Seasonal and interannual variability in phytoplankton and nutrient dynamics along Line P in the NE subarctic Pacific

We analysed mixed-layer seasonal and interannual variability in phytoplankton biomass and macronutrient (NO₃ and Si(OH)₄) concentrations from three decades of observations, and nitrogen uptake rates from the 1990s along Line P in the NE subarctic Pacific. Chlorophyll a concentrations near 0.35 mg m⁻³ were observed year-round along Line P except at the nearshore station (P4) where chlorophyll a concentrations in spring were on average 2.4 times the winter values. In contrast, the temporal variability in carbon-to-chlorophyll ratios at the two main end members of Line P (P4 and OSP) was high. Large seasonal and interannual variability in NO₃ and Si(OH)₄ concentration were observed along Line P. Highest upper mixed-layer (top 15 m) nutrient concentrations occurred on the continental shelf in late summer and early fall due to seasonal coastal upwelling. Beyond the shelf, maximum nutrient concentrations increased gradually offshore, and were highest in late winter and early spring due to mixing by winter storms. Interannual variations in upper mixed-layer nutrient concentrations beyond the shelf (>128°W) were correlated with E-W winds and the PDO since 1988 but were not correlated with either climate index between 1973 and 1981. Despite differences in nutrient concentration, nutrient utilization (ΔNO₃ and ΔSi(OH)₄) during the growing season were about 7.5 μM at all offshore stations. Variations in ΔNO₃ were correlated with those of ΔSi(OH)₄. The annual cycle of absolute NO₃ uptake (ρNO₃) and NH₄ uptake (ρNH₄) rates by phytoplankton in the upper mixed-layer showed a weak increasing trend from winter to spring/summer for the period 1992-1997. Rates were more variable at the nearshore station (P4). Rates of ρNO₃ were low along the entire line despite abundant NO₃ and low iron (Fe), at the offshore portion of Line P and sufficient Fe at the nearshore station (P4). As a result, new production contributed on average to only 32 ± 15% of the total nitrogen (N) uptake along Line P. NO₃ utilization in the NE subarctic Pacific is probably controlled by a combination of environmental variables, including Fe, light and ambient NH₄ levels. Elevated ambient NH₄ concentrations seem to decrease the rates of new production (and f-ratios) in surface waters of the oceanic subarctic NE Pacific. Contrary to expectation, phytoplankton biomass, nutrient utilization (ΔNO₃ and ΔSi(OH)₄), and nitrogen uptake (ρNO₃ + ρNH₄) varied relatively little along Line P, despite significant differences in the factors controlling phytoplankton composition assemblages and production. Future studies would benefit from including other variables, especially light limitation, to improve our understanding of the seasonal and interannual variability in phytoplankton biomass and nutrients in this region.     

Nutrient irrigation of the North Atlantic

The North Atlantic, as all major oceans, has a remarkable duality in primary production, manifested by the existence of well-defined high and low mean primary production regions. The largest region is the North Atlantic Subtropical Gyre (NASTG), an anticyclone characterized by bowl shaped isopycnals and low production. The NASTG is surrounded at its margins by smaller cyclonic high-production regions, where these isopycnals approach the sea surface. The most extensive cyclonic regions are those at the latitudinal extremes, i.e. the subpolar and tropical oceans, though smaller ones do occur at the zonal boundaries. In this article we review historical data and present new analyses of climatological data and a selected number of hydrographic cruises in the western/northwestern and eastern/southeastern boundaries of the NASTG, with the objective of investigating the importance of upward epipycnal advection of nutrient-rich subsurface layers (irrigation) in maintaining high primary production in the euphotic layers. In the North Atlantic Subpolar Gyre (NASPG) irrigation implies intergyre exchange caused by the outcropping extension of the Gulf Stream (GS), following the formation of the deep winter mixed-layer. In the eastern boundary of the NASTG irrigation is attained through a permanent upwelling cell, which feeds the Canary Upwelling Current (CUC). In the southeastern corner irrigation occurs in fall, when the Guinea Dome (GD) is reinforced, and in winter, when the CUC reaches its southernmost extension. Other characteristics of the north/south extension of the GS/CUC are the seasonal nutrient replenishing of subsurface layers (spring restratification of NASPG and winter relaxation of the GD) and the maintenance of high levels of diapycnal mixing during the last phase of nutrient transfer to the euphotic layers. Off the Mid-Atlantic Bight the GS transports a total of about 700 kmol s⁻¹ of nitrate, with almost 100 kmol s⁻¹ carried in the surface (σ_θ < 26.8) layers and some 350 kmol s⁻¹ in the intermediate (26.8 < σ_θ < 27.5) layers. A box model suggests that north of Cape Hatteras most surface and upper-thermocline nitrates are used to sustain the high levels of primary production in the NASPG. Off Cape Blanc there is winter along-shore convergence of order 10 kmol s⁻¹ of nitrate in the near-surface layers (possibly larger in summer), with only a small fraction used to sustain local primary production in the coastal upwelling band and the remainder carried to the interior ocean. Nutrients and biomass exported from these cyclonic regions may account for the concentration levels observed within the NASTG.     

