes were sampled in the main channel. The trophic importance of marsh vascular plants, microphytobenthos, and riverine and channel particulate organic matter to macroinvertebrate and fish production was studied using stable carbon and nitrogen isotope tracers. There was a dramatic change in coverage of macrophytes (salt marshes and seagrass) after the construction of an estuarine barrage in 1987 in the Nakdong River estuary, with the S. triqueter bed increasing, the P. australis bed decreasing, and Zostera marina habitats being nearly lost. Although the invertebrate δ¹³C were within a narrower range than those of the primary producers, the values varied considerably among consumers in these habitats. However, the isotope signatures of consumers showed similarities among different habitats. Cluster analysis based on their isotopic similarity suggested that the isotope variability among species was related more to functional feeding groups than to habitats or taxonomic groups. While δ¹³C values of suspension feeders were close to that of the channel POM (mainly phytoplankton), other benthic feeders and predators had δ¹³C similar to that of microphytobenthos. Isotopic mixing model estimates suggest that algal sources, including microphytobenthos and phytoplankton, play an important role in supporting the benthic food web. Despite the huge productivity of emergent salt marshes, the contribution of the marsh-derived organic matter to the estuarine food webs appears to be limited to some nutrition for some invertebrates just within marsh habitats, with little on the bare intertidal flats or in the channel fish communities. Isotope signatures of the channel fishes also confirm that algal sources are important in supporting fish nutrition. Our findings suggest that benthic and pelagic microalgae made a large contribution to consumer diets, while marsh plants may not have a large role in supporting food webs in this estuarine system.     

Current status and ecological roles of Zostera marina after recovery from large-scale reclamation in the Nakdong River estuary,Korea

Large Zostera marina meadows (covering 13.6 km²) existed in the Nakdong River estuary on the south coast of Korea until the mid-1980s, but these Z. marina beds nearly disappeared due to reclamation of adjacent mud flats for the construction of a port and industrial complex during the late 1980s. Partial recovery of Z. marina meadows occurred recently, and Z. marina coverage of about 0.3 km² was observed in this estuary. In this study, shoot morphology, density, biomass, productivity, and tissue nutrient content were measured to evaluate the current status of the Z. marina meadows by comparing these data to those for persistent seagrass meadows in similar geographical areas. Additionally, we examined the ecological roles of Z. marina in this estuary after recovery from the large-scale disturbance. Shoot density (151 shoots m⁻²) and total biomass (141 g DW m⁻²) in the estuary were similar to those reported from other Z. marina meadows in Korea. Annual leaf production (1726 g DW m⁻² y⁻¹) was higher than generally observed for Z. marina in other geographical areas. These results imply that the existing Z. marina meadows in this estuary have adjusted to local environmental conditions that changed after large-scale reclamation. Estimated annual whole plant carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) incorporations based on shoot production and tissue C and N content were 810.0 g C m⁻² y⁻¹ and 59.7 g N m⁻² y⁻¹, respectively. These values were equivalent to 2.4 × 10⁵ kg C y⁻¹ and 1.8 × 10⁴ kg N y⁻¹ for all Z. marina beds in the Nakdong River estuary. This high C and N incorporation into Z. marina tissues suggests that existing Z. marina meadows play important roles in C and N cycles in this estuary. Although the currently existing Z. marina beds in this estuary are persisting and play an important ecological role, anthropogenic factors that cause seagrass declines still affect the estuary. Thus, effective management and monitoring of Z. marina beds and environmental factors are critical to protecting and conserving this invaluable component of the Nakdong River estuary.     

Surface circulation and vertical structure of current off the Keum River estuary,Korea in later spring 2008

