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。     

2010年夏季雷州半岛海岸带浮游植物群落结构特征及其与主要环境因子的关系

2010年夏季对雷州半岛海岸带的浮游植物群落结构及相关环境因子进行了调查,结果共检出浮游植物211种(含变种、变型),隶属于7门76属;优势种13种,以广温、广盐沿岸性种和温带沿岸性种为主,群落结构具有亚热带和沿岸性特征。半岛海岸带浮游植物平均种类数和细胞丰度的平面分布,均由近岸往远岸逐渐减少,此外种类数是西南部>西北部>南部>东南部>东北部,细胞丰度则东北部>南部>西南部>西北部>东南部。除了东北部海岸带,多样性指数和均匀度平均值分别低于3及0.7外,其他海岸带均高于此值,物种非常丰富。相关分析表明:浮游植物种类数与水温、Si/P呈极显著的正相关,与SiO23--Si、Si/N呈显著的正相关,与NO-2-N、PO34--P呈极显著的负相关,与盐度、pH值等不存在统计学意义上的相关性;浮游植物细胞丰度与pH值、叶绿素a、DO、NO-2-N呈极显著的正相关,与盐度呈极显著的负相关,与水温、NO-3-N等不存在统计学意义上的相关性;浮游植物种类数与细胞丰度之间也不存在统计学意义上的相关性。根据浮游植物生物学指标对雷州半岛海岸带的富营养化程度进行现状评价表明:雷州半岛海岸带水质营养类型属于中-贫营养型,而根据营养盐指标评价雷州半岛海岸带水质则总体上为氮限制中度营养或氮限制潜在性富营养化水平。     

浙江近海海域浮游病毒和异养细菌的时空分布

为了解浙江近海海域浮游病毒和异养细菌的时空生态分布, 于2014 年11 月(秋)、2015 年1 月(冬)、2015 年5 月(春)和2015 年7 月(夏)连续4 个季节采集了浙江近海海域表层海水样品, 采用流式细胞仪技术对样品浮游病毒和异养细菌丰度进行了检测, 对其时空分布特征及与环境因子的相关性做了分析。从水平分布来看, 在4 个季节中浮游病毒、异养细菌丰度均为宁波、沈家门、岱山等沿岸海域站位的丰度低, 远陆海域东极和枸杞站位的丰度高。从季节变化来看, 浮游病毒、异养细菌丰度的季节分布特征同为夏>春>秋>冬, 相关性分析结果表明, 春、夏、秋、冬4 个季节, 浮游病毒丰度与异养细菌丰度均为显著正相关。浮游病毒丰度在春、秋、冬季节均与病毒/细菌比值(VBR)显著正相关; 夏、秋季节均与盐度显著正相关; 春、夏季节均与总磷显著负相关; 春季分别于与溶解氧、pH、化学耗氧量(COD)显著正相关。异养细菌在春、秋、冬季节均与VBR 显著正相关; 春、夏季节与溶解氧显著正相关, 冬季与溶解氧显著负相关; 春、夏季节与总磷显著负相关; 秋、冬季节均与温度、盐度显著正相关; 春、冬季节均与COD 显著正相关。     

长江口及邻近海域夏、冬季浮游病毒丰度分布

应用荧光显微计数法,对2006年夏季和2007年冬季长江口浮游病毒丰度(virus direct count,VDC)进行了检测.结果表明:夏季该海域VDC在2.22×106～9.97×107个·ml-1,高值分布在近海B区(122.5°-123.5°E)的表层海域;冬季VDC在1.99×106～2.66×107个·ml-1,高值分布在近岸A区(120.5°-122.5°E)海域,且由近岸向外海逐渐降低.夏季VDC与浮游细菌生物量、叶绿素含量关系密切,与营养盐相关性不显著(P＞0.05);冬季VDC与浮游细菌、营养盐含量关系密切,与叶绿素a含量相关性不显著(P＞0.05).夏季VDC显著高于冬季(P＜0.01),且两季的分布特征存在不同,此种差异主要与浮游细菌、浮游植物等病毒寄主的分布有关.冬季的营养盐含量也是影响其浮游病毒分布的重要因素.     

