Microbial biomass response to different quantities and sources of organic matter in Brazilian coastal sediments

This study investigates the benthic microbial responses to organic matter (OM) variations in quantity and sources in two shallow water bays (Fortaleza and Ubatuba Bays) on the SE coast of Brazil on six occasions during the year. The pelagic and benthic compartments of the bays were evaluated by: (i) nutrients and chlorophyll a (Chl a) in the water column; (ii) quantity and sources of OM in the sediment (Chl a, total organic carbon and total nitrogen and lipid biomarker composition); and (iii) microbial biomass in sediments as an indicator of active benthic response. Although there were changes in water‐column nutrients during the year, Chl a was fairly constant, suggesting a regular supply of microalgae‐derived OM to the sea bottom. Based on the composition of lipid biomarkers in sediments, OM sources were classified as mostly marine and with high contributions of labile (microalgae‐derived) OM. Labile OM composition varied from diatoms in the summer to phytoflagellates in the winter and tended to accumulate in areas protected by physical disturbances in one of the bays. Microbial biomass followed this trend and was 160% higher in protected than in exposed areas. This study suggests that the coupling between labile OM and benthic microbial biomass occurs primarily in protected areas, irrespective of the time of the year. Since meio‐ and macrofaunal assemblages depend upon secondary microbial production within the sediments, this coupling may have an important role for the benthic food‐web.     

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.     

我国典型潮间带底栖硅藻群落空间分布特征

底栖硅藻是河口、泥质海滩生态系统的重要生物类群,其数量与分布变化直接或间接地影响到多种海洋生物的饵料供给、海鸟的生存与迁徙。通过对我国从南到北14个典型潮间带表层沉积物中底栖硅藻的分析,共鉴定出硅藻153种,其物种多样性（Shannon-Weaver 指数范围:1.61~4.39）与生物量（范围:0.09×103 ~ 10×103个/g,干质量）在空间上存在显著差异;聚类分析与相似性分析检验（r=0.738,P=0.1%< 0.01）表明,14个调查区域的硅藻群落在空间上可分为4个大的组合,分别对应着渤、黄、东、南海4个区域,吻合了我国近海浮游植物的地理分布特征。与环境因素的相关性分析表明,底栖硅藻群落的物种多样性与生物量受沉积物类型与盐度的影响显著,泥质区域更有利于硅藻的保存,而生物多样性在泥砂质低盐区域相对较高。此外,底栖硅藻生物量与表层沉积物中TOC含量表现出显著正相关性;δ13C数值的空间变化范围为-25‰~-20‰,指示了有机质陆海混合的特征,其中,涧河河口、黄河口、大沽河口、苏北浅滩区域,δ13C数值明显偏正,表明底栖硅藻可能是这些区域沉积物中有机碳的重要贡献者。     

底栖生物生产力现场测试系统(BCSPM)的建立及其初步实验结果

为对生态系统的健康评估及底栖生物资源的开发利用提供技术支撑,在胶州湾筏式养殖水域,建立了底栖生物生产力现场测试系统(BCSPM),并在光照和黑暗条件下测定了沉积物海水界面溶解氧随时间的变化、计算了氧通量、估算了底栖总初级生产力和群落呼吸。在光照较强的中午时刻测定的群落总生产力为20．76mgCm^-2h^-1;养殖水域沉积物中的群落呼吸要高于邻近水域。BCSPM整体运转良好,初步结果为系统的改进和进一步实验提供了依据。     

杭州湾北岸潮滩沉积物化学元素分布特征

本文根据杭州湾北岸潮滩30个站位沉积物的化学元素测定,对潮滩沉积物的化学特征,分布规律及其影响因素进行分析。发现潮滩沉积物中的微量元素存在明显的分带性,这种分带同沉积物的粒度、化学性质及其水动力条件有一定相关性。     

Preliminary results on suspended sediment transport by tidal currents in Gomso Bay,Korea

This study briefly investigated sediment transport by tidal currents in Gomso Bay, on the mid-west coast of Korea during the summer season. Hydrodynamic measurements with benthic tripods (TISDOSs) show that near-bed suspended sediments are transported toward the bay mouth along the low-water line of tidal flats in the southern part of the bay, while they are directed offshore in front of the major tidal channel at the bay mouth according to tidal asymmetry. However, suspended sediments in the main body of sea water, observed from transect and anchor-site measurements, indicate a consistent incoming toward the uppermost tidal flats. A brief episode of relatively strong winds from the west and southeast displays that wind waves can yield the near-bed suspended sediment concentrations (SSC) overwhelming the SSC by tidal currents alone in the remaining duration.     

