Limiting Nutrient For Phytoplankton Growth Research Articles

Upwelling and nutrient dynamics in the Arabian Gulf and sea of Oman.

This study demonstrates the vertical and horizontal distribution of nutrients and the seasonal response of nutrients to upwelling in the Arabian Gulf and the Sea of Oman. Thus, monthly data on nitrate, phosphate, and silicate are obtained from the World Ocean Atlas 2018 (WOA), as well as estimates of coastal and curl driven upwelling in both regions. The results of the study indicate that the Sea of Oman’s surface and deep waters contained higher concentrations of nutrients than the Arabian Gulf by 80%. In addition, both regions have exhibited a general increase in the vertical distribution of nutrients as the depth increases. Among the aforementioned nutrients, nitrate is found to be a more limiting nutrient for phytoplankton growth than phosphate as the nitrate-to-phosphate ratios (N:P) in surface waters are lower (≤ 4.6:1) than the Redfield ratio (16:1). As for the upwelling, curl-driven upwelling accounts for more than half of the total upwelling in both regions, and both play an important role in nutrient transport. Thus, nutrients are upwelled from the subsurface to the mixed layer at a rate of 50% in the Oman Sea from 140 m to 20 m during the summer and to 40 m during the winter. Similarly, the Arabian Gulf shows 50% transport for nitrates, but 32% for phosphates, from 20 m to 5–10 m. However, due to the abundance of diatoms at the surface of the Arabian Gulf, the surface silicate content is 30% higher than that of the deeper waters.

Study on nutrient limitation of phytoplankton growth in Xiangxi Bay of the Three Gorges Reservoir, China

After the impoundment of the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR), algal blooms in the sidearm tributaries have resulted from increasing nutrient loads along the major tributaries. Field sampling and in situ nutrient addition bioassay were implemented to examine the nutrient limitation of phytoplankton growth and bloom initiation during autumn in Xiangxi Bay of the TGR. Result shows that P is the primary limiting nutrient for algal growth and bloom in Xiangxi Bay during autumn. The treatment involving the combination of N, P and Si had a significant (p < .05) additional effect on the growth of phytoplankton. The N, P, Si combined treatment increased growth by 10–50% relative to the N and P treatments from day 1 to day 4, respectively. Trace metal additions involving Fe, Zn, Mn, and Cu and/or in combination with N, P, and Si initially resulted in an extremely low growth rate which later increased significantly (p < .05) towards the end of the study. The present study provides an insight into the responses of different phytoplankton taxa in autumn under nutrient conditions in the tributary bay. The nutrient limitation study is recognized as the first step to mitigating the bloom while proposing an effective nutrient control strategy. The outcome of which can provide the basis for formulating sustainable watershed management. Multiple nutrients reductions with P as primary concern are required for a lasting management solution to the risk of bloom in the TGR.

Considering the effects of temperature×nutrient interactions on the thermal response curve of carrying capacity.

Climate warming will likely destabilize populations or drive consumers locally extinct. These predictions arise from consumer-resource models incorporating temperature-dependent parameters, and the accuracy of these predictions hinges on the validity of temperature scalings for each parameter. Among all parameters, carrying capacity (K) is the most ill-defined and the temperature scaling of this parameter has no empirically verified foundation. Most studies assume that K declines exponentially with warming, but others have assumed a positive or no relationship between K and temperature. Here, I developed a theoretical foundation for a temperature scaling of K based on physiological principles of temperature and nutrient limitation of phytoplankton growth. The trade-off between thermodynamics and nutrient uptake yields a unimodal thermal response curve for K, and this prediction is supported by empirical data on both phytoplankton and insects. Analyses of consumer-resource models demonstrate the primacy of K in determining predictions of coexistence and stability. Since K exerts a dominant influence on model predictions, ecologists should carefully consider the temperature scaling of K for the species and region in question to ensure accurate estimates of population stability and extinction risk.

