2016年夏季黄、渤海颗粒有机碳的分布特征及影响因素

本文根据2016年6-7月黄、渤海航次获得的调查数据,分析了黄、渤海海域颗粒有机碳（POC）的浓度变化、空间分布特征并结合盐度、叶绿素a、POC/PON、POC/Chl a平面分布特征和相关性分析,探讨了黄、渤海海域POC的来源和影响因素。结果表明:2016年夏季渤海海域POC平均浓度（500.2±226.5）μg/L,北黄海POC平均浓度（358.2±101.5）μg/L,南黄海POC平均浓度（321.0±158.1）μg/L,渤海海域POC浓度高于黄海,整个海域POC浓度表层高于底层。POC的平面分布特征为近岸高,外海低。调查海域表层POC/PON均值为8.89,POC/Chl a均值为182.52;中层POC/PON均值为8.87,POC/Chl a均值为179.56;底层POC/PON均值为9.41,POC/Chl a均值为178.80。黄海海域浒苔衰败对POC/PON与POC/Chl a影响较大。相关性分析结果表明渤海海域盐度、总悬浮物和叶绿素a与POC存在显著的相关性,是影响POC分布的主要控制因素。南黄海除表层POC浓度与盐度、总悬浮物和叶绿素a浓度有很好的相关性外,中层和底层POC浓度与盐度、总悬浮物和叶绿素a浓度不存在显著的相关性。渤海海域POC主要受陆源和浮游植物共同影响,浮游植物是POC的主要贡献者,而黄海海域POC受长江冲淡水、黄海暖流、苏北沿岸流、生物活动和底层沉积物等多种因素影响,其中苏北近岸和青岛外海,有机碎屑为POC的主要贡献者。     

Nutrient Enrichments of Waters of "Golfo de San Jose" (Argentina, 42 oS), Growth and Species Selection of Phytoplankton

Abstract. Coastal Patagonian sea waters had been differentially nutrient-enriched to determine (i) the magnitude of the algal biomass supported and (ii) which species were able to best compete for the available nutrients. Nitrogen was found to be the nutrient limiting growth of the natural phytoplankton population. The addition of NO₃ at 25 μg at 1^-1 led to a 10 to 30 μg 1^-1 increase in chlorophyll a in all but those treatments containing trace metal additions. The best yield coefficients were obtained when a chelator (EDTA) was added with NO₃. A pool of nine diatom species were common in the N0₃ supplemented waters and the addition of vitamins along with NO₃ allowed two of the nine species to dominate.     

Seasonal and spatial distribution of particulate organic matter (POM) in the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas

As part of the Western Arctic Shelf–Basin Interactions (SBI) project, the production and fate of organic carbon and nitrogen from the Chukchi and Beaufort Sea shelves were investigated during spring (5 May–15 June) and summer (15 July–25 August) cruises in 2002. Seasonal observations of suspended particulate organic carbon (POC) and nitrogen (PON) and large-particle (>53 μm) size class suggest that there was a large accumulation of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) between spring and summer in the surface mixed layer due to high phytoplankton productivity. Considerable organic matter appeared to be transported from the shelf into the Arctic Ocean basin in an elevated POC and PON layer at the top of the upper halocline. Seasonal changes in the molar carbon:nitrogen (C:N) ratio of the suspended particulate organic matter (POM) pool reflect a change in the quality of the organic material that was present and presumably being exported to the sediment and to Arctic Ocean waters adjacent to the Chukchi and Beaufort Sea shelves. In spring, low particulate C:N ratios (<6; i.e., N rich) were observed in nitrate-replete surface waters. By the summer, localized high particulate C:N ratios (>9; i.e., N-poor) were observed in nitrate-depleted surface waters. Low POC and inorganic nutrient concentrations observed in the surface layer suggest that rates of primary, new and export production are low in the Canada Basin region of the Arctic Ocean.     

