Inorganic Nutrient Concentrations Research Articles

Autochthonous production in shallow littoral zones of five floodplain rivers: effects of flow, turbidity and nutrients

Summary Comparative research and generalisations in lotic ecology are challenged by the dynamic hydrology of fluvial systems. The aim of this study was to understand more fully how factors such as light, nutrients and flow can predict variation in autochthonous production and algal biomass. We measured seasonal changes in percent bankfull discharge, inorganic nutrient concentrations, turbidity, instream primary production, respiration and algal biomass in the littoral zone of five floodplain rivers in one temperate and two tropical regions of the Western Hemisphere. The Brazos, Guadalupe and Neches rivers are in Texas, while the Tambopata River is in Peru and the Cinaruco River in Venezuela. Our study rivers represented a range of hydrological regimes, turbidity levels and nutrient concentrations. Flooding patterns were more seasonal in the tropical rivers than in the (temperate) Texas rivers. Inorganic nutrient concentrations were higher in the temperate rivers, probably due to anthropogenic nutrient loading. Turbidity was higher following periods of high flow in the Brazos, Tambopata and Guadalupe rivers than in the Neches and Cinaruco rivers. Littoral zones in the sediment‐laden Brazos and Tambopata rivers became heterotrophic during periods of high discharge, while littoral zones in the Guadalupe, Neches and Cinaruco rivers were consistently autotrophic. Regression tree analysis suggested that algal production and biomass in the water column responded more strongly to seasonal changes in nutrients and temperature than to turbidity, while benthic algae responded more strongly to turbidity. Our findings suggest that during periods of high flow and turbidity in rivers containing fine sediments, autochthonous production is limited and terrestrial‐based organic matter may assume greater importance in the aquatic food web.

Spatio-temporal patterns of C : N : P ratios in the northern Benguela upwelling system

Abstract. On a global scale the ratio of fixed nitrogen (N) and phosphate (P) is characterized by a deficit of N with regard to the classical Redfield ratio of N : P = 16 : 1 reflecting the impact of N loss occurring in the oceanic oxygen minimum zones. The northern Benguela upwelling system (NBUS) is known for losses of N and the accumulation of P in sub- and anoxic bottom waters and sediments of the Namibian shelf resulting in low N : P ratios in the water column. To study the impact of the N : P anomalies on the regional carbon cycle and their consequences for the export of nutrients from the NBUS into the oligotrophic subtropical gyre of the South Atlantic, we measured dissolved inorganic carbon (CT), total alkalinity (AT), oxygen (O2) and nutrient concentrations in February 2011. The results indicate increased P concentrations over the Namibian shelf due to P efflux from sediments resulting in a C : N : P : -O2 ratio of 106 : 16 : 1.6 : 138. N reduction further increase C : N and reduce N : P ratios in those regions where O2 concentrations in bottom waters are < 20 μmol kg−1. However, off the shelf along the continental margin, the mean C : N : P : -O2 ratio is again close to the Redfield stoichiometry. Additional nutrient data measured during two cruises in 2008 and 2009 imply that the amount of excess P, which is created in the bottom waters on the shelf, and its export into the subtropical gyre after upwelling varies through time. The results further reveal an inter-annual variability of excess N within the South Atlantic Central Water (SACW) that flows from the north into the NBUS, with highest N values observed in 2008. It is postulated that the N excess in SACW occurred due to the impact of remineralized organic matter produced by N2 fixation and that the magnitude of excess P formation and its export is governed by inputs of excess N along with SACW flowing into the NBUS. Factors controlling N2 fixation north of the BUS need to be addressed in future studies to better understand the role of the NBUS as a P source and N sink in the coupled C : N : P cycles.

Yearly variation of bacterial production in the Arraial do Cabo protection area (Cabo Frio upwelling region): an evidence of anthropogenic pressure

Arraial do Cabo is where upwelling occurs more intensively on the Brazilian coast. Although it is a protection area it suffers anthropogenic pressure such as harbor activities and sporadic sewage emissions. Short-time studies showed a high variability of bacterial production (BP) in this region but none of them evaluated BP during long periods in a large spatial scale including stations under different natural (upwelling and cold fronts) and anthropogenic pressures. During 2006, we sampled surface waters 10 times (5 in upwelling and 5 in subsidence periods) in 8 stations and we measured BP, temperature as well as the concentrations of inorganic nutrients, pigments and particulate organic matter (POM). BP was up to 400 times higher when sewage emissions were observed visually and it had a positive correlation with ammonia concentrations. Therefore, in 2007, we did two samples (each during upwelling and subsidence periods) during sewage emissions in five stations under different anthropogenic pressure and we also measured particles abundance by flow cytometry. The 12 samples in the most impacted area confirmed that BP was highest when ammonia was higher than 2 μM, also reporting the highest concentrations of chlorophyll a and suspended particles. However, considering all measured variables, upwelling was the main disturbing factor but the pressure of fronts should not be neglected since it had consequences in the auto-heterotrophic coupling, increasing the concentrations of non fluorescent particles and POM. Stations clustered in function of natural and anthropogenic pressures degrees and both determined the temporal-spatial variability.

