Pore Water Nutrient Regeneration in Shallow Coastal Bohai Sea, China

The regeneration of pore water nutrients was studied and the contribution of benthic nutrient fluxes to the overlying water was evaluated on the basis of field specific observations conducted in September–October 1998 and April–May 1999 in the Bohai Sea. Nutrient concentrations in sediment pore waters were examined by incubating sediment core samples with overlying seawater in air and/or nitrogen conditions. Nutrient diffusion fluxes calculated by diagenetic equations were within a factor of 2 during incubations. The factors affecting nutrient diffusion across sediment/water interface include bioturbation, nitrification, denitrification, adsorption, and dissolution. The regeneration of nutrients from sediments will increase nutrient loads of the Bohai Sea and affect nutrient atomic ratios in this region. Among nutrient sources from riverine input, atmospheric deposition and sediment regeneration, ammonium and phosphate mainly came from atmospheric deposition (>50%); nitrate was mainly transported by riverine input into the Sea, silicate from sediment regeneration accounts up to 60%. This demonstrates that nutrient regeneration in sediments contributes more silicate than riverine input and atmospheric deposition together, but benthic flux contributes very much less phosphate and nitrate relative to riverine input and atmospheric deposition. The benthic fluxes of nutrients may lead to a decrease of the amount of nitrate, an increase of phosphate, ammonia and silicate in the water column. The release of silicate from sediments may compensate the decrease of silicate due to the reduction of riverine discharge. Nutrient regeneration in sediment may have an important influence on the eutrophic character of coastal waters in this region. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Benthic trophic status and nutrient fluxes in shallow-water sediments

Proliferation of fast-growing ephemeral macroalgae in shallow-water embayments constitutes a large-scale environmental change of coastal marine ecosystems. Since inorganic nutrients essential for the initiation and maintenance of macroalgal growth may be supplied from the underlying sediment, we investigated the coupling between benthic inorganic nutrient (mainly N and P) fluxes and sediment properties in 6 bays representing a wide gradient of sediment characteristics (grain size, organic matter content, solid phase C and N). The initial characterization of bays was made in June and also included measurements of oxygen flux and microphytobenthic and macrofaunal biomass. In September, still within the growth season of the macroalgae, complementary experiments with sediment-water incubations for benthic flux measurements of oxygen and nutrients focused on trophic status (balance between auto- and heterotrophy) as a controlling factor for rates of measured benthic nutrient fluxes. Generally, sediments rendered autotrophic by microphytobenthic photosynthesis removed nutrients from the overlying water, while heterotrophic sediments supplied nutrients to the overlying bottom water. Estimations of the green-algal nutrient demand suggested that late in the growth season, net heterotrophic sediments could cover 20% of the N-demand and 70% of the P demand. As the benthic trophic status is a functional variable more closely coupled to nutrient fluxes than the comparably conservative structural parameter organic matter content, we suggest that the trophic status is a more viable parameter to classify sediments and predict benthic nutrient fluxes in shallow-water environments.     

The diffusive fluxes of inorganic nitrogen across the intertidal sediment-water interface of the Changjiang Estuary in China

1IntroductionEstuaries are the main channels linking bothland and coastal seas,through which pass matterleached from land into rivers,together with anthro-pogenic matter discharged directly into the estuaries.During the past few decades,increasing concern…     

Advective pore water input of nutrients to the Satilla River Estuary,Georgia, USA

In situ benthic flux measurements, pore water nutrient profiles, water column nutrient distributions, sediment grain size distributions and side-scan sonar observations suggest that advective transport of pore waters may be a major input pathway of nutrients into the Satilla River Estuary (coastal Georgia, USA). In situ benthic chamber incubations demonstrate the occurrence of highly variable, but occasionally very large sea floor fluxes of silicate, phosphate, and ammonium. Locally occurring benthic microbial mineralization of organic matter, as estimated by S³⁵-sulphate reduction rate measurements, is insufficient to support these large fluxes. We hypothesize that the observed interlayering of permeable, sandy sediments with fine-grained, organic-rich sediments in the estuary provides conduits for advective transport of pore water constituents out of the sediments. Because permeable layers may extend significant distances beneath the salt marsh, the large fluxes observed may be supported by remineralization occurring over large areas adjacent to the estuary. Advective transport may be induced by pressure gradients generated by a variety of processes, including landward recharge by meteoric or rain waters if sand layers extend far enough into the maritime coastal lands. Alternatively, tidal variations across the salt marsh sediment surface may hydraulically pump water through the sediment system. Because these fluxes appear to be concentrated into small layers, this source may be a significant input of nutrients to the estuary even if permeable, sandy layers comprise a very small proportion of the seabed.     

