Influence of diatoms on copepod reproduction. II. Uncorrelated effects of diatom-derived α,β,γ,δ-unsaturated aldehydes and polyunsaturated fatty acids on Calanus helgolandicus in the field

We set up a survey involving comprehensive chemical analyses of phytoplankton and the simultaneous monitoring of the reproductive response of Calanus helgolandicus. Hatching success and larvae development of C. helgolandicus were monitored weekly with female specimens sampled along with phytoplankton in the coastal waters off Roscoff (Western English Channel) from March/April to October in 2003 and 2004. Polyunsaturated aldehyde (PUA) production and nutritional parameters of phytoplankton [i.e. polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), particulate organic carbon (POC) and nitrogen (PON)] were measured. The hatching success varied between 0% and 80% during the two spring-summer spawning seasons. Neither the nutritional parameters measured nor polyunsaturated aldehydes could be found responsible for the frequently observed hatching failure. However, egg production and hatching rates were strongly positively correlated, suggesting a functional link between these reproductive parameters. PUA production in phytoplankton was mainly determined by Thalassiosira rotula. The occurrence of this diatom species might be used as a marker of PUAs in the study area. Laboratory feeding experiments showed that single species diets of freshly isolated diatoms (T. rotula, Guinardia striata, Guinardia delicatula and Rhizosolenia setigera) caused high or low egg viability and naupliar survival of C. helgolandicus independent of PUA production and PUFA content. The impact of PUA on the hatching success of Calanus among different ecosystems is discussed. The combined approach of feeding experiments and chemical analysis supports the idea that parameters other than PUAs and PUFAs have to be taken into account in order to explain the highly variable hatching rates observed in this environment.     

Temporal dynamics of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) produced in a microcosm with red tide forming algae <Emphasis Type="Italic">Chattonella marina</Emphasis> and its associated bacteria

Acute and severe hypoxia associated with harmful algal bloom has become one of the major causes for the environmental deterioration of coastal areas. Although it is generally thought that a large part of the dissolved oxygen consumption at a bloom site is initiated by heterotrophic bacteria that attack organic matter derived from dead or dying algal cells, precise microbial processes leading to the hypoxia are yet to be examined. Here we show temporal dynamics of extracellular dissolved organic carbon (DOC) of the red tide forming raphidophyte Chattonella marina and bacterial populations associating with the algae under laboratory conditions. During the growth of non-axenic strains of C. marina, we monitored abundance of algae, associated bacteria, and DOC in the culture media. Bacterial cell abundance increased in response to the increase in DOC both at the beginning and the late log phase of the algal growth. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that transient increase in the percentage of respiratory-active bacterial cells also coincided with the timing of the increase in bacterial abundance and DOC. These results strongly suggest that DOC released from growing C. marina fuels respiration and growth of planktonic bacteria surrounding the algae. This has implications for the role of DOC released from C. marina bloom before the collapse in mediating interactions between neighboring algae and bacterial assemblage which may eventually lead to algal bloom-associated hypoxia.     

The influence of shelf processes in delivering dissolved iron to the HNLC waters of the Drake Passage,Antarctica

Dissolved trace element distributions near Elephant Island in the Drake Passage show extremely high levels of dissolved Fe and Mn in waters above the shelf. The entrainment of this enriched shelf water by the Fe-poor Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) as it passes through the Shackleton Gap delivers an estimated 2.8×10⁶ mol yr⁻¹ dissolved Fe to the offshore waters of the Drake Passage. The magnitude and spatial distribution of dissolved Fe, Mn and Al over the shelf are consistent with a diagenetically produced sedimentary source, but are inconsistent with eolian or upwelling sources. The systematics of the Mn and Fe concentrations suggest that there are two distinct sources of dissolved Fe to the surface waters of this region. The highest Fe concentrations are associated with Bransfield Strait water, which can be identified by its characteristic temperature and salinity (T/S) properties both inside the Bransfield Strait and in the Bransfield Current outflow between Elephant and Clarence Islands. Most of the shelf area is dominated by a second water type with T/S properties that are typical of modified Antarctic Surface Water, which while also enriched has a lower Fe:Mn ratio.The predominantly linear relationships between the Fe and Mn concentrations at the stations in each of these water mass types suggest that the distribution of these elements is largely controlled by physical mixing processes and that biological removal of Fe on the shelf, while certainly occurring, is limited, perhaps as a result of rapid physical flushing processes and relatively slow biological growth rates. The consequent export of large quantities of this shelf-derived Fe into the ACC is likely responsible for the extensive regions of enhanced primary production seen in satellite imagery downstream of the Drake Passage.     

