从营养扰动实验看原绿球藻在近海分布的制约因素

地球上细胞最小、丰度最大的放氧光合自养原核生物原绿球藻( Prochlorococcus )发现于热带大洋,并被证实可在某些近海甚至近岸水域大量分布.但除温度之外,原绿球藻自然分布的控制因子尚不明了.从近海和大洋生态条件的主要差别考虑,在南海进行了主要营养盐--氮、磷和微量元素--铁、钴扰动的现场培养实验,并应用流式细胞技术监测原绿球藻及聚球藻( Synechococcus )、超微型真核浮游植物(pico-eukaryotes)的细胞丰度和单细胞色素含量的响应以及细菌的影响.结果表明,磷和钴的添加有利于原绿球藻,而氮和铁的添加更有利于聚球藻和超微型真核浮游植物.同时,由环境条件引起的生物响应又间接地导致超微型生物之间的相互作用.因而,原绿球藻在近海的分布,可能受到营养盐组成等环境因子以及生物之间的相互作用等多方面的限制和影响.     

冬季南海南部微微型浮游植物分布及其影响因素

于2011年11月28日至2012年1月12日调查了南海南部113°E断面(5—13°N)微微型浮游植物的空间分布,并分析了其分布与环境因子的关系。结果表明,调查海域原绿球藻,聚球藻和微微真核生物所有站位水柱丰度的均值分别为(1.71±0.47)×104、(1.50±0.72)×103和(1.30±0.50)×102个/m L,原绿球藻比聚球藻和微微型真核生物分别高1和2个数量级。原绿球藻主要分布在100m以浅,聚球藻主要分布在75m以浅且在25m丰度最高,而微微型真核生物主要分布在100m以浅,在25—75m内丰度最高,与叶绿素a浓度次表层最大值层相吻合。在9—11°N之间,原绿球藻和聚球藻最大值层上移且其最大值显著低于周围水体最大值;而在11—13°N之间,微微型真核生物出现次表层最大值,丰度明显高于周围水体最大值,这可能分别与调查期间采样区域中尺度冷涡上升流和中尺度暖涡下降流引起的水体运动有关。结果还显示,在深海寡营养站位,原绿球藻、聚球藻和微微型真核生物的碳生物量分别占微微型生物总碳生物量的(59.16±13.74)%、(23.86±10.83)%和(16.97±5.51)%,表明原绿球藻在光合微微型生物中占绝对优势。此外,相关性分析结果表明,聚球藻丰度与水体温度呈显著正相关,与盐度呈显著负相关;微微型真核生物与硝酸盐和磷酸盐浓度呈显著负相关。     

淡水超微型浮游植物多样性及其研究方法

超微藻广泛分布于海洋和淡水生态系统中,在水生生态系统尤其是微食物环中起着重要作用。自20世纪70年代被发现以来,有关超微藻的研究大多集中在海洋,直到近年来淡水超微藻才受到广泛关注。目前淡水生境中发现的超微藻主要包括真核超微藻和原核聚球藻,而在海洋生境中分布广泛的原绿球藻在淡水环境中则很少被发现。超微真核藻多样性极其复杂,几乎在所有的门类都有发现;而目前在中国湖泊中发现的聚球藻主要以富含藻蓝素的聚球藻为主。影响超微藻生长的因子主要包括营养盐、温度、光照及生物因子(如捕食)等,自然水体的超微藻可能同时受多个以上环境因子的共同影响。由于超微藻细胞微小,形态特征不明显,而且大部分物种不能被分离纯培养,因此传统研究方法受到限制,直至近些年来,荧光显微技术、流式细胞术及分子生物学技术的发展,才使我们有机会对超微藻多样性和生态学有了进一步的认识。本文对淡水超微藻多样性的研究进展进行了综述,介绍了淡水超微藻的主要类群及其环境影响因子,重点阐述了当前超微藻的研究方法。     

海洋微型和微微型浮游生物的区域分布与影响因素

微型和微微型浮游生物几乎存在于所有的海洋生态系统中,其群落遍布世界各大洋。在大部分海域,微型浮游生物的优势类群为鞭毛藻;原绿球藻是贫营养海域的优势类群,而聚球藻、微微型真核生物和异养细菌主要在营养盐丰富的海域出现,在热带、亚热带和温带的富营养区域占优势。温度、盐度、光照、营养盐可得性、水体稳定性和摄食压力是影响微型和微微型浮游生物的主要因素,各海域主要调控因子的不同造成了微型和微微型浮游生物类群和丰度分布的差异。本文主要综述海洋微型和微微型浮游生物类群检测方法、区域分布特点及其受环境影响的研究概况,并提出了今后的重点研究内容和发展方向。     

