Chemical characterization and composition of dissolved organic matter in Jiaozhou Bay

Biologically utilizable dissolved organic compounds, including dissolved organic carbon (DOC), dissolved carbohydrates (DCHO) and dissolved free amino acids (DFAA) were analyzed in filtered surface seawater samples collected at 19 stations in Jiaozhou Bay, China, on June 3, 2007. In these samples, concentrations of DOC, dissolved free carbohydrates (DFCHO), dissolved combined carbohydrates (DCCHO), total dissolved carbohydrates (TDCHO) and total dissolved free amino acids (TDFAA) ranged from 141.7 to 191.1 μmol C/L, 1.98 to 18.18 μmol C/L, 5.04 to 24.90 μmol C/L, 14.52 to 30.36 μmol C/L, and 1.83 to 11.89 μmol C/L, respectively. As a major component of the dissolved carbohydrates, the concentrations of DCCHO were about three times higher than those of DFCHO. Three major constituents of the DFAA were threonine (23.0±5.7 mol%), glutamic acid (16.6±3.2 mol%) and arginine (9.1±3.3 mol%). Based on the composition of DFAA, a molar C:N ratio of 3.60±0.75 in DFAA was derived, indicating longer carbon chains in the amino acids. DCCHO (8.1%) was the most abundant fraction of DOM in most samples, followed by DFCHO (4.8%) and TDFAA (2.7%). These DOM concentrations displayed a decreasing trend from the coast to the central region. Significant correlations were found between the DCCHO and DFCHO concentrations (r=-0.724, n=19, P<0.001) and the DCCHO and TDCHO concentrations (r=0.506, n=19, P=0.027).     

Water characteristics of abyssal and hadal zones in the southern Yap Trench observed with the submersible Jiaolong

Using observations in an applied cruise of the submersible Jiaolong, water characteristics, geostrophic transport, and turbulent mixing in abyssal and hadal zones of the southern Yap Trench were studied. The spatial structures of deep water show that the abyssal water is cold, saline, and oxygen rich. The hadal water has very small changes in potential temperature and potential density, and a little decrease in salinity and obvious decrease in oxygen. The isotherm, isopycnal, and isohaline are depressed in abyss over the central trench. The turbulent mixing is enhanced in the near-bottom zone and the hadal water on the trench slope, especially at the steep slope, the dissipation rate and diffusivity is strong, which weakens the stratification. The geostrophic flows move southward in the western region of the trench and northward in the eastern region, indicating cyclonic circulation. In the central region of the trench, the water transport is ~1.74 Sv southward. In the hadal zone, the northward and southward transports are balanced. Our analysis suggests that the abyssal water in the southern Yap Trench is from Lower Circumpolar Water (LCPW) and the hadal water seems to be of the isolated local water rather than LCPW.     

Distribution characteristics of lipids in hadal sediment in the Yap Trench

In this study, cored sediment samples collected by the Jiaolong Submersible at 6 779 m depth from the hadal zone of the Yap Trench in May 2016 were sliced in 1-cm interval from top to bottom, and lipids in each sediment layer were quantitatively and qualitatively analyzed. The vertical distribution profiles of the lipids in the sediment sample, their main existing forms, and their possible sources were investigated. The results show that the concentration of lipid in the surface sediment was the highest with the carbon number from 12 to 27, dominated by medium and short-chain lipids. The total concentration of fatty acids in surface sediment was much higher than those in the offshore and deep-sea areas, being up to 325.77 μg/g due to the funnel effect caused by the “V” terrain of the trench. Fatty acid 18.0 was the most abundant lipids in the sediment sample. Abnormal high concentrations of fatty acid 18.ω7 and alkanes indicated the existence of hydrothermal fluids in the study area. In addition, saturated fatty acids and monounsaturated fatty acids existed mainly in free form, and polyunsaturated fatty acids existed mainly in bound form. Most of the alkanes were in bound form, and their major source was autochthounous input. The carbon number of alcohols in the sediment sample ranged from 12 to 20, mainly existed in bound form. The source of fatty acids was mainly autochthonous input, and the neutral lipids had both marine and terrestrial origin. This is the first study of lipids in hadal sediment of the Yap Trench. The results will promote deeper understanding of organic carbon cycle in marine environment.     