동해 울산항에서 이화학적 환경요인 및 크기그룹별 식물플랑크톤 생체량의 계절적 변동

울산항의 물리 및 이화학적 요인과 크기그룹별 식물플랑크톤 생체량의 계절변이 이해를 위해, 2007년 2월부터 2009년 11월까지 계절 조사를 수행하였다. 조사기간 중 수온과 염분은 각각 8.94-<TEX>$24.26^{\circ}C$</TEX>와 25.06-34.54 psu의 범위에서, 용존산소는 4.30-10.73 mg/L, 수소이온농도는 7.97-8.53, 화학적 산소요구량은 0.66-40.70 mg/L, 그리고 총 부유물질은 57.4-103.3 mg/L의 범위에서 변이를 나타냈다. 이 요인들은 무기영양염과 생체량을 지시하는 총 엽록소-a 농도 분포특성과 달리 뚜렷한 공간적 분포차이가 없었다. 무기영양염 중 인산염은 0.01-3.03 <TEX>${\mu}M$</TEX>의 범위에서, 질산염은 0.05-21.62 <TEX>${\mu}M$</TEX>, 그리고 규산염은 0.01-27.82 <TEX>${\mu}M$</TEX>의 범위에서 변이를 나타냈는데, 특히 내측정점의 농도가 외측정점에 비해 약 2배 이상 높은 특징을 나타냈다. 총 엽록소-a 농도는 0.36-7.11 <TEX>${\mu}gL^{-1}$</TEX>의 범위로, 내측정점 (평균 1.88 <TEX>${\mu}gL^{-1}$</TEX>)에서 외측정점 (평균 0.90 <TEX>${\mu}gL^{-1}$</TEX>)에 비해 높게 나타나 무기영양염의 분포특성과 유사하였다. 소형플랑크톤은 봄철 (34.0-81.2%), 여름철 (35.1-65.6%) 및 겨울철 (3.9-62.0%)에 전체 생체량의 높은 비율을 차지했고, 가을철에는 미소 및 초 미소플랑크톤이 각각 58.2-74.5%와 22.4-38.2%의 높은 비율을 나타냈다. 그러나 각 크기그룹별 생체량의 점유율의 내측 및 외측 정점 간의 공간분포는 뚜렷한 차이가 없었다. 따라서 동해 울산항의 식물플랑크톤은 계절적으로 가을철을 제외한 모든 시기에 소형플랑크톤 그룹 (평균 52.3%)에 의해 주도되었고, 이는 무기영양염의 농도와 밀접함을 지시하였다 (p<0.05). This study aimed to understand seasonal variation of physico-chemical factors and biomass of size-fractionated phytoplankton at Ulsan seaport during the period from February 2007 to November 2009. Water temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen (DO), pH, chemical oxygen demand (COD) and total suspended solid (TSS) varied in the range of 8.94-<TEX>$24.26^{\circ}C$</TEX>, 25.06-34.54 psu, 4.30-10.73 mg/L, 7.97-8.53, 0.66-40.70 mg/L and 57.4-103.3 mg/L, respectively. These factors showed no clear spatial variation unlike spatial pattern of inorganic nutrients and total chlorophyll-a (chl-a) concentration as biomass. Concentration of phosphate, nitrate and silicate ranged from 0.01 to 3.03 <TEX>${\mu}M$</TEX>, 0.05 to 21.62 <TEX>${\mu}M$</TEX>, and 0.01 to 27.82 <TEX>${\mu}M$</TEX>, respectively, with 2 times higher concentration at inner stations than that at outer stations during the study period. Within the range of total chl-a concentration (0.36-7.11 <TEX>${\mu}gL^{-1}$</TEX>), higher concentration (avg. 1.88 <TEX>${\mu}gL^{-1}$</TEX>) of total chl-a were observed at inner stations compared to that (avg. 0.90 <TEX>${\mu}gL^{-1}$</TEX>) at outer stations. Micro-sized phytoplankton dominated total biomass of phytoplankton in spring (34.0-81.2%), summer (35.1-65.6%) and winter (3.9-62.0%). Nano- and pico-sized phytoplankton contributed 58.2-74.5% and 22.4-38.2% to total biomass of phytoplankton in autumn, respectively. However, contribution in biomass of size-fractionated phytoplankton to total phytoplankton biomass showed no clear difference between inner and outer stations. Consequently, these results indicated that spatio-temporal distribution of phytoplankton biomass at Ulsan seaport was dominated by micro-phytoplankton (avg. 52.3%) during the study period except autumn, which was closely dependent on the concentration of inorganic nutrients (p<0.05).