珠江口超微型浮游植物时空分布及其与环境因子的关系

对珠江口及近海区域进行了夏季和冬季超微型浮游植物(0.2-3μm)调查,分析了其时空分布及其与环境因子的关系.夏季,珠江口浮游植物密度与磷酸盐成显著正相关,且N/P远远高于30,表明浮游植物受到P限制.夏季超微型藻数量比冬季高一个数量级,其丰度与盐度成显著正相关而和营养盐(溶解性无机氮(DIN),PO4-P,SiO4-Si)显著负相关,表明珠江口超微型藻受到径流的负面影响,表现出其数量在虎门附近海域低,随着咸淡水混合程度的加剧逐渐增大的分布特征;超微型浮游植物叶绿素a在总叶绿素a中的比例也表现为河口上游低,到万山群岛附近海域达到最大,推测近海高光照、低营养盐更适宜超微型藻的生长,同时也说明超微型浮游植物适应贫营养环境的生态特点.     

原绿球藻对环境胁迫的生理和分子响应机制

原绿球藻(Prochlorococcus)作为海洋丰度最高的浮游植物,对海洋生态系统的物质循环和能量流动起着重要的驱动作用。原绿球藻生长和光合作用活性容易受到环境胁迫的影响,进而影响整个海洋生态系统的稳定性。因此,研究原绿球藻应对环境胁迫的响应机制具有重要的生态意义。原绿球藻主要通过分化出不同的生态型来适应不同光照和营养盐的海洋环境,但仍然会很难快速适应各种突如其来的海洋环境变化。本文从原绿球藻应对环境胁迫的角度,探讨了其生理和分子响应机制的最新研究进展,包括光系统I循环电子传递在光照变化时发挥的重要作用,通过RNA快速响应而调控基因表达应对环境胁迫,以及在辅助异养细菌的保护下应对活性氧的胁迫等。本文也展望了原绿球藻对环境胁迫响应的生理和分子机制的未来研究方向,旨在为原绿球藻抗逆机制的深入研究提供参考。     

大亚湾夏季和冬季超微型浮游生物的时空分布及环境调控

通过流式细胞法, 于2015 年夏季(7 月)和冬季(12 月)对大亚湾超微型浮游生物(聚球藻、超微型真核藻类和异养细菌)的时空变化及环境调控进行了比较研究。结果表明, 夏季聚球藻、超微型真核藻类和异养细菌的丰度分别为(44.56±46.26)×103 cells·mL^–1、(3.00±4.50)×103 cells·mL^–1 和(12.31±7.54)×105 cells·mL^–1, 冬季的丰度分别为(12.48±3.96)×103 cells·mL^–1、(0.78±0.71)×103 cells·mL^–1和(3.83±1.39)×105 cells·mL^–1。超微型浮游生物的丰度呈现为夏季高于冬季, 受到温度、溶解无机氮组成和透明度的影响。夏季表层丰度明显高于底层, 但冬季表底层无明显差异。在水平分布上, 夏季湾内高营养盐基本对应高丰度, 但石化区附近(S3 站)营养盐高丰度却较低, 范和港(S1 站)低营养盐丰度却较高; 湾口和湾外区主要受到外海水的影响, 超微型浮游生物的3 个类群丰度均较低。在沿岸流、海水垂直混合、外源营养盐输入等多个因素共同影响下, 冬季湾中部和大鹏澳附近的聚球藻丰度较高, 超微型真核藻类在湾口和范和港丰度较高, 异养细菌在湾内和湾西部丰度较高。两个季节超微型真核藻类和异养细菌呈显著正相关。     

台湾海峡上升流区浮游植物对营养盐添加的响应

2006年6月在台湾海峡近岸上升流区通过表层水体营养盐添加的现场培养实验,研究该海区营养盐限制情况及其浮游植物水华产生的主要影响因素.对营养盐,叶绿素a浓度和浮游植物细胞丰度进行了测定,结果表明,实验中不存在明显的硅限制;氮磷营养盐均存在明显的限制,且氮限制情况更为严重.营养盐添加后,冰河拟星杆藻(Asterionellopsis glacialis)等硅藻迅速生长成为优势藻种,其对氮磷的利用机制有所不同.对氮营养盐采取吸收后迅速同化利用,相较于硝酸盐的补充,氨氮补充条件下优势硅藻更易迅速生长并迅速死亡;对磷营养盐的利用则由于体内磷库的存在,采用迅速吸收后贮存在体内慢慢消耗的利用机制.氮营养盐的补充是上升流期间浮游植物水华产生的主要因素.     