Relationship between sedimentation rates and benthic impact on Maërl beds derived from fish farming in the Mediterranean

The aim of this work was to study the dispersion of particulate wastes derived from marine fish farming and correlate the data with the impact on the seabed. Carbon and nutrients were correlated with the physico-chemical parameters of the sediment and the benthic community structure. The sedimentation rates in the benthic system were 1.09, 0.09 and 0.13 g m?2 day?1 for particulate organic carbon (POC), particulate organic nitrogen (PON) and total phosphorus (TP), respectively. TP was a reliable parameter for establishing the spatial extent of the fish farm particulate wastes. Fish farming was seen to influence not only physico-chemical and biological parameters but also the functioning of the ecosystem from a trophic point of view, particularly affecting the grazers and the balance among the trophic groups. POC, PON and TP sedimentation dynamics reflected the physico-chemical status of the sediment along the distance gradient studied, while their impact on the benthic community extended further. Therefore, the level of fish farm impact on the benthic community might be underestimated if it is assessed by merely taking into account data obtained from waste dispersion rates. The benthic habitat beneath the fish farm, Ma?rl bed, was seen to be very sensitive to aquaculture impact compared with other unvegetated benthic habitats, with an estimated POC-carrying capacity to maintain current diversity of 0.087 g C m?2 day?1 (only 36% greater than the basal POC input). Environmental protection agencies should define different aquaculture waste load thresholds for different benthic communities affected by finfish farming, according to their particular degree of sensitivity, in order to maintain natural ecosystem functions.     

普里兹湾水体悬浮颗粒物天然15N

本文研究了南极普里兹湾海域悬浮颗粒物中的天然15N丰度,并就δ15N与POC、PON等生化要素之间的相关性进行了讨论,对δ15N含量分布特征的形成机制及其与物理、生物学过程的耦合进行了探讨,给出了南极普里兹湾悬浮颗粒物中的δ15N与POC、PON含量呈负相关关系;表层水中δ15N、POC和PON的分布和δ15N的垂直分布可能与涡流有关.     

东海颗粒碳的垂直转移过程

在１９９３年和１９９４年两个航次中，利用震动式取样从东海陆架取得３个柱状岩芯样品。对其进行了ＰＯＣ，ＰＩＣ，ＰＯＮ含量和粒度分析，并同其上覆水体的ＰＯＣ，ＰＩＣ以及总颗粒物的垂直通量和悬浮体作了比较。     

Effect of artificial reefs (southern Portugal) on sediment–water transport of nutrients: Importance of the hydrodynamic regime

The present study investigates the differences between nutrient fluxes and particulate organic matter within an artificial reef system (AR) deployed in August 2002 off Faro (Algarve, Southern Portugal) and in a non-reef area (NRA), and how fluxes and suspended material may be affected by the hydrodynamic regime. Surveys to collect sediment cores, suspended/settled particles and overlying water samples were carried out by divers, from March (2006) to October (2007) in AR and NRA. Sediment cores and settled particles were collected to determine grain size, organic and inorganic carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus content. Overlying water and pore water samples were analysed for ammonium, nitrite, nitrate, phosphate, silicate, dissolved organic nitrogen, dissolved organic phosphorus and chlorophyll a. Results from the period studied showed that: (1) the benthic export of dissolved N, P and Si was 2–3 times higher at AR; (2) the particulate organic carbon (POC), nitrogen (PON) and phosphorus (POP) in suspended/settled particles were about 1.5 times higher at AR; (3) at both AR and NRA, the benthic export of dissolved N, P and Si, during a calm weather period, was 2–4 times higher than during or immediately after a storm event; and (4) at both sites, particulate organic compounds (POC, PON and POP) increased about 20 times during a storm event. These findings suggest that both the nutrients transport from sediment to water column and the quantity/quality of suspended/settled particles were highly dependent on the existence of reef structures and on the hydrodynamic regime.     