南海北部夏季基础生物生产力分布特征及影响因素

2008年夏季对南海北部不同海区的基础生物生产力(初级生产力及细菌生产力)进行了调查。结果表明,表层初级生产力(C)和真光层水柱初级生产力平均值(C)分别为(0.83±1.15)mg·m-·3h-1和(225.39±136.64)mg·m-·2d-1;表层细菌生产力(C)和真光层水柱细菌生产力平均值(C)分别为(0.14±0.19)mg·m-·3h-1和(128.14±74.86)mg·m-·2d-1。基础生产力的平面分布整体呈由近岸向深海降低的趋势,同时在西沙群岛邻近水域存在一个基础生物生产力的高值区。与环境因子的相关分析表明,温度、营养盐不是影响南海细菌生产力的主要因素,细菌生产力与浮游植物生物量及初级生产过程密切相关IBP:IPP比平均值为(67.55±37.13)%。与细菌生产力的分布规律不同,IBP:IPP比值在深海海域明显高于近岸水域,在吕宋海峡附近水域发现了IBP:IPP100%的高比值区,说明异养细菌在南海寡营养海域碳循环体系中的重要生态作用。     

南海北部海域春季浮游细菌和病毒空间分布及其影响因素

应用流式细胞检测技术测定了2014年春季南海北部海域浮游细菌和病毒丰度,研究了其水平和垂直分布特征并对其与环境因子的相关性进行了分析。结果表明,调查海区浮游细菌和病毒丰度分别介于1.28×10~4—9.96×10~5个/m L和4.69×10~5—5.39×10~7个/m L之间,二者丰度随水深的增加基本呈现逐渐下降的趋势,而水平分布趋势不明显。浮游细菌和病毒丰度与温度、p H和溶解氧显著正相关,与水深、盐度、活性磷酸盐、硅酸盐、硝酸盐和总氮则呈显著负相关关系(P0.01),说明该海域细菌和病毒数量受到上述环境因子的共同调控。分析浮游细菌和病毒的相互关系发现,VBR(Virus to bacteria ratio)平均32.23,最小值位于S11站位25m层,最大值则位于S7站位75m层,分别为4.80和264.63,VBR值小于100的站位占到调查站位总数的95.6%。VBR值除与细菌呈显著负相关关系外(P0.01),与其它环境因子相关性不明显(P0.05),说明该海区细菌是病毒的主要寄主,病毒可能主要是以噬菌体的状态存在。     

南海北部浮游植物生长对营养盐的响应

2004年夏季作者在南海北部海域研究了浮游植物生长的营养动力学,结合物理-化学过程对浮游植物生物量分布的影响与机制进行了研究,阐明了水平对流和中尺度涡对营养盐分布的影响及浮游植物生长和现存生物量对其的响应。受西南季风和东向沿岸流作用所形成的Ekman输送的影响,南海北部海岸带表层海水作离岸运动,使深层富含营养盐的冷水爬坡涌升到表层来补充,激发浮游植物生物量迅速增长。海区反气旋涡使海水辐聚下沉,造成水体具高温、低盐、高溶解氧浓度、低营养盐浓度和低浮游植物生物量。同时通过现场营养盐加富试验,发现该海域营养盐是浮游植物生长的主要限制因子,而且是多种营养元素共同限制了浮游植物的生长,添加单一的营养盐并不能促进浮游植物的生长。在生物量出现增长的试验组中,营养盐添加不仅促使浮游植物生物量的增长,而且也改变了浮游植物的粒级结构和群落结构。例如,在站S1008,培养前叶绿素a浓度为0.28 mg.m-3,加富培养60 h后浮游植物生物量在NP和NPSi的试验组中有显著的增加,叶绿素a浓度分别达1.07 mg.m-3和1.19 mg.m-3;培养前粒度分级叶绿素a主要以Pico级份占优势,而加富试验结束后,在NP和NPSi的试验组以Nano级份占优势,其它试验组仍以Pico级份占优势;同时,在培养后生物量出现增长的试验组,浮游植物群落的优势类群从甲藻向硅藻演替。     