红树林间隙水溶解态陆源有机质的光降解和生物降解行为分析

红树林输送的溶解态陆源有机质是海洋中陆源有机质的主要来源之一,对其光降解和生物降解过程的研究有助于进一步了解红树林生态系统输出的有机质在近岸的归宿以及对近岸水体生物地球化学过程的影响,因此于2010年4月在海南省清澜港红树林采集间隙水,并进行了光降解和生物降解培养实验。分析了光培养(光降解)和暗培养过程(生物降解)中溶解态有机碳(DOC)、细菌以及溶解态木质素等的变化。结果显示经历128 d的暗培养后,DOC由初始的2 216 μmol/L下降至718 μmol/L,表明红树林间隙水的生物可利用性约为70%左右;经历11 d的自然光照后,DOC下降至800 μmol/L。木质素在光降解过程中的移除速率(-0.132 d-1)远高于生物降解过程(-0.008 d-1)。光培养中,木质素的下降速率高于总体DOC。不同系列溶解态木质素的下降速率不同,随着培养的进行,紫丁香基酚类(S)与香草基酚类(V)的比值(S/V)呈下降趋势,而V系列的酸醛比值((Ad/Al)v)呈上升的趋势。对比光培养和暗培养过程中DOC和木质素的变化可以得出生物消耗是引起红树林间隙水DOC从水体中移除的主要因素;而光照则是陆源有机质从水体中移除的主要因素;光培养和暗培养过程中细菌变化的差异表明光照可以促进细菌对溶解态有机碳的利用。与其他地区比较发现,海南红树林间隙水的光降解速率与热带河流(刚果河)相近,高于温带密西西比河流,降解过程中各参数的变化[S/V和(Ad/Al)v]与其他区域接近。     

2006年秋季长江口及其邻近水域浮游植物群集

根据2006年11月在长江口及其邻近水域(30°30′N～32°30′N,121°E～123°30′E)39个测站采集的浮游植物水样研究了该水域浮游植物群集特征。调查区浮游植物以硅藻和甲藻为主,此外还有少量的金藻、蓝藻和绿藻。浮游植物细胞丰度介于0.13～59.69个/mL之间,平均为4.39个/mL,主要优势物种为圆海链藻Thalassiosira rotula和骨条藻Skeletonema spp.,调查区两个细胞丰度密集区分别出现在靠近口门以及外海水域。浮游植物细胞在20m层出现最大值。调查区两个典型断面的浮游植物分布特征分别由骨条藻和圆海链藻所刻画。固氮蓝藻铁氏束毛藻Trichodesmium thiebautii主要出现在调查区东部水域表层。根据浮游植物物种和细胞丰度进行聚类分析后,发现存在调查区东部与近岸2个浮游植物分区。     

Parallel experiments with Thalassiosira rotula in outdoor plastic tanks: Development of dissolved free amino acids during an algae bloom

Three outdoor plastic tanks were filled with North Sea water. The water was filtered free of algae and inoculated with the diatom Thalassiosira rotula. Under nearly natural nutrient supply an exponential plankton growth occurred with realistic cell concentrations. The flexible tanks (3–4 m³, 4–5 m deep) were exposed in the German Bight at a station in the outer harbour of Helgoland. The concentration changes of dissolved free amino acids (DFAA) were determined. The direct determination method applied permitted an analysis in picomole range without loss and with good reproducibility. The preliminary concentration of DFAA amounted to 0.2 μmol dm⁻³ in all three cultures, increasing during the development of T. rotula to 0.9–1.3 μmol dm⁻³ and decreasing in the stationary phase back again to smaller values. A high degree of temporal variation in DFAA was observed in all three cultures. In spite of these rapid changes in concentration, a good parallel development could be shown for all cultures, which extended as far as the spectra of the amino acids. Relationships between DFAA and other parameters of the culture-systems were examined.     

