秦皇岛海域褐潮生消过程中营养盐特征

2009—2015年在秦皇岛海域发生的褐潮给当地海水养殖业和滨海旅游业造成巨大损失,也对海洋生态系统造成破坏性影响。营养盐是藻类生长的重要生源要素,研究其在褐潮生消过程中的变化特征,对于揭示褐潮发生的营养学机制具有重要意义。基于2014年4—6月在秦皇岛褐潮多发海域30个站位的调查数据,对褐潮发生前后营养盐特征及其与抑食金球藻的关系进行了研究。结果表明: 4、5、6月溶解态氮(DN)浓度分别为265.65、355.36和323.71 μg·L^-1,其中,溶解态有机氮(DON)浓度分别为196.98、242.88和177.69 μg·L^-1,在DN中的占比分别为74.2%、68.3%和54.9%;4、5、6月溶解态磷(DP)浓度分别为15.95、11.39和11.14 μg·L^-1,4、5月PO₄^3--P在DP中占比较大,分别为74.8%和80.9%,6月溶解态有机磷(DOP)占比升至66.2%,PO₄^3--P占比降至33.8%;4、5、6月SiO₃^2--Si浓度分别为70.95、181.13和120.68 μg·L^-1。除DON和5月无机氮(DIN)外,其他营养盐浓度的平面分布均整体呈近岸高、离岸低的趋势,高值区多出现在河口。通过R型-因子分析和营养盐结构分析发现,4月,褐潮处于发展阶段,DOP可能是抑食金球藻生长的主要控制因子;5月,褐潮处于维持阶段,水温成为主要控制因子,水温大于12 ℃即可发生褐潮;6月,褐潮开始消亡,PO₄^3--P对浮游植物群落结构具有更大的影响力。DON为诱发褐潮爆发的关键水质因子,其阈值浓度为 150 μg·L^-1,且DON/DIN值应大于1。     

大亚湾大辣甲水域叶绿素a及营养盐的垂直分布与季节变化

为了较为系统地研究大亚湾水域叶绿素a和营养盐的垂直分层状况, 并为大亚湾海洋生态系统的数值模拟提供基础数据, 作者于大亚湾大辣甲和桑洲之间连线的中间点附近海域选点, 在2007年～2008年进行了4个季度的垂直采样监测。本次研究分析了大亚湾大辣甲水域叶绿素a及营养盐的垂直分布与季节变化, 并分析了叶绿素a与DIN、PO₄-P和SiO₃-Si的关系。结果表明:在整个监测时段内, 叶绿素a和DIN、PO₄-P、SiO₃-Si的浓度范围分别为0.50～5.80 mg·m^-3、0.023～0.159 mg·L^-1、1.606～19.69μg·L^-1和0.065～1.13 mg·L^-1, 营养盐和叶绿素a在4个季度里的垂直变化趋势各有不同;在季节变化上, SiO₃-Si与DIN比较相似, 总体呈现夏、冬、秋季高, 春季较低的特征, PO₄-P恰好相反, 夏季的浓度最低, 叶绿素a总体呈现夏、春、冬季高, 秋季较低的特征;在整个垂直水柱内, DIN和SiO₃-Si对叶绿素a的影响相对较小, PO₄-P和叶绿素a呈显著正相关关系。     

北黄海獐子岛养殖海域营养水平与虾夷扇贝增殖渔获量评估

营养盐作为浮游植物生长的物质基础,对海洋生态系统的物质循环起着决定性作用。调查研究了獐子岛附近海域营养盐含量水平、空间分布及营养盐结构,并据此估算了现有营养水平可支持的潜在生物量,评估了该海域虾夷扇贝增殖渔获量。结果表明,獐子岛附近海域海水总体营养水平较低,底层水中的营养盐浓度是表层水的2—3倍,海水中的营养盐浓度基本高于浮游植物生长的最低阈值,且溶解无机氮与磷酸盐的比值(DIN/PO4-P)和硅酸盐与磷酸盐的比值(Si O3-Si/PO4-P)均22,全海域为磷营养限制。根据磷限制因子及食物链能流转移理论估算,该海域1000 km2现有的营养水平可支持一个生长周期内虾夷扇贝增殖的动态理论生产量为3.8—6.1万t,如人为增加5%—20%的水体磷,则虾夷扇贝增殖产量可增加0.25—1.00万t。     

