Role of mysid seasonal migrations in the organic matter transfer in the Curonian Lagoon,south-eastern Baltic Sea

We investigated population dynamics, growth and feeding of an omnivorous mysid, Paramysis lacustris, performing seasonal horizontal migrations in the Curonian Lagoon. In autumn, increased predation pressure and deteriorated feeding conditions, due to zooplankton and phytoplankton decline in the open water, forces mysids to migrate to the shoreline, where large amounts of decaying submersed vegetation occur at the end of plant growth season. Using stable isotope analysis and mixing models, we evaluated relative importance of decaying submersed macrophytes, lagoon phytoplankton and mesozooplankton in the diet of mysids during this period. In September–November, mysids actively grew and produced three cohorts. Specific growth rates of adults (10.9 ± 1.9 mm) and subadults (6 ± 0.5 mm) were 3 and 9% DW d⁻¹, respectively, resulting in population somatic production of 36 g DW m⁻². Both δ¹⁵N and δ¹³C of mysids varied in concert with those in suspended and bottom particulate organic matter (POM) and mesozooplankton. The mixing models estimated that 45% of mysid diets were composed of bottom POM originated from the decaying macrophyte Potamogeton perfoliatus, 45% by suspended POM largely consisting of phytoplankton, while mesozooplankton contributed less than 10% of the diet. This diet composition differs from that in summer, when mysids rely mostly on zooplankton and phytoplankton. Therefore, mysid horizontal migrations and their ability to efficiently utilize littoral detritus improve the efficiency of macrophyte detritus transfer up the food chain and inshore/offshore habitat coupling in the Curonian Lagoon.     

Seasonal variations in methane concentrations and diffusive fluxes in the Curonian and Vistula lagoons,Baltic Sea

Expected seasonal variations in methane concentrations and diffusive fluxes from surficial sediments into near-bottom waters were investigated in autumn 2012 and winter 2013 in the Curonian and Vistula lagoons of the Baltic Sea, expanding on earlier findings for summer 2011. Methane concentrations in bottom sediments (upper ca. 2 cm) generally ranged from ca. 1 to 1,000 μmol/dm³, and in near-bottom waters from ca. 0 to 1 μmol/l. Highest concentrations were found in the Curonian Lagoon, plausibly explained by the influence of freshwater conditions and finer-grained, organic-rich sediments. Vistula Lagoon methane concentrations and fluxes are dampened by periodic saline water inflow from the open sea, intensifying sulphate reduction. Calculated diffusive methane fluxes from the upper sediment layer (usually 0–5 cm, i.e. excluding any fluffy layer) into near-bottom waters were highest—2.48 mmol/(m² day)—in clayey silts of the Curonian Lagoon in autumn (September) 2012, contrasting strongly with the minimum value of 0.002 mmol/(m² day) observed there in February 2013 under ice-covered conditions. Seasonal and even weekly variations in methane dynamics can be largely explained by two main drivers, i.e. wind and temperature, operating at various spatiotemporal scales via, for example, wind wave-induced resuspension of bottom sediments, and involving regional weather patterns including autumnal low-pressure zones over the Gulf of Gdansk.     

Mass development of the planktonic diatom Proboscia alata over the bering sea shelf in the summer season

During most of the vegetation season from late May to early September, the large-sized diatom alga Proboscia alata forms local patches with high abundances and biomasses in different oceanographic domains of the eastern Bering Sea shelf. The average abundance and biomass of the species in these patches amounts to 0.7 × 10⁶ cells/l and 5 g WW/m³, respectively, for the layer of 0–25 m, while the corresponding estimates for the layer of the maximal species concentrations are 4.0 × 10⁶ cells/l and 38 g WW/m³ (1.6 g C/m³). These levels of abundance and biomass are typical of the spring diatom bloom in the region. The outbursts of P. alata mass development are an important element of carbon cycling in the pelagic zone of the shelf area in the summer season. The paradox of the P. alata summertime blooms over the middle shelf lies in their occurrences against the background of the sharp seasonal pycnocline and the deficiency in nutrients in the upper mixed layer. The duration of the outbursts in the P. alata development is about two weeks and the size of the patches with high abundances can be as large as 200 km across. Degradation of the P. alata summertime outbursts may occur during 4–5 days. The rapid sinking of the cells through the seasonal pycnocline results in an intense transport of organic matter to the bottom sediments. One of the possible factors responsible for the rapid degradation of the blooms is the affect on the population by ectoparasitic flagellates. At the terminal stages of the P. alata blooms, the share of infected cells may reach 70–99%.     

