白令海光合浮游生物现存量和初级生产力

2003年7~9月中国第2次北极科学考察在北太平洋和白令海的BR断面和白令海峡南口门的BS断面的初夏和夏末两航段进行叶绿素-a浓度和初级生产力的现场观测。结果表明,BR断面表层叶绿素-a浓度为0·199~1·170μg/dm3,平均值为(0·723±0·283)μg/dm3;水深10~30m次表层的叶绿素-a浓度明显高于真光层下的深层水。水柱平均叶绿素-a浓度呈现明显的区域性特征,白令陆架区>白令陆坡区>阿留申海盆区>北太平洋西部海域。BS断面叶绿素-a浓度高于BR断面,夏末的平均浓度((5·311±5·656)μg/dm3)是初夏浓度((1·605±1·194)μg/dm3)的3.3倍,是BR断面平均浓度的7·5倍。观测站真光层内初级生产力在0·471~19·046mgC/(m3·h),陆架海域的初级生产力明显高于陆坡和海盆区,BS断面的平均初级生产力比BR断面高约12倍。观测站光合作用同化数在0·45~2·80mgC/(mgChla·h)。     

1998／1999年南极普里兹湾邻近海域浮游植物的分布特征

中国第 1 5次南大洋考察从普里兹湾邻近海域获得 2 5个测站的浮游植物样品 ,主要研究了其种类组成、分布及其与环境的关系。浮游植物有 5门 1 6科 2 1属 48种 (变种和变型 ) ,浮游植物平均细胞密度为 2 2 .46× 1 0 3个 /dm3,其中以硅藻类占优势 (84.51 % )。浮游植物分布以近海岸陆架区的细胞密度最高 (4 6 .0 3× 1 0 3个 /dm3) ,其次为陆坡 (4 .40× 1 0 3个 /dm3) ,深海区最低 (3.34× 1 0 3个 /dm3)。表层叶绿素a浓度为 0 .1 6～ 3.99μg/dm3,普里兹湾内和湾西部四女士浅滩海域浓度在 3.5μg/dm3以上 ;平面分布趋势浓度从湾内向西北方向递减 ,深海区浓度在 0 .5μg/dm3以下。浮游植物优势种为硅藻的短拟脆杆藻 (Fragilariopsiscurta)。浮游植物垂直分布密集区位于 0～ 50m水层 ,1 0 0m或 1 0 0m以下水层随深度的增加而细胞密度逐渐减少 ,2 0 0m水层稀少或未见。其密集区位于普里兹湾近岸陆架区 ,而陆坡及深海区细胞密度显著减少。叶绿素a浓度的最大值同样分布在 2 5m或 50m层 ,50m以下的浓度随深度的增加而降低 ,2 0 0m层叶绿素a浓度分布范围为 0 .0 1～ 0 .95μg/dm3。粒径分级叶绿素a浓度以微小型浮游生物的贡献占优势 (56 % ) ,微型浮游生物的贡献占 2 4% ,微微型浮游生物的贡献占 2 0 %。经回     

1998/1999年南极普里兹湾邻近海域浮游植物的分布特征

中国第15次南大洋考察从普里兹湾邻近海域获得25个测站的浮游植物样品,主要研究了其种类组成、分布及其与环境的关系.浮游植物有5门16科21属48种(变种和变型),浮游植物平均细胞密度为22.46×103个/dm3,其中以硅藻类占优势(84.51%).浮游植物分布以近海岸陆架区的细胞密度最高(46.03×103个/dm3),其次为陆坡(4.40×103个/dm3),深海区最低(3.34×103个/dm3).表层叶绿素a浓度为0.16～3.99 μg/dm3,普里兹湾内和湾西部四女士浅滩海域浓度在3.5 μg/dm3以上;平面分布趋势浓度从湾内向西北方向递减,深海区浓度在0.5 μg/dm3以下.浮游植物优势种为硅藻的短拟脆杆藻(Fragilariopsis curta).浮游植物垂直分布密集区位于0～50 m水层,100 m或100 m以下水层随深度的增加而细胞密度逐渐减少,200 m水层稀少或未见.其密集区位于普里兹湾近岸陆架区,而陆坡及深海区细胞密度显著减少.叶绿素a浓度的最大值同样分布在25 m或50 m层,50 m以下的浓度随深度的增加而降低,200 m层叶绿素a浓度分布范围为0.01～0.95 μg/dm3.粒径分级叶绿素a浓度以微小型浮游生物的贡献占优势(56%),微型浮游生物的贡献占24%,微微型浮游生物的贡献占20%.经回归统计分析,浮游植物细胞丰度(y)与水温(T)、盐度成正相关,与营养盐(PO4 (P)、NO-3 (N)、SiO3 (Si))成显著负相关.     