长江口盐度梯度下不同形态碳的分布、来源与混合行为

河口碳的生物地球化学过程是全球碳循环的重要组成。通过测定溶解无机碳（DIC）及其稳定同位素丰度（δ13C_DIC）,溶解有机碳（DOC）,有色溶解有机物（CDOM）,颗粒有机碳（POC）及其稳定同位素丰度（δ13C_POC）与元素比值（N/C）及相关指标,研究了2014年7月长江口盐度梯度下不同形态碳的分布、来源和混合行为。结果表明,DIC浓度、DOC浓度、POC含量分别为1 583.2~1 739.6 μmol/L,128.4~369.4 μmol/L和51.2~530.8 μmol/L,这些不同形态碳及CDOM的荧光组分的分布模式相似,均是从口内到口外,整体呈现先增大后减小的趋势,并与盐度呈现非保守混合行为。添加作用主要发生在在口门处最大浑浊带附近。与含量相反,从口内到口外,δ13C_DIC和δ13C_POC均呈现逐渐减小再增大的趋势,在口门附近达到最低值,分别为-9.7‰和-26.7‰。在口门附近不同形态碳含量上升及δ13C_DIC、δ13C_POC的降低可能主要与沉积物再悬浮及微生物作用有关。基于蒙特卡洛模拟的三端元混合模型的结果显示,河口内外POC来源变化明显,口内POC以陆源有机碳贡献为主,平均为62.3%,口外海源贡献逐渐增加。CDOM相关参数结果表明长江口CDOM主要来自陆源输入,海源及人类活动等也对其产生影响。     

Chemical studies on organic matter and carbon cycle in the ocean

Chemistry of organic materials of the suspended and sinking particles, and the evaluation of the particulate materials for the carbon cycle of the ocean are described in this paper. Organic carbon (POC) and nitrogen (PON) of the suspended particles collected from various areas of the North through South Pacific were determined with considerably high variabilities in their concentration. Higher values of the POC and PON were obtained in the surface water of the higher latitudinal areas of both northern and southern hemispheres and the equatorial Pacific, while the lower values of these organic elements were measured in the middle latitudinal areas of the Pacific. These facts clearly indicate that inorganic nutrients supply to the surface water layers from the underlying water is primarily determinative factor to govern the concentration of the POC and PON in the surface water layer. POC and PON concentrations in the intermediate through deep waters, however, are much less variable in time and space. Carbohydrates, free and combined amino acids and lipid materials were major organic constituents of the suspended particles. The organic composition of the particles was extensively variable in region, time and depth. Such change in the organic composition was mainly caused by the production and decay of the free and combined amino acids, lipid materials and water extractable carbohydrate. Sinking particle which has high sinking rate over 100 m day⁻¹ and can be collected only by sediment trap, also consists of carbohydrates, free and combined amino acids and lipid materials. A detailed analysis of the particle indicate that the sinking particle was much different from the suspended particle from the intermediate through deep waters in terms of the abundance of the biologically susceptible organic materials such as unsaturated hydrocarbon, fatty acid and water extractable carbohydrate often found in phytoplankton. These facts clearly indicate that the sinking particle plays an important role on the vertical transport of the biologically susceptible organic materials from the surface water to the deep water. Vertical flux of organic materials in various water depths was extensively measured in the North Pacific and Antarctic Ocean using the depth-series sediment trap system to collect the sinking particles from various depths of the waters. Regional and seasonal variabilities of the organic carbon flux at the various depths were obviously observed, however the attenuation rate of the organic carbon flux in the intermediate through deep water was not changed so much irrespective of the sampling time and region. The time-series sediment trap system was also using to determine the seasonal variation of the organic carbon flux. An average organic carbon flux at 1 km depth from this trap system was almost comparable to the amount of organic carbon degraded in the water deeper than 1 km depth, which was calculated from oxygen consumption rate of the deep water. Thus, it is clear that the sinking particle must play an important role in the carbon cycle of the deep water.     