博斯腾湖浮游植物群落结构特征及其影响因子分析

2011年对博斯腾湖大湖区17个采样站位的浮游植物及水体主要理化因子进行了4次系统调查。结果表明, 在17个站位共鉴定出浮游植物127种（属）, 其中优势种（属）9种。浮游植物群落全年均以硅藻为主导, 冬、春季节, 浮游植物组成呈硅藻-甲藻型, 优势类群主要为贫-中营养型浮游藻类, 到夏、秋季节逐渐形成硅藻-绿藻型, 以富营养型的浮游藻类为优势类群。浮游植物总平均生物量为（2.512.95） mg/L, 生物量季节变动显著, 峰值出现在夏季, 冬季最低。基于Canoco的多变量分析表明: 环境变量共解释了浮游植物群落总变异的54.5%, 水温是影响浮游植物分布最重要的环境因子, 其次为枝角类丰度。水中氮含量是影响浮游植物丰度的主要因子, 同时浮游植物对水体有机物含量也有较大的影响。       

广西防城港湾周年浮游植物生态特征

2007年3、6、9和12月,对防城港湾海域浮游植物的种类组成、优势种类、群落结构、丰度分布进行了调查,分析了浮游植物丰度、生物指数及其与环境因子的相关性.共鉴定出浮游植物54属138种.其中硅藻门37属112种;甲藻门12属21种;绿藻门和金藻门各2种,蓝藻门1种.全年浮游植物优势种主要为硅藻门的中肋骨条藻.浮游植物种数呈现湾内低于湾外、由春至冬减少的趋势,浮游植物细胞丰度则呈由湾内向湾外递减的趋势.不同季节调查海区浮游植物细胞丰度平面分布格局具有显著差异,夏季(6月)浮游植物丰度最高,达151.39×104 cells·dm-3,冬季(12月)丰度最低,为0.35×104 cells·dm-3.春季防城港湾海域的浮游植物多样性较高,物种较丰富.相关性分析表明,浮游植物群落分布与营养盐、水温、盐度等环境因子存在一定的相关性.西湾内的S1和S2测站,受防城江径流及潮汐等水动力条件的作用,盐度较低,富营养化程度较高,夏季时中肋骨条藻会大量增殖,甚至具有发生赤潮的隐患.     

大亚湾基础生物生产力及潜在渔业生产量评估

通过对大亚湾海域初级生产力及浮游动物次级生产力的现场调查数据,对该海域潜在渔业生产量及最大可持续渔获量进行了评估。结果表明,大亚湾春季及秋季初级生产力平均值分别为765.23 mgC.m-2.d-1和1786.33 mgC.m-2.d-1,浮游动物次级生产力春季及秋季平均值分别为175 mgC.m-2.d-1和679 mgC.m-2.d-1。采用Tait模式和Cushing模式估算的大亚湾潜在渔业产量分别为3.30万吨和4.78万吨。数据分析结果表明,基于基础生物生产力的评估方法很可能高估了该海区的实际渔业产量,这与基础生物群落结构的改变密切相关;高生物多样性及生态系统结构与功能的健康性是维持渔业资源产量与质量的重要基础。     

The relationship between phytoplankton distribution and water column characteristics in North West European shelf sea waters

Phytoplankton underpin the marine food web in shelf seas, with some species having properties that are harmful to human health and coastal aquaculture. Pressures such as climate change and anthropogenic nutrient input are hypothesized to influence phytoplankton community composition and distribution. Yet the primary environmental drivers in shelf seas are poorly understood. To begin to address this in North Western European waters, the phytoplankton community composition was assessed in light of measured physical and chemical drivers during the "Ellett Line" cruise of autumn 2001 across the Scottish Continental shelf and into adjacent open Atlantic waters. Spatial variability existed in both phytoplankton and environmental conditions, with clear differences not only between on and off shelf stations but also between different on shelf locations. Temperature/salinity plots demonstrated different water masses existed in the region. In turn, principal component analysis (PCA), of the measured environmental conditions (temperature, salinity, water density and inorganic nutrient concentrations) clearly discriminated between shelf and oceanic stations on the basis of DIN:DSi ratio that was correlated with both salinity and temperature. Discrimination between shelf stations was also related to this ratio, but also the concentration of DIN and DSi. The phytoplankton community was diatom dominated, with multidimensional scaling (MDS) demonstrating spatial variability in its composition. Redundancy analysis (RDA) was used to investigate the link between environment and the phytoplankton community. This demonstrated a significant relationship between community composition and water mass as indexed by salinity (whole community), and both salinity and DIN:DSi (diatoms alone). Diatoms of the Pseudo-nitzschia seriata group occurred at densities potentially harmful to shellfish aquaculture, with the potential for toxicity being elevated by the likelihood of DSi limitation of growth at most stations and depths.     