Trends of trace metal (Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb) distributions at the oxic-anoxic interface and in sulfidic water of the Drammensfjord

Anoxic sulfidic waters provide important media for studying the effect of reducing conditions on the cycling of trace metals. In 1987–1988, dissolved and particulate trace metal (Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb) concentrations were determined in the water column of the anoxic Drammensfjord basins, southeastern Norway. The iminodiacetic acid type chelating resin (Chelex 100) was used for the preconcentration of trace metals. The trace metal concentrations were determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS), differential pulse polarography (DPP), and differential pulse-anodic stripping voltammetry (DP-ASV).It was observed that the trace metals Mn and Fe were actively involved in the processes of redox cycling (oxidationreduction and precipitation-dissolution) at the O₂/H₂S interface. The dissolved concentrations of Mn, Fe and Co showed maxima just below the O₂/H₂S interface. The seasonal enhancement in the maxima of both dissolved and particulate Mn and Fe at the redox cline is mainly governed by the downward movement of water which carries oxygen. An association of Co with the Mn cycle was observed, while the total dissolved Ni was decreased by only 10–35% in the anoxic waters. The dissolved concentrations of Cu, Zn, Pb and, to a lesser extent, Cd decreased in the anoxic zone.     

针胞藻海洋卡盾藻(Chattonella marina)和硅藻中肋骨条藻(Skeletonema costatum)藻际细菌的分离、鉴定及影响研究

对实验室培养的两株海洋微藻海洋卡盾藻和中肋骨条藻的可培养细菌进行了分离鉴定,分别在海洋卡盾藻和硅藻中肋骨条藻不同生长时期分离得到48株和34株可培养细菌,去除重复序列后得到12株不同的菌株。这些菌株分属α-变形杆菌纲、γ-变形杆菌纲、拟杆菌和放线菌。α-变形杆菌纲在两种藻的藻际环境中占据优势,其中红杆菌科是最为常见的科,中肋骨条藻的藻际细菌比海洋卡盾藻更为多样化。海洋卡盾藻生长后期细菌密度大幅度上升,可能导致了藻细胞的衰亡。中肋骨条藻相关细菌中有一株对旋链角毛藻的生长具有明显抑制作用,而大部分海洋卡盾藻相关细菌对角毛藻的生长具有抑制作用。本研究结果说明海洋卡盾藻的藻际细菌也许对其与硅藻的种间竞争中具有一定作用。     

Iron-encrusted diatoms and bacteria epibiotic on Hydrobia ulvae (Gastropoda: Prosobranchia)

Rust-coloured shells of the gastropod Hydrobia ulvae collected in the Wadden Sea near Texel and in the Jade Busen were analysed under the scanning electron microscope. Most of the shells were found to be covered with a microbial community encrusted with an iron-rich mineral containing traces of Mn, Mg, Ca and Si (EDAX analysis). The community formed a biofilm including two morphotypes of diatoms identified as Cocconeis placentula and Achnanthes lemmermanni, two morphotypes of slender filamentous bacteria resembling Leucothrix and Flexibacter, aggregates of coccoid cells and large trichomes resembling members of the cyanobacterial orders Pleurocapsales and Stigonematales, respectively. The most frequent microorganisms of the biofilm were diatoms and filamentous bacteria.     