东海2012年夏季海-气界面碳交换及其区域碳汇强度变化趋势初探

基于2012年7月对东海的调查,剖析了其水体中各形态碳(pCO2、DIC、DOC、POC)的区域分布特征,估算了海-气界面CO2的交换通量(FCO2),探讨了影响其交换的主要因素,在此基础上,结合历史资料初步分析了近十几年来该海域海-气界面CO2交换通量的变化趋势。结果表明,2012年7月长江口邻近海域相对南部陆架区具有较低的DIC浓度,而DOC与POC的浓度相对较高。调查区域表层水pCO2变化范围为96.28~577.7μatm(1atm为101 325Pa),平均值为297.6μatm,低值区出现在长江冲淡水区(30°~33°N,123°~125°E),高值区主要分布在东海陆架的南部区域。表层水pCO2主要受控于长江冲淡水的输入和混合(盐度)、台湾暖流以及生物生产等。调查海域2012年7月海-气FCO2平均为(-6.410±7.486)mmol/(m2·d),表现东海在夏季是大气CO2的汇区,区域碳汇强度由强到弱依次为:长江冲淡水区(CDW)、黄东海混合水区(YEMW)、陆架咸淡水混合区(SMW)、近岸上升流区(CUW)和台湾暖流区(TWCW),东海夏季每日吸收大气CO2(以C计)约(18.3±19.8)kt。结合历史资料分析发现,近十几年来东海夏季碳汇强度有增强趋势,CDW区的海-气界面CO2通量平均年增速为-0.814mmol/(m2·d),即海水吸收大气二氧化碳每年增加约54.6kt,是夏季东海碳汇增加的最主要贡献者。     

C : N ratios in the mixed layer during the productive season in the northeast Atlantic Ocean

Redfield stoichiometry has proved a robust paradigm for the understanding of biological production and export in the ocean on a long-term and a large-scale basis. However, deviations of carbon and nitrogen uptake ratios from the Redfield ratio have been reported. A comprehensive data set including all carbon and nitrogen pools relevant to biological production in the surface ocean (DIC, DIN, DOC, DON, POC, PON) was used to calculate seasonal new production based on carbon and nitrogen uptake in summer along 20°W in the northeast Atlantic Ocean. The 20°W transect between 30 and 60°N covers different trophic states and seasonal stages of the productive surface layer, including early bloom, bloom, post-bloom and non-bloom situations. The spatial pattern has elements of a seasonal progression. We also calculated exported production, i.e., that part of seasonal new production not accumulated in particulate and dissolved pools, again separately for carbon and nitrogen. The pairs of estimates of `seasonal new production’ and `exported production’ allowed us to calculate the C : N ratios of these quantities. While suspended particulate matter in the mixed layer largely conforms to Redfield stoichiometry, marked deviations were observed in carbon and nitrogen uptake and export with progressing season or nutrient depletion. The spring system was characterized by nitrogen overconsumption and the oligotrophic summer system by a marked carbon overconsumption. The C : N ratios of seasonal new as well as exported production increase from early bloom values of 5–6 to values of 10–16 in the post-bloom/oligotrophic system. The summertime accumulation of nitrogen-poor dissolved organic matter can explain only part of this shift.     

Organic matter characterization and fate in the sub-arctic Norwegian fjords during the late spring/summer period