青岛近海及其临近海域冬季微微型浮游植物的分布

微微型浮游植物（0.2～2.0 μm） 是海水中最小的自养浮游生物, 在世界各海域广泛分布, 并在海洋有机物质循环中起着非常重要的作用.利用荧光显微技术对青岛近海及其邻近海域冬季微微型浮游植物丰度进行了调查,研究了微微型浮游植物的空间变化和昼夜变化的特征, 并分析了微微型浮游植物丰度与环境因子的相关性. 结果显示, 冬季该海域以富含藻红素（Phycoerythrin-rich, PE）的聚球藻(Synechococcus, Syn)细胞占优势,微微型真核藻类（Picoeukaryote, Euk）次之,而富含藻蓝素（Phycocyanin-rich, PC）的聚球藻细胞数量很低, 未发现原绿球藻（Prochlorococcus, Pro）的存在.Syn 的变化范围为8.97×10³～1.95×10⁵ cells·ml^-1, 平均4.67×10⁴ cells·ml^-1; Euk的变化范围为1.95×10²～1.01×10⁴ cells·ml^-1, 平均2.39×10³ cells·ml^-1. Syn丰度在胶南以南海域出现高值区域, 在即墨海域和崂山东南海域出现低值区域. Euk丰度在日照海域出现高值区域; 崂山海域为低值区域; 各水层Syn和Euk丰度均无明显差异(P﹥0.05). 对胶州湾中部连续站4层水体的24 h昼夜连续变化进行观测发现, Syn、Euk丰度都有明显昼夜波动.相关性分析表明： Syn与温度、 电导率呈正相关, 与溶氧浓度呈显著负相关; Euk与盐度和溶氧浓度呈显著负相关. 微微型浮游植物对总浮游植物生物量的贡献约为20％.     

大亚湾浮游植物群落特征

于2002年冬、春、夏和秋季对大亚湾浮游植物进行采样调查,分析了浮游植物的种类组成、丰度、优势种、多样性及群落结构的季节变化特征和平面分布特征。并讨论了浮游植物与营养盐、水温及环流等环境因子之间的关系。2002年大亚湾浮游植物共鉴定出48属114种(包括变型和变种),丰度范围在5.79×104~5.37×106cells/m3之间,平均值为1.14×106cells/m3。其中硅藻共37属84种,其种数和细胞丰度都占绝对优势,平均丰度为1.08×106cells/m3,其次为甲藻,9属23种,平均丰度为9.91×104cells/m3。此外还鉴定出蓝藻和金藻。大亚湾浮游植物丰度变化呈单一周期型,春夏季高,秋冬季节低。虽然硅藻的丰度占优势,但秋季硅藻丰度降低(占总丰度75.8%)使甲藻和蓝藻所占比例上升。研究得出春夏季大亚湾浮游植物主要以沿岸暖水性种类为主,秋季和冬季除沿岸暖水种之外,广布种和大洋种也较多,尤其在冬季后者占优势。大亚湾浮游植物优势种类多,不同季节既有交叉又有演替。与以往调查资料相比,部分优势种发生变化,优势程度顺序和细胞丰度发生了一定改变,个体较大的细胞丰度优势逐渐增加。另外,受季风、潮流、地理位置及人类活动影响,大亚湾浮游植物丰度和群落结构有一定的季节和平面分布特征。大亚湾浮游植物的多样性在夏季偏低,尤其在大亚湾核电站和大鹏澳养殖区附近表现明显。大亚湾浮游植物的丰度、种数、优势种演替及群落结构等其它群落特征与营养盐尤其是氮、磷和N/P、水温、环流等环境因子密切相关。     

