Temporal Variations in the Dissolved Nutrient Stocks in the Surface Water of the Western North Atlantic Ocean

Changes in patterns of undetectability and molar ratios of dissolved nutrients in the euphotic zone of the oligotrophic western North Atlantic Ocean were investigated utilizing the Bermuda Atlantic Time-series Study (BATS) data set of the US Joint Global Ocean Flux Study (JGOFS). Our aim was to examine the temporal dynamics of nutrient stocks over a decade (1989∼1998) and to gain insight into the interactions between the different biotic and abiotic factors underlying BATS. Patterns of nutrient undetectability clearly revealed the depleted nature of the nutrients in surface water at the BATS location, particularly phosphorous. The N:P ratio was consistently far above the nominal Redfield ratio (mean, 38.5) but was significantly lower during the 1993∼1994 period (22.1). Over the same period the proportion of samples depleted in N only increased while the proportion of samples depleted in P only decreased. This indicates an overall reduction of N relative to P in the surface water at BATS during the 1993∼1994 period, the reasons for this anomaly, though, are not clear. The correlation analysis between the biotic and abiotic variables at BATS has indicated some interesting relationships that can help understand some of the parameters affecting nutrient stocks in the euphotic zone and their consequent impacts on marine biota. Although nutrient stocks in the oligotrophic environment are limited, they might be subject to interannual variation that may become anomalous in some cases. These variations might underlay significant feedback mechanisms by affecting marine productivity, the prime factor controlling the sequestration of atmospheric CO₂ by the oceans. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

海水营养盐现场自动分析技术

介绍了目前国内外对海水营养盐浓度测量仪器的研究现状，论述了吸光光度法测量营养盐浓度的基本原理，以及硅酸盐和氨氮现场测量分析工艺流程。     

A high sensitivity, low volume HPLC method to determine soluble reactive phosphate in freshwater and saltwater

A reverse phase High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) method was developed to detect soluble reactive phosphate (SRP) in marine and freshwater samples. This technique is scalable over a range of sample volumes from 10 μl to 10 ml, requires minimal sample preparation, and responds linearly from 1 nM to 100 μM (R²>0.964). Standard Murphy–Riley molybdenum blue reagents were used to react with phosphate in samples for analysis. Solid phase extraction tubes were used to clean the mixed complexing reagent prior to combining the reagent with samples. The method was applied to freshwater samples collected in July 2001 along an Andean mountain stream located in the Eastern Cordillera (2400 m) of Peru and marine samples collected in January 2002 within the low marsh of the estuarine Nueces Delta System, Texas Coastal Bend. For method comparison, field samples were analyzed using a standard manual spectrophotometric method. Field sample phosphate concentrations produced from each method were nearly identical. This method offers the advantages of low sample volume (1 ml or less) with high sensitivity, precision, and potential automation.     

海洋沉积物中氮的形态及其生态学意义

海洋沉积物作为生源要素氮的重要源与汇，在其生物地球化学循环中起着至关重要的作用。该项研究旨在查清海洋沉积物中氮的存在形态及其生态学意义。氮是生物生命活动必需的营养要素，海洋中的氮往往是海洋初级生产力的限制因子，氮的吸收与再生释放在估算海洋新生产力和生源要素的生物地球化学循环率上也有重要贡献。海洋沉积物中的氮作为海水中氮的重要供给源是海洋生物赖以生存的重要物质基础，对维持海洋生态平衡、修复失衡的海洋生态环境具有重要意义。但由于不同海区海洋沉积物的来源和环境不同，氮的形态和含量亦不相同，可被生物吸收和利用的数量就不相同，因此造成了不同海区生物种群和环境不同，进而影响生态环境。因此，研究海洋沉积物中氮的形态，了解各个形态与沉积物中生物种群及与环境的关系，确定其生物和化学活性，査清氮不同形态的生态学功能，对于深入探讨海洋生物资源可持续利用的方法和策略具有重要意义。本文主要阐述海洋沉积物中氮的存在形式与分布、氮的早期成岩和去营养化作用、硝化和反硝化作用以及氮与生物特定种群的关系等，探讨了影响海洋沉积物中的氮循环的主要因素，并分析了海洋沉积物中的氮与生态系的关系，以期对研究氮的海洋生物地球化学过程有所帮助。     

Nutrient Cycling and a Stoichiometric Model in Epidavros, a Deep Basin in the Aegean Sea