The organic matter (OM) pool has been studied in two sub-arctic north Norwegian fjords, Balsfjord and Ullsfjord, in July 2001 and June 2003. Besides general OM parameters such as dissolved organic carbon (DOC), particulate organic carbon and nitrogen (POC and PON), the distribution of specific compounds such as folic acid and surface active substances (SAS) was followed. The results are supported with data of salinity, temperature, and chlorophyll a (Chl a). This approach allowed assessment of the fate of the OM pool, and its distinct vertical, spatial, and seasonal variations. Fjord waters could be vertically divided into two layers: the upper mixed layer (UML), until 40 m depth, and the deep aphotic layer. Spatial variability between the two fjords is a consequence of different influences of shelf waters on the fjords. Significant enrichment of POC and PON concentrations (3–5 times), as well as those of particulate SAS and folic acid (up to 3.2 times) in the UML was recorded during the period of new production, in early June. Depletion of particulate OM in deep waters was ascribed to fast dissolution or remineralization in the UML or upper part of aphotic layer. OM in July 2001 was characterized with 15.9% higher DOC pool compared to June 2003, and had refractory properties, suggesting the fjords to be an important source of organic matter for the continental shelf ecosystem. The DOC pool in these subarctic fjords represents the major component of the OM pool. The DOC concentrations in fjords are lower than those in previously studied warmer seas (e.g. the Adriatic Sea), whereas the concentrations of folic acid and SAS are comparable to those in the Adriatic Sea.     

西北冰洋表-底层碳动力学耦合作用的同位素(13C,234Th)指示

The coupling of upper ocean-benthic carbon dynamics in the ice-free western Arctic Ocean(the Chukchi Sea and the Canada Basin) was evaluated during the late July–early September 2003 using natural stable(13C) and radioactive(238U-234Th) isotope tracers. POC export flux estimated from 234Th/238 U disequilibria and dissolved CO2 concentration([CO2(aq)]) pointed out that the strengthened biological pump in the Chukchi Shelf have significantly lowered [CO2(aq)] and altered the magnitude of isotopic(12C/13C) fractionation during carbon fixation in the surface ocean. Further, d13 C signatures of surface sediments(d13Csed) are positively correlated to those of weighted d13 CPOC in upper ocean(d13Csed =13.64+1.56×d13CPOC, r2=0.73, p0.01), suggesting that the POC isotopic signals from upper ocean have been recorded in the sediments, partly due to the rapid export of particles as evidenced by low residence times of the highly particle-reactive 234 Th from the upper water column. It is suggested that there probably exists an upper ocean-benthic coupling of carbon dynamics, which likely assures the sedimentary d13 C record an indicator of paleo-CO2 in the western Arctic Ocean.     

Fluxes and sources of suspended organic matter in an estuarine turbidity maximum region during low discharge conditions

Water column concentrations of total suspended solids (TSS), particulate organic carbon (POC) and particulate nitrogen (PN) were measured at three different depths in four different locations bracketing the estuarine turbidity maximum (ETM) along the main channel of a temperate riverine estuary (Winyah Bay, South Carolina, USA). Measurements were carried out over full tidal cycle (over 24 h). Salinity, temperature, current magnitude and direction were also monitored at the same time throughout the water column. Tidally averaged net fluxes of salt, TSS, POC and PN were calculated by combining the current measurements with the concentration data. Under the extreme low river discharge conditions that characterized the study period, net landward fluxes of salt were measured in the lower part of the study area, suggesting that the landward transport through the main channel of the estuary was probably balanced by export out through the sides. In contrast, the net fluxes of salt in the upper reaches of the study area were near zero, indicating a closed salt balance in this part of the estuary. In contrast to salt, the net fluxes of TSS, POC and PN in the deeper parts of the water column were consistently landward at all four sites in Winyah Bay indicating the non-conservative behavior of particulate components and their active transport up the estuary in the region around the ETM.The carbon contents (%POC), carbon:nitrogen ratios (org[C:N]a) and stable carbon isotopic compositions (δ¹³C_POC) of the suspended particles varied significantly with depth, location and tidal stage. Tidally averaged compositions showed a significant increase up the estuary in the %POC and org[C:N]a values of suspended particles consistent with the preferential landward transport of carbon-rich particles with higher vascular plant debris content. The combination of tidal resuspension and flood-dominated flow appeared to be responsible for the hydrodynamic sorting of particles along the estuary that resulted in denser, organic-poor particles being transported landward less efficiently. The elemental and isotopic compositions indicated that vascular C₃ plants and estuarine algae were the major sources of the particulate organic matter of all the samples, without any significant contributions from salt marsh C₄ vegetation (Spartina alterniflora) and/or marine phytoplankton.     