中国东部海域大气气溶胶入海通量的研究

根据中国东部海域气溶胶浓度及分级采样资料,计算得出黄海、东海及日本以南海域沙尘气溶胶的代表元素铝(Al)每月干沉降通量分别为42.8、18.3、5.2mg/m2;其中各海域春季的干沉降通量均占全年干沉降通量的40%以上.相应每月总沉降通量分别为54.1、29.8、10.5mg/m2.渤海、黄海、东海及日本以南海域每年沙尘气溶胶总沉降通量分别为26.4、9.3、5.1、1.8g/m2.东海污染元素总沉降通量以春季最大,夏、秋季次之,冬季最小.日本以南海域锑(Sb)元素总沉降通量的季节分布为冬季最大,夏、秋季次之,秋季最小;硒(Se)元素总沉降通量的最大值出现在夏季,其他季节分布比较均匀.     

用成岩模型计算沉积物-水界面营养盐的交换通量--以渤海为例

根据沉积物中营养盐的再生对水体中营养盐的收支循环动力学的作用.利用1998年秋季和1999年春季沉积物间隙水中营养盐的分析结果,建立了沉积物中营养盐的成岩模型,并由此计算了沉积物-水界面营养盐的交换通量.结果表明,硝化速率、反硝化速率、有机氮含量、硅质成分的溶解速率、生物扰动作用、孔隙率明显影响沉积物间隙水中营养盐的分布和沉积物-水界面的交换通量.对比了实验室培养法和扩散通量计算法测得沉积物-水界面营养盐的交换通量,表明2种方法所得NO3通量较一致,但NH4 ,PO43-,SiO32- 2种方法所得通量有一定差异,文中讨论了可能的原因.以渤海为例阐明了在用扩散通量法研究沉积物-水界面营养盐的交换通量时,表层沉积物分割厚度对界面交换通量影响显著,为了得到合理的与现场接近的结果表层沉积物的分割厚度以不超过1em为宜.     

Impact of the exceptionally high flood from the Changjiang River on the aquatic chemical distributions on the Huanghai Sea and East China Sea shelves in the summer of 1998

1Introduction TheChangjiang(Yangtze)Riverdrainageba sinliesbetween25°and35°N,andbetween91°and122°E,withatotalareaof1.81×106km2anda populationof4×108.Itpassesthroughadensely populatedareawithwell developedindustryandag riculture,includingShanghai,the     

夏季台湾海峡水及黑潮次表层涌升水向东海近陆架区营养盐输送通量的估算

According to historical mean ocean current data through the field observations of the Taiwan Ocean Research Institute during 1991–2005 and survey data of nutrients on the continental shelf of the East China Sea(ECS) in the summer of 2006, nutrient fluxes from the Taiwan Strait and Kuroshio subsurface waters are estimated using a grid interpolation method, which both are the sources of the Taiwan Warm Current. The nutrient fluxes of the two water masses are also compared. The results show that phosphate(PO4-P), silicate(SiO3-Si) and nitrate(NO3-N) fluxes to the ECS continental shelf from the Kuroshio upwelling water are slightly higher than those from the Taiwan Strait water in the summer of 2006. In contrast, owing to its lower velocity, the nutrient flux density(i.e., nutrient fluxes divided by the area of the specific section) of the Kuroshio subsurface water is lower than that of the Taiwan Strait water. In addition, the Taiwan Warm Current deep water, which is mainly constituted by the Kuroshio subsurface water, might directly reach the areas of high-frequency harmful alga blooms in the ECS.     

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.     