Riverine nutrient fluxes and environmental effects on China's estuaries

An increase in riverine nutrient fluxes significantly influences the estuarine ecosystem. This study collected nutrient data in most of China's rivers from 1963 to 2015 to estimate the nutrient fluxes from major rivers and analyze interannual variability of nutrient fluxes and estuarine environmental effects. The results showed that the nutrient fluxes from the Yangtze River increased annually from 1963 to 2012. The trend of nutrient fluxes from the Yellow River was consistent with that from the Jiulong River, i.e., nutrient fluxes increased from 1998 to 2007 and then decreased. The areal nutrient fluxes from China's major rivers were higher than those from major world rivers, while the areal nutrient yield rates per capita were lower than those from major world rivers. We also found that China's estuaries were predominantly phosphorus-limited and slowly moving toward lower dissolved silica over dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DSi:DIN) ratios with time. Meanwhile, the nutrient limitation of phytoplankton growth in most of China's estuary systems was moving toward a higher incidence of phosphorus and silicon limitations as a result of increased DIN fluxes, and this would likely alter phytoplankton communities. Furthermore, the decreases in the DSi:DIN ratio and dissolved silica over dissolved inorganic phosphate (DSi:DIP) ratio, and the increases in both DIN and DIP fluxes, caused increased red tide blooms.

Modelling N&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;2&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt; fixation related to &amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Trichodesmium&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt; sp.: driving processes and impacts on primary production in the tropical Pacific Ocean

Abstract. Dinitrogen fixation is now recognized as one of the major sources of bio-available nitrogen in the ocean. Thus, N2 fixation sustains a significant part of the global primary production by supplying the most common limiting nutrient for phytoplankton growth. The “Oligotrophy to UlTra-oligotrophy PACific Experiment” (OUTPACE) improved the data coverage of the western tropical South Pacific, an area recently recognized as a hotspot of N2 fixation. This new development leads us to develop and test an explicit N2 fixation formulation based on the Trichodesmium physiology (the most studied nitrogen fixer) within a 3-D coupled dynamical–biogeochemical model (ROMS-PISCES). We performed a climatological numerical simulation that is able to reproduce the main physical (e.g. sea surface temperature) and biogeochemical patterns (nutrient and chlorophyll concentrations, as well as N2 fixation) in the tropical Pacific. This simulation displayed a Trichodesmium regional distribution that extends from 150∘ E to 120∘ W in the south tropical Pacific, and from 120∘ E to 140∘ W in the north tropical Pacific. The local simulated maximuma were found around islands (Hawaii, Fiji, Samoa, New Caledonia, Vanuatu). We assessed that 15 % of the total primary production may be due to Trichodesmium in the low-nutrient low-chlorophyll regions (LNLC) of the tropical Pacific. Comparison between our explicit and the often used (in biogeochemical models) implicit parameterization of N2 fixation showed that the latter leads to an underestimation of N2 fixation rates by about 25 % in LNLC regions. Finally, we established that iron fluxes from island sediments control the spatial distribution of Trichodesmium biomasses in the western tropical South Pacific. Note, this last result does not take into account the iron supply from rivers and hydrothermal sources, which may well be of importance in a region known for its strong precipitation rates and volcanic activity.