한국 서해 폐기물 투기해역의 하계 수질인자 분포특성과 장기 투기행위로 인한 영양염 농도 변화

Abstract This paper focuses on the impacts of waste dumping on inorganic nutrients in the dumping area of the Yellow Sea, and the effect of an governmental regulation of pollution in dumping areas. The environmental variables and parameters of the dumping and reference areas in the Yellow Sea were measured during July 2009 and analyzed. In addition, the analyzed data for inorganic nutrients over the last 10 years were obtained from the Korea Coast Guard (KCG) and the National Fisheries Research and Development Institute (NFRDI). The chemical environment of the study area revealed increases in concentrations of inorganic nutrients, Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), and Volatile Suspended Solids (VSS) in the bottom layer. On the contrary, the pH level was decreased. Most notably, the time series data of inorganic nutrients showed gradual increase over time in the dumping area, and thus, the oligotrophic waters trend toward eutrophic waters. The increases appears to be due to the disposal of large amounts of organic waste . In recent times, the wastes disposed at the area were largely comprised of livestock wastewater, and food processing waste water. The liquefied waste, which contains an abundance of nutrients, causes a sharp increase in concentrations of inorganic nitrogen in the dumping area. On the one hand, the dumping sites have been deteriorated to such an extent that pollution has become a social problem. Consequentially, the government had a regulatory policy for improvement of marine environmental since 2007 in the dumping area. Hence, the quality of marine water in the dumping site has improved.

Benthic reef primary production in response to large amplitude internal waves at the Similan Islands (Andaman Sea, Thailand).

Coral reefs are facing rapidly changing environments, but implications for reef ecosystem functioning and important services, such as productivity, are difficult to predict. Comparative investigations on coral reefs that are naturally exposed to differing environmental settings can provide essential information in this context. One prevalent phenomenon regularly introducing alterations in water chemistry into coral reefs are internal waves. This study therefore investigates the effect of large amplitude internal waves (LAIW) on primary productivity in coral reefs at the Similan Islands (Andaman Sea, Thailand). The LAIW-exposed west sides of the islands are subjected to sudden drops in water temperature accompanied by enhanced inorganic nutrient concentrations compared to the sheltered east. At the central island, Ko Miang, east and west reefs are only few hundred meters apart, but feature pronounced differences. On the west lower live coral cover (-38 %) coincides with higher turf algae cover (+64 %) and growth (+54 %) compared to the east side. Turf algae and the reef sand-associated microphytobenthos displayed similar chlorophyll a contents on both island sides, but under LAIW exposure, turf algae exhibited higher net photosynthesis (+23 %), whereas the microphytobenthos displayed reduced net and gross photosynthesis (-19 % and -26 %, respectively) accompanied by lower respiration (-42 %). In contrast, the predominant coral Porites lutea showed higher chlorophyll a tissues contents (+42 %) on the LAIW-exposed west in response to lower light availability and higher inorganic nutrient concentrations, but net photosynthesis was comparable for both sides. Turf algae were the major primary producers on the west side, whereas microphytobenthos dominated on the east. The overall primary production rate (comprising all main benthic primary producers) was similar on both island sides, which indicates high primary production variability under different environmental conditions.