SUMMER DISTRIBUTION OF PICOPHYTOPLANKTON IN THE NORTH YELLOW SEA

 利用荧光显微技术(Epifluorescence microscopy, EFM)对2006年夏季北黄海水域80个站点的微微型浮游植物进行了检测, 并对其在平面和垂直分布上的变化以及昼夜变化情况进行了研究。检测到聚球藻(Synechococcus, Syn)和真核球藻(Picoeukaryotes, Euk)两类微微型浮游植物, 未检测到原绿球藻(Prochlorococcus, Pro), 其中Syn以富含藻红素的Syn细胞(PE细胞)为优势种类, 而富含藻蓝素的Syn细胞(PC细胞)数量较少。在荣城湾以东的水域, 各水层Syn和Euk的丰度都较其它水域的高。Syn在北黄海冷水团及附近水域下30 m深处和底层水体中出现明显的低值区, Euk丰度受冷水团影响不明显。在垂直分布上, 水表层和水下10 m深处Syn的丰度高于水下30 m深处和底层, 而Euk在垂直分布上无明显差异。在昼夜变化上, 各水层Syn、Euk丰度的白昼与夜间变化趋势无明显区别。     

17O, 14N and 15N n.m.r. studies of the Co2+ complexes of cyclo(Pro17O-Gly15N) and cyclo(Gly17O-Pro) in aqueous solution

The complexation of cyclo(Pro17O-Gly15N) and cyclo(Gly17O-Pro) with Co2+ ions has been studied by 17O, 14N and 15N n.m.r. spectroscopy in aqueous solution. 17O, 14N and 15N transverse relaxation times and chemical shifts were measured as a function of temperature. The 17O n.m.r. studies unequivocally demonstrate that the cobaltous ion binds to the peptide oxygen of both compounds. The hyperfine coupling constant and the peptide residence times were found to be A = -0.165 MHz and -0.145 MHz, tau m = 16, and 92 microseconds for cyclo(Pro17O-Gly15N) and cyclo(Gly17O-Pro), respectively. The 14N and 15N studies of labeled cyclo(Pro17O-Gly15N) do not indicate binding at either the Gly15N or the Pro14N site.     

Contribution of mineral nutrients from source to sink organs in rice under different nitrogen fertilization

The pot experiment with three treatments of nitrogen (N) topdressing was performed with the japonica rice cultivar viz. Huaidao 5. Remobilization of nine mineral nutrients including N, phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), and copper (Cu) was measured from the source organs including bracts, leaf, and sheath to sink rice grain. Experimental results showed considerable contribution of bracts to grain for N, Mg, and Zn, with the averages contributions of 5.96, 12.56, and 12.34%, respectively, indicating a positive role of rice bracts in N, Mg, and Zn remobilization during grain filling. By contrast, minor contribution of bracts to grain P, K, and Cu was revealed, with the contribution rate being 0.99, 3.90, and 3.05%, respectively. Further, a net increase in Ca and Fe concentrations of bracts was detected, implying that bracts function as a sink of these mineral nutrients. In addition, grains produced at a moderate level of N topdressing had higher Fe and similar Zn concentration in comparison with those at high N level, suggesting the possibility of N management for maintaining Fe and Zn level under high yielding conditions.     

The Use of Neutral Lipid Fatty Acids to Indicate the Physiological Conditions of Soil Fungi

The usefulness of measuring neutral lipid fatty acids (NLFAs) and phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs) separately in order to interpret perturbation effects on soil and compost microorganisms has been studied. Initially the NLFA/PLFA ratios were studied in different soils. Low ratios were found for fatty acids common in bacteria, especially for cyclopropane fatty acids. Higher ratios were found for fatty acids common in eukaryotic organisms such as fungi (18:1omega9 and 18:2omega6,9) or in saturated fatty acids, common to many types of organisms. Adding glucose to a forest soil increased the amounts of the fungal NLFAs 18:1omega9 and 18:2 omega6,9 up to 60 and 10 times, respectively, after 10 days, followed by a gradual decrease. After 3 months incubation, higher levels of these NLFAs were still found compared with the control samples. Adding glucose together with nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) resulted in no increase in NLFAs but a 10-fold increase in the PLFAs 18:1omega9 and 18:2omega6,9. Thus, the NLFA/PLFA ratios for these fatty acids were lower than in the no-addition control when glucose was added together with N and P, but higher when glucose was added alone, even 3 months after the addition. Adding N+P without glucose did not affect the NLFA/PLFA ratio for any fatty acid. Increasing NLFA/PLFA ratios for the fungal fatty acids were also found with time after the thermophilic phase in a compost, indicating increased availability of easily available carbon.     