Drivers of the autumn phytoplankton development in the open Black Sea

Abstract The dynamics of the autumn development of phytoplankton in the Black Sea were investigated using satellite-derived chlorophyll-a concentration (Chl), which was estimated for two regions in the deep sea over a 20-year period. We analysed 8-day composite Chl images along with changes in: (i) nutrient concentration obtained from in-situ measurements, (ii) sea surface temperature (SST), (iii) photosynthetically available radiation (PAR) obtained from satellite imagery, (iv) wind speed from the re-analysis of meteodata and (v) the depth of the upper mixed layer (UML) calculated from a 3D numerical model of the Black Sea. The peak in Chl was identified most frequently in the first half of November. A positive correlation between the duration of strong wind events and phytoplankton development was revealed, which was associated with the deepening of the UML, and replenishment of the photic zone with nutrients. The impact on phytoplankton was significant when the cumulative duration of strong wind (> 8 m s− 1) exceeded 60 h over the preceding 8 days. In such cases, the frequency of the Chl peaks increased up to 30–50% with an average of 20%. Strong wind was shown to determine the timing of the autumn bloom, but not its strength. From a positive relationship between the maximum Chl and nitrate concentration we found instead that the intensity of the autumn bloom was mainly defined by nitrate replenishment in the photic zone. On average, the timing of the seasonal maximum of Chl in the first half of November coincided with the deepening of the UML to the bottom of the seasonal thermocline (ca 25 m). Elution of nitrate from deeper layers, where its concentration is substantially higher, mitigated the nutrient limitation of phytoplankton growth. At the same time, a sharp decrease in PAR after mid-November resulted in the limitation of light for phytoplankton growth. Inter-annual variations of Chl in spring and autumn were shown not to be correlated. For example, the basin-wide autumn blooms were observed in some years when the spring blooms were absent. As the bloom cannot be based on regenerated nitrate, the amount of ‘new’ nitrate in the photic zone should have a positive trend in autumn. However, the sources and mechanisms of the basin-wide increase of nitrate concentration in the upper layer in autumn are not clear.

Decadal changes in nutrient fluxes and environmental effects in the Jiulong River Estuary

Estuaries are areas of both freshwater and seawater that are partially enclosed with contact to the open sea and a flow of fresh water. Although the Jiulong River Estuary has a relatively small catchment, this area was found to exhibit high nutrient fluxes. The nutrient fluxes showed obvious fluctuations for different years. The Jiulong River Estuary was predominantly P-limited, and was slowly moving towards higher DIN:DIP and DSi:DIP ratios as the nitrate concentrations increased. The high nutrient fluxes into the estuary may affect estuarine ecosystems by the alteration of DO concentrations in bottom waters, causing harm to benthic fauna due to a lack of oxygen, triggering algal blooms. Additionally, the Jiulong River Estuary was slowly moving towards lower DSi:DIN and DSi:DIP ratios along with the change of time scales, which caused nutrient limitation of phytoplankton growth as P and Si levels decreased and became more limiting.

Annual plankton dynamics in a coupled physical–biological model of the Strait of Georgia, British Columbia

A three-dimensional coupled biophysical model was developed to study the dynamics of the plankton ecosystem in the Strait of Georgia (SoG) estuary. The ocean circulation component is an implementation of the Regional Ocean Modeling System (ROMS) and the lower trophic level ecosystem is a nine-compartment Nutrient–Phytoplankton–Zooplankton–Detritus (NPZD) model that includes two types of phytoplankton and of zooplankton. A three year hindcast (2007–2009) is used to examine the mean annual seasonal cycle of the local plankton dynamics. For realistic values of irradiance, wind forcing and fresh water fluxes, the model predicts a seasonal cycle of salinity, nutrients and plankton in reasonable agreement with observations. In particular, the model reproduces the main features of the estuarine circulation, the marked increase in phytoplankton biomass during spring followed by intermittent less intense blooms during summer and fall, as well as the seasonal pattern of zooplankton biomass. Model results show that primary production fluctuates between low values in January and high values in April, with an annual production of 270±33 (gCm−2) in the SoG. Most primary production is fueled by nitrate (f-ratio of about 0.7). Upwelling is the main source of nitrate into the upper layer, while most of the nitrate entering the Strait is exported out by horizontal advection. Physical processes, such as freshwater inflow, wind events, tidal mixing, and horizontal transports are important in maintaining the high spatio-temporal variability of the local phytoplankton biomass and production. Horizontal variability is high during the growing season (March to September). In summer, phytoplankton concentrates near the surface, in the shallow mixed layer, resulting in sporadic nutrient limitation of phytoplankton growth. In the northern portion of the strait, weaker summer winds and tidal currents lead to increased near-surface stratification which restricts nutrient fluxes and limit phytoplankton growth. In the central region, nitrate and light limitation are equally important at limiting phytoplankton growth during the summer whereas, in the tidally mixed regions of the south, primary production is higher in summer than during the spring resulting in higher annual primary production in this region than elsewhere.