Photoacclimation of picophytoplankton in the central Cantabrian Sea

MEPS Marine Ecology Progress Series Contact the journal Facebook Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout the JournalEditorsTheme Sections MEPS 493:43-56 (2013) - DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps10549 Photoacclimation of picophytoplankton in the central Cantabrian Sea Evaristo Vázquez-Domínguez*, Xosé Anxelu G. Morán, Angel López-Urrutia Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO), Oceanographic Center of Xixón, Camín de L’Arbeyal, s/n, 33212 Xixón, Asturies, Spain *Email: ristovazquez@gmail.com ABSTRACT: Photoacclimation of picophytoplankton was studied in the mixed layer of 3 stations in the central Cantabrian Sea (southern Bay of Biscay). Picophytoplankton chl a:carbon ratios (θ) presented minimum values during summer, when irradiance, temperature, and biomass of prokaryotes reached maximum values and inorganic nutrient concentrations were low. Conversely, the maximum θ were reached during winter, coincident with lowest annual irradiance but maximum concentration of inorganic nutrients and higher relative biomass of eukaryotes. Changes in θ were modeled using irradiance as an independent variable. Exponentially decreasing functions of θ with irradiance were significant only when the mean temperatures in the mixed layer were above 14°C. These functions presented light-saturated minimum ratios (θmin) that decreased linearly with temperature and low-light maximum ratios (θmax) that increased exponentially with temperature. Such relationships were used to establish an empirical model that reproduced the seasonality of picophytoplankton θ in the mixed layer, with minima in summer and maxima in winter. A maximum potential θ, θN,T-max, was determined to estimate picophytoplankton growth rates in the central Cantabrian Sea. Combinations of picophytoplankton growth rates and biomass in the mixed layer were used to estimate areal picophytoplankton primary production rates in the euphotic zone that presented a bimodal seasonal cycle, with maxima in late winter (ca. 100 mg C m-2 d-1) and in late autumn (>200 mg C m-2 d-1) and mean annual values around 120 mg C m-2 d-1. KEY WORDS: Light · Temperature · Nutrients · Picophytoplankton · Chl a:carbon ratio · Modeling Full text in pdf format PreviousNextCite this article as: Vázquez-Domínguez E, Morán XAG, López-Urrutia A (2013) Photoacclimation of picophytoplankton in the central Cantabrian Sea. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 493:43-56. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps10549 Export citation RSS - Facebook - Tweet - linkedIn Cited by Published in MEPS Vol. 493. Online publication date: November 20, 2013 Print ISSN: 0171-8630; Online ISSN: 1616-1599 Copyright © 2013 Inter-Research.

Red tides in Masan Bay, Korea in 2004–2005: I. Daily variations in the abundance of red-tide organisms and environmental factors

To investigate red tides in Masan Bay, Korea, in which red tides have frequently occurred, we measured the abundance of red-tide organisms at a fixed station daily from June 2004 to May 2005. We daily measured physical, chemical, and biological properties. During the study period, 36 red-tide events occurred. Of these, 7 events were overwhelmingly dominated by cryptophytes, 5 by phototrophic dinoflagellates, 2 by diatoms, 2 by raphidophytes, 1 by a mixotrophic ciliate, and the rest by mixtures of several taxonomic groups. The durations of the red-tide events ranged from 1 to 40 days and total duration was 195 days. Most of the red tides occurred between June and September 2004 and between January and March 2005. The maximum abundance and biomass of total phototrophic dinoflagellates were 27,183cellsml−1 and 3516ngCml−1, respectively, while those of total diatoms were 71,538cellsml−1 and 10,981ngCml−1, respectively. Furthermore, the maximum abundance and biomass of total raphidophytes were 90,010cellsml−1 and 10,177ngCml−1. The biomass of total phototrophic dinoflagellates had significant positive correlations with salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen, euglenophytes, raphidophytes, cyanobacteria, and heterotrophic bacteria, but negative correlations with temperature, nitrite plus nitrate and phosphate concentrations. In addition, the biomass of raphidophytes had a significant positive correlation with temperature, pH, and heterotrophic bacteria, but a negative correlation with salinity and the phosphate concentration. This evidence suggests that red-tide dynamics dominated by these phototrophic dinoflagellates and raphidophytes may be mainly affected by potential prey concentrations rather than inorganic nutrient concentrations. Daily sampling is necessary to explore red-tide dynamics in Masan Bay because the generation time of the causative species is ∼0.5–3 days.

Interannual nutrient dynamics in Korean coastal waters

The dynamics (interannual) of dissolved inorganic nutrient concentrations (dissolved inorganic nitrogen, DIN; dissolved inorganic phosphorus, DIP; and dissolved inorganic silicate, DSi) were investigated in inshore and offshore waters of Korea using time series data collected from 1994 to 2010. During this period the DIN concentration progressively decreased in most parts of the inshore areas, but markedly increased in offshore waters. In the inshore waters, where river-borne nutrients are a dominant source, the trend of decreasing DIN concentration reflected the trends of riverine DIN. Riverine sources are less important in the offshore waters, and the trends of increasing concentrations of DIN and DSi in the offshore waters reflected the trends of increase in atmospheric deposition and Asian dust, respectively. Inputs from submarine groundwater discharge and lateral current transport were also partly responsible for the changes in nutrient concentrations in the inshore and offshore waters, respectively. Our results indicate that the recent changes in nutrient concentrations in the inshore and the offshore waters of Korea are largely governed by changes in the relative contributions from riverine inputs and atmospheric deposition, which often have differing trends over time.