To examine the surface circulation and vertical structure of currents in the region of the Keum River (KR) plume, we analyzed the subinertial surface currents obtained by high frequency radar and the vertical profiles of currents measured at a station (M1) located 10 km distance from the estuary mouth for one month in late spring 2008. Monthly-mean surface circulation is composed of the westward flow from the estuary mouth and the northward flow in the offshore. These surface mean currents are a gradient (geostrophic) current around the monthly-mean plume bulge. Dominant variabilities of the surface currents, winds, and KR-outflow are decomposed by the Empirical Orthogonal Functions (EOF). The first current EOF mode, explaining 39% of total variation, is primarily related to the first wind EOF mode varying along the coast and the second current mode, explaining 33% of total variation, is mainly related to the first KR-outflow EOF mode varying along the mean KR-outflow direction. Meanwhile, vertical profile of the monthly-mean current at M1 shows a two-layer structure of the current flowing offshore (onshore) in the upper (lower) layer because the water column is divided by a pycnocline at 7-9 m depths below the plume water. This two layer structure is a background persisting current structure, at least in spring, maintained by the geostrophic balance induced by the sea level slope and density gradient along the line normal to the westward mean surface current direction due to monthly-mean plume bulge off the KR estuary. EOF analysis of vertical current profiles reveals that the first mode, explaining 43% of total variation, represents the two-layer structure of the current variability. The upper-layer current varies along a line normal to the mainland coastline and the low-layer one varies approximately along a line parallel to the coastline, with direction difference of about 115° between the upper-and low-layer. From the correlation analysis it is found that 60% of the first mode variation is influenced by the first mode of KR-outflow and 36% by the first mode of wind. Any forcing modes of KR-outflow and wind influencing the other current vertical modes could not be found in the present study.     

Spatial intertidal distribution of bivalves and polychaetes in relation to environmental conditions in the Natori River estuary,Japan

This paper aims to reveal spatial variation in the abundance of infaunal bivalves and polychaetes at different spatial scales (station: 200–800 m intervals; plot: 5–20 m), and to reveal environmental variables affecting the spatial distribution of animals in the Natori River estuary, Japan. We found six bivalve species and eight polychaete species from 52 plots at 12 stations. Nuttallia olivacea and Heteromastus sp. were found to be the most abundant species of bivalves and polychaetes, respectively. Assemblage patterns of bivalves and polychaetes were classified into five distinct groups. Substrata (silt-clay contents), salinity, and relative elevation were the variables found to affect the infaunal assemblage patterns. Chlorophyll a was not a significant variable, but benthic animals were absent at sites with extremely low chlorophyll a conditions. Macrobenthic assemblage patterns were different not only between stations but often differed between plots at the same station, reflecting the complex assemblage structure of benthic invertebrates. Detailing such animal–environment relationship is essential in understanding the potential food supply for estuarine fishes.     

北太平洋亚热带环流区与西太平洋暖池区浮游动物群落垂直分布的差异及其对碳通量的意义

The mesozooplankton in both epipelagic and mesopelagic zones is essentially important for the study of ecosystem and biological carbon pump. Previous studies showed that the diel vertical migration(DVM) pattern of mesozooplankton varied among ecosystems. However, that pattern was largely unknown in the Western Pacific Warm Pool(WPWP). The vertical distribution, DVM and community structure of mesozooplankton from the surface to 1 000 m were compared at Stas JL7K(WPWP) and MA(North Pacific Subtropical Gyre, NPSG). Two sites showed similarly low biomass in both epipelagic and mesopelagic zones, which were in accordance with oligotrophic conditions of these two ecosystems. Stronger DVM(night/day ratio) was found at JL7K(1.31) than that at MA(1.09) on surface 0–100 m, and an obvious night increase of mesopelagic biomass was observed at JL7K, which was probably due to migrators from bathypelagic zone. Active carbon flux by DVM of zooplankton was estimated to be 0.23 mmol/(m2·d) at JL7K and 0.16 mmol/(m~2·d) at MA. The community structure analysis showed that calanoid copepods, cnidarians and appendicularians were the main contributors to DVM of mesozooplankton at both sites. We also compared the present result with previous studies of the two ecosystems,and suggested that the DVM of mesozooplankton was more homogeneous within the WPWP and more variable within the NPSG, though both ecosystems showed typically extremely oligotrophic conditions. The different diel vertical migration strength of mesozooplankton between NPSG and WPWP implied different efficiency of carbon pump in these two ecosystems.     

南沙群岛海域溶解氧垂直分布最大值的季节特征

根据“八五”、“九五”国家科技专项南沙群岛海域综合科学考察的现场调查资料,对南沙群岛海域溶解氧垂直分布最大值现象的分布特征、季节变化规律作了较为全面的分析和研究,同时比较了东海、黄海海域春、夏季溶解氧垂直分布出现的最大值现象及其特征.研究结果表明南沙群岛海域溶解氧垂直分布的最大值现象与我国东海、黄海海域的溶解氧垂直分布最大值现象无论在地理分布、深度、强度、季节性变化还是存在条件的特征化方面,均有着较大的差别.反映影响南沙群岛海域溶解氧垂直分布最大值形成的原因,均与东海、黄海海域溶解氧垂直分布最大值形成的原因有所不同     

