Circadian variations in photosynthetic assimilation and estimation of daily phytoplankton production

In August 1984, hourly measurements of photosynthetic characteristics were carried out during 96 h, at 5 and 10 m, on a natural population of phytoplankton in the St Lawrence Estuary. Synchronous circadian variations of similar amplitude (max./min.: 2 to 3) were observed at the two depths in both the photosynthetic capacity (P _m ^B ) and the photosynthetic efficiency (^B). Maximum values occurred at around noontime and minima during the night. Estimates of daily specific productivity were computed with and without the observed circadian variability. Large differences (15 to 70%) were evidenced between estimates.Contribution to the programs of GIROQ (Groupe interuniversitaire de recherches océanographiques du Québec) and of the Maurice Lamontagne Institute (Department of Fisheries and Oceans)     

Nutrient cycling studies in Carmarthen Bay: phytoplankton production,nitrogen assimilation and regeneration

The results from a series of five cruises (August 1979–January 1981) to examine rates of primary production, nitrogen assimilation and regeneration in Carmarthen Bay, S. Wales, are presented. Chlorophyll, primary production and regeneration were distributed irregularly throughout the bay, with the highest concentrations and rates being found around the shallow periphery. Nitrate was the dominant form of nitrogen assimilated by the phytoplankton, apart from periods of high biomass during the summer when ammonium assumed a more important role. The rates of ammonium regeneration from microheterotrophs were greater than the ammonium demand over much of the year, indicating that the bay was a net exporter of ammonium and was a physically dominated open system. During the summer, the rates of ammonium regeneration and assimilation were similar, indicating efficient recycling of nutrients.     

Primary production and phytoplankton community structure during a winter shelf-scale phytoplankton bloom off Western Australia

Regions of high primary production along the oligotrophic west coast of Australia between 34 and 22°S in May–June 2007 (midway through the annual phytoplankton bloom) were found around mesoscale features of the Leeuwin Current. At 31°S, an anticyclonic eddy-forming meander of the Leeuwin Current had a mixed layer depth of >160 m, a depth-integrated chlorophyll a (Chl a)-normalised primary production of 24 mg C mg Chl a ^?1 day^?1 compared to the surrounding values of <18 mg C mg Chl a ^?1 day^?1. In the north between 27 and 24°S, there were several stations in >1,000 m of water with a shallow (<100 m) and relatively thin layer of high nitrate below the mixed layer but within the euphotic zone. These stations had high primary production at depths of ~100 m (up to 7.5 mg C m^?3 day^?1) with very high rates of production per unit Chl a (up to 150 mg C mg Chl a ^?1 day^?1). At 27–24°S, the majority of the phytoplankton community was the ubiquitous tropical picoplankters, Synechococcus and Prochlorococcus. There was a decline in the dominance of the picoplankters and a shift towards a more diverse community with more diatoms, chlorophytes, prasinophytes and cryptophytes at stations with elevated production. Photosynthetic dinoflagellates were negligible, but heterotrophic dinoflagellate taxa were common. Haptophytes and pelagophytes were also common, but seemed to contribute little to the geographical variation in primary production. The mesoscale features in the Leeuwin Current may have enhanced horizontal exchange and vertical mixing, which introduced nitrate into the euphotic zone, increasing primary production and causing a shift in phytoplankton community composition in association with the annual winter bloom.     

Nitrogen assimilation by phytoplankton and other microorganisms in the surface waters of the central North Pacific Ocean

Assimilation rates of ¹⁵N-labelled ammonium, urea, and nitrate by plankton in the upper euphotic zone were measured in 2 summer, 2 winter, and 1 spring cruise in the central North Pacific Ocean. Average rates of ammonium plus urea assimilation could not be determined precisely, but were estimated to be 7 to 25 g-at. N m^-3 day^-1. Indirect evidence suggested that non-photosynthetic microorganisms contributed to these rates. Nitrate assimilation was negligible in the upper waters considered in this report (above the chlorophyll maximum and the nutricline). Potential, nitrate-saturated rates were in the range 1 to 8 g-at. N m^-3 day^-1. Seasonal comparison showed lowest rates of both carbon and nitrogen assimilation rates per chlorophyll a in winter.     