抚仙湖叶绿素a的生态分布特征

2001年5月、8月和9月,对云南抚仙湖水体、沉积物、沉积物与水界面的叶绿素a,浮游植物的优势种类、细胞密度的分布和时空变化及其与环境因子的关系进行了研究。采用分光光度法测定叶绿素a浓度。结果表明,水体叶绿素a浓度的分布存在着明显的季节变化,真光层中的动态变化尤其显著,且光照强度对水体中叶绿素a浓度的分布起主导作用。在观测的3个不同季节中,表层叶绿素a浓度,秋季最高,平均为(2.27±0.12)μg/dm3;春季次之,为(1.85±0.20)μg/dm3;夏季最低,为(1.38±0.15)μg/dm3。分析水体中营养元素的分布特征及其与叶绿素a之间的关系,表明磷是抚仙湖浮游植物生长的主要限制因子。沉积物叶绿素a浓度的垂直分布存在明显差异,其浓度在表层和次表层较高,并随沉积深度的增加而降低;浮游植物的分析表明,硅藻门的小环藻是抚仙湖沉积物中叶绿素a的主要来源。而上覆水中叶绿素a浓度与真光层叶绿素a浓度相当的原因,则可能是由水底微型藻类的再悬浮和浮游植物的沉降聚集而导致的。     

春季季风转换期间孟加拉湾的初级生产力

2010年中国科学院东北印度洋科学考察期间,对孟加拉湾水域初级生产力展开了研究.孟加拉湾表层水体的水温较高,盐度变化范围较大,且上层水体营养盐含量较低,在真光层底部营养盐浓度突然增加.表层叶绿素a浓度较低(＜0.1 mg/m3),叶绿素a最大值常出现在75 m水深处,上层水体浮游植物的生长受氮限制明显.表层潜在初级生产力低于0.2mgcm-3h-1,且初级生产速率在50-75 m出现最大值.水柱中初级生产力变化范围为199-367 mgCm-2d-1,高值出现在88°-89°(E)附近.浮游植物固碳的主要贡献者是微微型浮游生物(＜3 μm),其次是小型浮游生物(＞20 μm)和微型浮游生物(3-20 μm),但表层与75 m水深处固碳浮游植物的结构有一定差异.将孟加拉湾与阿拉伯海初级生产力进行对比,孟加拉湾水体初级生产力显著低于阿拉伯海,且初级生产力的影响因素有着显著的差异.     

獐子岛及邻近海域秋季浮游植物的粒级结构及其影响因素

于2015年10月对獐子岛及邻近海域进行了航次调查,研究了獐子岛及邻近海域浮游植物粒级结构的空间分布特征及其环境影响因素。结果表明,秋季表层总叶绿素a、小型(20μm)、微型(2—20μm)和微微型(0.45—2μm)浮游植物叶绿素a浓度的范围分别为0.52—1.25、0.03—0.81、0.33—0.91、0—0.09μg/L,平均叶绿素a的浓度分别为0.76、0.19、0.53、0.03μg/L,对叶绿素a总量的贡献率分别为23.77%、72.26%和3.98%;底层总叶绿素a、小型(20μm)和微型(2—20μm)浮游植物叶绿素a浓度的范围分别为0.14—1.5、0.04—1.04、0.08—0.47μg/L,平均叶绿素a的浓度分别为0.46、0.22、0.24μg/L,对叶绿素a总量的贡献率分别为41.46%、58.50%。从垂直分布上来看,总叶绿素a浓度垂直变化为,表层底层;小型浮游植物垂直分布较为均匀;微型浮游植物垂直变化为,表层底层;微微型浮游植物垂直变化为,表层底层,且在表、底层均保持较低水平。秋季表层微型浮游植物(2—20μm)浓度与盐度呈正相关。底层总叶绿素a浓度与磷酸盐浓度呈正相关,小型浮游植物(20μm)浓度与磷酸盐和硅酸盐浓度均表现为正相关,微型浮游植物(2—20μm)浓度与温度呈正相关。统计分析结果表明,温度、盐度、磷酸盐及硅酸盐浓度是影响獐子岛及邻近海域秋季浮游植物粒级结构变动的重要因素。     

