Potential contribution of microalgal intracellular phosphorus to phosphorus distribution in tidal flat sediments during winter

Abstract

Phosphorus (P) supplies from the sediment are important when evaluating the impacts of nutrient dynamics on the ecosystem. Many studies have reported P dynamics based on gradients of pore water (PW)-phosphate (PO4) concentrations at the sediment–water interface and iron-related abiotic reactions in response to redox conditions. However, the aim of the present study is to evaluate the contributions of intracellular (IC)-P and marine organism-mediated reactions to P-dynamics under variable environmental conditions. The focus of this study is the intertidal mudflat habitat of the innermost part of Ariake Bay, Kyushu, Japan, during winter. The vertical distribution of several forms of P fraction [i.e. PWand IC-dissolved inorganic/organic-P (DIP/DOP), and particulate inorganic/organic-P (PIP/POP)], the number of microalgae and bacteria, and chlorophyll a concentrations in the sediment were measured. The results obtained revealed that the IC-P pool, especially IC-DOP, accounted for 76% of the total dissolved P in the surface sediment layer, mainly associated with the microphytobenthos. Additionally, phytoplankton, which comprised more than 60% of the surface microalgae in tidal-flat sediments, are considered to carry river-derived-P to the intertidal flats via inner bay-specific physical movements and disturbances. Incubation experiments on mud sediment under oxic/anoxic conditions suggest that dissolved P fluxes between the IC pool and PW occur actively in response to redox conditions, according to the balance between microalgal uptake and bacterial degradation. These results indicate that evaluation of the IC-P pool is indispensable to understanding P cycling in intertidal mudflats, and that microalgae could play important roles not only as food sources, but also as P reservoirs and sources of PO4.