The distribution of Mn,Fe, Zn,Cd and Cu in Baltic seawater; a study on the basis of one anchor station

A total of 150 samples were collected at a 10-days' anchor station in the Bornholm basin (55° 31.1′N, 15° 32.1′E) and analyzed for dissolved (< 0.4 μm) and particulate trace metals. For dissolved Mn, large gradients have been found in the vertical distribution with minimum concentrations (< 0.2 μgl^?1) in the halocline zone and considerably higher values in the deep waters (up to 50 μgl^?1). Ultrafiltration studies indicate that dissolved Mn is probably present as Mn²⁺ in the oxygenated bottom layer. The primary production process was not evident in the particulate Mn profile; the suspended particulate material (SPM), however, shows a considerable enrichment with depth, apparently due to Mn-oxide precipitation.The distribution of dissolved Fe was rather homogeneous, with average concentrations throughout the water column between 0.86 and 1.1 μgl^?1, indicating that the oxidation of Fe²⁺ ions released from the sediments must already be complete in the very near oxidation boundary layer. Relatively high concentrations of particulate Fe were actually measured in the bottom layer, with the maximum mean of 11.2 μgl^?1 at 72 m. Similarly to Mn, the profile of particulate Fe does not reflect the SPM curve of the eutrophic layer. On average, about 70% of the total Fe in surface waters was found to be particulate.The average concentrations of dissolved Zn, Cd and Cu were found to be rather homogeneous in the water column but showed a relatively high variability with time. A simplified model on trace-metal uptake by phytoplankton indicates no significant change in dissolved metal concentrations during the period of investigation. On average, only 1.7% Zn, 3.3% Cd and 9.8% Cu of the total metal concentrations were found in particulate form. SPM analyses showed significant correlations of Zn, Cd and Cu with Fe, indicating that particulate iron is an important carrier for particulate trace metals in Baltic waters.     

Modeling the contribution of dissolved organic carbon to carbon sequestration during the last glacial maximum

Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) is a carbon reservoir that is as large as the atmospheric CO₂ pool, and its contribution to the global carbon cycle is gaining attention. As DOC is a dissolved tracer, its distribution can serve to trace the mixing of water masses and the pathways of ocean circulation. Published proxy and model reconstructions have revealed that, during the last glacial maximum (LGM), the pattern of deep ocean circulation differed from that of the modern ocean, whereby additional carbon is assumed to have been sequestered in stratified LGM deep water. The aim of this study is to explore the distribution of DOC and its production/removal rate during the LGM using the Grid ENabled Integrated Earth system model (GENIE). Modeled results reveal that increased salinity of bottom waters in the Southern Ocean is associated with stronger stratification and oxygen depletion. The stratified LGM deep ocean traps more nutrients, resulting in a decrease in the DOC reservoir size that, in turn, causes a negative feedback for carbon sequestration. This finding requires an increase in DOC lifetime to compensate for the negative feedback. The upper limit of DOC lifetime is assumed to be 20,000 years. Modeled results derive an increase (decrease) in DOC reservoir by 100 Pg C leading to an atmospheric CO₂ decrease (increase) of 9.1 ppm and a dissolved inorganic carbon δ¹³C increase (decrease) of 0.06‰. The DOC removal rate is estimated to be 39.5 Tg C year^–1 in the deep sea during the LGM. The contribution of DOC to the LGM carbon cycle elucidates potential carbon sink-increasing strategies.     

Growth inhibition of phytoplankton populations cultured in disphotic zone water by insufficient amounts of dissolved organic carbon

Phytoplankton cultures occurring in disphotic zone water were conducted to examine dissolved organic carbon (DOC) for possible controlling agent of the initial lag period and growth rate. Culture media of various concentrations of DOC were prepared by mixing low DOC disphotic zone water with high DOC surface water. Natural phytoplankton populations showed strong correlations in their lag period with DOC concentrations in the range from 0.75 mgC·I^–1 to 1.2 mgC·I^–1 in the water (r=–0.833,n=8) and in their population growth rate () (r=0.899,n=8). Similar tendencies were confirmed with a marine diatom (Skeletonema costatum) dominating in the present disphotic zone water by culture experiments. By reducing DOC concentrations in seawater samples by pretreatments of ultraviolet radiation, charcoal adsorption and Amberlite XAD-2 resin adsorption, lag periods ofS. costatum increased in every case, but their population growth rates were almost identical. These results obviously show that prolonged lag period at least occurs in low DOC water, which can explain the observations by Barber and Ryther (1969) that low photosynthetic carbon uptake rate occurs in newly upwelled low DOC water. It is found that the essential substance to shorten lag periods of phytoplankton cultured in disphotic zone water is a portion of dissolved organic matter, which is poor in disphotic zone water and rich in surface water, and the effect of the substance analogous to Na₂EDTA strongly suggests that the substances are organic ligands.     