夏季西南印度洋叶绿素a分布特征

分析了2011年1月西南印度洋叶绿素a的分布特征及其粒级结构,并结合水动力学环境和营养盐数据探讨了其主要影响因素。结果表明,西南印度洋副热带涡流(IOSG)区表层叶绿素a浓度较低,不超过0.07 mg/m3,次表层叶绿素a浓度最大值所在水层较深,超过100 m;副热带聚集区(SCZ)表层叶绿素a浓度较高(0.164—0.247 mg/m3),次表层叶绿素a浓度最大值出现在50—70 m层。硝酸盐是该海区浮游植物生长的主要限制因素。微微型(pico)粒级的浮游植物占绝对优势,所有站位其对总叶绿素a的平均贡献率为71.1%,微型(nano)粒级次之(24.2%),小型(net)粒级所占比例最小(4.7%),其中IOSG区pico粒级对总叶绿素a的平均贡献率为77.9%,SCZ的pico粒级对总叶绿素a的平均贡献率为66.7%。IOSG区和SCZ海区之间水动力学环境的不同,可能导致了这两个海区叶绿素a的分布特征及粒级结构的较大差异。     

獐子岛海域冬季分级叶绿素a的分布特征及其影响因素

于2016年1月对獐子岛海域进行了航次调查,研究了獐子岛海域浮游植物粒级结构的空间分布特征及其环境影响因素。结果表明:冬季表层总叶绿素a、小型(20μm)、微型(2~20μm)和微微型(0.45~2μm)浮游植物叶绿素a浓度的范围分别为0.24~0.92、0.15~0.58、0.09~0.46、0~0.03μg·L-1,平均叶绿素a的浓度分别为0.69、0.36、0.33、0.002μg·L-1,小型、微型和微微型浮游植物对浮游植物总量的贡献率分别为51.72%、48.01%、0.26%;底层总叶绿素a、小型、微型和微微型浮游植物叶绿素a浓度的范围分别为0.29~1.77、0.12~1.45、0.17~0.50、0μg·L-1,平均叶绿素a的浓度分别为0.78、0.43、0.34、0μg·L-1,小型、微型和微微型浮游植物对浮游植物总量的贡献率分别为52.97%、47.03%、0;从垂直分布上来看,表、底层总叶绿素a及两种粒级浮游植物(20μm、2~20μm)的浓度均差异不显著,分布较为均匀;从水平分布上来看,总叶绿素a及两种粒级浮游植物(20μm、2~20μm)浓度的表、底层空间分布趋势相近,均呈现出由獐子岛海域西北部向南部逐渐降低的趋势。RDA分析表明,温度、盐度、溶解氧、颗粒态有机物、NO2--N和NH4+-N是影响獐子岛海域冬季浮游植物粒级结构变动的重要因素。     

东海赤潮高发区春季叶绿素a和初级生产力的分布特征

2002年4-5月对东海海域进行了综合调查,分析了海区叶绿素a和初级生产力的分布特性．结果表明,大面站表层平均叶绿素a浓度为1．086mg·m-3．分级叶绿素a结果显示．春季东海浮游植物以微型和微微型(<20μm)占优势,其对海区叶绿素a的贡献为64％,超微型浮游植物(<5μm)占浮游植物生物量的27％．营养盐分布和浮游动物的摄食压力影响了叶绿素a及其粒级结构的分布．平均初级生产力为10．091mg·m-3·h-1。赤潮跟踪的R-03、RL-01、RG-01站的平均初级生产力为399．984mg·m-3·h-1．光和营养盐成为叶绿素和初级生产力平面分布的主要限制因子．表层叶绿素a和初级生产力均在调查海区的123·E纵断面冲淡区产生高值区．DC-11站浮游植物生物量异常高,表层叶绿素a达到9．082mg·m-3,初级生产力为128．79mg·m-3·h-1．但并未出现水色异常．     