Assessment of changes in potential nutrient limitation in an impounded river after application of lanthanum-modified bentonite

With the advent of phosphorus (P)-adsorbent materials and techniques to address eutrophication in aquatic systems, there is a need to develop interpretive techniques to rapidly assess changes in potential nutrient limitation. In a trial application of the P-adsorbent, lanthanum-modified bentonite (LMB) to an impounded section of the Canning River, Western Australia, a combination of potential P, nitrogen (N) and silicon (Si) nutrient limitation diagrams based on dissolved molar nutrient ratios and actual dissolved nutrient concentrations have been used to interpret trial outcomes. Application of LMB resulted in rapid and effective removal of filterable reactive P (FRP) from the water column and also effectively intercepted FRP released from bottom sediments until the advent of a major unseasonal flood event. A shift from potential N-limitation to potential P-limitation also occurred in surface waters. In the absence of other factors, the reduction in FRP was likely to be sufficient to induce actual nutrient limitation of phytoplankton growth. The outcomes of this experiment underpins the concept that, where possible in the short-term, in managing eutrophication the focus should not be on the limiting nutrient under eutrophic conditions (here N), but the one that can be made limiting most rapidly and cost-effectively (P).

Proteomic analysis provides new insights into the adaptive response of a dinoflagellate Prorocentrum donghaiense to changing ambient nitrogen.

Nitrogen (N) is the major nutrient limiting phytoplankton growth and productivity over large ocean areas. Dinoflagellates are important primary producers and major causative agents of harmful algal blooms in the ocean. However, very little is known about their adaptive response to changing ambient N. Here, we compared the protein profiles of a marine dinoflagellate Prorocentrum donghaiense grown in inorganic N-replete, N-deplete and N-resupplied conditions using 2-D fluorescence differential gel electrophoresis. The results showed that cell density, chlorophyll a and particulate organic N contents presented low levels in N-deplete cells, while particulate organic carbon content and glutamine synthetase (GS) activity maintained high levels. Comparison of the protein profiles of N-replete, N-deplete and N-resupplied cells indicated that proteins involved in photosynthesis, carbon fixation, protein and lipid synthesis were down-regulated, while proteins participating in N reallocation and transport activity were up-regulated in N-deplete cells. High expressions of GS and 60 kDa chaperonin as well as high GS activity in N-deplete cells indicated their central role in N stress adaptation. Overall, in contrast with other photosynthetic eukaryotic algae, P. donghaiense possessed a specific ability to regulate intracellular carbon and N metabolism in response to extreme ambient N deficiency.

Seasonal distribution of phytoplankton assemblages and nutrient-enriched bioassays as indicators of nutrient limitation of phytoplankton growth in Gwangyang Bay, Korea

To assess the effect of nutrient limitation on phytoplankton growth, and its influence on seasonal variation in phytoplankton community structure, we investigated abiotic and biotic factors in surface and bottom waters at 20 stations in inner and offshore areas of Gwangyang Bay, Korea. Algal bioassay experiments were also conducted using surface water, to assess the effects of nutrient addition on the phytoplankton assemblages. The fate of major nutrients in the bay was strongly dependent on the discharge of freshwater from the Seomjin River. River flow during the rainy season provides a high nitrogen (N) influx, pushing the system toward stoichiometric phosphorus (P) limitation. However, at some times during the rainy season there was insufficient N to maintain phytoplankton growth because it was rapidly consumed through nutrient uptake by phytoplankton under stratified environmental conditions. Diatoms made a relatively large contribution to total phytoplankton biomass. The dominant diatoms, particularly in winter and summer, were Skeletonema marinoi-dohrnii complex and Skeletonema tropicum, respectively, while Eucampia zodiacus and the cryptophyte Cryptomonas spp. dominated in spring and autumn, respectively, comprising more than 75% of the community at most stations. In the bioassay experiments the phytoplankton biomass increased by 30–600% in the +N (added nitrogen) and +NP (added nitrogen and phosphorus) treatments relative to the control and the +P (added phosphorus) treatments, indicating that phytoplankton growth can respond rapidly to pulsed nitrate loading events. Based on the algal bioassay and the field survey, the abrupt input of high nutrient levels following rainfall stimulated the growth of diatom assemblages including the Skeletonema genus. Our results demonstrate that the growth of centric diatoms was enhanced by inputs of N and Si, and that the concentrations of these nutrients may be among the most important factors controlling phytoplankton growth in Gwangyang Bay.