长江口盐沼湿地底栖微藻的分布特征及其对有机质产出的贡献

2006年6月(夏季)和12月(冬季)分别对长江口九段沙湿地潮滩底栖微藻的分布状况进行了调查,估算了湿地内各主要初级生产者的生产力并进行了比较。结果显示分布于该盐沼湿地的底栖微藻在光照条件下主要聚集于沉积物表层,形成其生物量随深度增加而迅速减少的垂直分布模式,并随滩面植被盖度从大到小的顺序呈现为:光滩、藨草区、米草区≈芦苇区的水平分布特征。九段沙湿地中单位面积上底栖微藻的生物量远高于上覆水中浮游植物的生物量,其单位面积生产力也显著高于后者,表明底栖微藻在源自单胞藻的湿地有机产出中占有主导地位。九段沙湿地中底栖微藻总生物量远低于地表维管植物,其生物量仅占潮滩初级生产者总生物量的约0.41%,所产出的有机质却达到潮滩总初级生产力约16.53%,意味着这种高营养、易摄取的有机产出有能力成为维持该湿地生态系统的重要食物来源之一。     

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 occurrence of ‘epipsammic’ diatom populations: A result of interaction between physical sorting of sediment and certain properties of diatom species

The role of ‘sand’ (particles >55 μm) as a substratum for benthic diatoms was investigated, using sediments collected from tidal flats and main channels in the Ems estuary. On average, 13% of the sand grains were occupied by one or more diatom cells. It appeared that 80% of the diatom cells in this fraction were present in or on mud coating the sand grains. Of the sand grains in the water, 7% were occupied by diatom cells. The preference of benthic diatoms for the mud coatings rather than the bare parts of the sand grains stresses the importance of ‘mud’ (particles <55 μm) as a substratum for diatoms on the tidal flats. This was confirmed by separate cell counts for the mud and sand fractions.Of the sand grains with attached diatoms, the mean number of diatom cells per grain in the water was similar to that on the tidal flats. This indicates a large exchange of sand between tidal flats and channels. A similar exchange between tidal flats and possibly a shift in the species composition. These processes suggested by the striking similarities in cell number distribution and species composition in samples from these two habitats. However, on exposed tidal flats certain species were present in lower numbers than in the channels, indicating that loosely attached diatoms can be scoured off their substratum. Consequently, two factors are assumed to contribute to the dynamics of the species composition of benthic diatoms. The first is the adhesion capacity of diatoms and the second is sediment sorting by currents and waves. These factors cause a differential but significant flux of benthic diatoms to and from the channels, followed by changes over time in the diatom populations on the tidal flats and possibility a shift in the species composition. These processes show that the terms ‘epipelic’ and ‘epipsammic’ are not helpful to classify the main components of the diatom flora in this estuary.     

胶州湾及其邻近河流中壬基酚等有机污染物的分布特征

为分析青岛胶州湾及其邻近河流中的壬基酚（NP）及其短链氧乙烯醚母体化合物、壬基酚单氧乙烯醚（NP1EO）和壬基酚二氧乙烯醚（NP2EO）的污染状况和分布特征,在研究区域内设置了17个站位分别采集了海水和沉积物样品,样品经萃取、浓缩、净化后采用气质联用仪测定各污染物的浓度。胶州湾水体中的NP、NP1EO和NP2EO的浓度分别为20．2-268．7、11．2-200．4和4．8-32．5ng／L。胶州湾沉积物中上述3种污染物的浓度分别为3．6-299．3、3．8-25．2和4．9-103．2ng／g。胶州湾邻近河流中的污染物浓度远远高于湾内,其中墨水河的污染最严重,水体和沉积物中NP的浓度分别达到28656ng／L和31704ng／g。与世界其他海湾NP等污染物的浓度相比,胶州湾属于严重污染地区之一,已经超出了其生物效应临界浓度。研究区域内50％的站位中NP浓度已经超过导致扇贝苗死亡的临界浓度,10％的站位已经超过引起雄性鱼类雌性化的临界浓度。     