三亚湾秋、冬季浮游植物和细菌的生物量分布特征及其与环境因子的关系

分别于2004年10月(秋季)和2005年1月(冬季)对三亚湾进行了现场综合调查,研究了海区浮游植物和细菌生物量的分布特征,探讨了它们与DIN、PO34-、DO、BOD5等环境因子的关系。结果表明,海区平均叶绿素a浓度秋、冬季分别为:(1·40±0·78)mg/m3和(2·25±3·62)mg/m3;浮游植物生物量秋季为:(70·36±38·91)mgC/m3,冬季为:(112·57±181·38)mgC/m3。海区细菌的丰度秋、冬季分别为:(9·87±5·90)×108cells/L和(6·58±2·43)×108cells/L;平均细菌生物量秋季为:(19·73±11·81)mgC/m3,冬季为:(13·15±4·86)mgC/m3。表、底层浮游植物和细菌的生物量分布均呈现三亚河口最高,离岸逐渐降低的态势,三亚河的陆源物质输送及其入海扩散是引起此分布特征的主要原因。温度是造成秋季细菌的生物量高于冬季的原因之一。溶解无机氮为控制表层浮游植物和细菌分布的重要因子。秋季除表层DIN外各环境因子与浮游植物和细菌生物量都不存在明显的相关性;冬季表层DIN、PO43-、DO和BOD5均在p<0·01水平下与二者呈非常显著相关,底层仅DIN和BOD5在p<0·01水平下与二者呈非常显著正相关。三亚湾浮游细菌和浮游植物生物量间的相关性明显,初级生产是水域浮游细菌分布的重要影响因素。     

Size-fractionated chlorophyll a and primary productivity in the Chukchi Sea and its northern Chukchi Plateau

Investigations on chlorophyll a and primary productivity were carried out in the Chukchi Sea and its northern Chukchi Plateau during the 2^nd Chinese National Arctic Research Expedition in the summer of 2003. The results showed that chlorophyll a concentrations were 0.009–30.390 μg/dm³ at the surveyed waters; the surface chlorophyll a concentrations were 0.050–4.644 μg/dm³ and the average value was (0.875±0.981) μg/dm³ in the surveyed area. In the Chukchi Sea Shelf, chlorophyll a concentrations at the depth from 10 m to bottom were higher than that in the surface water, and the concentrations were lower at the depth below 75 m in the Chukchi Plateau. Chlorophyll a concentrations descended in 3 sequential samplings on Transect R, with average values of (2.564±1.496) μg/dm³, (1.329±0.882) μg/dm³ and (0.965±0.623) μg/dm³, respectively. The potential primary productivity ((2.305± 1.493) mgC/(m³·h)) in the Chukchi Sea was higher than that ((0.527±0.374) mgC/(m³·h)) in the Chukchi Plateau. The results of the size-fractionated chlorophyll a and primary productivity showed that microplankton accounted for the majority of the total chlorophyll a (63.13%) and primary productivity (65.16%) at the survey stations. The contributions of the nanoplankton and picoplankton to the total chlorophyll a and primary productivity were roughly the same.     

