Diatom-dinoflagellate succession in the Bohai Sea: The role of N/P ratios and dissolved organic nitrogen components

Abstract

Dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) is a pivotal component of total dissolved nitrogen pools, serving as a crucial nitrogen source for phytoplankton. This study investigated the impact of nitrogen-to-phosphorus (N/P) ratios and different DON components (hydrophilic vs hydrophobic DON) on diatom-dinoflagellate succession through field culture experiments. Results showed that dinoflagellates have a competitive advantage under high N/P ratios and phosphorus limitation, regardless of DON or DIN treatments. Hydrophilic DON exhibits greater bioavailability than hydrophobic DON (40.6% vs. 21.7 %), resulting in increased algal biomass and diatoms dominance in the community. Additionally, DON was categorized into labile and refractory components (LDON and RDON) based on bioavailability. LDON primarily consists of protein-like components that can be readily consumed by algae, whereas RDON is primarily composed of humic-like components that are less accessible to algae. Diatoms and dinoflagellates exhibited differential responses to LDON and RDON, with diatoms thriving in high LDON environments, while dinoflagellates gained a competitive advantage when RDON was the predominant nitrogen source. Furthermore, a significant negative correlation was observed between bioavailable nitrogen concentration (BAN: DIN + LDON) and the ratio of dinoflagellates to diatoms (p<0.05). In conclusion, our study highlights the role of LDON in promoting diatom dominance, whereas environments dominated by RDON foster dinoflagellate success. These findings enhance our comprehension of diatom-dinoflagellate succession dynamics.