Centropages typicus (Crustacea,Copepoda) reacts to volatile compounds produced by planktonic algae

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) may play the role of infochemicals and trigger chemotaxis and ecologically relevant responses in freshwater and marine invertebrates. Aquatic grazers use these signals as chemical cues to trace the presence of their food or to detect their predators. However, detailed data are still needed to fully understand the role of these relationships in marine plankton. We investigated the ability of the copepod Centropages typicus to perceive the odour of three planktonic diatoms (Skeletonema marinoi, Pseudonitzschia delicatissima and Chaetoceros affinis) and a dinoflagellate (Prorocentrum minimum). This information is ecologically relevant for orientation, habitat selection, predator avoidance and communication. In addition, as the pH of the medium influences the perception of chemical cues in aquatic environments, we tested the effect of seawater acidification resulting from increasing levels of CO₂, and its influences on the olfactory reactions of copepods. For this reason, our tests were repeated in normal (pH 8.10) and acidified (pH 7.76) seawater in order to simulate future ocean acidification scenarios. Using replicated chemokinetic assays we demonstrated that VOCs produced by Ps. delicatissima and Pr. minimum attract copepods at normal pH, but this effect is lowered in acidified water. By contrast, the odour of S. marinoi mainly induces a reaction of repulsion, but in acidified water and at higher concentrations this toxic diatom becomes attractive for copepods. Our experiments demonstrate, for the first time, that copepods are sensitive to the volatile compounds contained in various microalgae; VOCs prompt chemokinesis according to algal species and odour concentrations. However, seawater acidification induces changes in copepods' perception of odours. These findings highlight the sensitivity of chemically mediated interactions to global changes     

Bathymetric distribution of chaetognaths and their association with water masses off the coast of Valparaı́so,Chile

The bathymetric distribution of chaetognaths was studied at an oceanic station located 14 nautical miles off Valparaı́so. During an annual cycle between July 1994 and September 1995, vertical samples of plankton were taken between 0 and 900 m depth. Temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen showed temporal and spatial fluctuations within the surface layer (0–100 m), mainly affected by Subantarctic Water and in certain periods by Subtropical Water. Between 150 and 400 m low dissolved oxygen content and higher salinity were found, characteristic of Equatorial Subsurface Waters, and between 400 and 800 m Antarctic Intermediate Water, characterized by its higher content of dissolved oxygen and lower temperature and salinity was present. Fifteen species of chaetognaths were identified: Sagitta bierii, S. enflata, S. minima, S. pacifica, S. lyra, S. planctonis, S. marri, S. macrocephala, S. maxima, S. decipiens, S. tasmanica, S. gazellae, Krohnitta subtilis, Eukrohnia hamata and E. fowleri. The most abundant and frequent species were Sagitta enflata, S. bierii and Eukrohnia hamata. The greatest density of chaetognaths was confined to the 0–200 m water column and the species diversity gradually decreased from the epiplanktonic to the mesoplanktonic domain. The vertical distribution of the chaetognaths showed a strong association with the water masses present. The epipelagic species (0–200 m) S. enflata, S. bierii, S. minima and Krohnitta subtilis are associated mainly with Subantarctic Water and occasionally with Subtropical Water; the mesopelagic species (200–1000 m) S. lyra, S. planctonis, S. macrocephala, S. marri and E. fowleri are associated with Equatorial Subsurface Water and Antarctic Intermediate Water. There is another species assemblage of broad bathymetric distribution (0–900 m) consisting of E. hamata, S. decipiens and S. maxima, which does not show a distinctive association with a given water mass. E. hamata is an indicator species of upwelling events off the Chilean coast, showing an association with waters of low temperatures, greater salinity, and low contents of dissolved oxygen, which are characteristic of Equatorial Subsurface Water.     

