A protocol for classifying ecologically relevant marine zones,a statistical approach

Mapping ecologically relevant zones in the marine environment has become increasingly important. Biological data are however often scarce and alternatives are being sought in optimal classifications of abiotic variables. The concept of ‘marine landscapes’ is based on a hierarchical classification of geological, hydrographic and other physical data. This approach is however subject to many assumptions and subjective decisions.     

Impacts of maintenance channel dredging in a northern Adriatic coastal lagoon. I: Effects on sediment properties,contamination and toxicity

Conservation and management of coastal lagoons envisage direct human intervention. To prevent siltation and to preserve the hydrodynamics features of the lagoon system, the inner channels undergo regular maintenance dredging.     

Coloured dissolved organic matter (CDOM) in Southern North Sea waters: Optical characterization and possible origin

The variability and origin of the Coloured Dissolved Organic Matter (CDOM) were studied in the Belgian coastal and adjacent areas including offshore waters and the Scheldt estuary, through the parameters: absorption at 375 nm, a_CDOM(375), and the slope of the absorption curve, S. a_CDOM(375) varied between 0.20 and 1.31 m⁻¹ and between 0.97 and 4.30 m⁻¹ in the marine area and Scheldt estuary, respectively. S fluctuated between 0.0101 and 0.0203 nm⁻¹ in the marine area and between 0.0167 and 0.0191 nm⁻¹ in the Scheldt estuary. The comparative analysis of a_CDOM(375) and S variations evidenced different origins of CDOM in the BCZ. The Scheldt estuarine waters showed decreasing a_CDOM(375) values with increasing salinity but constant S value of ∼0.018 nm⁻¹ suggesting a dominant terrestrial origin of CDOM. On the contrary, samples collected in the marine domain showed a narrow range of a_CDOM(375) but highly variable S suggesting the additional presence of autochthonous sources of CDOM. This source was evidenced based on the sorting of the marine offshore data according to the stage of the phytoplankton bloom when they were collected. A clear distinction was made between CDOM released during the growth stage characterized by high S (∼0.017 nm⁻¹) and low a_CDOM(375) and the decay phase characterized by low S (∼0.013 nm⁻¹) and high a_CDOM(375). This observation was supported by CDOM measurements performed on pure phytoplankton cultures which showed increased CDOM release along the wax and wane of the bloom but decreasing S. We concluded that the high variability of the CDOM signature in offshore waters is explained by the local biological production and processing of CDOM.     

2004年秋季南海北部浮游植物组成及其数量分布特征

根据2004年9月18日—10月2日南海北部航次所获得的表层浮游植物群数据, 对其组成及数量分布进行了探讨分析。该次调查鉴定浮游植物共53属152种(含变种和变型), 分别属于硅藻门35属88种、甲藻门15属60种、蓝藻门1属2种及金藻门1属1种等; 优势种中分布较广泛的有柔弱伪菱形藻Pseudo-nitzschia delicatissima、反曲原甲藻Prorocentrum sigmoides、微小原甲藻P. mininum、锥状施克里普藻Scrippsiella trochoidea和红海束毛藻Trichodesmium erythraeum等; 浮游植物细胞丰度的数量范围为(0.11—23.61)×106cells•m-3, 呈现近岸区域高于远岸区域的平面分布格局, 最大值和最小值分别出现在海南岛东北部海域的E506站和海南岛东南部海域的B3站; 浮游植物物种丰富度也是近岸的站点较高, 以靠近珠江口E708站的51种为最多。硅藻类细胞丰度范围为(0.02—8.13)×106cells•m-3, 主要分布在高盐的外海水域, 其中产二甲基磺酸丙酯(DMSP)的小环藻Cyclotella spp.在多个站点出现; 甲藻类以近岸水域居多, 细胞丰度最高达15.67×106cells•m-3(E506站), 其中数量较多的赤潮种类主要有锥状施克里普藻、反曲原甲藻、微小原甲藻、环沟藻Gyrodinium spp.等; 固氮的红海束毛藻在调查海域广泛分布, 但主要集中于东部, 以E206站最多, 高达1.8×107cells•m-3。结合水文资料和其他层次的浮游植物资料进行对比分析, 结果表明, 红海束毛藻的分布与黑潮水的入侵存在一定关系, 其分布受水团和海流的影响。     