Mesozooplankton size structure in response to environmental conditions in the East China Sea: How much does size spectra theory fit empirical data of a dynamic coastal area?

A fundamental ecological trait of marine organisms is body size. Various theoretical models have used the size distribution of plankton communities to explain their trophic structure and functioning. Recent studies indicate that changes associated with global warming, eutrophication, and fisheries might have dramatically shifted the size structure of marine organisms and thus changed ecosystem functioning. Accordingly, size structure has been suggested as a useful indicator for monitoring ecosystem status. Here, we used three size metrics to represent mesozooplankton size structure: the slope of normalized biomass spectra (NB-SS), NB-SS linear fit, and size diversity. We analyzed the relationship between zooplankton size structure and environmental conditions in the very dynamic East China Sea (ECS). We tested four hypotheses predicted by theoretical studies: (1) a coastal–offshore gradient for NB-SS, (2) a negative relationship between temperature and NB-SS steepness, (3) a positive relationship between trophic status (i.e., chlorophyll a and inorganic-nutrient concentrations as a proxy) and NB-SS steepness, and (4) a positive relationship between oligotrophy and NB-SS linearity. Hypotheses 1–3 did not stand up to our analyses of the empirical data, while hypothesis 4 was supported. In the ECS, we found no clear spatial gradient for each of the three size metrics, where (i) size diversity was not correlated to temperature and significantly decreased with chl a and phosphate concentrations, (ii) the NB-SS slope showed no relationship with the environment, and (iii) NB-SS linearity tended to be higher in more oligotrophic offshore waters. Trophic status exerted a stronger effect than temperature on size distribution, but its effect was opposite to model prediction. Our results suggest that population dynamics (i.e., pulses of reproduction due to increased food availability) override metabolic scaling effects on mesozooplankton NB-SS at the mesoscale. In addition, the estimation of NB-SS slopes depends on NB-SS linearity and may therefore be less accurate than size diversity as a synthetic indicator of NB-SS changes. Our results highlight the need for caution when using size-based indicators for monitoring environmental forcing on communities in highly dynamic ecosystems.

Effects of Water Velocity and Specific Surface Area on Filamentous Periphyton Biomass in an Artificial Stream Mesocosm

To evaluate the effects of water velocity and artificial substratum characteristics on the growth rate and biomass accumulation of periphyton, an artificial stream mesocosm experiment was conducted using alternative water sources collected from the Mangwall Stream (MW), the Han River (HR), and bank filtration water (BFW) from the Han River in the Republic of Korea. The measured concentrations of organic matter and inorganic nutrients in the MW were higher than in the HR and BFW. The surface of tile is relatively smooth and nonporous, whereas the surfaces of concrete and pebble are rough with numerous isolated pores in which filamentous periphyton become immobilized against hydrodynamic shear stress and mat tensile strength. Compared with the periphyton biomass of the HR and BFW, the peak biomass in the MW was significantly higher due to higher nutrient concentrations in the MW. Reasonable linear relationships (R2 ≥ 0.69) between water velocity and total periphyton biomass/growth rate were obtained, indicating that water velocities above critical values can cause a reduction in biomass accrual. In addition, reasonable relationships (R2 ≥ 0.58) between specific surface area and total periphyton biomass were obtained for the HR and BFW, indicating that an increase in the specific surface area of the substratum can lead to an increase in periphyton biomass in a nutrient-poor water body. Principal components analysis (PCA) results indicate that nutrient concentrations were the first dominant limiting factor for the growth and accumulation of periphyton, and water velocity and the specific surface area of the substratum were determined to be potential limiting factors. Consequently, the growth rate and biomass accumulation of periphyton were considered to be a complex function of nutrient concentrations, water velocities, and substratum characteristics.

Effects of Fungal Inocula and Habitat Conditions on Alder and Eucalyptus Leaf Litter Decomposition in Streams of Northern Spain

We investigated how fungal decomposer (aquatic hyphomycetes) communities colonizing alder and eucalyptus leaf litter respond to changes in habitat characteristics (transplantation experiment). We examined the breakdown of leaf materials and the associated fungal communities at two contrasting sites, a headwater stream (H) and a midreach (M). Agroforestry increased from headwater to midreach. One month after the start of experiments at both sites, some leaf samples from the midreach site were transplanted to the headwater site (M-H treatment). Although both sites showed similar dissolved inorganic nutrient concentrations, eucalyptus leaves initially incubated at the midreach site (M, M-H) increased their breakdown rate compared to those incubated along the experiment at the headwater site (H). Alder breakdown rate was not enhanced, suggesting that their consumption was not limited by nutrient availability. Sporulation rates clearly differed between leaf types (alder > eucalyptus) and streams (H > M), but no transplantation effect was detected. When comparing conidial assemblages after transplantation, an inoculum effect (persistence of early colonizing species) was clear in both leaf species. Substrate preference and shifts in the relative importance of some fungal species along the process were also observed. Overall, our results support the determining role of the initial conditioning phase on the whole litter breakdown process, highlighting the importance of intrinsic leaf characteristics and those of the incubation habitat.