Environmental controls on phytoplankton community composition in the Thames plume,U.K.

The aim of this study was to investigate controls on the phytoplankton community composition and biogeochemistry of the estuarine plume zone of the River Thames, U.K. using an instrumented moored buoy for in situ measurements and preserved sample collection, and laboratory-based measurements from samples collected at the same site. Instrumentation on the moored buoy enabled high frequency measurements of a suite of environmental variables including in situ chlorophyll, water-column integrated irradiance, macronutrients throughout an annual cycle for 2001 e.g. nitrate and silicate, and phytoplankton biomass and species composition. The Thames plume region acts as a conduit for fluvial nutrients into the wider southern North Sea with typical winter concentrations of 45 μM nitrate, 17 μM silicate and 2 μM phosphate measured. The spring bloom resulted from water-column integrated irradiance increasing above 60 W h m^− 2 d^− 1 and was initially dominated by a diatom bloom mainly composed of Nitzschia sp. and Odontella sinesis. The spring bloom then switched after ∼ 30 days to become dominated by the flagellate Phaeocystis reaching a maximum chlorophyll concentration of 37.8 μg L^− 1. During the spring bloom there were high numbers of the heterotrophic dinoflagellates Gyrodinium spirale and Katodinium glaucum that potentially grazed the phytoplankton bloom. This diatom–flagellate switch was predicted to be due to a combination of further increasing water-column integrated irradiance > 100 W h m^− 2 d^− 1 and/or silicate reaching potentially limiting concentrations (< 1 μM). Post spring bloom, diatom dominance of the lower continuous summer phytoplankton biomass occurred despite the low silicate concentrations (Av. 0.7 μM from June–August). Summer diatom dominance, generally due to Guinardia delicatula, was expected to be as a result of microzooplankton grazing, dominated by the heterotrophic dinoflagellate Noctiluca scintillans, controlling 0.7–5.0 μm ‘flagellate’ fraction of the phytoplankton community with grazing rates up to 178% of ‘flagellate’ growth rate. The Thames plume region was therefore shown to be an active region of nutrient and phytoplankton processing and transport to the southern North Sea. The use of a combination of moorings and ship-based sampling was essential in understanding the factors influencing nutrient transport, phytoplankton biomass and species composition in this shelf sea plume region.     

Gelatinous macroplankton in the Black Sea in the autumn of 2010

In October and November of 2010, the gelatinous macroplankton in the northwestern Black Sea and at the Crimean shelf was represented by the scyphozoan jellyfish Aurelia aurita, three species of ctenophores (Beroe ovata, Mnemiopsis leidyi, and Pleurobrachia pileus), and three species of hydromedusae. A. aurita was more common at the shelf, M. leidyi and P. pileus prevailed at the deeper sea stations, and B. ovata was almost ubiquitous with a biomass from below 1 to 49 g/m² A. aurita, which had an average biomass of 82–224 g/m², was dominant at all the stations. M. leidyi, which had a biomass from below 1 to 115 g/m², was recorded in October at only 14 of the 52 stations and in November at 20 of the 46 stations. The highest biomass of M. leidyi in October (105 to 116 g/m²) was recorded in the deep sea areas; in November, it was also the highest in these areas, but it reached at most 100 g/m². The average daily ration of Aurelia ranged from 19.4 to 27.3 mg/m² in October and from 7.0 to 17.2 mg/m² in November; in both cases, it was insufficient to provide for the minimal physiological requirements. The average daily ration of the Mnemiopsis population (2.8–20.5 mg of zooplankton per m²) was invariably more than sufficient to provide for the minimal physiological requirements. Both predatory species together consumed less than 5% of the daily zooplankton production of the sea.     