渤海春季营养盐限制的现场实验

1999年4－5月，在现场条件下对天然水体中浮游植物以外加营养盐受控培养的方式，研究和探讨春季渤海中部、莱州湾和渤海海峡3个海区的浮游植物生长的营养盐限制问题。结果表明，在莱州湾附近浮游植物生长受到显著的磷限制；尽管水体中硅酸盐浓度较历史水平大大降低，并且实验进行时硅藻为优势种，但是硅酸盐尚不成为限制因子；渤海中部不存在营养盐的限制问题，营养盐浓度和结构相对适宜；渤海海峡也不存在营养盐的限制问题，但是溶解无机氮的相对含量略低。     

Flux of nutrients in the Gulf of California: Geostrophic approach

Continental margins exert a strong influence on global biogeochemical cycles; however there have been relatively few attempts to quantify either the magnitude or nature of temporal variability in material fluxes. At present here are no reports on nutrient fluxes at the mouth of the Gulf of California (GC) so further information is needed to provide estimated values from direct measurements. From 1995–1999 during five cruises covering all seasons, seawater samples were collected and measured the nutrient content from the surface to the bottom (some deeper than 2500 m) from a repeated hydrographic sections at the mouth of the GC. This chemical and physical database is unique because it covers an area with important biogeochemical signs, which has been detected as one of the highest in primary productivity of the world oceans. These sections are perpendicular to the coastlines of the Mexican states of Baja California Sur (BCS) and Sinaloa. In this section, the most dynamic area was the surface waters in February 1999 with strong geostrophic currents and temperatures of 20 ± 1.5 °C; salinity 35.091 ± 0.156; pH 8.16 ± 0.13; phosphate 0.85 ± 0.42 μM, nitrate + nitrite 2.35 ± 2.94 μM, and ammonia 2.00 ± 1.25 μM (average ± standard deviation).Geostrophic velocities were computed from high-resolution CTD sections across the entrance to the GC. During winter and spring, the outflow occurred near BCS and the inflow occurred either through the center of the section and/or along the Sinaloa coast. Both inflow and outflow cores were 45 km wide and extended deeper than 700 m. Summer and fall showed a complex pattern, alternating cores of inflow and outflow but with inflow along Sinaloa on all cruises. The maximum flow into the Gulf occurs during May in the center of the section while outflow was concentrated along BCS. Mascarenhas et al. [Mascarenhas, A., Castro, R., Collins, C.A., Durazo, R., 2004. Seasonal variation of geostrophic velocity and heat flux at the entrance to the Gulf of California, Mexico. Journal Geophysical Research, 2124.] calculated the section mean geostrophic velocity that was composed of two alternating cores of inflow and outflow. The two cores that were adjacent to either coast were broader and contained the highest inflow (0.40 m s^− 1) and outflow (− 0.25 m s^− 1) velocities, supporting the general idea of inflow along the Sinaloa and an outflow along BCS.The highest nutrient fluxes occur during El Niño conditions in November 1997 with outflows as high as 54.5 Tg yr^− 1 for Phosphate, 43.0 Tg yr^− 1 for Nitrate and 31.7 Tg yr^− 1 for Ammonia, this values were at least three times higher than in February 1999.     

