Role of environment and hydrography in determining the picoplankton community structure of Sagami Bay,Japan

Seasonal variations in the picoplankton community were investigated from June 2002 to March 2004 within the photic zone of Sagami Bay, Japan. The study area was mostly dominated by coastal waters during the warm period (mixed layer water temperature ≥ 18°C). During the cold period (mixed layer water temperature ≤ 18°C), the water mass was characterized by low temperature and high saline waters indicative of the North Pacific Subtropical Mode Water (NPSTMW). Occasionally, a third type of water mass characterized by high temperature and low saline properties was observed, which could be evidence of the intrusion of warm Kuroshio waters. Synechococcus was the dominant picophytoplankton (5−28 × 10¹¹ cells m⁻²) followed by Prochlorococcus (1−5 × 10¹¹ cells m⁻²) and picoeukaryotes during the warm period. Heterotrophic bacteria dominated the picoplankton community throughout the year, especially in the warm period. During the Kuroshio Current advection, cyanobacterial abundance was high whereas that of picoeukaryotes and heterotrophic bacteria was low. During the cold period, homogeneously distributed, lower picophytoplankton cell densities were observed. The dominance of Synechococcus in the warm period reflects the importance of high temperature, low salinity and high Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR) on its distribution. Cyanobacterial and heterotrophic bacterial abundance showed a positive correlation with temperature. Prochlorococcus and picoeukaryotes showed a positive correlation with nutrients. Picoeukaryotes were the major contributors to the picophytoplankton carbon biomass. The annual picophytoplankton contribution to the photosynthetic biomass was 32 ± 4%. These observations suggest that the environmental conditions, combined with the seasonal variability in the source of the water mass, determines the community structure of picoplankton, which contributes substantially to the phytoplankton biomass and can play a very important role in the food web dynamics of Sagami Bay.     

Lagrangian observation of phytoplankton dynamics at an artificially enriched subsurface water in Sagami Bay,Japan

Phytoplankton dynamics in the lower euphotic zone were observed by tracking a subsurface water released at 20-m depth from Takumi, an artificial upwelling device. Takumi continually discharged seawater pumped up from a depth of 205 m: this water was mixed with 5-m depth water to adjust the density to that of 20-m depth water of Sagami Bay, Japan. The discharged water was pulse-labeled at Takumi with uranine and tracked for 63.9 h with a drifting buoy equipped with a drogue at 20-m depth. We present a simple model to estimate in situ phytoplankton net growth rates from temporal changes in phytoplankton abundance in the discharged water with correction for the influence of water exchange between the discharged water and neighboring layers. Lagrangian observation showed active growth of pico- and nanophytoplankton, especially cryptophytes and Synechococcus (Cyanobacteria), in the subsurface layer. In contrast, diatoms grew little in spite of micromolar concentrations of nutrients. The active growth of pico- and nanophytoplankton was in good agreement with shipboard serial dilution culture experiments. The low growth activity of diatoms was suggested to be related to low light availability in the subsurface layer.     

Changes in the abundance and composition of picophytoplankton in relation to the occurrence of a Kyucho and a bottom intrusion in the Bungo Channel,Japan

The Bungo Channel in southwestern Japan receives both warm, called Kyucho, and cold deep-water intrusions (bottom intrusion) from the Pacific Ocean. Abundances of Prochlorococcus, Synechococcus, and eukaryotic picophytoplankton were monitored from 18 July to 17 August 2001 to clarify whether advected picophytoplankton from the Pacific Ocean can grow in the channel or not. Synechococcus cells were further discriminated into low- and high-PUB types according to their fluorescence property in flow cytometry. From 18 to 25 July, the water temperature decreased by 3 °C at a 5-m depth at all stations, indicating the occurrence of a bottom intrusion. From 25 July to 4 August, a Kyucho occurred and the water temperature rapidly increased. From 4 to 17 August, a bottom intrusion and a Kyucho both occurred twice, although the intensities were smaller than those occurring until 4 August. From 18 to 30 July, the abundance of both Prochlorococcus and a high-PUB type of Synechococcus drastically decreased because of a bottom intrusion; however, the abundances rapidly increased due to the advection by a Kyucho. These advected cells increased from 4 to 17 August in the channel and Kitanada Bay. Changes in the abundance of low-PUB type of Synechococcus and eukaryotic picophytoplankton were less noticeable than those in the abundance of Prochlorococcus and high-PUB type. The present study demonstrated that oceanic picophytoplankton advected by the Kyucho could grow in the channel. However, abundances of low-PUB type and eukaryotic picophytoplankton increased higher than those of Prochlorococcus and high-PUB type did. Thus, these oceanic phytoplankters will be excluded when Kyucho does not occur for a long time. The co-occurrence of various types of picophytoplankton found in the channel is probably achieved by both Kyucho event and their growth capability in the channel.     