海岸沿岸流垂向分布实验研究

进行海岸沿岸流模型实验,利用ADV(acoustic doppler velocimeter)测量了沿岸流流速沿垂直岸线方向多个断面的垂向分布。采用Faria等的方法对实验结果进行了分析,将沿岸流沿水深分为上层和下层两部分:下层采用对数分布来表达沿岸流的垂向分布;上层考虑了波浪引起的自由表面的波动,流速分布为修正的对数分布。最后对沿岸流垂向分布特征做了分析,并与Visser和Hamilton的实验结果做了对比。     

Spatio-temporal variability of micro- and meiobenthic communities in a White Sea intertidal sandflat

Meiobenthos (harpacticoids), microzoobenthos (ciliates) and microphytobenthos (epipelic diatoms and dinoflagellates) were collected during July 1999 using nested sampling at the scales of decimeters, meters and tens of meters. Similarity between samples decreased rapidly with distance for all groups, but unicellular organisms were distributed more heterogeneously at a large scale than meiobenthos. Microspatial (decimeter scale) variations contributed the main part of total variation of harpacticoid abundance, while the large-scale differences were less important. On the contrary, these differences yielded the main variability for ciliates and especially for microalgae. The relative role of temporal variability decreased steadily for the smaller-sized organisms. Stability of spatial structure at multiple scales was estimated by Mantel correlations, R_m, between the successive similarity matrices. For harpacticoids, the results showed intensive and chaotic turnover of microaggregations. For microbenthos, rather high R_m values were found in smaller scales: tens of meters—for ciliates, from meters on—for dinoflagellates, and already from decimeter scale and on—for diatoms. Thus, the general spatial pattern (that is the arrangement of micropatches) was more stable for microbenthos than for meiobenthos. Temporal variability of species structure, in contrast to the spatial one, was highest for the smallest organisms. Correlations between size groups, using both total abundance and species composition, differed for microspatial, meso-spatial or temporal distribution. At the microscale, there were slight but significant negative correlations between harpacticoids and microalgae. Meso-scale distribution of dinoflagellates and diatoms differed significantly due to their different preferences in sediment properties. Ciliates were strongly positively correlated with dinoflagellates. At the microscale, each group had an individual community pattern. At larger scales, species composition of diatoms, ciliates and harpacticoids varied in space in coordination, while dinoflagellates behaved independently. It is hypothesized that body size determines the spatio-temporal scale of the perception of environmental heterogeneity.     

Influence of the vertical distribution of cyanobacteria in the water column on the remote sensing signal

An increased intensity of cyanobacterial blooms and their potentially harmful effects have attracted the attention of environmental agencies, water authorities and the general public worldwide. Reliable operational monitoring methods of coastal waters, lakes and ponds are needed. Mapping of the surface extent of cyanobacterial blooms with remote sensing is straightforward, but recognizing waters dominated by cyanobacteria throughout the water column and quantitative mapping of cyanobacterial biomass with remote sensing is more complicated. Unlike most algae, cyanobacteria can regulate their buoyancy and move vertically in the water column. We used the Hydrolight 4.2 radiative transfer model and the specific optical properties of three species of cyanobacteria to study the impact of vertical distribution of cyanobacteria on the remote sensing signal. The results show that the vertical distribution of cyanobacteria in the water column has a significant impact on the remote sensing signal. This result indicates that developing remote sensing methods for quantitative mapping of cyanobacterial biomass is much more complex than quantitative mapping of an algal biomass that is uniformly distributed in the top mixed layer of water column.     

裂流垂向分布实验研究

通过物理模型实验给出了沙坝海岸丁坝附近交叉波浪场形成的裂流沿裂流槽水深平均速度剖面中心线的垂向分布,研究了各个测量断面上横向速度、纵向速度以及速度矢量沿水深的分布特征。研究分析了沿岸方向驻波节腹点和裂流槽相对位置的影响以及规则波和不规则波结果的差异,得到了裂流速度时均值和时变值的结果。结果表明,纵向速度在不同的时间段上的平均值基本是相同的,但横向速度不是这样,其在不同时间段上的平均值在大小和正负号上都可能存在较大差别,这导致整个速度矢量在不同时间段上也表现出不同的三维分布特征。但这些不同的分布也存在着共同点,即沿水深速度矢量大部分存在着向丁坝方向偏转,这反映了丁坝存在的影响。特别是,纵向速度沿水深分布都可以采用统一的幂函数表达。