热带亚热带水库浮游植物叶绿素a与磷分布的特征

于丰水期和枯水期对广东省19个大中型水库的浮游植物叶绿素a和磷(P)进行采样和测定,分析了P和叶绿素a的分布特征及其相关性。结果表明P的浓度和叶绿素a含量较低的有流溪河、新丰江、公平和白盆珠水库;而枯、丰两期P的浓度和叶绿素a含量均较高的有契爷石、石岩、鹤地和大镜山水库;其余12个水库均属于季节性差异较明显的水库,在丰水期由入流带来较多的P,而枯水期则因入流相对较少,P的含量也较低。大部分水库在枯水期P限制现象比较严重,而丰水期则有所缓解。P限制程度的不同导致了丰水期和枯水期水库浮游植物种群组成和叶绿素含量的变化。丰水期的优势种类P半饱和浓度较高,在枯水期这些种类不再是优势种的组成部分。而一些P半饱和浓度较低的种类,在丰水期和枯水期都成为各个水库的优势种。通过相关性分析,正磷酸盐(PO₄^3--P)与叶绿素的相关系数较高,总磷(TP)与叶绿素的相关系数则相对较低。从时间上来看,枯水期PO₄^3--P与叶绿素的相关性高于丰水期;从空间上看,大坝处PO₄^3--P与叶绿素的相关性高于入水口。     

长江口南汇边滩不同植被类型营养盐削减效果

湿地具有良好的吸收净化能力，能够有效去除水体中的氮、磷等污染物。为探究潮滩湿地削减营养盐的效果，本研究于2020年8月、11月和2021年1月、4月，对长江口南汇边滩光滩、海三棱藨草(Scirpus mariqueter)和互花米草(Spartina alterniflora)3种生境不同深度沉积物孔隙水溶解态无机氮(DIN)和溶解态无机磷(DIP)浓度进行观测，并分析其与沉积物环境因子的相关性。结果表明：植物生境沉积物孔隙水中DIN和DIP浓度显著低于光滩(P<0.05),其中互花米草生境(82.5%～97.3%)DIN相对削减率高于海三棱藨草生境(25.5%～75.8%),互花米草生境(54.1%～83.9%)DIP相对削减率高于海三棱表藨草生境(55.7%～76.4%);深层沉积物孔隙水NH₄⁺-N和PO₄^3--P浓度显著高于表层(P<0.05),而NO₃^--N呈相反趋势。季节上，3种生境孔隙水DIN浓度均表现出夏季低、冬季高的特点，而D...     

汕头南澳-东山海域营养盐季节分布特征及其对浮游植物生长的潜在性限制

【摘要】营养盐是水体初级生产力和渔业资源产出的重要限制性因子。2015-2017年在汕头南澳和福建东山之间的海域设置了14个采样点, 分四个季节监测了该海域温盐和营养盐的空间分布特征。结果表明, 调查海域北部陆源径流输入是营养盐空间分布产生差异的最重要因子, 以溶解无机氮(DIN)和活性硅酸盐(DSi)受影响最为明显, 春季和夏季受径流营养盐输入的影响最大, 冬季受影响最小。南澳-东山海域的DIN、溶解无机磷(DIP)和DSi的浓度在表层周年平均分别为9.21、0.46和25.5 μmol·L–1, 底层分别为8.96、0.50和22.5 μmol·L–1。各营养盐的浓度基本表现为由西北近海向东南远海递减, 季节平均值表现为冬季>春季>夏季>秋季。冬季受闽浙沿岸流南下入侵的影响, 营养盐呈现出全年最高浓度, 表层平均DIN浓度是其他季节的三倍以上。春夏秋冬四个季节表层平均DIN/DIP比分别为24.3, 38.8, 6.7和24, 底层平均分别为15.4, 31.1, 9.6和23.6, 秋季水体的DIN/DIP比明显低于其他几个季节。总的来看, 南澳-东山海域的营养盐限制在不同季节变动较大: 春季近岸表现为相对磷限制, 远岸水体则表现为相对氮限制; 夏季和冬季都主要表现为磷的相对限制, 部分远海海域在夏季甚至出现磷的绝对限制; 秋季则主要表现为氮的相对限制。本研究系统阐述了南澳-东山海域营养盐限制的季节演替规律及变化机制, 为该海域生态环境管理和渔业增养殖规划提供基础数据。     