长江干流有机碳的时空输运特征及三峡工程对其影响

2006-04,2008-04,2008-05沿长江干流采集表层水样,并于2006-05~2007-05在下游大通站进行每月2次、为期1 a的连续观测,测定溶解有机碳(DOC)、颗粒有机碳(POC)及总悬浮物(TSM)。结果表明:长江重庆以上江段DOC浓度较低,重庆至河口由于人为污染排放DOC表现出高值;干流POC与TSM显著正先关,POC%(TSM)随TSM含量增大呈负指数关系下降。大通站有机碳浓度及通量均表现出明显的季节性,2006-06~2007-05全年经大通站进入河口的DOC、POC通量分别为1.17×106tC和1.88×106tC,其中洪季(5~10月)输运的有机碳占到总有机碳的70%,组成以颗粒态为主。三峡水库135 m及156 m蓄水后,泥沙在库区的沉降作用显著影响长江POC的输运特征及入海通量;从目前观测结果看,三峡库区DOC浓度并没有表现出明显的升高趋势,可能与水库运行时间尚短有关。     

Seston available as a food resource for the ribbed mussel (Geukensia demissa) in a North American,mid-Atlantic saltmarsh

We studied the composition of the <25 μm seston size fraction as a food resource potentially available to suspension feeding ribbed mussels, Geukensia demissa, over an annual cycle in Canary Creek saltmarsh, Delaware Bay. There were significant seasonal variations in the concentration of particulate organic carbon (POC), particulate organic nitrogen (PON), and total carbohydrate, but not cellulose. The concentration of cellulose, measured by hydrolytic cellulase enzyme assay, was relatively low (seasonal range 24 to 35 μg l⁻¹) and only comprised from 3% of total carbohydrate in May 1996 to 13% in November 1995. We used the biomass of microalgae, estimated from chlorophyll a, and abundance of free-living bacteria and heterotrophic nanoflagellates to calculate each component's equivalent carbon content. Microalgae were the most dominant carbon source (62% annually) among the four identified components (phytoplankton, bacteria, heterotrophic nanoflagellates, and cellulose) in all seasons except in August 1995 when carbon from bacteria was most abundant (55%). The annual average carbon equivalents of heterotrophic nanoflagellates and cellulose were relatively small (2 and 4%, respectively). The total concentration of POC in the seston was much greater than the carbon derived from the four identified components. The proportions that these identified components contributed to POC varied seasonally and combined only accounted for 8–24% of POC. Based on these estimates, the bulk of the POC in Canary Creek marsh was not associated with any of the four components we identified. We suggest that this uncharacterized material was some type of non-lignocellulosic, amorphous detritus of unknown utility as a food resource for ribbed mussels.     

POC fluxes from euphotic zone estimated from 234Th deficiency in winter in the northwestern North Pacific Ocean

1IntroductionThefluxesofcarbon,nutrients,andassoci-atedelementsinvolvedinthebiogeochemicalcyclesoutoftheeuphoticzoneareimportantinthestudyofglobalCO2 change.Someworkershaveproposedthatatthesteadystatethefluxofparticulateorganiccarbonoutoftheeuphoticzoneequalsthenewproduction(EppleyandPe-terson,1979;Eppley,1989).Generallytwometh-odscanbeemployedtoobtainthefluxdata.Oneistousesedimenttrapsintheupperocean(<200m)orfloatingsedimenttraps.Thoughthesedimenttraptechnologyhasshowntobeuse-fulfortimeser…     