Assessing changes in microbial respiration, bacterial growth efficiency, and bacterial production with nutrient addition to batch cultures

Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) provides an important source of energy in lotic systems that can regulate food chain dynamics. It is thought that inorganic nutrient addition to stream culture samples will increase microbial respiration and bacterial growth efficiency (BGE). Nutrient limitation may prevent microbial communities from reaching their full potential in terms of biomass and efficiency, which could limit organisms at higher trophic levels. This study utilized batch cultures to assess changes across a variety of water quality and nutrient parameters in an effort to assess the role of inorganic nutrient addition in regulating microbial activity in headwater streams. Treatments of phosphorus addition (+ P) and nitrogen plus phosphorus addition (+ N + P) were used to assess changes in microbial activity in samples collected from forested and agricultural headwater streams. Phosphorus limitation was observed only at a single site, suggesting that a secondary limiting nutrient (e.g. nitrogen) may affect microbial activity at the other sites. Combined phosphorous and nitrogen additions demonstrated that nitrogen did limit microbial respiration at many of the study sites. BGE was highly variable and did not seem to be controlled by inorganic nutrient concentration. We did observe increased carbon production with nutrient addition at some of the study sites. The results of this study indicate that small streams could export more carbon through respiration rather than by incorporating available DOC into biomass.

The role of Sarcocornia perennis and tidal flooding on sediment biogeochemistry in a South American wetland

The roles of Sarcocornia perennis and tidal flooding on sediment biogeochemistry were evaluated within a wetland in the Bahía Blanca estuary. pH and Eh were measured in sediments while particulate organic carbon (POC) and dissolved inorganic nutrient concentrations were determined in porewater, at three sites with different conditions according to vegetation and flooding. Grain size was also analysed. pH varied in a narrow range (7–8.2) and was lower in the vegetated site. Eh values (50–250 mV) imply that sediment conditions were moderately reduced, in agreement with the relatively high percentage of sand; it was influenced by both factors. POC concentration was high (26.24±1.62 mg/l), especially at the vegetated site. The concentrations of ammonium and nitrate were similar (21.30±1.83 and 18.77±3.06 µmol/l, respectively) and not affected by flooding; only nitrate was affected by vegetation. Phosphate was rather constant (13.43±1.19 µmol/l) and affected mainly by flooding. Silicate was high (566.45±76.06 µmol/l) and not affected by either factor. These results suggest that the sediment biogeochemistry of this environment is significantly influenced by flooding and, especially, by S. perennis, as vegetation affected a higher number of parameters.

Pelagic community production and carbon-nutrient stoichiometry under variable ocean acidification in an Arctic fjord

Abstract. Net community production (NCP) and carbon to nutrient uptake ratios were studied during a large-scale mesocosm experiment on ocean acidification in Kongsfjorden, western Svalbard, during June–July 2010. Nutrient depleted fjord water with natural plankton assemblages, enclosed in nine mesocosms of ~ 50 m3 in volume, was exposed to pCO2 levels ranging initially from 185 to 1420 μatm. NCP estimations are the cumulative change in dissolved inorganic carbon concentrations after accounting for gas exchange and total alkalinity variations. Stoichiometric coupling between inorganic carbon and nutrient net uptake is shown as a ratio of NCP to a cumulative change in inorganic nutrients. Phytoplankton growth was stimulated by nutrient addition half way through the experiment and three distinct peaks in chlorophyll a concentration were observed during the experiment. Accordingly, the experiment was divided in three phases. Cumulative NCP was similar in all mesocosms over the duration of the experiment. However, in phases I and II, NCP was higher and in phase III lower at elevated pCO2. Due to relatively low inorganic nutrient concentration in phase I, C : N and C : P uptake ratios were calculated only for the period after nutrient addition (phase II and phase III). For the total post-nutrient period (phase II + phase III) ratios were close to Redfield, however they were lower in phase II and higher in phase III. Variability of NCP, C : N and C : P uptake ratios in different phases reflects the effect of increasing CO2 on phytoplankton community composition and succession. The phytoplankton community was composed predominantly of haptophytes in phase I, prasinophytes, dinoflagellates, and cryptophytes in phase II, and haptophytes, prasinophytes, dinoflagellates and chlorophytes in phase III (Schulz et al., 2013). Increasing ambient inorganic carbon concentrations have also been shown to promote primary production and carbon assimilation. For this study, it is clear that the pelagic ecosystem response to increasing CO2 is more complex than that represented in previous work, e.g. Bellerby et al. (2008). Carbon and nutrient uptake representation in models should, where possible, be more focused on individual plankton functional types as applying a single stoichiometry to a biogeochemical model with regard to the effect of increasing pCO2 may not always be optimal. The phase variability in NCP and stoichiometry may be better understood if CO2 sensitivities of the plankton's functional type biogeochemical uptake kinetics and trophic interactions are better constrained.

