Summer Phytoplankton Physiognomy in Coastal Waters of the Gulf of Naples

Abstract. Thirteen sampling cruises were conducted at weekly intervals in the inner part of the Gulf of Naples in the summer of 1983 to investigate the effects of excess nutrient inputs on phytoplankton communities. High surface phytoplankton concentrations (up to 1.15 ×10⁸ cells 1^-1) were recorded, particularly near Naples harbour and along the eastern coast, two locations that receive most of the area's sewage and industrial discharge. Phytoplankton populations were generally dominated by small species, mainly diatoms, which were associated with small phytoflagcllatcs. Species diversity values were relatively high (H'≤ 3.62) in most samples. Throughout the sampling period a high spatial and temporal variability for phytoplankton abundances and species composition was observed.     

Study on copper complexing ligand concentrations in several China''s coastal waters

Copper complexing ligand concentrations in the Daya Bay, Qingdao coast, Jiaozhou Bay, South China Sea and Huanghe Estuary waters were determined by the anodic stripping voltammetry technique. The distribution regularity and the relationship with other parameters were discussed. The results were as follows： Copper complexing ligand concentrations of the South China Sea were a little higher than those of other sea areas, and they were apparently higher than those of the ocean. Compared with the subsurface layer （SSL） in the sea surface microlayer copper complexing ligand concentrations showed an enrichment phenomenon, of which the mechanism is similar to dissolved organic matter. The metal complexing ligand concentration profiles of the South China Sea showed that the value in the sea surface was the highest, then it decreased with depth accruing, and a higher value appeared at the bottom. Copper complex- ing ligand concentrations were higher than those of cadmium and lead. Ligands in each sea area exhibited a complicated property. In short, the distribution regularity of copper complexing ligand concentrations in China＇s coastal waters was consistent with that of other regions in the world. Meanwhile, the positive relationship between the copper complexing ligand concentrations and biological oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, dissolved organic carbon, and viscosity were found clearly.     

南沙群岛海区秋季浮游植物物种多样性及数量变化

根据1997年11月南沙群岛海区的调查资料,对调查海区的浮游植物种类组成、优势种、物种多样性及数量分布特点进行了初步分析。鉴定网采浮游植物共121种,隶属2个门类33属。垂直分层0—75m和75—150m浮游植物细胞数量平均值分别是0.070×104cells·m-3和0.044×104cells·m-3。0—75m层浮游植物细胞数量的高值区出现在调查海区的东部和东南部,最高值出现在安渡滩附近的21号站;75—150m浮游植物细胞数量高值区出现在32号站附近。垂直分布的明显特点是随深度增加浮游植物种类和数量呈减少趋势。三叉角藻Ceratiumtrichoceros和夜光梨甲藻Pyrocystisnoctiluca是0—75m层和75—150m层共有的优势种。0—75m层和75—150m层浮游植物Shannon-Wiener多样性指数平均值分别为3.40和2.07,均匀度平均值分别为0.79和0.60。研究结果表明,秋季浮游植物细胞数量比春、夏季低,浮游植物由硅藻、甲藻组成,甲藻在数量和种类上都占优势。初步探讨了南沙群岛海区秋季浮游植物种类和数量分布与营养盐、温度与盐度、海流及浮游动物等环境因子的关系。     

Biomarker responses to pollution in two invertebrate species: Scrobicularia plana and Nereis diversicolor from the Cádiz bay (SW Spain)

The clam Scrobicularia plana and the polychaete worm Nereis diversicolor were collected in several sites from a littoral enclosure in SW Spain. The aim of our study was to relate various biomarker responses in these species to a pollution gradient caused by untreated domestic discharges and to verify the adequacy of the selected species as sentinels in this habitat. The biomarkers selected were the antioxidant enzymes catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and DT-diaphorase (DT-D). In addition, the activities of cytochrome P450-dependent ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) activity, the phase II detoxifying enzyme glutathione S-transferase (GST) and the neurotoxicity marker acetylcholinesterase (AChE) were measured. Metallothionein levels were selected as biomarkers of heavy metals exposure in both species. The results suggest a different response in the water filtering organism (clam) and the sediment eater (polychaete), probably as a consequent of different pollution exposure and that samples from the “Caño Sancti-Petri” were exposed to biologically active compounds that altered some of their biochemical responses. AChE was the most sensitive biomarker in both species and N. diversicolor proved to be a more robust sentinel in this ecosystem.     

Three-dimensional hydrodynamic model of Xiamen waters

Abstract-A semi-implicit and Eulerian-Lagrangian finite difference method for three-dimensionalshallow flow has been extended to a more complete system of equations incorporating second-momentturbulence closure model and transport equations of salinity and temperature. The simulation for flood-ing and drying of mudflats has been improved. The model is applied to Xiamen waters. Based on exten-sive survey data, water level elevation, temperature and salinity field along the eastern open boundaryand at the Jiulong River inlets and runoffs are analyzed, specified and calibrated. The computed resultsshow good agreement with the measured data, reproduce flooding, emergence of large and complexmudflat region.     

The Need for Definitions in Understanding Estuaries

This paper considers what the definition/classification of estuaries has taught us and why there is a need for classification systems. It further considers why we need to define an estuary and its constituent parts, including the fundamental difficulty and dilemma of trying to define parts of a continuum, as a means to both understanding and managing that estuary. The review considers where an estuary starts and ends and the relative merits of defining estuaries in terms of their biology, physics, chemistry, geographic nature and socio-economic units. It briefly discusses the need for legal and planning definitions and the linkages between science and management. Following this, we present a generic framework for the definition, classification, monitoring, assessment, reporting and management of estuaries. In particular, it is argued that scientists should engage in the debate on the definition of estuaries for legal and socio-economic purposes. It is concluded here that as existing definitions will never be suitable for all needs, a different approach is required. The proposed ‘ Expert Judgement Checklist Approach ’ could provide guidance for those needing to define/delimit an estuary while still acknowledging the inherent variability of such systems. The proposed system mostly relates to the European, temperate estuary, but there are lessons here for estuaries worldwide.     