Current and Material Transport at Tomogashima Strait, Japan

Tomogashima Strait, which is an entrance of Osaka Bay, is a very important area for material transport because a large volume of pollutant-rich water in Osaka Bay is transported through this strait. We have investigated the cross sectional structures of current and material fluxes at Tomogashima Strait, Osaka Bay. Tidal current and residual flow patterns in cross section at Tomogashima Strait during summer and winter are almost the same, and residual flow in summer is stronger than that in winter. However, the net water exchange through the strait in summer was almost the same volume as that in winter. At Tomogashima Strait, total suspended matter (TSM) and particulate organic carbon (POC), and individual nitrogen and phosphorus compartments in Osaka Bay always flowed out except particulate organic nitrogen (PON). The average outflows of total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) at Tomogashima Strait over a year were calculated to be 145 ton/d and 30 ton/d, respectively. The average outflow of DIN and DIP at Tomogashima Strait over a year were 95 ton/d and 13 ton/d (DIN/DIP = 16), respectively. Residence times of both DIN and DIP in Osaka Bay were estimated to be about two months.     

东海陆架典型断面颗粒态氨基酸的分布及控制因素分析

采用高效液相色谱法,通过现场调查对东海典型PN断面(文中为C断面)的颗粒态氨基酸(Particulate Amino Acids,PAA)进行了分析,并结合叶绿素a(Chla)、颗粒有机碳(POC)、颗粒有机氮(PON)及颗粒态氨基酸的构型特征(D和L型)等参数探讨了该区颗粒有机氮的来源和降解情况。结果表明,在长江口最大浑浊带,受咸淡水混合和生物现场生产双重作用影响,POC、PON以及PAA的总浓度均达到了极大值,其中,受再悬浮作用影响,底层水体中的有机物呈现高度降解的状态;近岸水华区域的颗粒态氨基酸则更多来源于现场生产,而且POC/Chla质量比值与降解因子DI值的负相关特征表明冲淡水向海洋输送的过程中,现场生产力对颗粒有机碳的贡献比重逐渐增大,悬浮颗粒物也变得越来越新鲜。值得关注的是,一些D型氨基酸[如D型天冬氨酸(D-Asp),D型丙氨酸(D-Ala)]与细菌生物量之间存在良好的正相关性,暗示颗粒态氨基酸在受到物理水团和生物现场生产作用控制的同时,还受控于微微型浮游生物以及异养细菌。     

Seasonal Changes in Quality and Quantity of Food Available for Benthic Suspension-feeders in the Golfo Marconi (North-western Mediterranean)

Suspended particulate matter was collected, from the water layer at 10 cm above the sediments, over a period of 13 months in the Golfo Marconi (Ligurian Sea, NW Mediterranean). Measurements of seston concentration as well as the elemental (particulate organic carbon and nitrogen; POC and PON, respectively) and biochemical composition (lipids, proteins, carbohydrates, DNA) of particulate organic matter were carried out to assess quality and quantity of food potentially available to benthic suspension-feeders. Particulate organic matter showed wide qualitative and quantitative variations during the sampling year. Seston concentrations and POC did not reflect the quantity and quality of the food available to benthic suspension-feeders. The biopolymeric fraction of particulate matter (C-BPF, i.e. the sum of lipid, protein and carbohydrate carbon) was mostly composed of phytoplankton (which accounted for about 60% of C-BPF). The ratio of C-BPF to POC was utilized as a measure of the fraction which had the potential to be more readily available to consumers. Suspended organic matter showed higher values of the C-BPF:POC ratio during spring, and lower values in summer and autumn–winter. Quantitative estimates of the energy content of the suspended particulate matter were obtained from its biochemical composition. Bacterial dynamics were significantly related to changes in phytoplankton biomass. Bacteria accounted for a significant fraction of the biopolymeric carbon pool (annual average about 15%) and of the total particulate DNA (21·5%), thus enhancing the nutritional value of the particulate organic matter. The results achieved in this study indicate that the biochemical composition of the particulate matter provides additional information on the origin, quality and characteristics of the seston more readily available to benthic suspension-feeders.