The structure of phytoplankton communities in the eastern part of the Laptev Sea

Studies have been performed on a transect along 130°30′ E from the Lena River delta (71°60′ N) to the continental slope and adjacent deepwater area (78°22′ N) of the Laptev Sea in September 2015. The structure of phytoplankton communities has distinct latitudinal zoning. The southern part of the shelf (southward of 73°10′ N), the most desalinated by riverine discharge, houses a phytoplankton community with a biomass of 175–840 mg/m², domination of freshwater Aulacoseira diatoms, and significant contribution of green algae (both in abundance and biomass). The northern border for the distribution range of the southern complex of phytoplankton species lies between the 8 and 18 psu isohalines (~73°10′ N). The continental slope and deepwater areas of the Laptev Sea (north of 77°30′ N), with a salinity of >27 psu in the upper mixed layer, are populated by the community prevalently composed of Chaetoceros and Rhizosolenia diatoms, very abundant in the Arctic, and dinoflagellates. The phytoplankton number in this area fall in the range of 430–1100 × 10⁶ cell/m², and the biomass, in the range of 3600 mg/m². A moderate desalinating impact of the Lena River discharge is observed in the outer shelf area between 73°20′ and 77°30′ N; the salinity in the upper mixed layer is 18–24 psu. The phytocenosis in this area has a mosaic spatial structure with between-station variation in the shares of different alga groups in the community, cell number of 117–1200 × 10⁶ cells/m², and a biomass of 1600–3600 mg/m². As is shown, local inflow of “fresh” nutrients to the euphotic layer in the fall season leads to mass growth of diatoms.     

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.     

Variabilité spatio-temporelle de la biomasse microphytobenthique en rade de Brest et en Manche occidentale

Microphytobenthic biomass was estimated in the Bay of Brest (1994) and the western English Channel (Trezen Vraz, 1993) using spectrophotometry. Best results (42 % difference) were obtained with an instantaneous extraction procedure at room temperature, compared with the cold extraction procedure. Chlorophyll biomass in sediment was higher in the western English Channel (65–215 mg Chl a m⁻²) than in the Bay of Brest (10–113 mg Chl a m⁻²), in contrast to total pigment biomass (Chl a + pheo a : 88–254 mg m⁻² at Trezen Vraz vs. 131–934 mg m⁻² in the Bay of Brest). This study emphasized decreasing pigment biomass from the estuary to the open sea. Low benthic pigment biomass in the Bay, compared to eutrophic ecosystems, agrees with previous studies on the pelagic system, suggesting that there is no eutrophication in the Bay of Brest. Microphytobenthic blooms were strongly correlated with environmental factors, such as river floods, light intensity, water temperature and the spring/neap tidal cycle. Turbidity and light could be limiting factors at Roscanvel, i.e. the deepest site facing gyre circulation. The latter would favour sedimentation of silt particles at the sediment-water interface. Microphytobenthos population dynamics would be also dependent on the spring/neap tidal cycle, since maximum chlorophyll biomass occurred at neap tides at all three sites in the Bay of Brest, in contrast to the western English Channel. Lower temporal variations of pigment biomass in sediment were observed in the Channel, compared with the Bay of Brest; maximum chlorophyll biomass in sediment was found to occur three to four weeks after the phytoplankton blooms.     

Species Composition and Distribution of Sibling Species of the Genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Chironomus</Emphasis> Meigen (Diptera: Chironomidae) in the Curonian and Vistula Lagoons,Baltic Sea

The species compositions of the genus Chironomus in the Curonian and Vistula lagoons are very similar, represented by Ch. plumosus and Ch. balatonicus. In the Curonian Lagoon, in addition to these two species, Ch. muratensis and the first-generation interspecific hybrid Ch. muratensis × Ch. plumosus are also found. In this lagoon, Ch. plumosus occurs most frequently (84%); Ch. balatonicus is considered a subdominant species (24%). In the Vistula Lagoon, on the contrary, the high frequency of occurrence is typical of Ch. balatonicus (89%); for Ch. plumosus, it reaches only 11%. The Ch. plumosus population occupies most of the Curonian Lagoon; Ch. balatonicus is present only in its northern part, from the village of Juodkrante to the city of Klaipeda. In the Vistula Lagoon, Ch. balatonicus is distributed over almost its entire area, while Ch. plumosus is found locally, only near the mouth of the Nogat River. The distribution of the sibling species in the lagoons is determined by the salinity gradient.     