Contribution of benthic microalgae to the whole water algal biomass and primary production in Suo Nada,the Seto Inland Sea,Japan

Biomass and primary productivity of benthic microalgae (BMA) and planktonic algae in Suo Nada, the western part of the Seto Inland Sea, Japan were compared in terms of unit area with regard to their seasonal and spatial distribution in 2002. Judging from light compensation depth and water depth, the southwestern part of Suo Nada was considered to be a potential habitat for BMA. Whereas the contribution of sedimented planktonic algae was high in biomass at the sediment surface, BMA was obviously significant both in biomass and primary production in the shallow southwestern part. However, the contribution of BMA to the total biomass in the entire water column was 7% in winter and 2% in summer. The primary production of BMA varied between 4.0 and 74.0 mg C m⁻² d⁻¹ in the southwestern part, accounting for 2–12% of the whole water column primary production. The ecological roles of BMA in the Suo Nada ecosystem are discussed, such as reduction of benthic nutrient flux, oxidation of surface sediments and feed for higher animals.     

胶州湾的生态环境演变与营养盐变化的关系

作为我国人为影响海洋研究与海洋学基础研究的典型海域,胶州湾历经90年的科学调查和研究,获得了系统的对胶州湾海洋学的认识。本文总结归纳了近年来胶州湾的生态环境变化状况、营养物质输入以及百年来生态环境演变的主要结果和结论。近年来,胶州湾海水呈现“高氮-低磷-低硅富营养化”状况较明显,浮游生物生物量有增加的趋势,输入到胶州湾营养物质的量巨大,总溶解态氮的年输入通量为6 945.4 t/a,其中无机氮、有机氮分别为4 453.1 t/a,2 492.3 t/a。点源和河流是总溶解态氮的主要输入方式,分别占无机氮输入通量的39%和20%,有机氮输入通量的31%和41%。总溶解态磷的年输入通量为160.6 t/a,其中无机磷的输入略高于有机磷,二者分别为88.0 t/a,72.6 t/a。河流和点源是无机磷的主要输入方式,分别占无机磷输入通量的40%和30%,而对于有机磷而言,河流是其主要的输入方式,可占其输入通量的51%,而地下水和点源也分别占输入通量的24%和15%,这些大量输入的营养物质对胶州湾生态环境变化起了关键作用。胶州湾百年来经历了三个阶段的演变,20世纪70年代以前,胶州湾受人为影响很小,其化学要素水平基本呈现“背景值”且比较稳定,从20世纪80年代起,胶州湾明显受到人为活动的影响,其沉积物中的化学组分持续增加,直到20世纪90年代中到2000年达到高峰,2000年后,由于环保治理措施的加强,沉积物中的化学组分呈明显降低趋势,基本稳定在较低的水平。     

Spatial variation of the intertidal sediments and macrozoo-benthic assemblages along Eighty-mile Beach, North-western Australia

The extensive intertidal flats along Eighty-mile Beach in North-western Australia appear to be monotonous and homogeneous and seem ideally suited to study tidal zonation in macrozoo-benthic communities and their possible correlates with characteristics of the sediment. In October 1999, we sampled benthic invertebrates and sediments at a total of 895 sampling stations distributed over six different locations, each location separated by 15 km of unsampled foreshore along Eighty-mile Beach. To test for the presence or absence of patterns of tidal zonation (distinct height-related zones of specific sediment grain sizes or zoobenthic taxonomic groups) or patchiness (distinct patches of specific sediment grain sizes or zoobenthic taxonomic groups not related to tidal height) each location was divided into three along-shore sections and each section (transect) was examined at two or three tidal heights. Zonation was observed for sediment grain sizes. Sediments were coarser at the highest intertidal level and finer towards the low water line. Benthic assemblages also differed among tidal heights, but in terms of species-composition the differences were not consistent among the locations. Each location supported a unique collection of benthic invertebrates. Therefore the hypothesis of the presence of distinct zones of specific species or zoobenthic taxonomic groups was rejected; the presence of benthic patches was confirmed. The distribution of sediments and the composition of benthic assemblages were surprisingly poorly correlated compared to those reported in 12 previous quantitative studies around the world. One possible explanation might be that super-cyclone Vance, which hit the study-area only six months before this study, contributed to this poor correlation. Alternatively, the poor correlation may indicate that biotic interactions are more important than the assumed abiotic structuring.     