Geochemical characteristics of hadal sediment in the northern Yap Trench

Journal of Oceanology and Limnology - Two sediment cores were retrieved in the hadal zone of the Yap Trench, and their concentrations of six major elements Mg, Al, Ca, Ti, Mn and Fe and nine trace...     

Microbial diversity in the sediments of the southern Mariana Trench

Microbial diversity in the abyssal sediments beneath the seafloor of 30, 94, and 151 cm near the southern end of the Mariana Trench was analyzed in the Illumina HiSeq 2500 platform. Results show that the microbial populations were dominated by bacteria but merely no archaea were identified at the three depths. In the bacterial community,Proteobacteria and Firmicutes dominated the total taxon tags, followed by Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, Planctomycetes, Cyanobacteria, and Chloroflexi, which together account for over 99% of the total population. Similar to that in the seawater in the trench, the operational taxonomic units(OTUs) belonging to Gammaproteobacteria from the sediment samples showed high abundance.However, common bacterial OTUs in the water of the trench including Nitrospirae and Marinimicrobia were hardly found in the sediments from the southern Mariana Trench or the hadal region. Therefore, this study documented for the first time the compositions of microbial diversity in the trench sediments, revealed the difference in microbial diversity in water and sediment of the trench and will enrich the knowledge on the microbial diversity in the abyssal areas.     

Spatial distribution and diurnal variation of chemical oxygen demand at the beginning of the rainy season in the Changjiang （Yangtze） River Estuary

A field observation was carried out in the Changjiang （Yangtze） River Estuary from May 19 to 26, 2003. A total of 29 stations, including 2 anchored stations, were occupied through almost the whole salinity gradient. Based on the observation data, biogeochemistry of chemical oxygen demand （COD） was examined. Spatial distribution pattern of COD shows that it decreased downstream. The COD concentration varied generally within a narrow range of 1.24-1.60 mg/L in the zone around the river mouth, beyond which it decreased rapidly to 0.20 mg/L. In the mixed water zone, the fluctuation in COD was smaller at 2 m above the bottom layer than at the surface layer in 48 h. In the seawater zone, the 48-h fluctuation at the surface was the largest, followed by that of 5 m below the surface and 2 m above the bottom layers in a range of from 2.50 to 0.55 mg/L. Freshwater discharge was the dominant source of COD in the estuary. The average COD beyond the river mouth was 2.7 mg/L, which accorded with the Chinese seawater quality Grade I. Relationships between dissolved oxygen and biogeochemical parameters such as suspended particulate matter, dissolved organic matter and chlorophyll-a were also discussed.     

Rare-earth element geochemistry reveals the provenance of sediments on the southwestern margin of the Challenger Deep

The hadal zone represents one of the last great frontiers in modern marine science, and deciphering the provenance of sediment that is supplied to these trench settings remains a largely unanswered question. Here, we examine the mineralogical and geochemical composition of a sediment core(core CD-1) that was recovered from the southwestern margin of the Challenger Deep within the Mariana Trench. Major element abundances and rare-earth element patterns from these sediments require inputs from both terrigenous dust and locally sourced volcanic debris. We exploit a two-endmember mixing model to demonstrate that locally sourced volcanic material dominates the sediment supply to the Challenger Deep(averaging ～72%). The remainder, however, is supplied by aeolian dust(averaging ～28%), which is consistent with adjacent studies that utilized Sr-Nd isotopic data. Building on a growing database, we strengthen our understanding of Asian aeolian dust input into the northwestern Pacific, which ultimately improves our appreciation of sedimentation in, and around, the hadal zone.     