珠江口及毗邻海域营养盐对浮游植物生长的影响

基于2006年7月(夏季),10月(秋季)和2007年3月(春季)的现场调查数据,对珠江口及毗邻海域中的营养盐和叶绿素a等环境生态因子的时空分布特性进行了对比分析,研究了氮磷比与叶绿素a含量和种群多样性之间的联系,探讨了该海域营养盐对于浮游植物生长的影响。结果表明:(1)研究海域营养盐表现出较强的季节和空间差异性,总氮(TN)和总磷(TP)浓度均值春季(1.545 mg/L、0.056 mg/L)和夏季(1.570 mg/L、0.058 mg/L)均大于秋季(1.442 mg/L、0.034 mg/L),且春夏季浓度空间差异更明显。(2)调查期间海域营养盐含量超标现象突出,夏季尤为明显。无机氮(DIN)总体均值0.99 mg/L,超四类海水标准限值1倍,活性磷酸盐(PO4-P)总体均值0.021 mg/L,DIN∶PO4-P平均值为130;叶绿素a浓度与营养盐、p H、温度有较显著的相关性。(3)叶绿素a浓度较高的站位,具有较高的DIN∶PO4-P值,但浮游植物多样性指数偏低,优势种明显,主要为中肋骨条藻。氮磷比的改变会影响不同生长特性的浮游植物间的竞争和种群结构的改变;今后海洋污染治理中,在控制氮、磷污染时要注意氮磷比的改变可能造成的浮游生态影响。     

渤海中部营养盐赋存形态季节变化及其对营养盐库的影响

根据2013年7月(夏季),11月(秋季)和2014年5月(春季)渤海中部氮、磷、硅营养盐库各赋存形态数据以及温度、盐度等水文数据,分析海域不同季节各营养盐库以及相互间转化规律。结果表明:调查海域受陆源输入、吸收转化、扰动混合以及分解释放等因素影响,各营养盐库含量及其组分迁移转化呈现明显的季节特征,春夏高生产力季节为无机态向有机态和颗粒态转化期,秋季为有机态和颗粒态溶解分解释放期。夏季氮磷营养盐库含量分别为(37.43±10.09)μmol/L和(0.73±0.19)μmol/L,且以溶解有机态为主要赋存形态。秋季各营养盐库以及无机态组分含量受扰动以及分解释放影响均明显增加,而溶解有机态和颗粒态组分降低,其中颗粒氮(PN, particulate nitrogen)含量为(1.78±1.05)μmol/L,降幅66%;溶解有机磷(DOP, dissolved organic phosphorus)含量为(0.13±0.06)μmol/L,降幅66%;而溶解无机磷(DIP, dissolved inorganic phosphorus)为(0.54±0.20)μmol/L,升高10.8倍。春季各营养盐库组分变化明显,其中溶解无机氮(DIN, dissolved inorganic nitrogen)、DIP和活性硅酸盐(SiO_3, reactive silicate)受浮游植物吸收转化影响,含量较秋季分别降幅45%、89%和85%, DON受秋冬季分解影响,含量降低36%。而PN和DOP增加明显,分别增高27%和1.6倍。调查海域各赋存形态营养盐比值表明,无机态营养盐比值均远离Redfield比值,对海域内硅藻的优势种地位产生影响。而各有机态以及颗粒态组分比值显示相比较氮,DOP、颗粒态磷(PP, particulate phosphorus)和硅在秋冬季低生产力季节更易受到扰动和分解释放影响,对于缓解海域内磷硅限制状况具有重要作用。     