Grazing impact of the copepod community in the Oyashio region of the western subarctic Pacific Ocean

The role of copepod grazing on the ecosystem dynamics in the Oyashio region, western subarctic Pacific was investigated during six cruises from June 2001 to June 2002. In situ grazing rates of the copepod community (CGR) were measured by the gut fluorescence method in respect to developmental stages of dominant species. In terms of biomass, more than 80% of the copepod community was dominated by six large calanoid species (Neocalanus cristatus, Neocalanus flemingeri, Neocalanus plumchrus, Eucalanus bungii, Metridia pacifica and Metridia okhotensis) throughout the year. Resulting from the observed pattern of the interzonal migrating copepods, the CGR in the Oyashio region was divided into three phases, i.e. spring (bloom), summer (post-bloom) and autumn-winter phase. During the spring bloom, late copepodites of the interzonal migrating species, N. cristatus, N. flemingeri and E. bungii appeared in the surface layer (0-50 m) to consume the production of the bloom, resulting in a high grazing rate of the copepod community (7.9 mg Chl m⁻² d⁻¹), though its impact on phytoplankton community was low due to the high primary productivity. During the post-bloom period, although the copepod community which was dominated by N. cristatus, N. plumchrus, M. pacifica and newly recruited E. bungii still maintained a high biomass, the CGR was generally lower (1.8-2.6 mg Chl m⁻² d⁻¹ for June and August 2001), probably due to the lower availability of phytoplankton. Nevertheless, the highest CGR was also observed during this period (10.5 mg Chl m⁻² d⁻¹ in June 2002). The high CGR on autotrophic carbon accounted for 69% of the primary production, suggesting that the copepod community in the Oyashio region potentially terminates the phytoplankton bloom. Abundant occurrence of young E. bungii, which is a characteristic phenomenon in the Oyashio region, was largely responsible for the high grazing pressure in June 2002 suggesting that success of reproduction, growth, and survival in E. bungii during the spring bloom is an important factor in controlling phytoplankton abundance during the post-bloom season. During autumn and winter, CGR was the lowest in the year (0.29-0.38 mg Chl. m⁻² d⁻¹) due to the disappearance of the interzonal migrating copepods from the surface layer. Diel migrant M. pacifica was the most important grazer during this period. The annual ingestion of the copepod community is estimated as 37.7 gC m⁻² on autotrophic carbon (converted using C:Chl ratio of 30) or 137.9 gC m⁻² on suspended particles (using C:Chl ratio of in situ value, 58-191), accounting for 13% and 46% of annual primary production, respectively. This study confirms that copepod grazing is an important pathway in carbon flow in the Oyashio region and in particular their role in the phytoplankton dynamics is significant for the termination of the spring bloom.     