Picocyanobacterial abundances and diversity in surface water of the northwestern Pacific Ocean

To understand picocyanobacterial distribution patterns in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, their abundances and genetic diversity were studied using flow cytometry and a barcoded amplicon pyrosequencing approach. At open ocean stations affected by the North Equatorial Current, Prochlorococcus was the predominant picocyanobacteria, and a high-light-adapted ecotype (HLII) made up most of the population. In contrast, at stations in shelf areas of the East China Sea (ECS) and South Sea, Synechococcus was the predominant picocyanobacteria and clade II was dominant. At other ECS stations affected by the Kuroshio Current, both Prochlorococcus and Synechococcus made up similar proportions of the picocyanobacterial community. These results indicate that picocyanobacterial diversity differs among oceanic regions, and that physicochemical properties related to dominant water masses, seem to be important in determining picocyanobacterial diversity.     

台湾东北部黑潮次表层水入侵的季节变化规律

台湾东北部,黑潮次表层水常年入侵东海陆架。但是黑潮次表层水入侵的季节变化规律,尚存在很多不明之处。本文基于2009至2011年间东海4个航次的CTD实测数据,研究了黑潮次表层水入侵东海过程的季节变化规律,发现:黑潮次表层水入侵在春末夏初开始加强,夏季最强,秋季开始减弱,冬季最弱。入侵的黑潮次表层水起源深度也随季节变化有所不同。另外,结果还表明黑潮次表层水入侵存在明显的短期变动。     

獐子岛海域和胶州湾表层微微型浮游植物丰度和生物量的季节变化比较

为全面了解黄海典型海区微微型浮游植物的季节变化特征,于2009年7月至2010年6月在北黄海獐子岛海域和2010年1~12月在南黄海胶州湾进行逐月调查采样,利用流式细胞仪检测了表层海水中微微型浮游植物(picophytoplankton)的丰度,包括聚球藻(Synechococcus,SYN)和微微型真核浮游植物(picoeukaryotes,PEUK),并分析了其与环境因子的关系。獐子岛海域和胶州湾SYN和PEUK全年广泛分布,獐子岛海域SYN丰度范围在0.05×10³~120.00×10³cells/mL之间,丰度在秋季最高;胶州湾SYN丰度范围在0.02×10³~61.80×10³cells/mL之间,丰度在夏季最高。獐子岛海域PEUK丰度范围在0.01×10³~18.76×10³cells/mL之间,丰度在秋季最高;胶州湾PEUK丰度范围在0.25×10³~95.57×10³ cells/mL之间,丰度在春季最高。獐子岛海域微微型浮游植物丰度组成以SYN为主;而胶州湾以PEUK为主。PEUK是两海区微微型浮游植物生物量的主要贡献者。相关性分析结果表明,温度是影响两海区SYN丰度季节变化的最主要因素;影响PEUK季节分布的因素不完全一致,獐子岛海域PEUK丰度主要受温度调控;胶州湾PEUK丰度主要受温度和营养盐浓度影响。与已有研究比较,这两个海区的微微型浮游植物生物量对浮游植物生物量的贡献明显高于其他温带沿岸海域,预示微微型浮游植物在獐子岛海域和胶州湾生态系统中的重要作用,值得进一步深入研究。     

Characteristics of variations of water properties and density structure around the Kuroshio in the East China Sea