广州市酸雨成分及其相关分析

分析了2003年11月-2004年10月广州市龙洞79次降雨的化学组分及其各组分之间的相关关系。得出:(1)观测期间总降雨量1359.8,单次降雨的pH值在3.22-7.29之间,平均4.83;以pH<5.6为酸雨的临界值,则酸雨频率占降雨次数的77.2%或占降雨量的81.5%;(2)广州降水的化学组成以SO₄^2-、Cl^-和NO₃^-为主要阴离子,阳离子中以Ca²⁺、NH₄⁺、Na⁺所占比例较大;(3)广州地区酸雨属硫酸型,降雨中的SO₄^2-、NO₃^-、PO₄^3-、Cl^-、NH₄⁺、K⁺、Na⁺、Ca²⁺、Mg²⁺离子浓度分别为0.150,0.045,0.002,0.163,0.058,0.006,0.013,0.083和0.007mol·L^-1,单次降雨的SO₄^2-/NO₃^-比值在0.42-17.6之间,年平均为3.33,该值比西南地区相应值低许多,而且与同一地点5年前测定的结果相比较,SO₄^2-/NO₃^-比值有变小的趋势,说明广州地区NO_x排放量高逐渐增加;(4)广州地区酸雨有着明显的季节变化规律,春、夏、秋季酸雨比较严重,冬季酸雨较少出现,这与西南地区的重庆(冬季酸雨较春季严重)酸雨季节规律相反;(5)通过SPSS统计分析得出,雨量与各化学组分含量成负相关,说明雨量对大气污染物质的稀释作用;酸雨各化学成分之间存在着一定的相关性,如SO₄^2-与Ca²⁺,NO₃^-与NH₄⁺,K⁺与Na⁺、Mg²⁺离子,Na⁺与Mg²⁺等都存在显著的正相关,利用这种相关可以建立某些酸雨成分的预测模型。     

NO3-/NO2-对渤海湾油藏中硫酸盐还原菌SO42-还原活性的抑制效应

长期注水开发促进了渤海湾海域油藏中硫酸盐还原菌(SRP)的生长繁殖,产生了大量H₂S,引起油藏酸化(souring)等问题. 本文首先以改进的API RP 38培养基富集了渤海湾海域某油藏采出井井口采出液中的SRP,再通过批次试验研究了不同浓度NO₃^-和NO₂^-对SRP富集培养物SO₄^2-还原活性的抑制效应. 结果表明： 渤海湾海域油藏中的SRP富集培养物SO₄^2-还原活性较强,SO₄^2-还原速率为10.4 mmol SO₄^2-·d^-1·g^-1 dry cell;加入浓度为0.4、0.8、1.8、4.2 mmol·L^-1NO₃^-时,SRP富集培养物的SO₄^2-还原活性均可被抑制,维持时间分别为5、9、20和大于35 d;加入浓度为0.6、0.9、1.4、2.6或4.6 mmol·L^-1的NO₂^-时,SO₄^2-还原活性也被抑制,维持时间分别为3、12、22和大于39 d. SRP富集培养物具有异化NO₃^-还原成NH₄⁺的代谢途径.当环境中同时存在SO₄^2-、NO₃^-、NO₂^-时,SRP富集培养物优先利用NO₃^-和NO₂^-. SRP富集培养物对电子受体的优先利用及NO₂^-的毒性效应是NO₃^-/NO₂^-抑制渤海湾海域油藏中SO₄^2-还原活性的主要原因.     

Nutrient limitation of phytoplankton and periphyton growth in upland lakes

SUMMARY 1. Thirty small upland lakes in Cumbria, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland were visited three times between April and August 2000. On each occasion water chemistry was measured and phytoplankton bioassays were performed in the laboratory to assess growth‐rate and yield limitation by phosphorus and nitrogen. In addition, yield limitation of periphyton growth was investigated twice, in situ, using nutrient‐diffusing substrata. 2. Over the whole season the percentage frequency of P, N and co‐limitation was 24, 13 and 63%, respectively, for phytoplankton rate limitation and 20, 22 and 58%, respectively, for phytoplankton yield limitation. 3. A clear response of periphyton yield to nutrient additions was found in 75% of all cases and of these, co‐limitation was most common (54%). Average percentage frequency for P and N limitation was 26 and 20%, respectively. 4. Phytoplankton and periphyton showed seasonal changes in nutrient limitation within sites. In particular, co‐limitation became progressively more common as the season progressed. 5. The response of phytoplankton growth rate to ammonium and nitrate addition was identical, but ammonium was a slightly better source of nitrogen than nitrate for phytoplankton yield on 7% and for periphyton yield on 10% of the occasions. However, the magnitude of the effect was small. 6. The concentration of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) and the molar ratio of DIN to total dissolved phosphorus (TDP), appeared to be the main environmental factors controlling the extent of nitrogen or phosphorus limitation at a given site. Nitrogen limitation was more likely than phosphorus limitation where the DIN was <6.5 mmol m^?3 and the ratio of DIN : TDP was <53. Co‐limitation was the most likely outcome at a DIN concentration <13 mmol m^?3 and at a DIN : TDP molar ratio <250. Above these values phosphorus limitation was most likely. 7. The relatively high frequency of nitrogen limitation and co‐limitation at higher N : P ratios than previously reported, may result from the inability of nitrogen‐fixing cyanobacteria to thrive in these upland lakes where pH and the concentration of phosphorus tended to be low and where flushing rates tended to be high.     