Disparate history of transgressing planetary boundaries for nutrients

The activation of nitrogen and phosphorus for food production has caused the transgression of the safe operating space of the Earth system. However, countries differ in the use of their fair share of global nutrient activation, causing a disparity that has severe implications for the environment, land degradation and food security. Both the impact on Earth system processes as well as productivity gains and losses and the consequent socio-economic impacts depend on past use. Therefore, in this study, we examined how the activation of nitrogen and phosphorus for food production in relation to countries’ fair shares has evolved globally. The first transgressions of the planetary boundaries occurred in 1970 and 1964 for nitrogen and phosphorus, respectively. Since then, activation has increased 160% and 200%, respectively. Further, notable differences were observed between countries, in which high-income regions such as western Europe and North America had the highest cumulative transgression and sub-Saharan Africa and Oceania had the greatest deficit relative to their fair shares. The main driver for transgression was economic growth rather than population growth or the relatively recent fertiliser subsidies. Although the use of fertilisers has decreased in areas with previous high use, past usage will slow down the effects of fertiliser reductions on ecosystem recovery and maintain a legacy of inequality. Consequently, in addition to reductions in nitrogen and phosphorus activation, recycling accumulated nutrients to regions operating below their fair shares should be explored and economically enabled in order to secure Earth system functioning while eradicating hunger.     

Drainage and nutrient attenuation in a riparian interception-wetland: southern Minnesota,USA

Riparian wetlands have multiple source waters that require understanding to effectively manage water quantity and quality. Source waters were determined in an interception-wetland located a relatively flat clayey till terrain in southern Minnesota. Data loggers were used to measure precipitation, water stage from monitoring wells and a tile-drain outlet. Over 70 oxygen (δ¹⁸O), hydrogen (δD) and geochemical water samples were collected from seven locations over different seasons (9 events) from 1996 to 1999. Results indicate the dominant source water input to the wetland was drained shallow groundwater beneath intensively managed cropland (P = 0.000). Evapotranspiration was the dominant export pathway. Nitrate–nitrogen (NO₃-N) concentrations significantly decreased (P = 0.000) in the cattail-willow portion of the wetland. Total phosphorous (TP) concentrations were relatively high in the grass portion of the wetland (673 ± 549 μg L⁻¹), and relatively low in the cattail-willow portion of the wetland (139 ± 85 μg L⁻¹) because source waters were low in TP. Overall, the interception-wetland design limited out-of-bank flooding, yet allowed sufficient gradient between the cropland and the wetland outlet to minimize potential crop damage and provide hydraulic storage for nutrient attenuation.     

不同养分供应状况对水稻荧光光谱特征的影响及其在遥感应用上的意义

在不同的养分供应状况下,对水稻在几个生育期的荧光光谱特征的研究表明:氮素供应的减少会引起水稻叶片荧光光谱中蓝绿波段峰的强度在有效分蘖期时降低,无效分蘖期始升高,并使红波段峰的强度和特征峰之间的强度比值(如440nm/550nm)在各生育期均有所降低;利用水稻叶片荧光光谱特征的变化监测其养分供应状况是可能的;监测波段以400—800nm为宜,监测时期应为分蘖盛期一孕穗期。     

Inorganic pollution of the sediments of the River Torrens, South Australia

The River Torrens plays a vital role in the economic, social and environmental life of South Australia. The river rises on the Adelaide Hills and flows west across the Adelaide Plains, bisecting the city of Adelaide and reaching the sea at the Gulf of St Vincent. The bed sediments of the Torrens were sampled from its headwaters to the coast and analysed for cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, phosphorus and zinc. With the exception of chromium, the concentration of every metal investigated lies above the national trigger value for sediment quality at some point along the course of the river. The sediments of the headwaters exhibit high values of copper and zinc, although these probably reflect natural background conditions rather than pollution. By contrast, in the residential areas that dominate the Adelaide Plains, almost every site is contaminated by lead and zinc, some to well beyond the point of biological damage. Several residential sites, notably those downstream of the city of Adelaide, are also polluted by cadmium. Within the industrial zone around the city, every site is contaminated by lead and zinc, with concentrations at some locations far beyond the threshold for ecological damage. Several industrial sites are also polluted by cadmium and copper. There are no national guidelines against which to assess the phosphorus content of the sediments. However, there is strong evidence that human activities have had a significant impact on phosphorus levels in the river. Major cyanobacterial blooms along the lower Torrens have been linked to the release of nutrients from the sediments, and phosphorus concentrations in the water have reached dramatic levels. Much of this contamination appears to be a consequence of past pollution practices. In particular, the severe pollution along the reach immediately to the west of the city may be largely attributed to the former concentration of metallurgical and chemical industries in that area. These problems are likely to persist indefinitely as modifications to the flow behaviour of the river mean that bed sediments are neither being moved downstream and flushed out of the system nor diluted by mixing with relatively uncontaminated deposits.     