Quarterly data of CTD at the PN line in the East China Sea during 1988–94 were analyzed to examine the variations of water properties and density structure in relation to the Kuroshio. The Kuroshio flows over the continental slope at the PN line. Water properties in the surface layer less than 100 db change greatly and show a clear seasonal cycle, while those in the subsurface layer are much less variable. The small isobaric variations in the subsurface layer are almost due to the vertical movement of isopycnals, on which the water properties vary little. The subsurface variations of salinity, temperature and isopycnal depth are classified into four groups occurring in the four regions, divided vertically by the middle of the main pycnocline and horizontally by the offshore edge of the Kuroshio, named Groups 1 (upper Kuroshio), 2 (upper offshore region), 3 (lower Kuroshio), and 4 (lower offshore region). The difference in averaged isopycnal depth between Groups 1 and 2 (3 and 4) is highly correlated with the vertical shear of the Kuroshio velocity in the upper (lower) pycnocline. The isopycnal depth of Groups 1 and 3 has little annual cycle (with large intraseasonal variations in Group 3), while that of Groups 2 and 4 shows a clear seasonal variation with the minimum in fall. As a result, the Kuroshio velocity is smallest in fall almost every year, although the amplitude of seasonal variation and the season of maximum velocity are different from year to year. Interannual variations of isopycnal depth are characterized by a large amplitude of Group 2 and an opposite phase between Groups 3 and 4, so that the variations of difference in isopycnal depth between Groups 1 and 2 and Groups 3 and 4, i.e., the upper and lower shear of the Kuroshio velocity, are comparably significant.     

Latitudinal and Vertical Distributions of Phytoplankton Absorption Spectra in the Central North Pacific during Spring 1994

Vertical changes of phytoplankton absorption spectra along 175°E from 48°N to 15°S were examined during spring 1994. The absorption spectra were analyzed using three different approaches; averaging the spectra within same oceanic areas, EOF analysis, and multiple regression analysis. Average spectra showed differences in five oceanic areas; subarctic, Kuroshio, subtropical surface, equatorial surface, and subtropical and equatorial subsurface areas. The distributions of the EOF mode of the variance of absorption spectra and of the pigments estimated by the multiple regression analysis indicated consistent differences of the spectra between those areas. Kuroshio water contains highest chlorophyll a concentrations and low chlorophyll-a-specific absorption spectra, and this may be caused by the package effect with large phytoplankton cell and by low concentrations of photo-protected carotenoids. Subtropical and equatorial subsurface water showed high absorption at 480 nm and indicated the effects of chlorophyll b. Absorption of the subsurface phytoplankton also showed a shift of the blue peak, possibly caused by the presence of divinyl-chlorophyll a. The consistency of the three different analytical methods indicates that the phytoplankton absorption includes significant information on pigment composition along a north-south vertical section of the central North Pacific.     

庆良间水道的水交换对东海黑潮水团特性的影响

庆良间水道水交换对其上下游东海黑潮的流量和水团特性的变异都起到了非常重要的作用,本文通过将历史观测的WOD资料插值为1/8°×1/8°的网格化数据,估算了庆良间水道的地转流通量特征,然后结合Argo浮标数据讨论了庆良间水道的水交换对东海黑潮水团特性的影响,研究结果表明:(1)西太平洋通过庆良间水道流入东海冲绳海槽主要发生在水道的次表层,并且次表层的入侵可能跟庆良间水道东部的琉球流有关;(2)庆良间水道上下游黑潮的水团特性由于受到来自庆良间水道的动力混合作用导致其存在差异。黑潮次表层高盐水到达冲绳附近之后盐度略微增加,深度略微变浅,然而黑潮中层低盐水的盐度显著减小,深度明显加深;(3)庆良间水道上下游东海黑潮的次表层高盐水和中层低盐水其盐度的季节变化规律不一致。次表层高盐水盐度的季节变化可能同时受到庆良间水道的流量和表层淡水通量的影响,在冬季最强,夏季最弱,然而中层低盐水盐度的季节变化主要受庆良间水道流量的影响,在秋季最强,夏季最弱。     