Fractionated phytoplankton primary production,exudate release and bacterial production in a Baltic eutrophication gradient

The distribution of phytoplankton primary production into four size fractions (>10 m, 10-3 m, 3-0.2 m and <0.2 m), the utilization of algal exudates by bacteria and the bacterial production were studied in a eutrophication gradient in the northern Baltic proper. The polluted area exhibits substantially increased nutrient, especially nitrogen, levels while only minor differences occur in salinity and temperature regimes. Total primary production was 160 g C · m^-2 · yr^-1 at the control station and about 275 g C · m^-2 · yr^-1 at the eutrophicated stations. The estimated total exudate release was 16% of the totally fixed ¹⁴CO₂ in the control area and 12% in the eutrophicated area (including the estimated bacterial uptake of exudates). The difference in¹⁴CO₂ uptake rates between incubation of previously filtered water (<3, <2, <1 m) and unfiltered water was used to estimate bacterial uptake of phytoplankton exudates which were found to contribute about half of the estimated bacterial carbon requirement in both areas. Bacterial production was estimated by the frequency of dividing cells (FDC) method as being 38 g C · m^-2 · yr^-1 at the control station and 50 g C · m^-2 · yr^-1 at the eutrophicated stations. To estimate the mean in situ bacterial cell volume a correlation between FDC and cell volume was used. The increased annual primary production in the eutrophicated area was due mainly to higher production during spring and autumn, largely by phytoplankton cells (mainly diatoms) retained by a 10 m filter. Primary production duringsummer was similarin the two areas, as was the distribution on different size fractions. This could possibly explain the similar bacterial production in the trophic layers at all stations since the bulk of bacterial production occurs during summer. It was demonstrated that selective filtration does not quantitatively separate photoautotrophs and bacteria. A substantial fraction of the primary production occurs in the size fraction <3 m. The primary production encountered in the 3-0.2 m fraction was due to abundant picoplankton (0.5 to 8 · 10⁷ ind · l^-1), easily passing a 3 m filter. The picoplankton was estimated to constitute up to 25% of the total phytoplankton biomass in the control area and up to 10% in the eutrophicated area.     

Primary production of phytoplankton at a frontal zone located at the northern slope of the Dogger Bank (North Sea)

In July 1988 a survey was made in the Dogger Bank area of the North Sea. As a result of wind stress the area was found to be frequently well mixed. At the northerly slope a transition zone was observed between the stratified central North Sea and the well-mixed Dogger Bank area. Low nutrient concentrations were observed in surface waters; especially for nitrate (<0,1µM). High concentrations of phosphate (>0,5µM), nitrate (>1µM), ammonium (>2µM) and silicate (>2µM) only prevailed below the thermocline. Chlorophylla values were below 1µg l^–1 near the surface. Enhanced values (up to 4µg l^–1) were observed in the deeper layer at the transition zone and just below the thermocline at well-stratified locations. At the transition zone high specific C-fixation rates (up to 100 mg C mg^–1 chla d^–1) at the surface indicated the presence of enhanced productivity. The compensation depth for primary production was found to coincide with a specific C-fixation rate of 5 mg C mg^–1 chla d^–1. At greater depths, phytoplankton was only found where tidally induced vertical mixing allowed a regular exposure to higher light intensities. Storms resulted in a rapid redistribution of chlorophylla and enhancement of the C-fixation rate in the upper layer of the water column.Publication No. 10 of the project Applied Scientific Research Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (BEWON)     

太湖北部夏季浮游藻类多样性与水质评价

于2004年7月对太湖北部浮游藻类的种群组成进行了调查,分析了藻类种属组成的空间分布,利用多种多样性评价指数对水体的污染情况进行了评价,初步探讨了太湖藻类种群组成的变化特征。太湖北部浮游藻类的密度较大,介于2.54×107～8.53×108个·L-1,主要由蓝藻、绿藻、硅藻、甲藻、裸藻和隐藻等组成,以微囊藻为优势种。自湖岸向湖心,单位体积内藻类的个数及生物量逐渐递减,种属逐渐增加。其中含较多指示污染及富营养化程度的藻类种属,各种评价指数显示水体的污染程度较为严重,属中营养—富营养化范畴。     

Dependence of phytoplankton production on rhythm and rate of elimination

This paper investigates the dependence of phytoplankton production upon rhythm and rate of zooplankton grazing and presents a mathematical model for calculating the most important parameters. Both uniform and non-uniform grazing are described mathematically. Non-uniform grazing, expressed by a sinusoidal curve, is usually found in bathyplanktonic ecosystems with migratory consumers. Phytoplankton production depends on the time of grazing; the nearer grazing occurs toward nightfall, the higher is the phytoplankton production. In order to calculate phytoplankton productivity and the amount of food consumed by the zooplankton, experimental data on generation time of phytoplankters, their mortality rates, initial and final standing stocks, and information on diurnal grazing rhythms must be available. If the distribution of grazing rates is sinusoidal and mortality rate constant, the equations presented allow the calculation of phytoplankton productivity with an error of about 6%.     