Nutrient exchange across the sediment-water interface in the Potomac River estuary

The flux of ammonia, phosphate, silica and radon-222 from Potomac tidal river and estuary sediments is controlled by processes occurring at the sediment-water interface and within surficial sediment. Calculated diffusive fluxes range between 0·6 and 6·5 mmol m^?2 day^?1 for ammonia, 0·020 and 0·30 mmol m^?2 day^?1 for phosphate, and 1·3 and 3·8 mmol m^?2 day^?1 for silica. Measured in situ fluxes range between 1 and 21 mmol m^?2 day^?1 for ammonia, 0·1 and 2·0 mmol m^?2 day^?1 for phosphate, and 2 and 19 mmol m^?2 day^?1 for silica. The ratio of in situ fluxes to diffusive fluxes (flux enhancement) varied between 1·6 and 5·2 in the tidal river, between 2·0 and 20 in the transition zone, and from 1·3 to 5·1 in the lower estuary. The large flux enhancements from transition zone sediments are attributed to macrofaunal irrigation. Nutrient flux enhancements are correlated with radon flux enhancements, suggesting that fluxes may originate from a common region and that nutrients are regenerated within the upper 10–20 cm of the sediment column.The low fluxes of phosphate from tidal viver sediments reflect the control benthic sediment exerts on phosphorus through sorption by sedimentary iron oxyhydroxides. In the tidal river, benthic fluxes of ammonia and phosphate equal one-half and one-third of the nutrient input of the Blue Plains sewage treatment plant. In the tidal Potomac River, benthic sediment regeneration supplies a significant fraction of the nutrients utilized by primary producers in the water column during the summer months.     

A PRELIMINARY STUDY ON FAUNA OF PLANKTONIC COPEPODS IN THE CHINA SEAS

A total of 345 species of planktonic copepods have hitherto been found from the China Seas. Among them, tropical and warm-water species are dominant. The similar pattern of geographical distribution of these species is ascribed to the common influence of the coastal currents, the Kuroshio, and the South China Sea warm current. The number of species of planktonic copepods along the coastal waters of China decreases with increasing latitude, and increases with increasing longitude. The composition of the copepod fauna in the China Seas shows that the Bohai Sea and the northern Huanghai Sea belong to the north temperate zone fauna, that the South China Sea, offshore areas of the East China Sea and the southeastern part of the Taiwan Strait belong to the tropical fauna, and the western part of the Taiwan Strait and the northwestern part of the East China Sea belong to the mixed distribution area of tropical and subtropical fauna.     

Nitrogen and Phosphorus Diffusive Fluxes Across the Sediment-Water Interface in Estuarine and Coastal Tidal Flats

Nitrogen and phosphorus contents are analyzed in the overlying waters and pore waters taken from the Changjiang Estuary and Shanghai coastal tidal flats in this study. In addition, the diffusion fluxes of nitrogen and phosphorus across the sediment-water interface in tidal flats are estimated according to the nutrient concentration gradients at the interface. It has been indicated that the concentrations of ammonium, nitrite, nitrate and dissolved phosphorus in overlying waters range from 0.0082～2.56, 0.03～0.58, 0.69～5.38 and 0.035～0.53 mg/L, respectively, while 0.0025 ～ 1.35 mg/L for NH4+-N, 0. 0055 ～ 0.20mg/L for NO2--N, 0.61～1.14 mg/L for NO3--N and 0.11～0.53mg/L for DP insurface pore waters.The findings have revealed that ammonium, nitrite, nitrate and dissolved phosphorus diffusion fluxes across the sediment-water interface are between -0.024～0.99, -0.39～ -0.0019, -3.09～the source of phosphorus and an important sink for nitrogen in the waters.     