Abstract. The nutrient cycling of Epidavros, a deep basin in the Saronikos Gulf, was studied in relation to various environmental factors during 1973–1976 at a station characterized by stagnant conditions. The regeneration of nutrients was related to the consumption of oxygen, and a seasonal nutrient cycle occurred with low nutrient concentrations in the spring and summer, followed by high nutrient levels in autumn and winter. In addition high values of nitrate and silicate were observed in the deeper waters, which tended to be anoxic, although the water masses were renewed during spring 1974. The distribution pattern of nutrients together with nutrient ratios were compared with previous studies of the same and neighbouring areas as well as of other isolated basins. A stoichiometric model indicates that plankton organisms in the Epidavros basin have approximate atomic ratios for C: N: P of 150: 14:1, while the ratio of change for nitrogen and phosphorus in the water is only 8.8:1 by atoms. This is probably because of the slow rate of regeneration of nitrogenous material and/or assimilation and regeneration in organic forms. The water/plankton relation in the Epidavros basin appears to be very similar to that in the Baltic Sea.     

海水硅酸盐现场自动监测技术化学工艺优化研究

阐述了硅酸盐测量时试剂的不稳定性，介绍了还原剂配出时间与吸光值之间的关系、化学反应时间的确定及温度对化学反应的影响和盐度效应问题，给出了硅酸盐现场自动化学分析工艺优化流程图。     

Heavy metals distribution in mangrove sediments along the mobile coastline of French Guiana

The accumulation of nine heavy metals in fine-grained sediments from the mangrove fringed coast of French Guiana is evaluated. The dynamic features of the South American tropical coastline, from the Amazon to the Orinoco Rivers, result in mangrove sediments being alternately submitted to phases of erosion and net sedimentation a few tens of years long. This process influences the distribution of the heavy metals associated with these frequently re-mobilized deposits. Sedimentary cores and mangrove plant samples were collected, at different seasons, in various swamps characterized by different properties (content of sedimentary organic matter, distance from sea water and fresh water). The ranges of measured concentrations expressed in μmol g^− 1 were the following: Cu (0.06 to 0.61), Co (0.12 to 0.68), Pb (0.08 to 0.18), Ni (0.32 to 0.76), Cr (0.61 to 1.40), Zn (1.25 to 5.94), Mn (4.36 to 45.4) and Fe (441 to 1128). No differences were found between sediments from mangroves developing upstream and downstream of urban areas, i.e. Cayenne and Kourou. This suggests that the content of mangrove sediments in heavy metals along the coastline of French Guiana is essentially the result of the continuous alternation of accumulation and transport phases occurring upstream after departing from the Amazon watershed. The sources of this heavy metals content are thus difficult to identify. However it is well known that the alluvium produced by the natural erosion of the Amazonian soils is naturally enriched in mercury. Also, the run-off from gold mining activities is known to contribute to mercury pollution. Ranges in total Hg were between 0.15 and 2.57 nmol g^− 1, with mean values close to 0.41 nmol g^− 1, and were clearly correlated with total organic carbon except for some outstanding high values, which may be a result of rapid geochemical changes. Heavy metal concentrations showed variations with depth. The redox conditions and the decay processes affecting the organic matter control the cycling of iron and manganese, which in turn control the concentrations and associations of heavy metals. These preliminary results suggest that the variations in heavy metal content with depth or between mangrove areas result largely from diagenetic processes rather than changes in metal input resulting from local human activities.     

Nitrogen cycling in deep-sea sediments of the Porcupine Abyssal Plain, NE Atlantic

Rates of transformation, recycling and burial of nitrogen and their temporal and spatial variability were investigated in deep-sea sediments of the Porcupine Abyssal Plain (PAP), NE Atlantic during eight cruises from 1996 to 2000. Benthic fluxes of ammonium (NH₄) and nitrate (NO₃) were measured in situ using a benthic lander. Fluxes of dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) and denitrification rates were calculated from pore water profiles of DON and NO₃, respectively. Burial of nitrogen was calculated from down core profiles of nitrogen in the solid phase together with ¹⁴C-based sediment accumulation rates and dry bulk density. Average NH₄ and NO₃-effluxes were 7.4 ± 19 μmol m⁻² d⁻¹ (n = 7) and 52 ± 30 μmol m⁻² d⁻¹ (n = 14), respectively, during the period 1996–2000. During the same period, the DON-flux was 11 ± 5.6 μmol m⁻² d⁻¹ (n = 5) and the denitrification rate was 5.1 ± 3.0 μmol m⁻² d⁻¹ (n = 22). Temporal and spatial variations were only found in the benthic NO₃ fluxes. The average burial rate was 4.6 ± 0.9 μmol m⁻² d⁻¹. On average over the sampling period, the recycling efficiency of the PON input to the sediment was 94% and the burial efficiency hence 6%. The DON flux constituted 14% of the nitrogen recycled, and it was of similar magnitude as the sum of burial and denitrification. By assuming the PAP is representative of all deep-sea areas, rates of denitrification, burial and DON efflux were extrapolated to the total area of the deep-sea floor (>2000 m) and integrated values of denitrification and burial of 8 ± 5 and 7 ± 1 Tg N year⁻¹, respectively, were obtained. This value of total deep-sea sediment denitrification corresponds to 3–12% of the global ocean benthic denitrification. Burial in deep-sea sediments makes up at least 25% of the global ocean nitrogen burial. The integrated DON flux from the deep-sea floor is comparable in magnitude to a reported global riverine input of DON suggesting that deep-sea sediments constitute an important source of DON to the world ocean.     