Russell's definite description analysis of production and limitation of phytoplankton species

The majority of phytoplankton species observed in the southwestern Atlantic Ocean produce new cells to equal cells lost, if any, to grazing and sinking. At the same time these species must limit new cells to numbers equalling any lost, since their abundance remains about the same in both deep and shallow areas. Of each of these species one may assert: the producer is a limiter (1). One species, coccolithus huxleyi, produces cells to offset any lost in deep water but does not limit, as it drifts into shallow water, new cells to equal the number lost in deep water, since it is more abundant in shallow than in deep water. For C. huxleyi it is true that the producer is not a limiter (2). However, once in the shallows, C. huxleyi is in a steady state, so that nutrient concentration both produces and limits new cells to equal any lost. Thus, (2) converts to (1) by having nutrient concentration the producer and the limiter. “The producer is a limiter” is a covering statement. Asserting it covers all observable species; denying it covers species not observed, those rare species which can only be found by more exhaustive sampling.     

Carbon and nitrogen dynamics during growth and degradation of phytoplankton under natural surface irradiance

Under conditions of natural irradiance, the development and decline of a flagellate-dominated phytoplankton population was followed in a coastal North Atlantic pond over a 3 d period in summer 1986. Irradiance negatively affected phytoplankton biomass estimated as chlorophyll a, which decreased during the day at photosynthetically available radiation (PAR) levels above 600 to 1000 mol m^-2s^-1; chlorophyll a increased at PAR values below this threshold. In addition, an inverse relationship was found between changes in chlorophyll a and changes in dissolved inorganic nitrogen, indicating synthesis of nitrogenous biomass mainly at night and degradation mainly during the day, with intense exchanges of material between the particulate and dissolved nitrogen fractions. The natural abundance of ¹³C in particulate matter increased initially, and then remained constant, and was controlled mainly by the ratio -carboxylases activity: ribulose biphosphate carboxylase activity. The hypothesis that the latter enzyme is broken down under high irradiance and is partly responsible for increases in external dissolved nitrogen was rejected.     

Warming induces shifts in microzooplankton phenology and reduces time-lags between phytoplankton and protozoan production

Indoor mesocosm experiments were conducted to test for potential climate change effects on the spring succession of Baltic Sea plankton. Two different temperature (Δ0?°C and Δ6?°C) and three light scenarios (62, 57 and 49?% of the natural surface light intensity on sunny days), mimicking increasing cloudiness as predicted for warmer winters in the Baltic Sea region, were simulated. By combining experimental and modeling approaches, we were able to test for a potential dietary mismatch between phytoplankton and zooplankton. Two general predator–prey models, one representing the community as a tri-trophic food chain and one as a 5-guild food web were applied to test for the consequences of different temperature sensitivities of heterotrophic components of the plankton. During the experiments, we observed reduced time-lags between the peaks of phytoplankton and protozoan biomass in response to warming. Microzooplankton peak biomass was reached by 2.5 day °C^?1 earlier and occurred almost synchronously with biomass peaks of phytoplankton in the warm mesocosms (Δ6?°C). The peak magnitudes of microzooplankton biomass remained unaffected by temperature, and growth rates of microzooplankton were higher at Δ6?°C (μ_?0?°C?=?0.12 day^?1 and μ_?6?°C?=?0.25 day^?1). Furthermore, warming induced a shift in microzooplankton phenology leading to a faster species turnover and a shorter window of microzooplankton occurrence. Moderate differences in the light levels had no significant effect on the time-lags between autotrophic and heterotrophic biomass and on the timing, biomass maxima and growth rate of microzooplankton biomass. Both models predicted reduced time-lags between the biomass peaks of phytoplankton and its predators (both microzooplankton and copepods) with warming. The reduction of time-lags increased with increasing Q₁₀ values of copepods and protozoans in the tritrophic food chain. Indirect trophic effects modified this pattern in the 5-guild food web. Our study shows that instead of a mismatch, warming might lead to a stronger match between protist grazers and their prey altering in turn the transfer of matter and energy toward higher trophic levels.     