南黄海中部泥质沉积成因和物源研究综述

当前南黄海沉积学研究的核心问题是泥质沉积的形成过程和动力机制及其物质来源。许多学者对南黄海中部泥区的成因和物源进行了大量研究,但比较局限,缺少系统性。现有研究认为南黄海泥质沉积的形成受黄海冷水团和上升流的影响,但黄海冷水团并不是其形成的必要条件。对泥区物源的研究,主要考虑现代黄河物质、老黄河物质以及长江物质对其的影响,并且仅是定性的研究。对于朝鲜半岛物质对南黄海中部泥区的影响,国内的研究更是寥寥无几。海水对海底基岩的侵蚀沉积以及黄海暖流对海底沉积物的改造和再悬浮作用对南黄海中部泥区沉积的贡献仅是个别学者的观点。     

东海北部营养盐分布的季节变化及成因探讨

基于美国国家海洋大气管理局(NOAA)2007年发布的全球海域营养盐数据库资料和美国国家地球物理数据中心(NGDC)2006年发布的全球地貌数据库资料,在MATLAB计算机平台上,利用研发的数值分析与成图技术,对东海北部海域营养盐分布的季节变化特征进行分析。结果表明:(1)东海北部海域NO3--N、PO43--P分布总特征为由沿岸向离岸递减,由表层向底层递增;西北高,东南低,呈扇形向东南扩展;SiO3--Si有两个浓度高值区,一个为研究区域的西北角,另一个在东北角;(2)在0~50 m的表层营养盐平均浓度均是冬季最高;50~200 m的中层NO3--N、SiO3--Si夏季最高;200 m以下的底层四季变化微弱,其中400~500m层PO43--P、SiO3--Si浓度值秋季最高。NO3--N变异系数表层最大,PO3--P中层最大、SiO3--Si底层最大,其中NO3--N相应各层变异系数大于PO43--P、SiO3--Si;(3)研究区域四季均存在高营养盐水团。高PO43--P、SiO3--Si水团中心分别位于125.5°E、30.5°N和128.5°E、30.5°N;高NO3--N水团中心,随冬-春-夏-秋、从南往东北再向西、最后向东南,在125°~128°E、29°~31°N范围内移动。     

冬季刺参养殖环境与肠道内细菌菌群的研究

运用传统细菌分离培养与分子生物学技术相结合的方法,对2008年11月至2009年1月冬季刺参(Apostichopus japonicus Liao)养殖池塘环境(养殖水、底泥、附着基)及刺参肠道内的细菌菌群进行了分析。应用平板稀释涂布培养计数法测得刺参养殖池塘水体、底泥、附着基和肠道细菌数量分别为0.75×102～1.4×104cfu/mL、8.7×104～8.1×105cfu/g、3.8×105～2.8×106cfu/g、7.1×105～1.5×107cfu/g;根据形态学差异从培养所得的细菌中筛选得到22株菌,用限制性内切酶Rsa I和Msp I对所分离菌株进行ARDRA(Amplified rDNA Restriction Analysis)分析,这22株菌被分为8种不同的分类单元(Operational Taxonomic Unit,OTU),其中OTU2与OTU3所包含的菌株分别占分离菌株种数的30%和20%;此外,作者对不同环境培养所得的优势度最高的细菌进行分子鉴定分析。结果表明:水环境中优势菌为施氏假单胞菌(Pseudomonas stutzeri)、门多萨假单胞菌(Pseudomonas mendocina)及巨大芽孢杆菌(Bacillus megaterium),沉积物中优势菌为巨大芽孢杆菌(B.megaterium)、施氏假单胞菌(P.stutzeri)、苏云金芽孢杆菌(Bacillus thuringiensis),附着基中优势菌为巨大芽孢杆菌(B.megaterium)、苏云金芽孢杆菌(B.thuringiensis),灿烂弧菌(Vibrio splendidus),肠道中优势菌为巨大芽孢杆菌(B.megaterium)、苏云金芽孢杆菌(B.thuringiensis),灿烂弧菌(V.splendidus)、施氏假单胞菌(P.stutzeri)。通过对冬季刺参池塘细菌菌群多样性分析和优势菌鉴定,为筛选低温益生菌和防治刺参疾病提供了有益参考。     

Seasonal and spatial distributions of phytoplankton biomass associated with monsoon and oceanic environments in the South China Sea

