The role of Nuta (large amorphous particles) as a nutrient regenerator in Osaka Bay

Abstract

Large amorphous particles (Nuta) observed in coastal areas after phytoplankton blooms and red tide outbreaks were collected by Nuta traps. These particles are always thickly attached to mooring ropes and/or fishing nets. From the decomposition experiments of Nuta and the sinking particles, dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) and dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP) regenerations were active in Nuta, but were not active in sinking particles. In Nuta, regeneration abundances during 10 days were 567 µg-N/mg of initial particulate organic nitrogen (PON), and 583 µg-P/mg of initial particulate phosphorus (PP), respectively. Thus DIP was more regenerated from Nuta than DIN. Ten days integral regeneration abundances of DIN and DIP from Nuta were estimated to be 36% and 79% of in situ DIN and DIP standing stocks, respectively. Nuta contributes an important role of nutrient regeneration particularly DIN, in coastal water. Carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios of suspended particles, sinking particles and Nuta indicated that these three different type of particles were almost the same origin, and thus Nuta in the coastal water should be made from phytoplankton debris.