Dynamic approaches of mixed species biofilm formation using modern technologies

Bacteria and diatoms exist in sessile communities and develop as biofilm on all surfaces in aqueous environments. The interaction between these microorganisms in biofilm was investigated with a bacterial genus Pseudoalteromonas sp. (strain 3J6) and two benthic diatoms Amphora coffeaeformis and Cylindrotheca closterium. Each biofilm was grown for 22 days. Images from the confocal microscopy show a difference of adhesion between Pseudoalteromonas 3J6 and diatoms. Indeed, a stronger adhesion is found with C. closterium suggesting cohabitation between Pseudoalteromonas 3J6 and C. closterium compared at an adaptation for bacteria and A. coffeaeformis. The cellular attachment and the growth evolution in biofilm formation depend on each species of diatoms in the biofilm. Behaviour of microalgae in presence of bacteria demonstrates the complexity of the marine biofilm.     

Temporal changes in community composition of heterotrophic bacteria during in situ iron enrichment in the western subarctic Pacific (SEEDS-II)

Little is known about the effects of iron enrichment in high-nitrate low-chlorophyll (HNLC) waters on the community composition of heterotrophic bacteria, which are crucial to nutrient recycling and microbial food webs. Using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) of 16S rDNA fragments, we investigated the heterotrophic eubacterial community composition in surface waters during an in situ iron-enrichment experiment (SEEDS-II) in the western subarctic Pacific in the summer of 2004. DGGE fingerprints representing the community composition of eubacteria differed inside and outside the iron-enriched patch. Sequencing of DGGE bands revealed that at least five phylotypes of α-proteobacteria including Roseobacter, Cytophaga-Flavobacteria-Bacteroides (CFB), γ-proteobacteria, and Actinobacteria occurred in almost all samples from the iron-enriched patch. Diatoms did not bloom during SEEDS-II, but the eubacterial composition in the iron-enriched patch was similar to that in diatom blooms observed previously. Although dissolved organic carbon (DOC) accumulation was not detected in surface waters during SEEDS-II, growth of the Roseobacter clade might have been particularly stimulated after iron additions. Two identified phylotypes of CFB were closely related to the genus Saprospira, whose algicidal activity might degrade the phytoplankton assemblages increased by iron enrichment. These results suggest that the responses of heterotrophic bacteria to iron enrichment could differ among phylotypes during SEEDS-II.     

Microbial biogeochemistry and bioturbation in the sediments of Great Bay, New Hampshire

The influence of bioturbation on certain aspects of the biogeochemistry of sulfur and iron was examined in shallow-water sediments of Great Bay Estuary, New Hampshire. A bioturbated (JEL) and non-bioturbated (SQUAM) site were compared. Annual sulfate reduction measured with ³⁵S, was 4·5 times more rapid at JEL. A significant portion of this difference was attributed to rapid rates which occurred throughout the upper 12 cm of sediment at JEL due to infaunal reworking activities. Sulfate reduction decreased rapidly with depth at SQUAM. FeS in the upper 2 cm at JEL increased in concentration from 3 to 45 μmol ml⁻¹ from early May to late July while only increasing from 3 to 8 μmol ml⁻¹ at SQUAM. Infaunal irrigation and reworking activities caused rapid and continous subsurface cycling of iron and sulfur at JEL. This maintained dissolved iron concentrations at 160–170 μM throughout the summer despite rapid sulfide production. Therefore, dissolved sulfide never accumulated in JEL pore waters. Although dissolved organic carbon (DOC) was generated during sulfate reduction, bioturbation during summer caused a net removal of DOC from JEL pore waters. Sulfate reduction rates, decomposition stoichiometry and nutrient concentrations were used to calculate turnover times of nutrients in pore waters. Nutrient turnover varied temporally and increased three-to five-fold during bioturbation. A secondary maximum in the abundance of recoverable sulfate-reducing bacteria occurred at 10 cm in JEL sediments only during periods of active bioturbation, demonstrating the influence of macrofaunal activities on bacterial distributions.     