春季黄海浮游植物生态分区:物种组成

Phytoplanktonic ecological provinces of the Yellow Sea(31.20°–39.23°N, 121.00°–125.16°E) is derived in terms of species composition and hydrological factors(temperature and salinity). 173 samples were collected from 40 stations from April 28 to May 18, 2014, and a total of 185 phytoplanktonic algal species belonging to 81 genera of 7phyla were identified by Uterm?hl method. Phytoplankton abundance in surface waters is concentrated in the west coast of Korean Peninsula and Korea Bay, and communities in those areas are mainly composed of diatoms and cyanobacteria with dominant species of Cylindrotheca closterium, Synechocystis pevalekii, Chroomonas acuta,Paralia sulcata, Thalassiosira pacifica and Karenia mikimotoi, etc. The first ten dominant species of the investigation area are analyzed by multidimensional scaling(MDS) and cluster analysis, then the Yellow Sea is divided into five provinces from Province I(P-I) to Province V(P-V). P-I includes the coastal areas near southern Liaodong Peninsula, with phytoplankton abundance of 35 420×10~3–36 163×10~3 cells/L and an average of 35 791×10~3 cells/L, and 99.84% of biomass is contributed by cyanobacteria. P-II is from Shandong Peninsula to Subei coastal area. Phytoplankton abundance is in a range of 2×10~3–48×10~3 cells/L with an average of 24×10~3cells/L, and 63.69% of biomass is contributed by diatoms. P-III represents the Changjiang(Yangtze River) Diluted Water. Phytoplankton abundance is 10×10~3–37×10~3 cells/L with an average of 24×10~3 cells/L, and 73.14% of biomass is contributed by diatoms. P-IV represents the area affected by the Yellow Sea Warm Current.Phytoplankton abundance ranges from 6×10~3 to 82×10~3 cells/L with an average of 28×10~3 cells/L, and 64.17% of biomass is contributed by diatoms. P-V represents the cold water mass of northern Yellow Sea. Phytoplankton abundance is in a range of 41×10~3–8 912×10~3 cells/L with an average of 1 763×10~3 cells/L, and 89.96% of biomass is contributed by diatoms. Overall, structures of phytoplankton community in spring are quite heterogeneous in different provinces. Canonical correspondence analysis(CCA) result illustrates the relationship between dominant species and environmental factors, and demonstrates that the main environmental factors that affect phytoplankton distribution are nitrate, temperature and salinity.     

Phytoplankton Community Structure in the Polar Front of the Eastern Barents Sea at the End of the Growth Season

Phytoplankton community and its distribution were investigated in the south part of the Polar Front in the eastern Barents Sea in October 2014. Analysis of the spatial differences in the phytoplankton structure was performed in connection with changes of the temperature, salinity and biogenic regime. At the end of the growing season in the phytoplankton community was dominated by destruction processes and the concentration of nutrients in the upper mixed layer was higher than the limiting level. Coccolithophores (Emiliania huxleyi and Discosphaera cf. tubifer) dominanted over investigated area. The maximum values of abundance and biomass of coccolithophores reached 90.4 mln.cell/m³ and 30.8 mgC/m³, drawing up 82% of the total number and 93% of the total biomass of phytoplankton. Influence of transformed the waters of Atlantic origin was observed in the western part of the investigated area. The number of species in the phytoplankton community here was 1.5–2 times lower than in the eastern part of the occupied mostly by Barents Sea water. In the eastern part of the presence of large dinoflagellates Neoceratium spp. (Ceratium spp.) and Dinophysis spp., lower values of chlorophyll a concentration, a higher proportion of pheophytin in the amount of pigment chlorophyll + pheophytin, the high content of ammonia in the upper mixed layer showed that in this area the phytoplankton was at a later seasonal succession stage than the western part.     

Effect of food quantity and quality on egg production of Acartia tonsa Dana from East Lagoon,Galveston, Texas

The nutritional value of natural particle diets on egg production of Acartia tonsa from subtropical East Lagoon was studied from April to November 1981. During the summer, monospecific blooms of dinoflagelates and chloromonads dominated the natural particle assemblages. But during the spring and fall, the inorganic fraction was dominant and chlorophyll concentrations were lower. At ambient concentrations of natural particles from East Lagoon, specific egg production rates were correlated in stepwise multiple regressions with temperature, salinity, and C:N ratio but not phytoplankton pigment concentrations. For stepwise multiple regression including all natural particle concentrations, specific egg production rates were correlated with C:N ratio, average particle diameter, percent nanoparticles (5–20 μm), and percent phytoplankton picoparticles. A nonlinear regression developed for the entire data set revealed that above the critical chlorophyll concentration (∼ 5 μg 1⁻¹ at all temperatures), an increase in temperature of 4°C caused about the same increase in specific egg production rates as a decrease in salinity from 30 to 10‰, or a decrease in C:N ratio from 10 to 5. On a seasonal scale, temperature is the dominant influence on egg production of A. tonsa in East Lagoon where temperature ranges from 10 to 30°C but on shorter time scales food quality, food quantity or salinity may influence egg production rates as much as temperature.     