Simulation of upper-ocean biogeochemistry with a flexible-composition phytoplankton model: C, N and Si cycling in the western Sargasso Sea

We report the first application of a biogeochemical model in which the major elemental composition of the phytoplankton is flexible, and responds to changing light and nutrient conditions. The model includes two phytoplankton groups: diatoms and non-siliceous picoplankton. Both fix C in accordance with photosynthesis-irradiance relationships used in other models and take up NO₃⁻ and NH₄⁺ (and Si(OH)₄ for diatoms) following Michaelis-Menten kinetics. The model allows for light dependence of photosynthesis and NO₃⁻ uptake, and for the observed near-total light independence of NH₄⁺ uptake and Si(OH)₄ uptake. It tracks the resulting C/N ratios of both phytoplankton groups and Si/N ratio of diatoms, and permits uptake of C, N and Si to proceed independently of one another when those ratios are close to those of nutrient-replete phytoplankton. When the C/N or Si/N ratio of either phytoplankton group indicates that its growth is limited by N, Si or light, uptake of non-limiting elements is controlled by the content of the limiting element in accordance with the cell-quota formulation of Droop (J. Mar. Biol. Ass. U.K 54 (1974) 825).We applied this model to the Bermuda Atlantic Time-series Study (BATS) site in the western Sargasso Sea. The model was tuned to produce vertical profiles and time courses of [NO₃⁻], [NH₄⁺] and [Si(OH)₄] that are consistent with the data, by adjusting the kinetic parameters for N and Si uptake and the rate of nitrification. The model then reproduces the observed time courses of chlorophyll-a, particulate organic carbon and nitrogen, biogenic silica, primary productivity, biogenic silica production and POC export with no further tuning. Simulated C/N and Si/N ratios of the phytoplankton indicate that N is the main growth-limiting nutrient throughout the thermally stratified period and that [Si(OH)₄], although always limiting to the rate of Si uptake by diatoms, seldom limits their growth rate. The model requires significant nitrification in the upper 200 m to yield realistic time courses and vertical profiles of [NH₄⁺] and [NO₃⁻], suggesting that NO₃⁻ is not supplied to the upper water column entirely by physical processes. A nitrification-corrected f-ratio (f_NC), calculated for the upper 200 m as: (NO₃⁻ uptake—nitrification)/(NO₃⁻ uptake+NH₄⁺ uptake) has annual values ranging from only 0.05–0.09, implying that 90–95% of the N taken up annually by phytoplankton is supplied by biological regeneration (including nitrification) in the upper 200 m. Reported discrepancies between estimates of organic C export based on seasonal chemical changes and POC export measured at the BATS site can be almost completely resolved if there is significant regeneration of NO₃⁻ via organic-matter decomposition in the upper 200 m.     

海洋碎屑小生境形成演化过程中营养盐特殊迁移过程及脱氢酶活性的变化

研究了海洋碎屑小生境形成、演化过程中营养盐特殊迁移过程和脱氢酶活性的变化。结果表明,在充氧水体中同时存在硝化和反硝化过程,并有高浓度No(?)富集。脱氢酶活性在实验第4天达到最高值,在第96天和192天出现波动。碎屑聚集体表面不但有微生物群落的演替,而且存在物理化学微环境的连续变化;当碎屑表面O_2被消耗而出现氧化还原电位梯度时,电子最终受体出现更替,非平衡过程发生改变,为适应这种改变,微生物群落重新调节新陈代谢,在分叉点附近,脱氢酶活性增大。