Seasonal variations of phytoplankton/chlorophyll-a （Chl-a） distribution, sea surface wind, sea height anomaly, sea surface temperature and other oceanic environments for long periods are analyzed in the South China Sea （SCS）, especially in the two typical regions off the east coast of Vietnam and off the northwest coast of Luzon, using remote sensing data and other oceanographic data. The results show that seasonal and spatial distributions of phytoplankton biomass in the SCS are primarily influenced by the monsoon winds and oceanic environments. Off the east coast of Vietnam, Chl-a concentration is a peak in August, a jet shape extending into the interior SCS, which is associated with strong southwesterly monsoon winds, the coastal upwetling induced by offshore Ekman transport and the strong offshore current in the western SCS. In December, high Chl-a concentration appears in the upwelling region off the northwest coast of Luzon and spreads southwestward. Strong mixing by the strong northeasterly monsoon winds, the cyclonic circulation, southwestward coastal currents and river discharge have impacts on distribution of phytoplankton, so that the high phytoplankton biomass extends from the coastal areas over the northern SCS to the entire SCS in winter. These research activities could be important for revealing spatial and temporal patterns of phytoplankton and their interactions with physical environments in the SCS.     

Review of recent findings on the water masses and circulation in the East Sea (Sea of Japan)

Recent findings on water masses, biogeochemical tracers, deep currents and basin-scale circulation in the East/Japan Sea, and numerical modeling of its circulation are reviewed. Warming continues up to 2007 despite an episode of bottom water formation in the winter of 2000–2001. Water masses have definitely changed since the 1970s and further changes are expected due to the continuation of warming. Accumulation of current data in deep waters of the East/Japan Sea reveals that the circulation in the East/Japan Sea is primarily cyclonic with sub-basin scale cyclonic and anticyclonic cells in the Ulleung Basin (Tsushima Basin). Our understanding of the circulation of intermediate water masses has been deepened through high-resolution numerical studies, and the implementation of data assimilation has had initial success. However, the East/Japan Sea is unique in terms of the fine vertical structures of physical and biogeochemical properties of cold water mass measured at the highest precision and their rapid change with the global warming, so that full understanding of the structures and their change requires in-depth process studies with continuous monitoring programs.     

Elevated biomass of mesozooplankton and enhanced fecal pellet flux in cyclonic and mode-water eddies in the Sargasso Sea

Accumulating evidence points to the importance of mesoscale eddies in supplying nutrients to surface waters in oligotrophic gyres. However, the nature of the biological response and its evolution over time has yet to be elucidated. Changes in mesozooplankton community composition due to eddy perturbation also could affect biogeochemical cycling. Over the course of two summers we sampled seven eddies in the Sargasso Sea. We focused on and followed a post-phytoplankton bloom cyclonic eddy (C1) in 2004 and a blooming mode-water anticyclonic eddy (A4) in 2005. We collected zooplankton in all eddies using a Multiple Opening and Closing Net Environmental Sampling System (MOCNESS) and quantified biomass (>0.15 mm, in five size fractions) from 0 to 700 m over nine discrete depth intervals. Zooplankton biomass (>0.5 mm) in the upper 150 m was similarly enhanced at night for the periphery of C1 and the center of A4 at 0.514 g m⁻² and 0.533 g m⁻², respectively, compared to outside (0.183 g m⁻² outside C1 and 0.197 g m⁻² outside A4). Despite minimal chlorophyll a enhancement and dominance by picoplankton in C1, zooplankton biomass increased most for the largest size class (>5 mm). Gut fluorescence for euphausiids and large copepods was also elevated on the C1 periphery. In A4, peak biomass occurred at eddy center coincident with peak primary production, but was highly variable (changing by >3-fold) over time, perhaps resulting from the dense, but patchy distribution of diatom chains in this region. Shifts in zooplankton community composition and abundance were reflected in enhancement of fecal pellet production and active transport by diel vertical migration in eddies. Inside C1 the flux of zooplankton fecal pellets at 150 m in June 2004 was 1.5-fold higher than outside the eddy, accounting for 9% of total particulate organic carbon (POC) flux. The flux of fecal pellets (mostly from copepods) increased through the summer in eddy A4, matching concurrent increases in zooplankton <2 mm in length, and accounting for up to 12% of total POC flux. Active carbon transport by vertically migrating zooplankton was 37% higher on the periphery of C1 and 74% higher at the center of A4 compared to the summer mean at the Bermuda Atlantic Time-series Study (BATS) station. Despite contrasting responses by the phytoplankton community to cyclonic and mode-water eddies, mesozooplankton biomass was similarly enhanced, possibly due to differential physical and biological aggregation mechanisms, and resulted in important zooplankton-mediated changes in mesoscale biogeochemistry.