Seasonal appearance ofProchlorococcus in Suruga Bay,Japan in 1992–1993

Seasonal appearance ofProchlorococcus was studied by flow cytometry in Suruga Bay, Japan in 1992–1993.Prochlorococcus cells were in high concentrations (>1×10⁴ cells ml^–1) from July to October 1992 and September 1993, when the water temperature was over 20°C. The 16S rRNA of the isolated cells showed 98.5% sequence homology with that ofP. marinus (Sargasso strain), indicating that they are the same species. The former has a high divinyl-chlorophyll (DV-Chl.)a/b ratio similar to the Mediterranean strain and different from the Sargasso strain. Maximum concentration ofProchlorococcus at the surface water was 2.5×10⁴ cells ml^–1 in August 1992 and their DV-Chl.a accounted for 4.0% of the total chlorophylla. A decrease in cell density to less than 5×10³ cells ml^–1 was observed from December to May with an exceptional rise in January 1993. WhileProchlorococcus showed a maximum concentration of 3.6×10⁴ cells ml^–1 at 10 m depth in September 1992, phycoerythrin (PE)-richSynechococcus spp. were dominant with their maximum concentration of 2.2×10⁵ cells ml^–1 in the same water body. On the other hand, phycocyanin (PC)-richSynechococcus spp. and the larger phytoplankters showed maximum concentrations in the surface waters in May and June. BothProchlorococcus and PE-richSynechococcus showed their lowest concentrations in April. A significant positive correlation was obtained between cell concentrations of the PE-richSynechococcus andProchlorococcus.     

河北沿岸微微型浮游植物的分布特征

于2006年7月～ 2007年10月间,分4个季度调查了河北省沿岸微微型浮游植物的丰度和生物量及对浮游植物总生物量的贡献.结果显示:河北近岸海域聚球藻蓝细菌丰度为4.46×103个/mL(0.79×103～ 16.19×103个/mL),生物量(以碳计,下同)为1.31 mg/m3 (0.84～17.47 mg/m3),季节分布特征为秋季＞冬季＞夏季＞春季.微微型光合真核生物丰度为4.43×102个/mL (0.84×102～ 17.47×102个/mL),生物量为1.11mg /m3 (0.21～ 4.37 mg/m3),季节变化变现为秋季＞冬季＞春季＞夏季.微微型浮游植物对浮游植物总生物量的贡献年平均为5.32％(1.84％～ 8.91％),春季最高,秋季最低.温度在较冷季节(冬春季)里是影响聚球藻蓝细菌生长和分布的控制因素.总之,在近岸环境里,微微型浮游植物并不占优势.     

An analysis on the formation mechanism of the distribution of high content of chlorophyll-a in the continental shelf edge waters of East China Sea

On the basis of the data obtained from the comprehensive Kuroshio surveys in 1987-1988,this paper analyses the oceanographic characteristics in the area (125°-130° E,27°-31° N) of the continental shelf edge of the East China Sea (E. C. S. ) and its adjacent waters and discusses the effects of the Kuroshio front,thermocline and upwelling of the Kuroshio subsurface water on the distribution of standing stock of phytoplankton (chlorophyll-a). The distribution of high content of chlorophylly-a has been detected at 20-50 in depth in the water body on the left side of the Kuroshio front in the continental shelf edge waters of the E. C. S. The high content of chlorophyll-a spreads from the shelf area to the Kuroshio area in the form of a tongue and connects with the maximum layer of subsurface chlorophyll-a of the Kuroshio and pelagic sea. The author considers that the formation of the distribution of high content chlorophyll-a in this area results from the bottom topography and oceanic environment and the     

基于光合色素化学分类和流式细胞术结合的珠江口自养微微型浮游生物种群时空分布特征

为探究珠江口海域自养微微型浮游生物种群时空分布特征及其与环境之间的关系,于2013年5～11月,运用高液相色谱(HPLC)法和流式细胞术对珠江口海域表层水体中微微型浮游生物进行测定。流式细胞计数结果显示,珠江口海域自养微微型浮游生物由聚球藻(Synechococcus, Syn)和微微型真核生物(Picoeukaryotes,PEUK)组成。聚球藻始终占据总细胞丰度的主导地位。光合色素化学分类法(Chemotaxonomy,CHEMTAX)分析表明,自养微微型浮游生物群落结构具有明显的季节性变化,春季和夏季生物量以聚球藻为主,秋季生物量以青绿藻为主。CHEMTAX分析和流式细胞计数结果的相关性分析表明,在春季和夏季Syn细胞丰度与CHEMTAX生物量(即Syn贡献chla)之间呈现极显著正相关(P<0.01),PEUK细胞丰度与CHEMTAX生物量(即PEUK贡献chla)也存在显著正相关(P<0.05);然而,在秋季则无显著性相关关系(P>0.05)。冗余分析表明,温度和营养盐浓度是影响自养微微型浮游生物群落分布与组成的重要因素。另外,盐度、透明度、悬浮颗粒物对自养...     