Spatial and temporal photosynthetic compartments during summer in Antarctic Lake Kitiesh

Summary Four autotrophic compartments were recognised in Lake Kitiesh, King George Island (Southern Shetland) at the beginning of the summer in 1987: snow microalgae, ice bubble communities, phytoplankton in the water column and benthic communities of moss with epiphytes. Chlorophyll a concentration and pigment absorption spectra were obtained in these four compartments before and/or after the thawing of the ice cover. During the ice free period, carbon fixation and biomass was measured in the phytoplankton and in the benthic moss Campyliadelphus polygamus. From these measurements we conclude that the benthic moss is the most significant autotrophic component in this lake in terms of biomass, chlorophyll a content and primary productivity. The integral assimilation number (The ratio of carbon fixation per unit area to biomass per unit area) values were similar for both phytoplankton and the moss, ranging from 3.6 to 5.4 mg C (mg Chl a)^–1h^–1in phytoplankton and from 4.0 to 6.4 mgC (mg Chl a)^–1h^–1 in the benthic moss. This approach allows comparisons of carbon fixation efficiency of the chlorophyll a under a unit area between compartments in their different light environments.     

Microbial processes of the carbon and sulfur cycles in the Chukchi Sea

The research performed in August 2004 within the framework of the Russian-American Long-term Census of the Arctic (RUSALCA) resulted in the first data concerning the rates of the key microbial processes in the water column and bottom sediments of the Bering strait and the Chukchi Sea. The total bacterial counts in the water column varied from 30 × 10³ cells ml^?1 in the northern and eastern parts to 245 × 10³ cells ml^?1 in the southern part. The methane content in the water column of the Chukchi sea varied from 8 nmol CH₄l^?1 in the eastern part of the sea to 31 nmol CH₄l^?1 in the northern part of the Herald Canyon. Microbial activity occurred in the upper 0–3 cm of the bottom sediments; the methane formation rate varied from 0.25 to 16 nmol CH₄dm^?3 day^?1. The rates of methane oxidation varied from 1.61 to 14.7 nmol CH₄dm^?3 day^?1. The rates of sulfate reduction varied from 1.35 to 16.2 μmol SO ₄ ^2? dm^?1 day^?1. The rate of methane formation in the sediments increased with depth, while sulfate reduction rates decreased (less than 1 μmol SO ₄ ^2? dm^?3 day^?1). These high concentrations of biogenic elements and high rates of microbial processes in the upper sediment layers suggest a specific type of trophic chain in the Chukchi Sea. The approximate calculated balance of methane emission from the water column into the atmosphere is from 5.4 to 57.3 μmol CH₄m^?2 day^?1.     

Phytoplankton biomass and production in shelf waters off NW Spain: spatial and seasonal variability in relation to upwelling

Summary Chlorophyll-a and primary production on the euphotic zone of the N-NW Spanish shelf were studied at 125 stations between 1984 and 1992. Three geographic areas (Cantabrian Sea, Rías Altas and Was Baixas), three bathymetric ranges (20 to 60 m, 60 to 150 m and stations deeper than 200 m), and four oceanographic stages (spring and autumn blooms, summer upwelling, summer stratification and winter mixing) were considered. One of the major sources of variability of chlorophyll and production data was season. Bloom and summer upwelling stages have equivalent mean and maximum values. Average chlorophyll-a concentrations approximately doubled in every step of the increasing productivity sequence: winter mixing — summer stratification — high productivity (upwelling and bloom) stages. Average primary production rates increased only 60% in the described sequence. Mean (± sd) values of chlorophyll-a and primary production rates during the high productivity stages were 59.7 ± 39.5 mg Chl-a m^–2 and 86.9 ± 44.0 mg C m^–2 h^–1, respectively. Significant differences in both chlorophyll and primary production resulted between geographic areas in most stages. Only 27 stations showed the effects of the summer upwelling that affected coastal areas in the Cantabrian Sea and Rías Baixas shelf, but also shelf-break stations in the Rías Altas area. The Rías Baixas area had lower chlorophyll than both the Rías Altas and the Cantabrian Sea areas during spring and autumn blooms, but higher during summer upwelling events. On the contrary, primary production rates were higher in the Rías Baixas area during blooms in spring and autumn. Mid-shelf areas showed the highest chlorophyll concentrations during high productivity stages, probably due to the existence of frontal zones in all geographic areas considered. The estimated phytoplankton growth rates were comparable to those of other coastal upwelling systems, with average values lower than the maximum potential growth rates. Doubling rates for upwelling and stratification stages in the northern and Rías Altas shelf areas were equivalent, despite larger biomass accumulations during upwelling events. Low turnover rates of the existing biomass in the Rías Baixas shelf in upwelling stages suggests that the accumulation of phytoplankton was due mainly to the export from the highly productive rías, while the contribution of in situ production to these accumulations was relatively lower.     