Nutrient limitation of phytoplankton communities in Subarctic lakes and ponds in Wapusk National Park, Canada

We determined the limiting nutrient of phytoplankton in 21 lakes and ponds in Wapusk National Park, Canada, using nutrient enrichment bioassays to assess the response of natural phytoplankton communities to nitrogen and phosphorus additions. The goal was to determine whether these Subarctic lakes and ponds were nutrient (N or P) limited, and to improve the ability to predict future impacts of increased nutrient loading associated with climate change. We found that 38% of lakes were not limited by nitrogen or phosphorus, 26% were co-limited by N and P, 26% were P-limited and 13% were N-limited. TN/TP, DIN/TP and NO₃ ⁻/TP ratios from each lake were compared to the Redfield ratio to predict the limiting nutrient; however, these predictors only agreed with 29% of the bioassay results, suggesting that nutrient ratios do not provide a true measure of nutrient limitation within this region. The N-limited lakes had significantly different phytoplankton community composition with more chrysophytes and Anabaena sp. compared to all other lakes. N and P limitation of phytoplankton communities within Wapusk National Park lakes and ponds suggests that increased phytoplankton biomass may result in response to increased nutrient loading associated with environmental change.     

Transition from P‐ to N‐limited phytoplankton growth in an artificial lake on flooded cutaway peatland in Ireland

Question: Which nutrient limits primary production in a lake created by flooding industrial cutaway peatland? Location: Clongawny Lake (53°10’N, 07°53’W), County Offaly, Ireland Methods: Nutrient concentrations in lake water and the dynamics of phytoplankton populations were monitored over a 38‐month period. The ratio of dissolved inorganic nitrogen to total phosphorus (DIN:TP) and nutrient enrichment bio‐assays were used to investigate temporal changes in nutrient limitation. Results: Primary production in the new lake was phytoplankton‐driven due to the scarcity of recolonizing macrophytes. Phytoplankton growth was initially phosphorus‐limited. The runoff of phosphate fertilizer from an adjacent coniferous forestry plantation raised the TP concentration of lake water 5.5‐fold. Consequently, the biovolume of phytoplankton increased 30‐fold, and chlorophyll‐a concentrations increased eightfold, reaching hyper‐eutrophic levels. A concurrent depletion of nitrogen in lake water reduced the DIN:TP ratio from 17.8 to 0.6, and phytoplankton growth rapidly became nitrogen‐limited. Phytoplankton composition shifted from dinoflagellates to minute, unicellular chlorophytes, with a coincident decline in species diversity. Cyanobacteria did not proliferate, most likely due to the acidic nature of the lake. Conclusions: Results illustrated the vulnerability of newly created cutaway peatland lakes to developing severe phytoplankton blooms and coincident secondary nitrogen limitation in the presence of moderate external phosphorus inputs.     

Phosphorus and nitrogen limitation of phytoplankton growth in eutrophic Lake Inba, Japan

Lake Inba is one of the most eutrophic lakes in Japan. In this study, field sampling and nutrient enrichment bioassays were conducted to determine the seasonal patterns of nutrient limitation for phytoplankton growth in this lake. Phytoplankton biomass increased significantly with the additions of phosphorus (P) on almost all sampling dates, indicating P limitation of phytoplankton growth from spring to autumn. However, nitrogen (N) limitation was also observed during summer (i.e., 19 August). On 10 August, a typhoon struck Lake Inba. After this event, dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) and phosphorus concentrations increased, probably because of increased river discharge. At the same time, phytoplankton growth in the control treatment became relatively high, with the addition of neither P nor N stimulating the growth. However, 10 days after the typhoon, the phytoplankton growth rate in the control treatment decreased, with only the addition of N having a significant positive effect on phytoplankton growth. N limitation during summer is caused by the low concentrations of DIN, as well as changes in the N:P ratio due to allochthonous nutrient loads. These results indicate that a reduction of both P and N input is necessary to control phytoplankton blooms in Lake Inba.     