太平洋中西部海域浮游植物营养盐的潜在限制

2009年8月至9月期间在太平洋西部N1站和中部N2站进行现场营养盐加富培养实验。结果显示:N1站,浮游植物生物量对N或者P添加都有较强的响应,其中N+P+Si组和N+P组浮游植物长势迅速,叶绿素a从初始的0.03 μg/L分别达到2.12 μg/L和1.83 μg/L,同时P先于N和Si之前被耗尽;说明N1站为N、P共同限制,P是首要限制因子。而N2站,浮游植物生物量仅对N、P共同添加有明显响应,N先于P和Si被浮游植物消耗殆尽。利用培养过程中营养盐比值变化推断,N1站浮游植物以低于Redfield ratio (16N∶1P)吸收N和P;而N2站浮游植物以高于Redfield ratio (16N∶1P)吸收N和P。这可能解释了太平洋西部的寡营养盐海域为潜在P限制,而在太平洋中部海域则为潜在N限制。;An increase in N₂ fixation by diazotrophic organism due to increased stratification driven by climate changes, may decrease phosphate concentrations and result in P limitation in the oligotrophic upper ocean, which challenges the traditional view that nitrogen is generally the primary nutrient limiting phytoplankton productivity in oceanic waters. Which nutrient, N or P, is the most limiting nutrient for phytoplankton growth in the oligotrophic Pacific Ocean has been on debate over recent years. More studies on nutrient limitation are apparently needed to resolve this debate in the Pacific Ocean. In August and September of 2009, nutrient enrichment bioassays were conducted at two representative stations, N1 (160.58°E, 21.61°N) in the western Pacific Ocean with extremely low nutrient (below detect limit) and Chl a concentrations, and N2 (154.12°W, 10.12°N) in the eastern Pacific Ocean with shallower nutricline due to the influence of equatorial currents, in order to examine the spatial variability in the potential limiting nutrient for phytoplankton growth in the Pacific Ocean. Nutrients were added in 5 combinations in bioassays: control (no addition), NO₃+PO₄ (N+P); NO₃+SiO₄ (N+Si), PO₄+SiO₄ (P+Si), and NO₃+PO₄+SiO₄ (N+P+Si). The limiting nutrient was judged based on the response of algal biomass and nutrient depletion among treatments. Phytoplankton exhibited different response to nutrient additions at two study sites. Phytoplankton biomass increased dramatically in response to both N and P additions at station N1 where the concentrations of Chl a increased from 0.03 μg/L at the beginning to 2.12 μg/L and 1.83 μg/L in N+P+Si and N+P treatments at the end of incubation, respectively. However, the maximum Chl a concentration achieved in N+Si treatment was slight higher than that in and P+Si treatment. Furthermore, P was depleted before N and Si in the N+P and N+P+Si treatments at station N1. In contrast, algal biomass was significantly stimulated only when both N and P were added at station N2, where the concentrations of Chl a increased profoundly from 0.10 μg/L to 0.34 μg/L and 0.40 μg/L at the end in N+P+Si and N+P treatments, respectively, while they was not stimulated in the N+Si and P+Si treatments Furthermore, N always disappeared before P and Si in N+P, N+Si and N+P+Si treatments. These results showed that the limiting nutrient varied spatially during summer in the Pacific Ocean. N and P co-limitation occurred at both stations, with P being the primary limiting nutrient at N1 and N at N2. In addition, changes in the N∶P ratios during the incubation demonstrated distinct patterns, likely due to difference in the phytoplankton composition. N∶P ratios rose from 15.7 at the beginning to 59.2 at the end of the incubation at N1, while N∶P ratios decreased from 15.3 to 0.06 at N2. This implied that the uptake ratio of N∶P was lower than the Redfield ratio (16N∶1P) at N1, but higher than the Redfield ratio at N2. This might explain why P was the primary limiting nutrient in the western Pacific Ocean but N in the central Pacific Ocean. It is speculated that P limitation possibly is associated with N₂ fixation in the oligotrophic western Pacific Ocean.