Phytoplankton dynamics in the NE subarctic Pacific

Ocean Station Papa (OSP, 50°N 145°W) in the NE subarctic Pacific is characterised as high nitrate low chlorophyll (HNLC). However, little is known about the spatial extent of these HNLC waters or the phytoplankton dynamics on the basin scale. Algal biomass, production and size-structure data are presented from winter, spring and summer between 1992 and 1997 for five stations ranging from coastal to open-ocean conditions. The inshore stations (P04–P16) are characterised by the classical seasonal cycle of spring and late summer blooms (production >3 g C m⁻² d⁻¹), diatoms are not Fe-stressed, and growth rate is probably controlled by macronutrient supply. The fate of the phytoplankton is likely sedimentation by diatom-dominated spring blooms, with a pelagic recycling system predominating at other times. The offshore stations (P20/OSP) display low seasonality in biomass and production (OSP, mean winter production 0.3 g C m⁻² d⁻¹, mean spring/summer production 0.85 g C m⁻² d⁻¹), and are dominated by small algal cells. Low Fe availability prevents the occurrence of diatom blooms observed inshore. The main fate of phytoplankton is probably recycling through the microbial food web, with relatively low sedimentation compared to inshore. However, the supply of macro- and micro-nutrients to the coastal and open ocean, respectively, may vary between years. Variability in macro-nutrient supply to the coastal ocean may result in decreased winter reserve nitrate, summer nitrate limitation, subsequent floristic shifts towards small cells, and reduced primary production. Offshore, higher diatom abundances are occasionally observed, perhaps indicating episodic Fe supply. The two distinct oceanic regimes have different phytoplankton dynamics resulting in different seasonality, community structure and fate of algal carbon. These differences will strongly influence the biogeochemical signatures of the coastal and open-oceanic NE subarctic Pacific.     

Communities structure of the planktonic halophiles in the solar saltern of Sfax,Tunisia

The composition and distribution of the main planktonic halophilic micro-organisms (heterotrophic and autotrophic picoplankton, nanoplankton, phytoplankton, ciliates) and metazooplankton were investigated in six ponds of increasing salinity in the solar salt works of Sfax, Tunisia, from January to December 2003. Marked changes in the composition and biomass of the communities were found along the salinity gradient, especially at salinities of 150 and 350. Autotrophic picoplankton, nanoplankton, diatoms, dinoflagellates and ciliates characterized the less salted ponds. Planktonic biomass was the highest at intermediate salinity as a consequence of a bloom of Ochromonas. Species richness of phytoplankton, ciliates and zooplankton greatly decrease above a salinity of 150 and typical halophiles (Dunaliella salina, cyanobacteria, Fabrea salina and Artemia salina) were found between 150 and 350 salinity. In this environment, F. salina appeared more adapted than the brine shrimp to survive during phytoplankton blooms. The halophilic plankton was however almost entirely composed of heterotrophic prokaryotes in the crystallizers. We thus observed a progressive disappearance of the autotrophic planktonic communities along the salinity gradient. Multivariate analysis of the communities provides evidence that ponds represent discrete aquatic ecosystems within this salt works.     

Harmful algal blooms of the southern Benguela Current: a review and appraisal of monitoring from 1989 to 1997