Seasonal pattern in nutrient limitation and grazing control of the phytoplankton community in a non-stratified lake

1. The relative importance of zooplankton grazing and nutrient limitation in regulating the phytoplankton community in the non-stratified Lake Kvie, Denmark, were measured nine times during the growing season.
2. Natural phytoplankton assemblage bioassays showed increasing importance of nutrient limitation during summer. Growth rates at ambient nutrient concentrations were continually below 0.12 per day, while co-enrichment with nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) to above concentration-saturated conditions enhanced growth rates from May to the end of July.
3. Stoichiometric ratios of important elements in seston (C : N, C : P, N : P), in lake water (TN : TP), in external loading (TN : TP) and in internal loading (DIN : DIP) were measured to determine whether N or P could be the limiting nutrient. TN : TP molar ratio of both lake water, benthic fluxes and external loading suggested P limitation throughout the growing season. However, seston molar ratios suggested moderate P-deficiency only during mid-summer.
4. Abundance and community structure of the zooplankton varied considerably through the season and proved to be important in determining the responses of algal assemblages to grazing. High abundance of cladocerans and rotifers resulted in significant grazing impact, while cyclopoid copepods had no significant effect on the phytoplankton biomass.
5. Regeneration of ammonium and phosphate by zooplankton were periodically important for phytoplankton growth. A comparison of nutrient regeneration by zooplankton with nutrient inputs from sediment and external sources indicated that zooplankton may contribute significantly in supplying N and P for the growth of phytoplankton.     

In situ nutrient enrichment experiment in the Bohai and Yellow Sea

Nutrient concentrations and N : P ratios have changed significantlyin the past 40 years in the Bohai and Yellow Sea. How do thesechanges influence or contribute to the growth of phytoplankton?Nutrient enrichment experiments were conducted in 1998 and 1999to shed light on which was the first nutrient to limit algalgrowth and uptake rates of nitrogen and phosphorus. Significantvariance analysis, together with nutrient concentration andratio, demonstrated that phosphorus was the first nutrient tolimit the growth of phytoplankton in the Laizhou Bay (SouthBohai); nitrogen was the first, whilst phosphate might be thepotential, nutrient to limit the growth of phytoplankton inthe West Yellow Sea; the Central Yellow Sea was oligotrophicand any one of nitrogen, phosphorus and silicon would limitthe growth of phytoplankton; and silicon was confirmed not tolimit the growth of phytoplankton, although the silicate concentrationdecreased acutely, in the Laizhou Bay. Moreover, the ratio ofnitrogen to phosphorus in phytoplankton uptake was smaller thanthat in seawater, which suggested that phosphorus was preferentiallyused before nitrogen by the phytoplankton. The preference ofphosphorus over nitrogen indicates a further limitation of phosphorusin the Laizhou Bay, and increases the high possibility thatphosphorus, rather than nitrogen, is the first nutrient to limitthe growth of phytoplankton in the West Yellow Sea. Half-saturationconstants (K_s) of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) and phosphatein the Bohai and Yellow Sea were 1.80 µM and 0.13 µM,respectively. Compared with other sea areas, the K_s value ofDIN in the Bohai and Yellow Sea was located at the high endof the spectrum.     

Performance of the Redfield Ratio and a Family of Nutrient Limitation Indicators as Thresholds for Phytoplankton N vs. P Limitation