Potential impacts of Three Gorges Dam in China on the ecosystem of East China Sea

The Changjiang River in China was dammed in 2003. The possible changes in matters fluxes from the river downstream after the completion of Three Gorges Dam and their potential impacts on the ecosystem of the East China Sea are discussed . The estuarine and coastal waters in the East China Sea were heavily fertilized by the inflow of nutrient-rich freshwater from the Changjiang River, which has led to severe eutrophication and frequent harmful algal blooms ,thus worsening the ecosystem health in this area. Analy- sis showed that the nutrient loadings are very likely to be reduced in the lower Changjiang River due to the construction of Three Gorges Dam. Especially for the total phosphorus, the discharges to the East China Sea will be reduced by one-third, which would relieve the severe eutrophication in this area. However, the expected decrease in the riverine silicate discharge would lead the ratio of silicon to nitrogen to be much less than 1 in the estuarine and coastal waters and thus may cause an elevation of flagellate growth. The changes in the annual water discharges and their seasonal distributions below the dam will be minor. Reduction of suspended particulate matter loading, due to the sedimentation behind the dam, will reduce the nutrient loadings of the particulate form especially for phosphorus, and decrease the turbidity of estuarine and coastal waters. On the other hand, this may enhance the erosion of the delta and the coasts as well as modifythe benthic ecosystem.     

Factors influencing nutrient dynamics in the eutrophic Jiaozhou Bay, North China

We conducted studies of nutrients and water mass movements in a semi-enclosed bay in northern China to understand nutrient dynamics under varying tidal regimes. Four cruises were conducted under varying tidal regimes in Jiaozhou Bay, two at neap tide and one at spring tide in August and one at spring tide in October 2001. In addition to transect surveys, drift experiments and an anchor station were employed to show current and tidal effects. Samples for nutrient evaluation were taken from the five major tributary rivers in March (dry season) and August (flood season) of 2002 to estimate nutrient transport by rivers, and wastewater samples were collected to evaluate nutrients in wastewater discharge. Benthic nutrient fluxes were determined by (1) incubation of sediments with overlying seawater on board the boat and (2) calculated by Fick’s First Law from nutrient pore water profiles. Nutrient concentrations were high in the north, especially the northeast and northwest sectors, reflecting human activities. Jiaozhou Bay was characterized by high nitrogen, but low phosphorus and silica concentrations compared to Chinese coastal seas. Based on nutrient atomic ratios, the limiting elements for phytoplankton growth in Jiaozhou Bay were silica and phosphorus. The fluxes of nutrients between sediment and overlying water varied depending on the specific nutrient, the site and redox conditions. Benthic nutrient fluxes based on sediment incubations were all lower than the estimated diffusive fluxes, implying that the nutrients released from sediment pore waters were probably utilized by benthic microalgal and bottom-water primary production. A preliminary estimate of nutrient budgets demonstrated that riverine and wastewater inputs were greater than atmospheric deposition into Jiaozhou Bay, except that nitrate from wastewater inputs was less than atmospheric deposition. Concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus increased while silica decreased in the last four decades, similar to other eutrophicated estuaries. The resulting shift in nutrient composition in Jiaozhou Bay affects phytoplankton composition, trophic interactions, and sustainability of living resources.     

黄、渤海表层沉积物中钙质超微化石分布规律与黄海暖流流路

黄、渤海表层沉积物中钙质超微化石有较广泛分布,属种较大洋和开阔海少而单调。黄海南部见有14个种,北黄海及渤海海峡4～5个种,渤海沿岸区2～3个种。钙质超微化石分异度D_H以及主要化石种相对百分含量的高值区的主轴线的走向与现代黄海暖流的流路密切相关。得出黄海暖流由南黄海东南部流入北黄海,通过渤海海峡的北侧进入渤海,在渤海中部呈南北向伸展。     

Exchange fluxes of nutrients between sediment and sea water in the Bohai Sea

IrocrIowThere is a linkage in shallow marine systerns between sea-noor biOgaxhemical pmeessesand water column pnductivity (Bereson et al., l998). Benthic fluxes provide a significantsource of nutrients to the overlying water tO supPOrt primary pnduction and play a role in de-.creasing oxygen concentrations (van et al., l999; Cowan and Boynton, l996; Berelson etal., 1998; Friedl et al., l998; Zabel et al., l998). TherefOre, it is imPOrtant to define theediment di8genetic pathways for the …     

Study of the N, P and Si fluxes between fish farm sediment and seawater. Results of simulation experiments employing a benthic chamber under various redox conditions