The Benguela upwelling system is subjected to blooms of harmful and toxic algae, the incidence and consequences of which are documented here. Red tides are common and usually attributed to members of the Dinophyceae, most of which are non-toxic. The incidence of these blooms varies spatially, with most blooms confined to the area west of Cape Agulhas. Cape Point forms the natural divide for species that dominate blooms of the west coast of South Africa as opposed to those that dominate the South Coast. Blooms occur most commonly from January to May, during the latter half of the upwelling season. Each red tide is associated with synoptic weather patterns, which dictate the onshore and offshore movement of dinoflagellate-dominated frontal blooms. There is also interannual variation, thought to be related to weather pattern changes. The harmful effects of high-biomass, non-toxic blooms include die-offs resulting from anoxia or hypoxia. Other effects of high biomass blooms include those that may cause mechanical or physical damage or those that may alter the foodweb. Recently, a bloom of the very small pelagophyte, Aureococcus anophagefferens, referred to as brown tide, in Saldanha Bay and Langebaan Lagoon resulted in growth arrest in both oysters and mussels. Toxic species cause mass mortalities of fish, shellfish, marine mammals, seabirds and other animals. Human illness is caused by contaminated seafood when toxic phytoplankton are filtered from the water by shellfish that accumulate toxins to levels that are potentially lethal to humans and other consumers. Of these shellfish poisoning syndromes, Paralytic (PSP) and Diarrhetic Shellfish Poisoning (DSP) are common in the Benguela. Confirmed cases of PSP have been attributed to the dinoflagellate Alexandrium Catenella. Although shellfish are usually only marginally affected, in extreme cases of poisoning, mussel mortalities have been observed, and in most instances these have been attributed to blooms of A. Catenella. Sardine Sardinops sagax mortalities in St Helena Bay have also been attributed to the ingestion of this PSP-producing dinoflagellate. Monitoring has revealed the presence of Dinophysis acuminata, D. fortii, D. hastata, D. tripos and D. rotundata, all of which have been reported to cause DSP. The dinoflagellate Gymnodiniun cf. mikimotoi, has been implicated in a type of Neurotoxic Shellfish Poisoning and human skin and respiratory irritations have been attributed to aerosol toxins produced by this species.     

Ctenophores-invaders and their role in the trophic dynamics of the planktonic community in the coastal regions off the Crimean coasts of the Black Sea (Sevastopol Bay)

The abundances, biomasses, and population structures of two introduced ctenophore species—Mnemiopsis leidyi and Beroe ovata—were monitored along with mesoplankton in the near-shore waters of the northern Black Sea (Sevastopol Bay and adjacent regions) over a period of four years (2000–2003), after the B. ovata invasion. The annual dynamics of the M. leidyi population were similar in these years: very low abundances and biomass values were observed during the major part of the year (unlike previous years) with a shortterm peak in the summer-early autumn. B. ovata development during the growth in the M. leidyi biomass resulted in a sharp fall in the M. leidyi biomass down to extremely low values. The interannual differences in the populations of both ctenophore species were reflected by their quantitative parameters: the maximum biomass of M. leidyi varied from 790 g/m² in 2001 to 211–266 g/m² in other years. The maximum biomass values of B. ovata (38.9 and 32.5 g/m²) were observed in 2001 and 2003, respectively. In 2000–2003, from July to September, during the peak in mnemiopsis development, the population consumed from 1.9 ± 0.4 to 13.4 ± 5.7% of the mesoplankton biomass per day, while in the years of B. ovata absence, these values were as high as 30–40%. For the first time, the grazing rate of microzooplankton by M. leidi larvae was estimated. In August 2003, the maximum daily consumption rate was as great as 23–25% of the microzooplankton biomass. The daily rations of the mnemiopsis larvae on microzooplankton were close or even higher than those on mesoplankton.     

Phytoplankton of the western Arctic in the spring and summer of 2002: Structure and seasonal changes