太湖沉积物微生物生物量及其与碳、氮、磷的相关性

对太湖沉积物中微生物生物量碳(MBc)、氮(MBN)、磷(MBp),以及沉积物总有机碳(TOC)、总氮(TN)、总磷(TP)进行测定并进行相关性分析,揭示太湖沉积物微生物对太湖沉积物营养盐的响应及反馈特征.结果表明:沉积物微生物生物量(MB)在湖体沿岸地区大于湖心区,平均值为184.66 mg·kg-1,MBc在西部沿岸区以及竺山湾和梅梁湾区域较高,平均值为127.57 mg·kg-1;MBN在梅梁湾、贡湖部分区域以及靠近梅梁湾和贡湖的湖心区域和东部沿岸区较高,平均值为19.25 mg·kg-1;MBp在东部沿岸区及其附近的湖心区最高,平均值为19.09 mg·kg-1;沉积物TOC高值区(≥2.30 g· kg-1)主要集中在竺山湾、西部沿岸区、梅梁湾、贡湖地区,平均值为1.59 g·kg-1;沉积物TN高值区(≥0.30g· kg-1)主要集中在贡湖、梅梁湾、竺山湾部分地区以及西部沿岸区,平均值为0.21 g·kg-1;沉积物TP高值区(≥1.20g·kg-1)主要集中在东部沿岸区以及湖心部分区域,平均值为0.55 g·kg-1;太湖沉积物TOC/TN在7～19,平均值为8.97,表明太湖沉积物中的有机质具有明显的双重来源,其中陆源有机质主要集中在西部沿岸区;太湖沉积物MB与沉积物TOC和TN呈显著正相关,与沉积物TP相关性不显著;沉积物MBc/MBN与沉积物TOC/TN显著相关.太湖沉积物微生物主要受沉积物TOC、TN影响,且沉积物TOC/TN的变化显著影响微生物群落结构.     

Phytoplankton distribution and production along a wide environmental gradient in the South-West Atlantic off Uruguay

We investigated phytoplankton biomass, assemblage structure and production along an environmental gradient to evaluate if chlorophyll-a (as proxy for biomass) and primary production peaked under conditions hypothesised to favour phytoplankton growth. During Spring 2003, a wide area from shallow estuarine waters to the shelf slope off the Río de la Plata was sampled and routine measurements included CTD profiles, nutrients, chlorophyll-a, phytoplankton composition and abundance, seston and organic matter loads, downwelling light and, at selected stations, production versus irradiance experiments. Spatial differences in abiotic variables suggested distinct hydrographic zones that differed in phytoplankton biomass and productivity. Chlorophyll-a was highest under estuarine influence and peaked at low salinity when strong stratification developed in the outer estuary, and was minimum at the shelf break and slope. In that area, however, relatively high chlorophyll-a was associated to oceanographic fronts and to the occurrence of Sub Antarctic water within the photic depth range. Productivity was maximum in shallow waters, but biomass-specific productivity peaked at the outer shelf in oceanographic fronts or in upwelled Sub Antarctic waters. Over shelf and slope waters productivity and biomass were not tightly coupled, as indicated by situations of high biomass and low productivity (Station 9), low biomass and high productivity (Station 10), or both high biomass and productivity (Station 22). Ordination analysis of phytoplankton taxa suggested that assemblages changed gradually along the environmental gradient and correlated to abiotic variables defining geographic zones. Overall results were consistent with an interpretation that phytoplankton biomass and growth were modulated by light in estuarine and coastal waters, and by hydrographic processes on the continental shelf and slope. Handling editor: Luigi Naselli-Flores     

Protozooplankton in the Weddell Sea,Antarctica: Abundance and distribution in the ice-edge zone