胶州湾沉积物中高生源硅含量的发现--胶州湾浮游植物生长硅限制的证据

从研究胶州湾沉积物中生源硅入手,利用对比分析对其限制的原因进行了探讨.研究表明,相对于邻近的黄海和渤海沉积物,胶州湾沉积物中的生源硅含量较高,在湾内外的三个站表层沉积物中生源硅的含量分别为1.58%、1.44%、1.48%,在整个柱状样中的平均含量分别为1.54%、1.48%和1.39%,属于高生源硅含量区.沉积物中BSi∶TN远远大于1,BSi∶TP也远远大于16,与水体中Si∶TN〈1,BSi∶16P〈1相反,同时沉积物中的OC∶BSi值远远小于Redfield比值（106∶16）,表明沉积物中有机质的分解速率远大于BSi的分解速率,生源硅分解的较慢.研究还发现,生源硅和有机碳的含量有明显的正相关关系,二者共同作用的结果是造成相当大的一部分BSi被埋藏,不能参与再循环,从而水体中的硅被永久地“清除”,造成水体硅的缺乏,这可能是造成胶州湾浮游植物生长硅限制的根本原因.湾外BSi较湾内低的主要原因是湾外的沉积物因其有机质含量低,且沉积物的颗粒粗而造成BSi的溶解速率比湾内的高.根据沉积物中生源硅的沉积通量和初级生产力的对比可推知,由硅藻形成的生源硅在沉降过程中平均只有15.5%被分解重新进入水体,其余的84.5%可被埋葬而形成沉积物.而胶州湾沉积物中的硅通过沉积物-海水界面返回到水体中的速率也小于生源硅的沉积速率,这进一步证明了海水中的硅不断向沉积物迁移,导致水体中硅含量持续的低水平,进而使Si成为浮游植物生长限制因子的主要原因.     

胶州湾底栖软体动物与环境因子的关系

采用1998年2月—2002年11月,共5年19个季度月对胶州湾10个站进行综合调查的资料,对胶州湾大型底栖软体动物的种数、生物量和栖息密度三项数量指标与温度、盐度、底层初级生产力、底质四项生态因子的关系进行了研究。结果表明,胶州湾底栖软体动物是胶州湾重要的生物类群,共发现了51种。生物量和栖息密度最高的站均为2号站,分别为1015．6g／m^2和1041ind／m^2。软体动物的数量分布和季节变化与底质、温度存在较为密切的关系,同时底栖软体动物的出现种数和平均栖息密度与底层初级生产力呈线形相关,但三者与盐度的关系不明显。     

长江口潮间带沉积对台风过程的响应

位于陆海交汇区的河口潮滩对台风作用的响应极为敏感.台风大浪极可能构成河口潮滩沉积过程的快速变化,进而不利于潮滩保护、开发及利用.基于此,本文利用200509号"麦莎"台风作用前后长江口南汇潮滩采集的沉积物样品及水文资料,探讨台风高能事件作用下河口潮滩动力沉积过程及其主控因素.结果表明长江口潮间带不同区域沉积作用对于"麦...     

河口潮滩地貌和沉积物对人类工程的响应特征

河口潮滩受径潮流的共同作用,在自然环境与人类活动的影响下处于不断的动态调整中,其中大型人类工程往往对其短期地貌变化和沉积物特征产生巨大影响。2013年底至2014年5月,长江口崇明东滩北部开展大规模互花米草治理工程,本文基于地面三维激光扫描技术、植被点云数据滤除算法、沉积物取样以及室内粒度分析等手段,对比了工程前后潮滩地貌与沉积物特征。研究发现:（1）完工后研究区域靠海及南侧区域出现明显冲刷,北侧虽出现淤积,但整个区域平均冲刷幅度仍达4 cm;（2）工程前研究区域沉积物平均中值粒径为29 μm,工程完工后沉积物平均中值粒径则增大到38 μm;（3）工程完工后沉积物靠海及南侧区域明显粗化,北侧沉积物则变细。结果表明,围垦工程会造成邻近潮滩大幅冲刷以及表层沉积物粗化,但潮滩不同区域地貌和沉积物特征对工程的响应仍存在空间差异性。研究揭示尽管河口潮滩长期演变过程受流域来沙条件影响,但围垦工程等局部影响因素会短期内显著改变潮滩动力地貌过程。     