Molecular phylogenetic analyses of threeSynechococcus strains isolated from seawater near the ieodo ocean research station

ThreeSynechococcus strains were isolated from seawater near the Ieodo Ocean Research Station (IORS), and their 16S rDNA genes and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) between the 16S and 23S rRNA genes were sequenced to investigate their phylogenetic relationships. Phylogenetic trees based on the 16S rDNA and ITS sequences showed that they clustered in the main MC-ASynechococcus group (subcluster 5.1), but formed branches differentiating them from the described clades. As the IORS is located in an area affected by diverse water masses, highSynechococcus diversity is expected in the area. Therefore, the IORS might be a good site to study the diversity, physiology, and distribution of theSynechococcus group. Key words —Synechococcus, Phylogeney, 16S rRNA, ITS gene, Ieodo     

胶州湾微微型浮游植物丰度及其与环境因子的相关性分析

利用流式细胞仪对胶州湾微微型浮游植物4个季节的丰度分布进行了研究,并分析了微微型浮游植物与环境因子的相关性。结果表明,聚球藻的丰度在2.17×102—2.329×104个/ml之间,高值区主要分布在湾内西部和湾口海域;仅夏季、冬季丰度之间有显著性差异;夏季在垂直分布上差异显著,在B3、C4、D5连续站昼夜变化趋势基本一致,分别在13:00和3:00出现峰值。微微型真核浮游植物的丰度分布在1.028×103—8.651×104个/ml之间,主要活跃于湾内西部海域;四季丰度在垂直分布上差异不显著;春、夏季丰度明显高于秋、冬季;夏季连续站昼夜变化趋势与聚球藻基本一致。通过主成分分析表明,聚球藻和微微型真核浮游植物丰度在不同季节受不同环境因子的影响,在冬季与温度有关,温度升高,二者的丰度增高。在其它季节,二者丰度主要受营养盐等环境因子的影响。     

Heterotrophic bacterial and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Synechococcus</Emphasis> spp. Growth and mortality along the inshore-offshore in the East China Sea in summer

This study used the dilution method to examine growth and grazing rates of heterotrophic bacteria and an autotrophic picoplankton, Synechococcus spp., from 1 to 11 July 2007 in the East China Sea. The main influence of oceanographic conditions in this aquatic system was the introduction of fresh, high-nutrient water from Changjiang River and the extremely nutrient-poor, high-salinity waters of Kuroshio Water. In these experiments, deviation from linearity in the relationship between dilution factor and net growth rate was significant in a large number of cases. Growth rates for heterotrophic bacteria ranged from 0.024 to 0.24, and for Synechococcus spp. from 0.03 to 0.21 h⁻¹. Grazing rates ranged from 0.02 to 0.19 and 0.01 to 0.13 h⁻¹, respectively. The spatial variations of Synechococcus spp. production to the primary production ratio (SP/PP) were low (<5%) in high Chl a environments and increased exponentially in low Chl a environments, indicating that Synechococcus spp. contributes to a large extent to the photosynthetic biomass in the open sea, especially in the more oligotrophic Kuroshio Water. Furthermore, the results of our dilution experiments suggest that nanoflagellates largely depend on heterotrophic bacteria as an important energy source. On average, heterotrophic bacteria contributes to 76 and 59% of carbon consumed by nanoflagellates within the plume (salinity <31) and outside of it (salinity >31).     