Summary Protozooplankton were sampled in the iceedge zone of the Weddell Sea during the austral spring of 1983 and the austral autumn of 1986. Protozooplankton biomass was dominated by flagellates and ciliates. Other protozoa and micrometazoa contributed a relatively small fraction to the heterotrophic biomass. During both cruises protozoan biomass, chlorophyll a concentrations, phytoplankton production and bacterial biomass and production were low at ice covered stations. During the spring cruise, protozooplankton, phytoplankton, and bacterioplankton reached high concentrations in a welldeveloped ice edge bloom 100 km north of the receding ice edge. During the autumn cruise, the highest concentrations of biomass were in open water well-separated from the ice edge. Integrated protozoan biomass was <12% of the biomass of phytoplankton during the spring cruise and in the autumn the percentages at some stations were >20%. Bacterial biomass exceeded protozooplankton biomass at ice covered stations but in open water stations during the fall cruise, protozooplankton biomass reached twice that of bacteria in the upper 100m of the water column. The biomass of different protozoan groups was positively correlated with primary production, chlorophyll a concentrations and bacterial production and biomass, suggesting that the protozoan abundances were largely controlled by prey availability and productivity. Population grazing rates calculated from clearance rates in the literature indicated that protozooplankton were capable of consuming significant portions of the daily phyto- and bacterioplankton production.     

Seasonal and Diel Variability in Dissolved DNA and in Microbial Biomass and Activity in a Subtropical Estuary

Dissolved DNA and microbial biomass and activity parameters were measured over a 15-month period at three stations along a salinity gradient in Tampa Bay, Fla. Dissolved DNA showed seasonal variation, with minimal values in December and January and maximal values in summer months (July and August). This pattern of seasonal variation followed that of particulate DNA and water temperature and did not correlate with bacterioplankton (direct counts and [³H]thymidine incorporation) or phytoplankton (chlorophyll a and ¹⁴CO₂ fixation) biomass and activity. Microautotrophic populations showed maxima in the spring and fall, whereas microheterotrophic activity was greatest in late summer (September). Both autotrophic and heterotrophic microbial activity was greatest at the high estuarine (low salinity) station and lowest at the mouth of the bay (high salinity station), irrespective of season. Dissolved DNA carbon and phosphorus constituted 0.11 ± 0.05% of the dissolved organic carbon and 6.6 ± 6.5% of the dissolved organic phosphorus, respectively. Strong diel periodicity was noted in dissolved DNA and in microbial activity in Bayboro Harbor during the dry season. A noon maximum in primary productivity was followed by an 8 p.m. maximum in heterotrophic activity and a midnight maximum in dissolved DNA. This diel periodicity was less pronounced in the wet season, when microbial parameters were strongly influenced by episodic inputs of freshwater. These results suggest that seasonal and diel production of dissolved DNA is driven by primary production, either through direct DNA release by phytoplankton, or more likely, through growth of bacterioplankton on phytoplankton exudates, followed by excretion and lysis.     

Decadal weakening of the wind-induced upwelling reduces the impact of nutrient pollution in the Bay of Málaga (western Mediterranean Sea)

The hypothesis that nitrate versus phosphate regulates the coastal primary production has been assessed at different time scales in the northwest Alboran Sea. Time series of temperature, salinity, nutrients and chlorophyll a obtained at three stations located off Málaga city (the greatest coastal urban core along the Alboran Sea shoreline) from 1992 to 2006 have been analysed. At the decadal scale, temperature increased linearly while salinity decreased. These changes were related to a shift in the wind regime suggesting that coastal upwelling became steadily weaker. In contrast to phosphate, nitrate was positively correlated with salinity at the seasonal scale and decreased linearly from 1992 to 2006. Seasonal and decadal changes in chlorophyll a were correlated with nitrate (and uncorrelated with phosphate). However, non-regular variability in chlorophyll a was correlated with phosphate. Consequently, the results demonstrate that nitrate controls the phytoplankton biomass at the inter-annual scale while both nitrate and phosphate do so at a shorter time scale. The Bay of Málaga receives elevated entries of domestic waste waters that release high loads of phosphate compared to nitrate. Our analysis indicates that the expected impact of this pollution on chlorophyll a at the inter-annual scale is reduced in comparison with the effects of atmospheric forcing.     