Water quality and eutrophication in the Guangzhou Sea Zone of the Pearl River estuary

To gain a better understanding of water quality and eutrophication, we investigated the seasonal and spatial distribution of water quality at 17 stations in the Guangzhou Sea Zone (GZSZ). Nutrients, chlorophyll-a (Chl-a), salinity, chemical oxygen demand, and other physical and chemical parameters were determined in February, May, August and October from 2005 to 2007. The concentrations showed ranges of 93.2–530.4 μmol/L for dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN), 0.62–3.16 μmol/L for phosphate (PO₄-P) and 50–127 μmol/L for silicate (SiO₃-Si). The results indicated that DIN was strongly influenced by domestic sewage coming from Guangzhou City and NO₃-N was the main form of DIN in most areas, while concentrations of phosphate and silicate were generally controlled by Pearl River runoff, land-based sources along the land or islands, and algae assimilation. N/P ratios were very high in both dry season and wet season, and varied from 57 to 667, suggesting that P was potentially the most limiting nutrient in the GZSZ. The concentrations of Chl-a were 3–96 μg/L, and were highly correlated with the distribution characteristics of COD. The concentrations of nutrients have increased over the past two decades (1982–2007). This means it is necessary to control the input of nutrients to the GZSZ, especially that of phosphate.     

徐闻珊瑚礁保护区营养盐时空分布特征

2006年8月(夏季)、2006年11月(秋季)、2007年2月(冬季)和2007年4月(春季)在徐闻珊瑚礁自然保护区灯楼角至流沙湾近岸海域调查徐闻珊瑚礁保护区的营养盐变化及空间分布特征。结果表明:徐闻珊瑚礁保护区水域溶解态无机氮以NO3--N为主,其含量超过总溶解无机氮的50%;各站点NO2--N含量相对较低,冬季NO3--N和NH4+-N含量均高于其它季节;无机磷含量在0mg/L～0.030mg/L之间变化;活性硅含量表现为夏秋季节高、冬春季节低;表层水体硝酸盐氮/无机磷原子比值(N/P)夏季较低,不存在无机磷受限情况,而冬季N/P整体较高,此时水体主要受无机磷限制。     

Spatial variations of bacterial community composition in sediments of the Jiaozhou Bay,China

Spatial variations of sediment microbes pose a great challenge for the estimation of anthropogenic influence on biogeochemical processes, yet remain very unclear in coastal ecosystems. Surface sediments in 9 stations from the eutrophic Jiaozhou Bay, China, were sampled, DNA was extracted within the sediments, and the 16 S rDNA was sequenced with the Illumina Hiseq sequencing. Results reveal considerable heterogeneity of sediment bacteria in the Jiaozhou Bay, of which Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes accounted for over 75%. Bacterial alpha-diversity indices decreased generally from the outside to the inner part of the bay and from the offshore to the nearshore area. Bacterial community structures of S3, S4, S7, and S8 clustered, those of S5, S13, and S14 grouped together, while those of S6 and S10 were distinct from each other and from those of the other stations. Major class Gammaproteobacteria were more abundant at the stations with mesoeutrophic to eutrophic levels(S4, S5, S8, and S10) and less abundant at oligotrophic stations(S6, S13, and S14), while Deltaproteobacteria had an opposite distribution pattern. Overall, bacterial community composition transitioned from being Xanthomonadales-dominant at S4 and S8 to being unidentifed_Gammaproteobacteria-dominant at S5, S6, S13, and S14, while in other stations there were comparable orders. The biogeochemical processes correspondingly changed from being nitrogen cycling-dominant at S4 and S8 to being sulfur cycling-dominant at S5, S6, S13, and S14. The bacterial distribution patterns were especially affected by the factors(dissolved organic phosphorus, DOP) in the overlying seawater due to the habitat status of P-insu fficiency in the bay. Both orders Xanthomonadales and Alteromonadales could serve as bioindicators of anthropogenic pollution to different pollution types. At last, divergent distribution patterns of individual bacterial populations in the bay were revealed, the influential environmental gradients were clarified, and the uncertainty of microbes was reduced, helping to predict environmental functions in coastal areas.     