Association of picophytoplankton distribution with ENSO events in the equatorial Pacific between 145°E and 160°W

Climatological variability of picophytoplankton populations that consisted of >64% of total chlorophyll a concentrations was investigated in the equatorial Pacific. Flow cytometric analysis was conducted along the equator between 145°E and 160°W during three cruises in November–December 1999, January 2001, and January–February 2002. Those cruises were covering the La Niña (1999, 2001) and the pre-El Niño (2002) periods. According to the sea surface temperature (SST) and nitrate concentrations in the surface water, three regions were distinguished spatially, viz., the warm-water region with >28 °C SST and nitrate depletion (<0.1 μmol kg⁻¹), the upwelling region with <28 °C SST and high nitrate (>4 μmol kg⁻¹) water, and the in-between frontal zone with low nitrate (0.1–4 μmol kg⁻¹). Picophytoplankton identified as the groups of Prochlorococcus, Synechococcus and picoeukaryotes showed a distinct spatial heterogeneity in abundance corresponding to the watermass distribution. Prochlorococcus was most abundant in the warm-water region, especially in the nitrate-depleted water with >150×10³ cells ml⁻¹, Synechococcus in the frontal zone with >15×10³ cells ml⁻¹, and picoeukaryotes in the upwelling region with >8×10³ cells ml⁻¹. The warm-water region extended eastward with eastward shift of the frontal zone and the upwelling region during the pre-El Niño period. On the contrary, these regions distributed westward during the La Niña period. These climatological fluctuations of the watermass significantly influenced the distribution of picophytoplankton populations. The most abundant area of Prochlorococcus and Synechococcus extended eastward and picoeukaryotes developed westward during the pre-El Niño period. The spatial heterogeneity of each picophytoplankton group is discussed here in association with spatial variations in nitrate supply, ambient ammonium concentration, and light field.     

Distribution of zooplankton biomass in the southeastern East China Sea

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南黄海夏季微微型浮游植物丰度的分布

2008年8月中韩合作对南黄海生态系统进行了整体调查,调查站位共计37个。利用流式细胞仪测定了南黄海微微型浮游植物丰度,结合理化环境因子,分析了它们在夏季南黄海的分布特征。所测微微型真核浮游植物丰度平均值为1.9×103个/mL,最大值为2.4×104个/mL;聚球藻丰度平均值为5.3×104个/mL,最大值为5.1×105个/mL;从河口近岸到南黄海中部的宽阔海域,随着环境因子的变化,微微型浮游植物在各海区的分布明显不同,表现为河口近岸区域丰度大,离岸丰度小的特点;各站位丰度垂直分布主要趋势是上大下小,在跃层突出。根据分布趋势,聚球藻可分为两种垂直分布类型,微微型真核浮游植物分为三种。这些分布差异源于长江冲淡水和黄海冷水团的影响。     

Relationships between picophytoplankton and optical properties in the Azores Front region in the Atlantic Ocean

The picophytoplankton evolved to become extremely effective harvesters of light and, thus, dominating productivity in the open ocean. In this study, their distribution in relation to the underwater light field was examined in the Azores Front region of the North Atlantic. In this region, attenuation coefficients of downward irradiance varied between 0.038 and 0.065 m^− 1. Maximum absorptions were at the red and green parts of the light spectrum, typical of the oligotrophic ocean. The euphotic zone ranged from 70 to 120 m. The deep chlorophyll maximum (DCM) was found at depths where subsurface light ranged between 0.1 and 1% of its surface values. Prochlorococcus was the dominant phytoplankton group while Synechococcus (cyanobacteria) and picoeukaryotes were much less abundant. The ability of chlorophyll to absorb light, i.e., the absorption coefficient of chlorophyll (a^⁎), was found to be dependent on the photoacclimation of the cells and was lower at low-light intensities. Due to a packaging effect and probable pigment changes, a^⁎ at the DCM was the lowest while the chlorophyll per Prochlorococcus cell was the highest. This is a major adaptation of the picophytoplankton to low light (less than 1% surface light), which allows them to bloom at the DCM. This study indicates that the Atlantic Ocean models for the estimation of phytoplankton concentration and/or primary production should not use a constant carbon biomass-to-chlorophyll ratio for phytoplankton based on phytoplankton size, and should take into account the variation in chlorophyll-absorption ability.