Nutrient limitation of phytoplankton growth in the freshwater tidal zone of a turbid, Mediterranean estuary

Identification of the limiting nutrient(s) is a requirement for the rational management of eutrophication. Here, we present the first experimental analysis of nutrient limitation of phytoplankton growth and its seasonal variation in the Guadiana estuary (SE Portugal-SW Spain). Ten microcosm experiments were performed during 2005 and 2008, using water samples collected in the freshwater tidal zone of the Guadiana estuary. Nitrate, phosphate and silicate were added in a single pulse, alone and in combinations. Experimental treatments were incubated for 4 days under controlled laboratory conditions. Phytoplankton response to nutrient enrichment was evaluated through changes in biomass (Chl a), and abundance of specific phytoplankton groups. Overall, phytoplankton growth seemed to be nitrogen-limited throughout the productive period, especially green algae in 2005 and diatoms in 2008. In the summer 2008, cyanobacteria and the harmful dinoflagellate Kryptoperidinium foliaceum responded to N enrichment in the absence of Si. Indeed, the presence of K. foliaceum was observed for the first time in the freshwater tidal reaches of the Guadiana estuary, where dinoflagellates were usually absent or rare. The significant increase on dinoflagellates and cyanobacteria growth in response to N enrichment in the absence of Si is alarming, because anthropogenic nutrient enrichments usually increase N and P, but not Si. Furthermore, relatively high N concentrations, up to 22 μM, were found to be limiting to phytoplankton growth. These results should therefore be used as a management tool when establishing nutrient criteria and nutrient loading budgets to estuarine waters.

Iron fractionation in pack and fast ice in East Antarctica: Temporal decoupling between the release of dissolved and particulate iron during spring melt

Iron is a fundamental nutrient limiting phytoplankton growth in vast regions of the Southern Ocean. Sea ice, which covers ∼80% of the Southern Ocean (south of 60°S) during maximum extent, can concentrate iron up to two orders of magnitude higher than in the underlying sea water. The fractionation of iron between the particulate and dissolved fractions depends on the location and type of sea-ice formation and can impact on the bioavailability of this important trace element. This study is the first to document iron fractionation and concentration in both pack and fast ice during a single research study. Sampling was from within the 110–130°E sector of Antarctica. We observed markedly higher concentrations of particulate iron at our fast-ice site (0.96–214 nM) relative to several pack-ice sites (0.87–77.7 nM). A high particulate-to-dissolved iron ratio was observed at the fast-ice site (285:1) relative to the highest observed in pack ice (23:1). This suggests a decoupling between the sources and/or sinks of the dissolved and particulate fractions. Preferential release of dissolved iron (and not particulate iron) into brines at all sites sampled with the sack hole method (and therefore indicative of brine drainage) indicates the diffuse nature of the dissolved fraction. Furthermore, this indicates that there may be a temporal decoupling between the release of the dissolved and the particulate fractions into the water column as sea ice becomes more permeable during the seasonal melt. Implications for phytoplankton production in Antarctic sea ice are discussed.