Characteristics of the tertiary egg membrane of cuttlefish Sepiella maindroni de Rochebrune

We separated tertiary egg membrane (TGM) from 2- and 25-day-old eggs of cuttlefish Sepiella maindroni de Rochebrune, and revealed its ultrastructure, physical (solubility, barrier property) and biochemical (histology, histochemistry, nutritional components, bacteriostasis) characteristics. The results show that TGM could not be dissolved with natural seawater, alcohol, ether or hydrochloric acid (HCl), but it could be dissolved with 2-chloroethanol, diethylamine, and sodium hydroxide (NaOH). The black TGM was more effective in blocking off mud particulates, microorganisms (Chlorella vulgaris, Vibrio alginolyticus) and lighter than the white TGM. The elasticity of black and white TGMs was 1.8 N and 1.5 N, respectively. There were some ink particulates and rod-shaped bacteria in the black TGM. The nutritional components were different between black and white TGMs: Lipid content was lower and protein content was higher in the black TGM. TGM could also inhibit the growth of Vibrio alginolyticus.     

Vertical flux of particulate organic carbon in the central South China Sea estimated from 234Th-238U disequilibria

234Th-238u disequilibria were applied to examine the particle dynamics in the euphotic zone of the central South China Sea during the spring 2002 cruise. The particulate organic carbon (POC), 234Th (including both dissolved and particulate) and 238U in the water column at three stations were determined. The profiles of 234Th/238U activity ratio at the three stations all showed consistent 234Th deficit as compared to 238U in the upper 100 m water column. Based on the profiles of the dissolved and particulate 234Th and a steady state box model, the dissolved 234Th scavenging rates, the particulate 234Th removal rates and their resident times were quantified. It was found that the POC downward export fluxes out of the upper 100 m euphotic zone ranged from 9.40 to 14.78 mmol.m-2.d-1. The results from this study provide new information for our understanding of carbon biogeochemical cycle in the South China Sea.     

Vertical variations of dissolved carbohydrates in the North Yap Trench

Journal of Oceanology and Limnology - The concentrations of dissolved monosaccharides (MCHO), polysaccharides (PCHO), and total carbohydrates (TCHO) in the seawater samples collected from the north...     

Benthic nutrient recycling in shallow coastal waters of the Bohai Sea

Sediment-water fluxes of N and P species in the Bohai Sea were investigated in September-October 1998 and April-May 1999. The benthic fluxes of nutrient species were determined by incubating sediment core samples with bottom seawater bubbled with air or nitrogen. NO^-2,NH4, dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) and phosphorus (DOP), total dissolved nitrogen (TDN) and phosphorus (TDP), and PO4^3- showed a net exchange flux from seawater to sediment, while NO^-3, dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) and SiO3^2- were released from sediment to seawater in the Bohai Sea. Sediment-water nutrient exchange increases DIN and reduces the phosphorus load in the Bohai Sea. The release of silicate from sediment to overlying seawater reduces potential silicate limitation of primary production resulted from decrease of riverine discharge.The exchange flux of nutrients showed no obvious seasonal variation. The present study showed that the concentrations and composition of nutrients in the water column were affected by suspended sediment, and that not all the exchangeable phosphate in sediment could be released via sediment resuspension.     

Positive selection analysis reveals the deep-sea adaptation of a hadal sea cucumber (Paelopatides sp.) to the Mariana Trench

Journal of Oceanology and Limnology - The Mariana Trench, the deepest trench on the earth, is ideal for deep-sea adaptation research due to its unique characters, such as the highest hydrostatic...     

The influence of salinity on toxicological effects of arsenic in digestive gland of clam Ruditapes philippinarum using metabolomics

Ruditapes philippinarum,a clam that thrives in intertidal zones of various salinities,is a useful biomonitor to marine contaminants.We investigated the influence of dilution to 75% and 50% of normal seawater salinity(31.1) on the responses of the digestive gland of R.philippinarum to arsenic exposure(20 μg/L),using nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR)-based metabolomics.After acute arsenic exposure for 48 h,salinity-dependent differential metabolic responses were detected.In normal seawater,arsenic exposure increased the concentrations of branched-chain amino acids,and of threonine,proline,phosphocholine and adenosine,and it decreased the levels of alanine,hypotaurine,glucose,glycogen and ATP in the digestive glands.Differential changes in metabolic biomarkers observed at lower salinity(～23.3) included elevation of succinate,taurine and ATP,and depletion of branched-chain amino acids,threonine and glutamine.Unique effects of arsenic at the lowest salinity(～15.6) included down-regulation of glutamate,succinate and ADP,and up-regulation of phosphocholine.We conclude that salinity influences the metabolic responses of this clam to arsenic.     