We analyzed the taxonomic structure and spatial variability of phytoplankton abundance and biomass in the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas during spring and summer seasons of the SBI program. Phytoplankton samples were collected during two surveys from May 10 to June 13 and from July 19 to August 21 of 2002. In May and June, ice cover exceeded 80% over most of the study area and there was no vertical stratification, indicating that the successional state of the phytoplankton corresponded to the end of the winter biological season. The phytoplankton abundance ranged from a few tens to a few thousands of cells per liter, while biomass varied from 0.1 to 3.0 mg C m⁻³. Small areas of high phytoplankton abundance (0.13–1.3×10⁶ cells L⁻¹) and biomass (22–536 mg C m⁻³), dominated by early spring diatoms Pauliella taeniata and Fragilariopsis oceanica in the surface waters, which indicated the beginning of the spring bloom, were observed only in the southeastern part of the Chukchi shelf and off Point Barrow. In July and August summer period, more than a half of the study area had <50% ice cover and the water column was stratified by temperature and salinity. Over the Chukchi shelf and continental slope of the Beaufort Sea, the phytoplankton abundance and biomass were an order of magnitude higher in July–August than in May–June. The taxonomic diversity of algae also increased due to the appearance of late-spring and summer diatoms, dinoflagellates, and coccolithophorids (Emiliania huxleyi). Interestingly, the seasonal differences between phytoplankton abundance and taxonomic composition in the spring and summer periods varied the least over the Chukchi Sea slope and in the deep-water area of the Arctic Ocean. High algae concentrations in summer were located in the lower layers of the euphotic zone, suggesting that the spring bloom on both the Chukchi shelf and in the western part of the Beaufort Sea occurred in late June/early July. In the spring and summer, the microalgal community was characterized by a high abundance of 4–10 μm flagellates, which exceeded the abundance of all other taxonomic groups. In both seasons studied, phytoplankton reached its maximum abundance within restricted areas in the southern part of the Chukchi Sea southwest of Point Hope, in the northern part of the Chukchi shelf between the 50- and 100-m isobaths, on the shelf northwest of Point Barrow, and over the continental slope in the Beaufort Sea. The pronounced spatial difference in the seasonal state was a characteristic feature of the phytoplankton community in the western Arctic.     

Phytoplankton characteristics and hydrological conditions in the western part of the Sea of Okhotsk in the spring of 1999 and 2000 based on expeditionary and satellite data

Using the data obtained in 1999–2000 during the spring bloom of phytoplankton (late May–early June), the variability of the pigment concentrations, the phytoplankton biomass and species compositions, and the hydrological conditions on the eastern shelf of Sakhalin Island was studied. The study resulted in revealing 135 microalgae species belonging to eight divisions. The most diversely presented were the Dinophyta dinoflagellates and Bacillariophyta diatoms (70 and 53 species, respectively). The concentration of chlorophyll a in the euphotic zone amounted, on average, to 3.8 mg/m³ in 1999 and 2.4 mg/m³ in 2000. It was shown that, in the northern and southern parts of the coastal zone, the concentration of chlorophyll a and the phytoplankton density in the spring were considerably different and depended on the hydrological conditions. In the north, their maximum values were found in the area of the depth break and were determined by the tidal mixing. The increased algae concentrations and temperature inversions at depths of 400–600 m confirm the downslope sliding of the near-bottom shelf waters. In the southern part, the high phytoplankton concentrations in the surface layer in 1999 confirmed by the monthly averaged estimates from the SeaWiFS satellite color scanner were caused by the abnormal northward propagation of the Soya Current waters and by intense tidal mixing.     

东海富营养化封闭海水养殖海域浮游植物分布与控制因子

The distribution of phytoplankton and its correlation with environmental factors were studied monthly during August 2012 to July 2013 in the Yantian Bay. A total of 147 taxa of phytoplankton were identified, and the average abundance was in the range of 0.57×10~4 to 7.73×10~4 cell/L. A total of 19 species dominated the phytoplankton assemblages, and several species that are widely reported to be responsible for microalgae blooms were the absolutely dominant species, such as Skeletonema costatum, Navicula sp., Thalassionema nitzschioides,Pleurosigma sp., and Licmophora abbreviata. The monthly variabilities in phytoplankton abundance could be explained by water temperature, dissolved oxygen, salinity, dissolved inorganic nitrogen(DIN), and suspended solids. The results of a redundancy analysis showed that p H and nutrients, including DIN and silicate(SiO_4), were the most important environmental factors controlling phytoplankton assemblages in specific months. It was found that nutrients and pH levels that were mainly influenced by mariculture played a vital role in influencing the variation of phytoplankton assemblages in the Yantian Bay. Thus, a reduction of mariculture activities would be an effective way to control microalgae blooms in an enclosed and intensively eutrophic bay.