Plankton distribution across a slope current-induced front in the southern Bay of Biscay

Relatively warm (12.50–12.75°C) and high-salinity[<35.640 practical salinity units (PSU)] water flowing eastwardwas detected at the shelf-break during a cruise carried Outin the southern Bay of Biscay in Spring 1987. The slope currentinduced the formation of a convergent front separating well-mixedoceanic waters from haline-stratified coastal waters. Very highconcentrations of dissolved oxygen (295 µmol kg^–1)and chlorophyll a(>4.5 mg m^–3) were found at the outeredge of the frontal boundary. Small autotrophic flagellatesdominated the phytoplankton community. Primary production peakedat the boundary region. Estimated phytoplankton growth ratesindicated that active growth was taking place, with lower turnovertimes integrated over the water column at the frontal station(2.5–5 days) than at coastal (1.5–2.8 days) or oceanic(1.5–3.5 days) stations. The lowest doubling times (1–2days) were calculated for surface frontal populations. Accumulationof zooplankton was also observed associated with the convergentphysical structure, although this relationship was less markedthan for phytoplankton. Copepods, mainly Paracalanus parvus,Acartia clausi and Oithona helgolandica, formed the bulk ofthe mesozooplankton biomass. Compatibility between the sizeof phytoplankton cells and copepod size spectra indicate highfood availability for these animals, particularly in the vicinityof the front. The distribution of fish eggs and fish larvaewas also coupled with the slope current-induced front. Sardinelarvae were more abundant at the coastal side of the front,whereas larval stages of blue whiting reached the highest densitiesat off-shelf stations. Larvae of lamellibranch molluscs andbryozoa were restricted to nearshore waters, as the frontalboundary prevented larval dispersion to the open ocean. Theresults presented in this paper suggest that the Iberian slopecurrent and its associated shelf-break frontal structure werecrucial in controlling phytoplankton primary production, activityof grazers, distribution of larvae of fishes and benthic invertebrates,and ultimately in determining the structure of the pelagic foodweb in the southern Bay of Biscay during the seasonal periodof vertical mixing.     

Seasonal changes in percentages of attached bacteria enumerated in a tidal and a stagnant coastal basin: relation to bacterioplankton productivity

Abstract As part of an extensive ecosystem study, the fate of the bacterioplankton community was followed in the tidal Oosterschelde basin and in the stagnant but saline Lake Grevelingen, The Netherlands. At regular intervals, bacterioplankton biomass, percentages of bacteria attached to particles, bacterioplankton productivity and oxygen consumption rates, together with a number of environmental parameters, were determined. With respect to biomass, productivity and oxygen consumption rates, no significant differences were observed between the two coastal basins. However, the mean percentages of attached bacteria were high in the tidal Oosterschelde basin compared to the stagnant Lake Grevelingen. This could be explained by the observed difference in amounts of colonizable particles. On an annual basis, however, the percentages of attached bacteria were not significantly correlated with the amounts of suspended particles at the sampling stations. A significant, but negative correlation was found between the percentages of attached bacteria and the bacterioplankton productivities at the sampling stations. A probable mechanism for such a negative correlation is discussed.
By size fractionation experiments, bacterioplankton contribution to overall oxygen consumption rates was determined. These contributions amounted to 58% and 94% in spring and winter, respectively. From specific bacterioplankton dissimilation and assimilation rates, mean bacterioplankton carbon conversion coefficients of 26% and 6% were calculated in spring and winter, respectively. These percentages are discussed in the light of probable seasonal differences in the supply of substrates for the bacterioplankton community.     

Statistical analysis of phytoplankton biomass in coastal waters: Case study of the Wadden Sea near Lauwersoog (The Netherlands) from 2000 to 2009

As the most important indicator of the coastal ecosystem, various studies on phytoplankton have frequently been proposed in coastal waters. In this study, the statistical analysis of phytoplankton biomass (in terms of chlorophyll a) is performed in the Wadden Sea near Lauwersoog (53.4167° N, 6.2000° E), The Netherlands, determined by the 10-year's historical dataset from 2000 through 2009. Boxplot analysis is introduced to give insight in the seasonal variations of phytoplankton biomass and physical–chemical conditions. Annually, a big difference is found in chlorophyll a, showing that the maximum values occur in the months of April and July, and the minimum values occur in winter (December, January, and February). The phytoplankton biomass is positively correlated with the physical conditions (salinity, light intensity, and water temperature), and is negatively correlated with the nutrients (nitrate, ammonium, and silicate). Factor analysis distinguishes the driving variables that represent most of the total variance using three extraction methods (principal component analysis, unweighted least squares, and maximum likelihood). Nitrate dominates the main activity in the first rotated component/factor, and ammonium contributes the most in the second rotated component/factor. The findings of this study are significant for understanding the roles of the environmental conditions upon the phytoplankton variability, and for reducing the overlapping information to characterize the driving variables.