The surface reaction on liquid-solid interface of “amino acid-Cu(II)−MnO2” system in seawater

The results obtained from the Cu(II)%-pH curve of the system in the presence of added amino acid indicated that the added amino acids of higher concentration can inhibit the Cu(II)-σ-MnO₂ ion exchange and that their inhibiting effects decrease in the following sequence when the initial amino acid concentrations are 20.00 ppm: histidine > cystine > glutamic acid > proline > alanine > glycine. The determination of amino acid in solution performed with an amino acid analyser showed that added amino acids react chemically on the surface of the σ-MnO₂ According to thermodynamic equilibria relations in the system, amino acids can be changed to amines because of their decarboxylation on the surface of the σ-MnO₂. Considering (1) the effect-inhibiting factor of amine F_A(β, K_a, pH) representing the complex potential of amine with Cu(II) in solution and (2) the acidic constant of −NH ₃ ⁺ group in the amine molecule representing the ability of cation exchange of the amine with σ-MnO₂, the inhibiting seqence of added amino acid of 20.00 ppm (Eq.(1)) is reasonable. Thus added amino acids do inhibit Cu(II)-σ-MnO₂ ion exchange because (1) the amino acid and/ or amine, which is the decarboxylate of the corresponding amino acid, complex with Cu(II) in solution and compete with σ-MnO₂ for Cu(II); (2) the cation exchange of the amino acid and/or amine reduce the exchange site on the surface of the σ-MnO₂. The results obtained from the isotherms indicated that the theory of interfacial stepwise ion exchange can be extended to the Cu(II) σ-MnO₂ ion exchange system in the presence of added amino acid.     

Distribution of heavy metals and nutrients in rainwater in coastal regions between the southern Yellow Sea and East China Sea

Rainwater samples were collected in series in Qianliyan Island (southern Yellow Sea) and Shengsi Archipelago (East China Sea) between May 2000 and May 2002, chemical analysis for pH values,concentrations of heavy metals (Cu, Pb, Zn and Cd) and nutrients (NH4^-, NO3^-, PO43^-, SiO32^-) were performed.Results indicate that concentrations of most of the heavy metals and nutrients in rainwater show clear seasonal variation, i.e. high level in winter and low level in summer. Regionally, concentrations are higher in the southern Yellow Sea than in the East China Sea, but the annual input of heavy metals into oceans by wet deposition is similar in both stations. However, the input of nutrients by wet deposition in the East China Sea is 2-3 times higher than that in the southern Yellow Sea. In individual, Pb and PO4^3- are input to the sea mainly by dry deposition; whereas Cu, Zn, Cd and N compounds are input dominantly by wet deposition, the N/P ratios in the rainwater from two stations are much higher than those in seawater, showing a significant impact of atmospheric wet deposition on marine production and biogeochemical circulation of nutrients in these sea regions.     

A VERTICAL DISTRIBUTION MODEL OF NUTRIENTS AND DISSOLVED OXYGEN IN THE SOUTHERN TAIWAN STRAIT

Sinoe vertical transport of nutrients and dissolved oxygen are quite important in the water col-umn and have drawn serious attention these recent years, a one-dmension numerical model is tried to simulate the vertical distribution of nutrients and dissolved oxygen in June at two research sites in the southemTaiwan Strait. Physical transport parameters are calibrated by temperature simulation, and thenare used to simulate the profiles of NO_3, PO_4 and dissolved oxygen. The simulation was generally success-ful for both stations. The importance of various factors, such as upwelling tidal current andbiogeochemical activities, which influence the vertical distribution of nutrients and dissolved oxygen, is revealed by analysis of the modeling results. Some important rates, fluxes and ratios are also estimated anddiscussed on the basis of simulation.     

Dimethylsulfide in the South China Sea

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