Bioavailability of different chemical forms of dissolved silica can affect marine diatom growth

In this study, we demonstrate that dissolved silica obtained from mineral (crystalline quartz), biogenic amorphous (diatomaceous earth) and artificial amorphous sources (Aerosil) influence the growth rate of two marine diatoms, Chaetoceros sp. and Skeletonema marinoi. Diatoms were reared in four different experimental conditions in artificial seawater containing either dissolved silica previously obtained through dissolution of the mineral crystalline quartz or two amorphous substrates, biogenic diatomaceous earth or artificial Aerosil silica. Sodium metasilicate was used as control. When the silica in the different media reached concentrations higher than 107 μm , particles were eliminated by filtration and the diatom cells were inoculated. Maximum cell density, growth and silica assimilation rates of both species in the presence of dissolved silica derived from crystalline quartz and metasilicate were higher than those obtained with the other silica sources. These results are discussed against the background of previous geochemical studies that have shown that silica–water interactions are strictly dependent on the silica polymorphs involved and on the ionic composition of the solution. Our results demonstrate that the soluble silicon compounds generated in seawater by crystalline sources are highly bioavailable compared with those generated by biogenic and amorphous materials. These findings are potentially of considerable ecological importance and may contribute to clarifying anomalous spatial and temporal distributions of siliceous organisms with respect to the presence of lithogenic or biogenic silica sources in marine environments.     

Effects of irradiance on pigment signatures of harmful algae during growth process

Three harmful algal bloom (HAB) species, Phaeocystis globosa, Thalassiosira rotula, and Proro-centrum donghaiense were isolated from the coast of China and cultured in batches at three light intensities (40, 70 and 150 μmol photons·m^-2·s^-1). The variation patterns of cell numbers and growth rates with light intensity during growth process were different among species. In P. globosa and T. rotula, maximum growth rates were found at 150 μmol photons·m^-2·s^-1 and ranged from 0.60 divisions per day in T. rotula, to 1.17 divisions per day in P. globosa. The highest growth rate of P. donghaiense, however, was found at 70 μmol photons·m^-2·s^-1 (0.36 divisions per day). In general, all the three HAB species showed adaptation to increasing light intensity by decreas-ing cellular concentrations of chlorophyll a (Chl a), but the variation patterns during the growth process were species-specific. The cellular concentrations of Chl a in P. donghaiense and T. rotula increased gradually with incubation time, but the opposite trend was found in P. globosa. Most of the pigment ratios and pigment indices of these three species were nearly constant during the growth process and showed small changes at different light intensities illustrating the applicability of chemotaxonomy during the initial and developing stages of HAB events, which is very important to study the ecological issues related to HAB species. Ratios of photoprotective carotenoids, such as diadinoxanthin, diatoxanthin and β,β-carotene to total chlorophylls a (Tchl a) showed the trend of increasing with the increase of light intensity during growth process. The species-specific and pigment-specific variations in pigment ratios/indices at different light intensities during growth pro-cess probably reflected the differences in the pigment composition as well as the adaption capabilities of different species to the changes of physical conditions.     

Distribution of dissolved molybdenum,uranium and vanadium in baltic sea waters

This study presents dissolved molybdenum, uranium and vanadium profiles from eight stations in the main Baltic subregions. The elements were analysed by a new analytical procedure based on total-reflection X-ray fluorescence (TXRF). Mo and U reveal a strong, positive correlation with salinity (with r = 0.95 and 0.93, respectively). The estimated end-member concentrations (for S = 35 × 10^?3) are consistent with North Atlantic Ocean water values, indicating conservative mixing with Baltic river waters as the dominating process. In contrast, dissolved V shows relatively low levels, with mean surface and deep layer values of 2.7 and 1.7 nmol kg^?1, respectively. Compared with recently investigated Atlantic Ocean waters (normalized to S = 35 × 10^?3), Baltic waters are deplated in dissolved V by more than 60%. The removal is attributed to scavenging processes by terrigenous and/or biogenic material during the course of mixing. However, the data did not indicate that precipitation or other removal processes were significant in the anaerobic waters.