The impact of physico-chemical water quality parameters on bacterial diversity in the Vaal River, South Africa

This study aimed to identify bacterial community structures in the Vaal River using PCR-DGGE (polymerase chain reaction denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis) and high-throughput sequencing. The impact of physico-chemical characteristics on bacterial structures was investigated through multivariate analysis. Samples were collected from 4 sampling stations along the Upper Vaal River during winter (June 2009) and summer (December 2010). Physico-chemical analysis was conducted on-site. Additional physico-chemical data were obtained from statutory bodies. DNA was directly isolated from water samples and PCR amplified using universal bacterial primer pairs. PCR products were subjected to DGGE fingerprinting and high-throughput sequencing, followed by Shannon-Weaver diversity calculations, cluster analysis and multivariate analysis. Physico-chemical parameters did not exceed the prescribed South African water quality standards for domestic use, aquatic ecosystems, livestock watering and irrigation. DGGE banding patterns revealed similar bacterial community structures for 3 of the 4 sampling stations. PCA and RDA indicated that pH, water temperature and inorganic nutrient concentrations could be used to explain changes in bacterial community structures. High-throughput sequencing data showed that bacterial assemblages were dominated by common freshwater groups: Cyanobacteria, Alphaproteobacteria, Betaproteobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria, Bacteroidetes and Actinobacteria. Other freshwater phyla such as Deltaproteobacteria, Epsilonbacteria, Acidobacteria, Verrucomicrobia, Firmicutes, Fusobacteria, Flavobacteria and Fibrobacteres were found in low proportions. This study provides an overview of the dominant bacterial groups in the Upper Vaal River and the impact of environmental changes on bacterial diversity. Keywords: Vaal River, bacterial community structures, 16S rDNA PCR-DGGE, high-throughput sequencing, multivariate analysis

Land–ocean gradient in haline stratification and its effects on plankton dynamics and trophic carbon fluxes in Chilean Patagonian fjords (47–50°S)

Patagonian fjord systems, and in particular the fjords and channels associated with the Baker/Pascua Rivers, are currently under conspicuous natural and anthropogenic perturbations. These systems display very high variability, where limnetic and oceanic features overlap generating strong vertical and horizontal physicochemical gradients. The CIMAR 14-Fiordos cruise was conducted in the Chilean fjords located between 47° and 50°S during the spring (October–November) of 2008. The main objectives were to study vertical and horizontal gradients in physical, chemical and biological characteristics of the water column, and to assess plankton dynamics and trophic carbon fluxes in the fjords and channels of central-south Patagonia.The water column was strongly stratified, with a pycnocline at ca. 20m depth separating a surface layer of silicic acid-rich freshwater discharged by rivers, from the underlying nitrate- and orthophosphate-rich Subantarctic waters. The outflows from the Baker and Pascua Rivers, which range annually between 500 and 1500m3s−1, generate the strong land–ocean gradient in salinity (1–32psu) and inorganic nutrient concentrations (2–8 and 2–24μM in nitrate and silicic-acid, respectively) we observed along the Baker Fjord. The POC:chl-a ratio fluctuated from 1087 near the fjord’s head to 175 at its oceanic end in the Penas Gulf. This change was mainly due to an increase in diatom dominance and a concurrent decrease in allochthonous POC towards the ocean.Depth-integrated net primary production (NPP) and bacterial secondary production (BSP) fluctuated between 49 and 1215 and 36 and 150mgCm−2d−1, respectively, with higher rates in oceanic waters. At a time series station located close to the Baker River mouth, the average NPP was lower (average 360mgCm−2d−1) than at more oceanic stations (average 1063mgCm−2d−1), and numerically dominated (45%) by the picoplankton (<2μm) and nanoplankton (2–20μm) size fractions. The high average vertical carbon flux (234mgm−2d−1) and high export production (65% of the NPP) support the idea that Patagonian fjords may behave as a net sink for CO2 during the productive (spring) season. Trophic fluxes near the head of the fjords, with oligotrophic low-salinity waters, were dominated by heterotrophic nanoflagellates (HNF) and small copepods (52mgCm−2d−1, each), suggesting that the microbial food web is the main trophic pathway in these environments.