The rapidly expanding industry of marine cage fish farming of sea bream (Sparus aurata) and sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) in the Mediterranean Sea over the last decade has often had damaging effects on the benthic aquatic environment near the fish farm installations. It has been observed that the food-remains, together with the pellets and metabolic products from fish, frequently form a “nepheloid” sediment layer covering large areas of the seabed. Under these conditions anoxia and/or hypoxia develop and affect benthic communities while the quality of the marine environment deteriorates for long periods, extending even beyond the life span of the fish farm itself. In most cases the affected areas act initially as sediment traps and in a second phase as secondary sources of organic carbon, nutrients and other substances.The aim of this paper is to explore the behaviour of such an affected area under different redox regimes by measuring the fluxes of ammonium, nitrite, nitrate, TDN, phosphate, TDP and silicate between the surface sediment and the overlying waters. To achieve this goal we constructed a prototype benthic chamber capable of sampling considerable quantities of affected undisturbed sediment along with its overlying water. The chamber was transported to the laboratory where simulation experiments reproducing the conditions occurring in nature, including the extreme ones, were carried out and studied carefully. The chamber allows the full and fine control of the dissolved oxygen concentration – and thus of the redox potential – as well as water temperature while subsamples of both water and sediment could be obtained and analysed for a series of chemical substances. The controlled laboratory chamber experiments reproduced four successional phases: 1) deoxygenation, 2) hypoxia, 3) reoxygenation and 4) anoxia.The results showed that even minor changes in the redox conditions at a relatively narrow zone near the water sediment interface have significant impacts on the concentrations of dissolved nitrogen, phosphorus and silicate compounds.With decreasing oxygen supply (phases 1, 2 and 4), the concentrations of ammonium, nitrite, TDN, phosphate, TDP and silicate rapidly increase, those of nitrate decrease. DON and DOP exhibit remarkable fluctuations.During reoxygenation (phase 3) the concentrations of ammonium stabilise, the nitrate concentration decreases while nitrite shows an increasing trend. Decreases in phosphate and silicate concentrations were also observed paralleled by TDP stabilization and DOP increasing trend. TDN shows a relatively small increase while the DON concentration fluctuates significantly.     

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.     

Distributions of nutrients in the East China Sea and the South China Sea connection

Surface maps of nitrate, phosphate and silicate of the East China Sea (ECS) have been constructed and are described. Reports on exchanges of material between the ECS and the South China Sea (SCS) through the Taiwan Strait are reviewed. Recent advances seem to have reversed the earlier view that the SCS exports nutrients to the ECS through the Taiwan Strait. This is because the northward flow of seawater in the summer carries little nutrient. On the other hand, the waters flowing southward along the coast of China in winter carry orders of magnitude higher nutrient concentrations. The outflow of subsurface waters from the SCS, however, is the major source of new nutrients to the ECS continental shelves because these subsurface waters flow out of the Luzon Strait, join the northwardly flowing Kuroshio and enter the Okinawa trough. Around 10% of the nutrients exported from the SCS through the Luzon Strait upwell onto the ECS shelf. These inputs are larger than the aggregate of all the rivers that empty into the ECS, contributing 49% of the externally sourced nitrogen, 71% of the phosphorous, and 54% of the silica for the ECS.     

Benthic nutrient regeneration in South Texas coastal waters

Because of the variable, unpredictable nature of many potential nutrient sources for coastal phytoplankton primary production needs in the north-western Gulf of Mexico, benthic regeneration was investigated as a more constant source of nutrients to this ecosystem. Water column ammonia profiles taken at several locations on the south Texas inner-shelf in the last seven years showed peak concentrations in bottom waters. Benthic chamber measurements verified the presence of ammonia fluxes at the mud-water interface in south Texas coastal waters. These fluxes were related to benthic faunal activity as measured by sediment metabolism. Laboratory experiments, designed to test the effect of benthic faunal removal on nutrient regeneration, suggested that the fauna play a role in regulating this process. How this regulation may occur is discussed. It was estimated that annual benthic regeneration rates can supply 69% of the nitrogen required to support phytoplankton primary production in these coastal waters.