Links between Geographic Location, Environmental Factors, and Microbial Community Composition in Sediments of the Eastern Mediterranean Sea

The bacterial community composition of marine surface sediments originating from various regions of the Eastern Mediterranean Sea (12 sampling sites) was compared by parallel use of three fingerprinting methods: analysis of 16S rRNA gene fragment heterogeneity by denaturing gradient electrophoresis (DGGE), terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP), and analysis of phospholipid-linked fatty acid composition (PLFA). Sampling sites were located at variable depths (30–2860 m; water column depth above the sediments) and the sediments differed greatly also in their degree of petroleum contamination (0.4–18 μg g⁻¹), organic carbon (0.38–1.5%), and chlorophyll a content (0.01–7.7 μg g⁻¹). Despite a high degree of correlation between the three different community fingerprint methods, some major differences were observed. DGGE banding patterns showed a significant separation of sediment communities from the northern, more productive waters of the Thermaikos Gulf and the oligotrophic waters of the Cretan, S. Ionian, and Levantine Sea. T-RFLP analysis clearly separated the communities of deep sediments (>1494 m depth) from their shallow (<617 m) counterparts. PLFA analysis grouped a shallow station from the productive waters of the north with the deep oligotrophic sediments from the Ionian and Levantine Sea, with low concentrations of PLFAs, and hence low microbial biomass, as the common denominator. The degree of petroleum contamination was not significantly correlated to the apparent composition of the microbial communities for any of the three methods, whereas organic carbon content and sediment chlorophyll a were important in this regard.     

Studies on the primary production of the river Shatt Al-Arab at Basrah,Iraq

The study was conducted on the Shatt Al-Arab River at Basrah, Iraq from September 1976 to August 1977 at three stations located at the upstream, middle and lowest parts of Basrah city. There was a bimodal seasonal variation of chlorophyll-a, the concentration of which ranged between 0.52–3.25 mg/m³. The gross primary production ranged between 6.03–37.02 mgC/m³/hr and showed a unimodal seasonal variation with a maximum in August. From the concentration of chlorophyll-a and from measurement of primary productivity it was clear that the section of the river at the upstream end of Basrah city was poorest and that at the middle of the Basrah city below Ashar Channel was the richest. A positive corelation between primary productivity and chlorophyll-a.     

Surface distribution of size-fractionated chlorophyll a and participate organic matter in the Strait of Magellan

The surface distribution of chlorophyll a (chl a) from size-fractionated phytoplankton and of particulate organic matter was studied along the Strait of Magellan during late austral summer (February 20th to March 2nd, 1991), in order to contribute an outline of the ecological characteristics of its pelagic compartment. Sampling of surface water was carried out at 2.5 mile intervals, yielding 152 sampling points for chl a and 104 for particulate organic carbon (POC). The Strait appeared as a system strongly controlled by land forcing. Its phytoplankton community was dominated by the picoplanktonic fraction along its entire length, with mean chl a concentrations of 0.74 and 1.17 g dm^–3 for pico- and total phytoplankton, respectively. The microphytoplankton never exceeded 0.02 g dm^–3. POC concentrations, with a maximum of 242.5 and a mean of 144.8 g dm^–3, were mainly of autotrophic origin, as indicated by a mean POC:chl a ratio of 138.4.     