The role of inorganic nutrients and dissolved organic phosphorus in the phytoplankton dynamics of a Mediterranean bay: A modeling study

The effect of Dissolved Organic Phosphorus (DOP) availability and nutrient limitation of phytoplankton growth in an estuarine bay (Alfacs Bay, NW Mediterranean) have been studied by means of a zero-dimensional ecological model including nitrogen, phosphorus (organic and inorganic), two groups of phytoplankton (diatoms and flagellates), one group of zooplankton, and detritus. Simulations with and without DOP as an extra source of phosphorus for phytoplankton growth suggest that DOP plays an important role in the dynamics of the Alfacs Bay ecosystem. DOP is indeed necessary to simulate the observed draw-down of nitrate and build up of phytoplankton biomass. Two non-exclusive mechanisms allowing DOP availability for phytoplankton are possible: direct uptake, or remineralization to Dissolved Inorganic Phosphorus. Including both gives a better agreement with the observations. Inclusion of DOP in the model leads to predominance of phosphorus limitation of phytoplankton growth in fall and winter, and of nitrogen limitation in late spring and summer. Simulations with and without sediment resuspension suggest that this process does not significantly affect the nutrient budget in the bay.

Nutrient characteristics in the Yangtze River Estuary and the adjacent East China Sea before and after impoundment of the Three Gorges Dam

From November 2002 to 2006, five cruises were undertaken in the Yangtze River Estuary and the adjacent East China Sea to compare the nutrient concentrations, ratios and potential nutrient limitation of phytoplankton growth before and after impoundment (June 2003) of the Three Gorges Dam (TGD). Concentrations of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN), soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) and total nitrogen (TN) exhibited an increasing trend from 2002 to 2006. In contrast, total phosphorus (TP) concentration exhibited a decreasing trend. The mean concentrations of DIN, SRP, and TN in the total study area increased from 21.4 µM, 0.9 µM, and 41.8 µM in 2002 to 37.5 µM, 1.3 µM, and 82.2 µM in 2006, respectively, while TP decreased from 2.1 µM to 1.7 µM. The concentration of dissolved reactive silica (DRSi) had no major fluctuations and the differences were not significant. The mean concentration of DRSi in the total study area ranged from 52.5 to 92.3 µM. The Si:N ratio decreased significantly from 2.7 in 2002 to 1.3 in 2006, while TN:TP ratio increased from 22.1 to 80.3. The area of potential P limitation of phytoplankton growth expanded after 2003 and potential Si limitation appeared in 2005 and 2006. Potential P limitation mainly occurred in an area of salinity less than 30 after 2003, while potential Si limitation occurred where the salinity was greater than 30. By comparison with historical data, the concentrations of nitrate and SRP in this upper estuary during November 1980–2006 increased obviously after impoundment of TGD but DRSi decreased. Meanwhile, the ratios of N:P, Si:N and Si:P decreased obviously.

Estuarine nutrient loading affects phytoplankton growth and microzooplankton grazing at two contrasting sites in Hong Kong coastal waters

To investigate the effects of enhanced nutrient loading in estuarine waters on phytoplankton growth and microzooplankton grazing, we conducted monthly dilution experiments at 2 stations in Hong Kong coastal waters with contrasting trophic conditions. The western estuarine station (WE) near the Pearl River estuary is strongly influenced by freshwater discharge, while the eastern oceanic station (EO) is mostly affected by the South China Sea. Growth rates of phytoplankton were often limited by nutrients at EO, while nutrient limitation of phytoplankton growth seldom Occurred at WE due to the high level of nutrients delivered by the Pearl River, especially in the summer rainy season. Higher chlorophyll a, microzooplankton biomass, phytoplankton growth and microzooplankton grazing rates were found at WE than at EO. However, the increase in chlorophyll greatly exceeded the increase in phytoplankton growth rate, reflecting different response relationships to nutrient availability. Strong seasonality was observed at both stations, with temperature being an important factor affecting both phytoplankton growth and microzooplankton grazing rates. Picophytoplankton, especially Synechococcus, also exhibited great seasonality at EO, with summer abundances being 2 or 3 orders of magnitude higher than those during winter, Our results confirm that in eutrophic coastal environments, microzooplankton grazing is a dominant loss pathway for phytoplankton, accounting for the utilization of >50%, of primary production on average.