Benthic microalgal biomass in sediments of Onslow Bay, North Carolina

Sediment samples were collected at stations along cross-shelf transects in Onslow Bay, North Carolina, during two cruises in 1984 and 1985. Station depths ranged from 11 to 285 m. Sediment chlorophyll a concentrations ranged from 0·06 to 1·87 μg g⁻¹ sediment (mean, 0·55), or 2·6–62·0 mg m². Areal sediment chlorophyll a exceeded water column chlorophyll a a at 16 of 17 stations, especially at inshore and mid-shelf stations. Sediment ATP concentrations ranged from 0 to 0·67 μg g⁻¹ sediment (mean, 0·28). Values for both biomass indicators were lowest in the depth range including the shelf break (50–99 m). Organic carbon contents of the sediments were uniformly low across the shelf, averaging 0·159% by weight. Photography of the sediments revealed extensive patches of microalgae on the sediment surface.Our data suggest that viable benthic microalgae occur across the North Carolina continental shelf. The distribution of benthic macroflora on the North Carolina shelf indicates that sufficient light and nutrients are available to support primary production out to the shelf break. Frequent storm-induced perturbations do not favour settling of phytoplankton, an alternative explanation for the presence of microalgal pigments in the sediments. Therefore, we propose that a distinct, productive benthic microflora exists across the North Carolina continental shelf.     

湄州湾沉积物地球化学特征

根据湄州湾表层沉积物70个样品18个化学成分的分析结果,得出:本海区沉积物属于海相陆源物,其中细颗粒主要来自台湾海峡,粗颗粒来自当地陆域;化学成分含量按聚类分析,可归为三组:粘土矿物组、碳酸盐组和分散组,微量元素Zn,Cr,Be,Cu和Sr的含量与地壳及台湾海峡相似,但低于胶州湾,说明该海区污染很少。     

Primary production, plant and detrital biomass, and particle transport in the Columbia River Estuary

The dynamics of primary production and particulate detritus cycling in the Columbia River Estuary are described, with particular reference to mechanisms that account for patterns within the water column, on the tidal flats, and in the adjacent wetlands. Analysis of patterns in phytoplankton flora and biomass and in distribution of detrital particulate organic matter (DPOC) in the water column indicated that salinities of 1–5 delineated an essentially freshwater flora from a marine or euryhaline flora, and that living phytoplankton was converted to DPOC at the freshwater-brackishwater interface. Similarly, the benthic diatom assemblages on tidal flats reflected either the fresh or the brackish nature of the water inundating the flats. Emergent vascular plants were grouped into six associations by cluster analysis, the associations being separated mainly on the bases of different relative abundances of freshwater, euryhaline or brackishwater species, and on whether samples occurred in high or low marsh areas.Annual rates of net areal 24-hr production averaged 55, 16, and 403gC m⁻²y⁻¹ for phytoplankton, benthic algae, and emergent vascular vegetation, respectively. Total production over the whole estuary was 17,667 metric tons C y⁻¹ for phytoplankton, 1,545mt C y⁻¹ for benthic algae, and 11,325mt C y⁻¹ for emergent vascular plants, for a grand total to 30,537mt C y⁻¹. Phytoplankton biomass turned over approximately 39 times per year on average, while benthic algae turned over about twice and emergent plants once per year.Budgets for phytoplankton carbon (PPOC) and DPOC were developed based on PPOC and DPOC import and export, grazing loss, and in situ production and conversion of PPOC to DPOC. It is suggested that 36,205mt y⁻¹ of PPOC is converted to DPOC in the estuary, principally at the freshwater-brackishwater interface. About 40,560mt y⁻¹ of PPOC is exported to the ocean, and 159,185mt y⁻¹ of DPOC is transported into the marine zone of the estuary (no data are available on DPOC export to the ocean). Thus, the estuary acts principally as a conduit for the transport of particles to the sea, and only secondarily as a converter of viable phytoplankton cells to detrital carbon and as a trap for DPOC.