粤北2座饮用水源地水库的富营养化与浮游植物群落动态

粤北地区的水库以山地型水库为主,其中有不少担负着饮用水源的功能。为了解粤北地区水源地水库的富营养化状态与浮游植物种群的动态变化,于2011年的枯水期（2―3月）和丰水期（6―7月）对花山和白水礤2座中型水库进行了采样调查,对水库的营养盐和浮游植物种群进行了分析。结果表明：2座水库均为贫营养型;浮游植物在枯水期和丰水期的种类变化不大,共鉴定出的浮游植物6门37种（属）,以硅藻为主要优势种群,优势种为小环藻（Cyclotella sp.）和颗粒直链藻（Melosira granulata）。同时,枯水期和丰水期2座水库浮游植物的丰度和生物量都比较低,其值分别为0.65×106～1.95×106cells.L-1、0.11 mg.L-1和0.73×106～8.9×106cells.L-1、0.05～0.50 mg.L-1。在浮游植物种群动态中,2座水库浮游植物丰度和生物量的季节变化主要表现为硅藻丰度和生物量的变化,低浓度的氮、磷营养盐限制是影响这2座贫营养水库浮游植物动态变化主要因素。     

Carbon fixation in marine phytoplankton: carboxylase activities and stable carbon-isotope ratios; physiological and paleoclimatological aspects

We measured the activity of three carboxylases: RuBP carboxylase, PEP carboxylase and PEP carboxykinase of marine phytoplankton species in culture and in natural communities. Activities of the three carboxylases were measured simultaneously with stable carbon-isotope ratios. The enzymatic activities have been used to estimate the importance of carboxylation and its impact on the ¹³C:¹²C ratio (expressed as ¹³C). The marine phytoplankton species in culture were Fragilariopsis kerguelensis, Nitzschia turgiduloides, Skeletonema costatum, Phaeodactylum tricornutum, Isochrysis galbana, Dunaliella marina, and Prorocentrum micans, and the field samples were collected from different depths off the coast of Portugal (August/September, 1981). Our results indicate that, as in terrestrial plants, the ¹³C value is a good indicator of the extent of carboxylation. RuBP carboxylase activity was always predominant, whereas the ¹³C value never reached values typical of the C₄ pathway. The carboxylases could be PEP carboxylase (in dinoflagellates) or PEP carboxykinase (in diatoms). carboxylation increased at the end of the exponential growth phase in a diatom culture and with increased biomass in natural samples. We interpret these increases as an adaptative response mechanism to poor environmental conditions, especially to low light intensity.     

The spring phytoplankton bloom in Lindåspollene,a land-locked Norwegian fjord. II. Biomass and activity of net- and nanoplankton

From February 24 to April 24, weekly samples were collected at fixed depths at one station in Lindåspollene, a land-locked Norwegian fjord. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP), chlorophyll a, phaeophytin, ¹⁴C assimilation, and respiratory activity [electron transport system (ETS) activity] were measured in the net- (>30 m) and nanoplankton. Netplankton contained on the average 48% of the total chlorophyll a and 56% of the ATP, but contributed only 7% to the total carbon assimilation and 11% to the ETS activity. The assimilation numbers for net- and nanoplankton ranged from 0 to 1.2 and from 1.5 to 13.2, respectively. At the oxygen/hydrogen sulphide interface, high concentrations of ATP, but not of chlorophyll a, were found in the nanoplankton fraction. Netplankton algae grew actively only in the first phase of the bloom, and nanoplankton predominated later, apparently due to low nutrient concentrations. During the bloom, Skeletonema costatum made up the main part of the biomass. The number of cells in the chains decreased throughout the bloom, possibly reflecting the lowered silicate content. It appeared that only nanoplankton were grazed by zooplankton, while netplankton sank to the bottom and represented input to the benthos.     