Phytoplankton production,biomass and community structure following a summer nutrient pulse in Chesapeake Bay

Unusually high concentrations of NH₄⁺ (up to 10 μM) were observed in the surface waters of polyhaline Chesapeake Bay during July 2000, supporting elevated rates of simulated in situ integrated primary production (4.6 g C m⁻² day⁻¹) and chlorophyll-a (chl-a) specific integrated primary production (56 mg C mg chl-a⁻¹ day⁻¹). These rates were the highest measured in the polyhaline Bay during a 5-year sampling program. Chl-a and the percent contribution of phytoplankton >20 μm to the total phytoplankton increased after the ammonium pulse. We hypothesize that increased wind-driven mixing and a tilting of the pycnocline caused by northeast winds combined to increase the transport of NH₄⁺ from below the pycnocline to the surface water. Summer wind and chl-a data collected in the southern Bay between 1984 and 2000 revealed that chl-a was significantly higher 2 weeks after northeast winds than in years when no northeast wind occurred. Episodic peaks in NH₄⁺ and primary productivity resulting from wind events lasting only a few days are poorly captured by traditional shipboard surveys, but may be detected if sampling is focused on periods when wind forcing favors enhanced NH₄⁺ transport to the surface waters. This process of introduction of NH₄⁺ to the surface water from sediments followed by enhanced primary productivity may help explain some of the phytoplankton blooms that are observed in the polyhaline Bay and other estuaries during summer months.     

Effects of grazing on the quantity and quality of freshwater Aufwuchs

Qualitative and quantitative measures of the Aufwuchs (scum flora) on artificial substrates in situ were used to evaluate the effects of grazing by freshwater pulmonate snails in a shallow pond in southeastern Michigan. Grazer densities of 216 snails/m² marked reduced standing crop so that after 45 days grazed substrata had 6.46 mg dry weight, 604 µg C and 4.18 µg chlorophyll a as compared to controls with 30.62 mg dry weight, 3699 µg C and 6.29 µg chlorophyll a, all on a per dm² basis.Grazing did not change carbon per mg dry matter but caused significant increases in both µg chlorophyll a (control, 0.206; and grazed, 0.649 µg chlorophyll a/mg dry weight, P < 0.01) and nitrogen (control, 8.3; and grazed, 24.2 µg N/mg dry weight, P < 0.001) after 45 days. Both abundance and diversity of the attached community was reduced by grazing from 24 taxa and 80,889 individuals/cm² on control to 8 taxa and 501 individuals/cm² on grazed substrates. Mean productivity of the Aufwuchs was significantly (P < 0.001) reduced by grazing from 76.3 µg C/(dm²·day) on control to 17.7 µg C/(dm²·day) on grazed substrata.Snails were very efficient at clearing smooth surfaces of living cells, detritus, and particulate inorganic matter. There was little evidence of selectivity except for an apparent inability to remove some of the smallest cells (e.g. Cocconeis sp.) probably for mechanical reasons.     

The Planktonic Index of Biotic Integrity (P-IBI): An approach for assessing lake ecosystem health

Using historical (1970) and more recent (1996) Lake Erie plankton and trophic status data, we developed a Planktonic Index of Biotic Integrity (P-IBI) to measure changes in lake ecosystem health. We used discriminant analysis to determine phytoplankton and zooplankton community characteristics (metrics) that distinguished among levels of impairment. Traditional measures of lake trophic status classes (i.e., oligotrophic, mesotrophic, eutrophic), such as chlorophyll a and total phosphorus concentrations, were used to classify sites on a gradient of impairment. We then judged the ability of plankton metrics to distinguish among trophic status classes. Because of the temporal variability found in plankton communities, we conducted analyses on a monthly basis (May–September). For June, July and August we found five unique metrics that could distinguish among trophic status classes. The P-IBI showed an increase in water quality in Lake Erie between 1970 (<3 = eutrophic) and the mid-1990s (1996 and 1997) (3–4 = mesotrophic) (which reflected mean (±standard error) total phosphorus concentrations (μg/L) 1970 > 1996; western basin (41.53 ± 2.68 > 29.75 ± 1.39), eastern basin (14.84 ± 0.82 > 7.74 ± 0.28) and mean (±standard error) chlorophyll a concentrations (μg/L) uncorrected for pheophytin 1970 > 1996; western basin (12.58 ± 1.82 > 5.40 ± 0.22), central basin (5.90 ± 0.36 > 3.17 ± 0.54), and eastern basin (5.17 ± 0.38 > 1.67 ± 0.18)), with declining water quality in the late 1990s (1998 and 1999) (3) and 2002 (<3). We recommend that the techniques used in creating the P-IBI be investigated for determining ecosystem health of other lakes.