Nutrient limitation of phytoplankton growth in Arctic lakes of the lower Mackenzie River Basin, northern Canada

Water chemistry and the nutrients limiting phytoplankton growth were examined in lakes located in the Northwest Territories, Canada, along a transect from the Mackenzie River Delta south to Travaillant Lake. This 230 km stretch spans gradients in vegetation types (tundra to boreal forest) and elevation (flooded by the Mackenzie River versus higher elevation lakes). Total phosphorus concentrations generally were typical of oligotrophic lakes (&lt;10 µg·L–1), while nitrate and orthophosphate concentrations were below detection limits. Although some growth was noted in bioassays receiving single additions of nitrogen (N) or phosphorus (P), the greatest growth occurred in those bioassays in which nitrogen and phosphorus were added. This suggests that phytoplankton in the majority of study lakes were strongly co-limited by N and P irrespective of watershed type and Mackenzie River influence. Furthermore, it suggests that algal communities will be highly responsive to anthropogenic disturbances, which result in increased N and P loading to these lakes. Experimental results from March bioassays suggest that anthropogenic eutrophication would be exacerbated by increased temperatures (e.g., those associated with global warming).

Seasonal variations in nutrients and chlorophyll-a concentrations in the Northern east China sea

Nutrients, chlorophyll-a, particulate organic carbon (POC), and environmental conditions were extensively investigated in the northern East China Sea (ECS) near Cheju Island during three seasonal cruises from 2003 to 2005. In spring and autumn, relatively high concentrations of nitrate (2.6~12.4 μmol kg-1) and phosphate (0.17~0.61 μmol kg-1) were observed in the surface waters in the western part of the study area because of the large supply of nutrients from deep waters by vertical mixing. The surface concentrations of nitrate and phosphate in summer were much lower than those in spring and autumn, which is ascribed to a reduced nutrient supply from the deep waters in summer because of surface layer stratification. While previous studies indicate that upwellings of the Kuroshio Current and the Changjiang (Yangtze River) are main sources of nutrients in the ECS, these two inputs seem not to have contributed significantly to the build-up of nutrients in the northern ECS during the time of this study. The lower nitrate:phosphate (N:P) ratio in the surface waters and the positive correlation between the surface N:P ratio and nitrate concentration indicate that nitrate acts as a main nutrient limiting phytoplankton growth in the northern ECS, contrary to previous reports of phosphate-limited phytoplankton growth in the ECS. This difference arises because most surface water nutrients are supplied by vertical mixing from deep waters with low N:P ratios and are not directly influenced by the Changjiang, which has a high N:P ratio. Surface chlorophyll-a levels showed large seasonal variation, with high concentrations (0.38~4.14 mg m-3) in spring and autumn and low concentrations (0.22~1.05 mg m-3) in summer. The surface distribution of chlorophyll-a coincided fairly well with that of nitrate in the northern ECS, implying that nitrate is an important nutrient controlling phytoplankton biomass. The POC:chlorophyll-a ratio was 4~6 times higher in summer than in spring and autumn, presumably because of the high summer phytoplankton death rate caused by nutrient depletion in the surface waters.

Nutrient limitation of phytoplankton growth in central plains reservoirs, USA

Historically, phosphorushasbeenconsideredto betheprimary nutrientlimiting phytoplanktongrowth in freshwater ecosystems. We tested this hypothesis in 19 Kansas reservoirs located within the Central Plains region, USA. Bioassay experiments were conducted to assess growth-rate limitation by nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and nitrogen and phosphorus (N and P). The addition of P alone rarely increased phytoplankton growth with only 8% of the total bioassay experiments indicating P-limitation. In contrast, limitation by N (16%) and co-limitation by N and P (63%) were more commonly observed. Results from the bioassay experiments were also used to test the hypothesis that nutrient limitation could beinferredfrom thewater columntotal nitrogen : totalphosphorus (TN: TP) ratio.Wefound thatthere was a classificationrange of TN: TP ratios thatcorrectly predicted nutrient limitation inthe majority of reservoirs. Generally, reservoirs that were N limited had water column TN : TP ratios 65. Overall, theseresults suggest that management efforts should focus on both N and P decreases to control phytoplankton growth. Furthermore, the water column TN : TP ratio can be an effective tool for assessing potential nutrient limitation in the Central Plains region using the TN : TP classification values provided above.