黄海春季表层叶绿素和初级生产力及其粒径结构研究

根据2006年4月对黄海浮游植物分级叶绿素及初级生产力的调查,研究了黄海叶绿素及初级生产力的水平分布及粒级结构特征,并分析了其主要影响因素。黄海海域调查站位表层叶绿素a质量浓度变化范围为0.20～4.94μg·L-1,平均值为0.96μg·L-1。叶绿素最大值出现在临近长江口的站位。叶绿素分级结果表明黄海春季以粒径〉5μm的浮游植物占优势。黄海表层初级生产力的变化范围为2.03～15.64mg·m-3·h-1,平均值为6.08mg·m-3·h-1。其中南黄海海域初级生产力平均为6.58mg·m-3·h-1,北黄海海域初级生产力平均为4.92mg·m-3·h-1。高值区分布在南黄海中部。受水体透明度的影响,低值区出现在临近长江口的站位。断面站位分析表明浮游植物初级生产力由北向南逐步升高,温度随纬度的变化是南北海域初级生产力水平差异的主要原因。由于粒径较小（〈5μm）的浮游植物单位叶绿素具有较高的碳固定能力,调查期间整个海区初级生产力以粒径〈5μm的浮游植物贡献为主。     

Supply of organic matter to the sediment in the northern North Sea during a spring phytoplankton bloom

Strings of moored sediment traps were deployed in a 150 m water column over a period covering the growth and collapse of the spring bloom (4 April–3 June 1976) in an area of the northern North Sea. The efficiency of collection of material in the moored traps was compared to collections in free-drifting traps in the same area of deployment. The ways in which the data from the trap collections may be interpreted was considered at some length and a best estimate of the flux of organic carbon and nitrogen to the sediment was made. For the period prior to the spring bloom (4–23 April) this flux was 50 mg C m^–2 d^–1 (about 20% of primary production). During the bloom (24 April–19 May) it was about 185 mg C m^–2 d^–1 (35% of production) and during early summer (20 May–3 June) it was 115 mg C m^–2 d^–1, about 25% of the overlying production. The organic carbon and nitrogen content of the material collected was measured and the material was examined microscopically. There was evidence of a large settlement of diatoms immediately after the spring bloom which was reflected in changes in the C:N and C:chlorophyll ratios of the material collected. This change in biochemical composition of the material may affect its nutritional quality and have a stimulatory effect on the growth and reproduction of the animals living in the sediment.     

DMSP-lyase activity in five marine phytoplankton species: its potential importance in DMS production

Activity of DMSP-lyase, which cleaves dissolved DMSP (henceforth DMSP_d-lyase), was examined in five axenically cultured phytoplankton species, including both DMSP-producing and non-DMSP-producing species. High DMSP_d-lyase activity was found in two DMSP producers, Heterocapsa triquetra strain NIES-7 and Scrippsiella trochoidea strain NIES-369 (Dinophyceae). The DMS production rates at 100 nM DMSP_d were 0.5 fmol cell⁻¹ min⁻¹ for H. triquetra and 0.3 fmol cell⁻¹ min⁻¹ for S. trochoidea. In a non-DMSP producer, Heterosigma akashiwo strain NIES-6 (Raphidophyceae), the DMSP_d-lyase activity was not found. Two DMSP-producing Prymnesiophyceae species, Isochrysis galbana strain CCMP-1323 and Gephyrocapsa oceanica strain NIES-353, did not show any obvious activity either, in contrary to other authors' findings on Phaeocystis sp., another DMSP-producing Prymnesiophyceae species. The comparison of the DMSP_d-lyase activity of the two Dinophyceae species with bacterial DMSP consumption and DMS production activity in Tokyo Bay showed that the DMSP_d-lyase activity of H. triquetra and S. trochoidea could be an important mechanism for DMS production during their blooms. Received: 9 April 1999 / Accepted: 10 December 1999     

Carbon flow into the end-products of photosynthesis in short and long incubations of a natural phytoplankton population

During a cruise to the eastern Canadian Arctic (Northern Baffin Bay) in the summer of 1980, we took advantage of the 24-h photoperiod to conduct a 32-h time course experiment of ¹⁴C accumulation under natural solar radiation. The degree of non-linearity in the time course was judged against a time-dependent curve of radioactivity constructed by cumulatively adding the amount of ¹⁴C taken up in sequential short (2 h) incubations of plankton held in a replicate bottle but left unlabelled until removed for assay. Departure from linearity was due first to decreasing rates of ¹⁴C incorporation into polysaccharides and then into lipids. There was a close correspondence between ¹⁴C incorporation into proteins in the 32-h incubation and in the sequence of short incubations. These observations are consistent with patterns in utilization of photosynthetic end-products established from laboratory studies of unicellular algal cultures. Based on parallel or independent control experiments, it was judged that complicating factors such as diel light changes, nitrogenous nutrient exhaustion, bottle size effects or inhibitory conterminants in NaH¹⁴CO₃ stock solutions would not seriously affect our interpretation that non-linearity resulted from catabolic loss of radiocarbon.