Climate Change and Eutrophication Induced Shifts in Northern Summer Plankton Communities

Marine ecosystems are undergoing substantial changes due to human-induced pressures. Analysis of long-term data series is a valuable tool for understanding naturally and anthropogenically induced changes in plankton communities. In the present study, seasonal monitoring data were collected in three sub-basins of the northern Baltic Sea between 1979 and 2011 and statistically analysed for trends and interactions between surface water hydrography, inorganic nutrient concentrations and phyto- and zooplankton community composition. The most conspicuous hydrographic change was a significant increase in late summer surface water temperatures over the study period. In addition, salinity decreased and dissolved inorganic nutrient concentrations increased in some basins. Based on redundancy analysis (RDA), warming was the key environmental factor explaining the observed changes in plankton communities: the general increase in total phytoplankton biomass, Cyanophyceae, Prymnesiophyceae and Chrysophyceae, and decrease in Cryptophyceae throughout the study area, as well as increase in rotifers and decrease in total zooplankton, cladoceran and copepod abundances in some basins. We conclude that the plankton communities in the Baltic Sea have shifted towards a food web structure with smaller sized organisms, leading to decreased energy available for grazing zooplankton and planktivorous fish. The shift is most probably due to complex interactions between warming, eutrophication and increased top-down pressure due to overexploitation of resources, and the resulting trophic cascades.

Driving factors of the potentially toxic and harmful species of Prorocentrum Ehrenberg in a semi-enclosed Mediterranean lagoon (Tunisia, SW Mediterranean)

We analysed the dynamics of the potentially toxic and harmful species of Prorocentrum Ehrenberg in Bizerte lagoon (important aquaculture area, Northern Tunisia), substantiating the possible driving forces (temperature, salinity and nutrients), based on a two years database. We revealed that Prorocentrum spp. blooms of high magnitude (104 - 105 cells l-1) occurred mostly during the period of late winter to early spring. We found five species of Prorocentrum, two of which, P. lima and P. cordatum, the most common during the field, are confirmed agents of Diarrhetic Shellfish Poisoning in various regions of the world ocean. Prorocentrum sp., P. micans, and P. gracile were however present only sporadically but with high cell abundances, exemplifying bloom densities. Canonical correspondence analysis revealed that P. minimum and P. lima were much more abundant in eutrophied waters characterized here by high Chl a biomass, while P. gracile species occurred principally in warm waters. Furthermore, Prorocentrum sp. and P. micans seemed more likely to proliferate in saline waters with high concentrations of inorganic nutrients (nitrate, ammonia and phosphate). Our study calls attention to a possible intensification of DSP events in the Bizerte lagoon, given the propensity of Prorocentrum spp. to proliferate in a eutrophied system.

Submarine groundwater discharge in the Sarasota Bay system: Its assessment and implications for the nearshore coastal environment

A study was conducted from July 2002 through June 2006 in order to assess the significance of submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) to Sarasota Bay (SB), Florida. The assessment approaches used in this study included manual seepage meters, geochemical tracers (radon, 222Rn and methane, CH4), and subseafloor resistivity measurements. The estimated SGD advection rates in the SB system were found to range from 0.7 to 24.0cm/day, except for some isolated hot spot occurrences where higher rates were observed. In general, SGD estimates were relatively higher (5.9–24.0cm/day) in the middle and south regions of the bay compared to the north region (0.7–5.9cm/day). Average dissolved inorganic nutrient concentrations within the SB water column ranged: 0.1–11μM (NO2+NO3), 0.1–9.1μM (NH4) and 0.2–1.4μM (PO4). The average N/P ratio was higher in the north compared to the middle and south regions of the bay. On average, we conservatively estimate that about 27% of the total N in the SB system was derived via SGD. The prevalence of shallow embayed areas in the SB system and the presence of numerous septic tanks in the surrounding settlements enhanced the potential effects of nutrient rich seepages. Statistical comparison of the quantitative approaches revealed a good agreement between SGD estimates from manual seepage meters and those derived from the 222Rn model (p=0.67; α=0.05; n=18). CH4 was found to be useful for qualitative SGD assessments. CH4 and 222Rn were correlated (r2=0.31; α=0.05; n=54). Large scale resistivity surveys showed spatial variability that correlates more clearly with lithology than with SGD patterns.