We aim to define the best nutrient limitation indicator predicting phytoplankton biomass increase as a result of nutrient enrichment (N, P, or both). We compare the abilities of different indicators, based on chemical measurements of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) fractions in the initial plankton community, to predict the limiting factor for phytoplankton growth as inferred independently from short-term laboratory experiments on the same natural communities in a data set from NE Baltic Sea (Tamminen and Andersen, Mar Ecol Prog Ser 340:121–138, 2007). The best indicators had a true positive rate of about 80% for predicting both N and P limitation, but with a higher false positive rate for N than for P limitation (25 vs. 5%). Estimated threshold ratios for total nutrients (TN:TP) were substantially higher than the Redfield ratio, reflecting the relatively high amounts of biologically less available dissolved organic N in the study area. The best overall performing indicator, DIN:TP, had chlorophyll-response based threshold ratios far below Redfield, with N limitation below 2:1 and P limitation above 5:1 (by atoms). On the contrary, particulate N:P ratio was the overall worst predictor for N or P limitation, with values clustering around the Redfield N:P ratio (16:1, by atoms) independent of the limiting factor. Estimated threshold ratios based on inorganic nutrients (DIN:DIP) and so-called biologically available nutrients (BAN:BAP = (PON + DIN):(POP + DIP)) were also generally clearly above 16:1, indicating that the Redfield ratio rather reflects the transition from N limitation to combined N + P limitation, than to single limitation by P. Coastal systems are complex systems with regard to nutrient dynamics, historically considered to represent the transition from P-limited freshwater to N-limited marine systems. Our analysis shows that rather simple ratios reflect phytoplankton requirement for nutrients. Based on the high prediction performance, analytical considerations, and general data availability, the DIN:TP ratio appears to be the best indicator for inferring in situ N vs. P limitation of phytoplankton from chemical monitoring data.     

Assessing the sensitivity of alpine lakes and ponds to nitrogen deposition in the Canadian Rocky Mountains

To demonstrate the sensitivity of aquatic ecosystems to forecasted increases in nitrogen deposition along the eastern ranges of the Canadian Rocky Mountains, we conducted midsummer limnological surveys of 29 remote alpine lakes and ponds via helicopter in 2007. Chemical analysis of water and in vitro nitrogen-enrichment bioassays of phytoplankton collected from each site were performed to estimate nutrient limitation. Use of a common chemical index for nutrient limitation (total dissolved inorganic nitrogen: total phosphorus; DIN:TP) together with supportive experimental evidence revealed nitrogen limitation in only 14% of the cases. Shallow (≤1 m maximum depth) ponds were more likely to be nitrogen-limited than lakes, especially as the former exhibited a significantly lower mean DIN:TP ratio of 7.4 during the late summer. Chemical and bioassay-based inferences of nitrogen limitation agreed in 74.5% of the cases, owing mainly to evidence of phosphorus limitation of the surveyed lake ecosystems (mean DIN:TP = 18) being supported by nonsignificant responses of their phytoplankton to nitrogen amendment. Our findings reveal that increased nitrogen deposition should not result in immediate widespread eutrophication of the Canadian Rockies; however, certain alpine ponds appeared nitrogen-limited, making them sensitive early indicators of the potential effects of anthropogenic nitrogen deposition in remote mountainous regions.     

Increased nutrient loads from the Changjiang (Yangtze) River have led to increased Harmful Algal Blooms

Based on observations collected during 15 cruises from 2002 to 2007 and on historical data, annual and seasonal variations in dissolved inorganic nutrients in the Changjiang (Yangtze) River estuary and the adjacent area were investigated. The importance of nutrients and nutrient fluxes to Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) in the East China Sea (ECS) was also studied. The results showed an increasing trend in dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) over the past fifty years. The changes in the PO₄-P concentration fluctuated from 1959 to 2000, but the level has been almost stable since then. By contrast, the SiO₃-Si concentrations decreased significantly over the past fifty years. Regarding seasonal variations, nutrients usually exhibited high values during autumn and winter, and the lowest values occurred in mid-summer. A strong positive relationship was observed between the DIN and PO₄-P concentrations and the frequency or scale of HABs, indicating that eutrophication played a crucial role in the occurrence of HABs. As for nutrient fluxes, DIN and PO₄-P fluxes have climbed sharply since 1980. In the ECS, the DIN increased sharply, but PO₄-P concentrations only changed slightly. The increased nutrient discharges, especially DIN, could also have caused the strong increase in the frequency and area of HABs. The areas of hypoxic bottom water off the Changjiang River estuary presented an increasing trend over the past fifty years, which may also be attributable to eutrophication. Changes in the nutrient composition were also investigated in the present study. The N/P ratio increased dramatically over the past fifty years, while the Si/N ratio decreased. The percentage of diatoms decreased from 99% to 73%, while dinoflagellates increased from less than 1% to over 25% during the past fifty years. Therefore, long-term changes in nutrients, especially excess DIN and increasing N/P, could be responsible for the shift in the phytoplankton community structure.