2016年山东省15个海水增养殖区氮磷分布及其结构特征

氮、磷是海洋生物生长所需要的重要营养元素,其变化对海水增养殖区生态系统结构和功能有着重要影响。文章根据2016年3月、5月、8月及10月的监测资料,分析了山东省15个海水增养殖区氮、磷分布特征,结果表明：DIN浓度范围0.007 30～2.20 mg/L,平均值0.192 mg/L,68.0%的站次浓度介于0.05～0.2 mg/L之间,渤海湾、莱州湾养殖区浓度普遍高于黄海养殖区;PO4-P浓度范围0～0.089 5 mg/L,平均0.005 98 mg/L,81.9%的站次浓度介于0.001～0.015 mg/L之间,约2/3水域为磷限制性贫营养状态。表层、底层海水DIN与PO4-P浓度无明显差异;NO3-N、NO2-N、NH4-N占比分别为68.91%、6.82%、27.27%,NO3-N是DIN的主要存在形式;夏季NH4-N形态比例最高,平均占比36.5%;N/P原子质量比范围1.6～2 532.3,主要范围在10～40,渤海养殖区N/P比明显高于黄海养殖区;DIN分布主要受陆源径流输入影响;PO4-P水平分布无明显规律。     

A retrospective analysis of nutrients and phytoplankton productivity in the Mississippi River plume

Long-term patterns in riverine nutrient flux in the lower Mississippi River were examined in relationship to spatial and temporal patterns in surface nutrient concentrations, chlorophyll, and primary productivity in the outflow region in the northern Gulf of Mexico. A retrospective analysis of dissolved inorganic nutrient fluxes based on USGS water quality data and US Army Corps of Engineers discharge data from the 1950s to mid-2004 showed an increase in river-borne dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) flux after 1967. Flux of DIN peaked in the early 1980s and has since fluctuated and shown a general decreasing trend since the early 1990s. Records for total phosphorus (total P) fluxes beginning in mid-1974 exhibited a variable but slight increasing trend up to 2004. The increase in fluxes during the 1970s and into the 1980s can be attributed to increases in both nutrient concentrations and river discharge. DIN concentrations since the 1980s have shown a decreasing trend. Total P concentrations exhibited large fluctuations, with no consistent long-term trend. Dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) concentrations and orthophosphate (Ortho P) peaked in the 1980s, declined relative to DIN and remained relatively low. DIN:Ortho P ratios were consistently well above the Redfield N:P ratio of 16:1. DIN:Total P ratios were variable and lower, fluctuating around the Redfield 16:1 value. Both DIN:Ortho P and DIN:Total P ratios were weakly, but significantly, correlated with river discharge and fluctuations were largely a reflection of higher DIN concentrations during high-discharge events. DIN:Ortho P ratios in surface waters of the outflow region adjacent to the birdfoot delta were higher in spring, consistent with seasonal variation in riverine DIN:Ortho P ratios. The seasonal signal diminished with increasing distance to the west of the delta, indicating a selective removal of DIN or source of Ortho P along the shelf. DIN fluxes and SeaWiFS satellite-derived chlorophyll showed seasonally elevated values during the first half of the year followed by generally lower values in late summer and fall. This seasonal signal diminished from east to west. The observed relationship between DIN flux and chlorophyll was consistent with ship-based observations of a linkage between riverine nutrient inputs and productivity. Long-term trends in river discharge were correlated with the Multivariate ENSO (El Niño Southern Oscillation) Index (MEI) (r=−0.281, p<0.0001), evidence that river discharge was influenced by global climatic trends.