The behaviour of dissolved Cd, Co, Zn, and Pb in North Atlantic near-surface waters (30°N/60°W–60°N/2°W)

In September 1993 (M26) and June/July 1996 (M36), a total of 239 surface samples (7 m depth) were collected on two transects across the open Atlantic Ocean (224 samples) and northwest European shelf edge area. We present an overview of the horizontal variability of dissolved Cd, Co, Zn, and Pb in between the northwest and northeast Atlantic Ocean in relation to salinity and the nutrients. Our data show a preferential incorporation of Cd relative to P in the particulate material of the surface ocean when related to previously published parallel measurements on suspended particulate matter from the same cruise. There is a good agreement with results recently estimated from a model by Elderfield and Rickaby (Nature 405 (2000) 305), who predict for the North Atlantic Ocean a best fit for α_Cd/P=[Cd/P]_POM/[Cd/P]_SW of 2.5, whereas the approach of our transect shows a α_Cd/P value of 2.6. The Co concentrations of our transects varied from <5 to 131 pmol kg⁻¹, with the lowest values in the subtropical gyre. There were pronounced elevations in the low-salinity ranges of the northwest Atlantic and towards the European shelf. The Co data are decoupled from the Mn distribution and support the hypothesis of marginal inputs as the dominant source. Zinc varied from a minimum of <0.07 nmol kg⁻¹ to a maximum of 1.2 and 4.8 nmol kg⁻¹ in regions influenced by Labrador shelf or European coastal waters, respectively. In subtropical and northeast Atlantic waters, the average Zn concentration was 0.16 nmol kg⁻¹. Zinc concentrations at nearly three quarters of the stations between 40°N and 60°N were <0.1 nmol kg⁻¹. This suggests that biological factors control Zn concentrations in large areas of the North Atlantic surface waters. The Pb data indicated that significant differences in concentration between the northwest and northeast Atlantic surface waters presently (1996) do not exist for this metal. The transects in 1993 and 1996 exhibited Pb concentrations in the northeast Atlantic surface waters of 30 to 40 pmol kg⁻¹, about a fifth to a quarter of the concentrations observed in 1981. This decline is supported by our particle flux measurements in deep waters of the same region.     

Pore Water Nutrient Regeneration in Shallow Coastal Bohai Sea, China

The regeneration of pore water nutrients was studied and the contribution of benthic nutrient fluxes to the overlying water was evaluated on the basis of field specific observations conducted in September–October 1998 and April–May 1999 in the Bohai Sea. Nutrient concentrations in sediment pore waters were examined by incubating sediment core samples with overlying seawater in air and/or nitrogen conditions. Nutrient diffusion fluxes calculated by diagenetic equations were within a factor of 2 during incubations. The factors affecting nutrient diffusion across sediment/water interface include bioturbation, nitrification, denitrification, adsorption, and dissolution. The regeneration of nutrients from sediments will increase nutrient loads of the Bohai Sea and affect nutrient atomic ratios in this region. Among nutrient sources from riverine input, atmospheric deposition and sediment regeneration, ammonium and phosphate mainly came from atmospheric deposition (>50%); nitrate was mainly transported by riverine input into the Sea, silicate from sediment regeneration accounts up to 60%. This demonstrates that nutrient regeneration in sediments contributes more silicate than riverine input and atmospheric deposition together, but benthic flux contributes very much less phosphate and nitrate relative to riverine input and atmospheric deposition. The benthic fluxes of nutrients may lead to a decrease of the amount of nitrate, an increase of phosphate, ammonia and silicate in the water column. The release of silicate from sediments may compensate the decrease of silicate due to the reduction of riverine discharge. Nutrient regeneration in sediment may have an important influence on the eutrophic character of coastal waters in this region. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The chemistry of the anoxic waters in the Framvaren Fjord,Norway

In the summer of 1993, a number of chemical parameters (H₂S, O₂, pH, TA, TCO₂, NH ₄ ⁺ , PO ₄ ^3– , SiO₂, Mn²⁺ and Fe²⁺) were measured in the Framvaren Fjord, a permanently super-anoxic fjord in southern Norway. The extremely steep gradient of sulfide near the interface suggests that other than downward flux of oxygen, three other possible oxidants, particulate manganese and iron oxides, phototrophic sulfur oxidation bacteria and horizontally transported oxygen account for the oxidation of the upward flux of H₂S. Water intrusion through the sill accounts for the temperature inflection above the interface, which, together with internal waves (Stigerbrandt and Molvaer, 1988), may cause fluctuations of the depth of interface. Significant gradients of hydrographic properties and chemical species between 80–100 m suggest that there is a second interface at about 90 m that separates the deep and older bottom waters. A stoichiometric model is applied to examine the biogeochemical cycles of S, C, N and P in the Framvaren. High C:S, C:N and C:P ratios are found while the nutrients (N, P) have Redfield ratio. Based on the C:N:P ratio of 155:16:1 in organic matter, about 30% of sulfide produced by sulfate reduction is estimated to be removed by processes such as oxidation, formation of FeS₂, degassing and incorporation into organic matter. The rates of oxidation of H₂S by Mn and Fe oxides in the water near the interface were slightly faster than the observed values in the laboratory, probably due to the presence of bacteria.     

Mineral waters in Italy

The use of spring water as a drinking, therapeutic, and ornamental resource has historical origins that date back to the Romans. The most ancient regulations on mineral waters had been enacted in Italy long before the union (1870).