Reduction of Fe(III), Mn(IV), and Toxic Metals at 100°C by Pyrobaculum islandicum

It has recently been noted that a diversity of hyperthermophilic microorganisms have the ability to reduce Fe(III) with hydrogen as the electron donor, but the reduction of Fe(III) or other metals by these organisms has not been previously examined in detail. When Pyrobaculum islandicum was grown at 100°C in a medium with hydrogen as the electron donor and Fe(III)-citrate as the electron acceptor, the increase in cell numbers of P. islandicum per mole of Fe(III) reduced was found to be ca. 10-fold higher than previously reported. Poorly crystalline Fe(III) oxide could also serve as the electron acceptor for growth on hydrogen. The stoichiometry of hydrogen uptake and Fe(III) oxide reduction was consistent with the oxidation of 1 mol of hydrogen resulting in the reduction of 2 mol of Fe(III). The poorly crystalline Fe(III) oxide was reduced to extracellular magnetite. P. islandicum could not effectively reduce the crystalline Fe(III) oxide minerals goethite and hematite. In addition to using hydrogen as an electron donor for Fe(III) reduction, P. islandicum grew via Fe(III) reduction in media in which peptone and yeast extract served as potential electron donors. The closely related species P. aerophilum grew via Fe(III) reduction in a similar complex medium. Cell suspensions of P. islandicum reduced the following metals with hydrogen as the electron donor: U(VI), Tc(VII), Cr(VI), Co(III), and Mn(IV). The reduction of these metals was dependent upon the presence of cells and hydrogen. The metalloids arsenate and selenate were not reduced. U(VI) was reduced to the insoluble U(IV) mineral uraninite, which was extracellular. Tc(VII) was reduced to insoluble Tc(IV) or Tc(V). Cr(VI) was reduced to the less toxic, less soluble Cr(III). Co(III) was reduced to Co(II). Mn(IV) was reduced to Mn(II) with the formation of manganese carbonate. These results demonstrate that biological reduction may contribute to the speciation of metals in hydrothermal environments and could account for such phenomena as magnetite accumulation and the formation of uranium deposits at ca. 100°C. Reduction of toxic metals with hyperthermophilic microorganisms or their enzymes might be applied to the remediation of metal-contaminated waters or waste streams.     

Reduction of Fe(III), Mn(IV), and toxic metals at 100 degrees C by Pyrobaculum islandicum

It has recently been noted that a diversity of hyperthermophilic microorganisms have the ability to reduce Fe(III) with hydrogen as the electron donor, but the reduction of Fe(III) or other metals by these organisms has not been previously examined in detail. When Pyrobaculum islandicum was grown at 100 degrees C in a medium with hydrogen as the electron donor and Fe(III)-citrate as the electron acceptor, the increase in cell numbers of P. islandicum per mole of Fe(III) reduced was found to be ca. 10-fold higher than previously reported. Poorly crystalline Fe(III) oxide could also serve as the electron acceptor for growth on hydrogen. The stoichiometry of hydrogen uptake and Fe(III) oxide reduction was consistent with the oxidation of 1 mol of hydrogen resulting in the reduction of 2 mol of Fe(III). The poorly crystalline Fe(III) oxide was reduced to extracellular magnetite. P. islandicum could not effectively reduce the crystalline Fe(III) oxide minerals goethite and hematite. In addition to using hydrogen as an electron donor for Fe(III) reduction, P. islandicum grew via Fe(III) reduction in media in which peptone and yeast extract served as potential electron donors. The closely related species P. aerophilum grew via Fe(III) reduction in a similar complex medium. Cell suspensions of P. islandicum reduced the following metals with hydrogen as the electron donor: U(VI), Tc(VII), Cr(VI), Co(III), and Mn(IV). The reduction of these metals was dependent upon the presence of cells and hydrogen. The metalloids arsenate and selenate were not reduced. U(VI) was reduced to the insoluble U(IV) mineral uraninite, which was extracellular. Tc(VII) was reduced to insoluble Tc(IV) or Tc(V). Cr(VI) was reduced to the less toxic, less soluble Cr(III). Co(III) was reduced to Co(II). Mn(IV) was reduced to Mn(II) with the formation of manganese carbonate. These results demonstrate that biological reduction may contribute to the speciation of metals in hydrothermal environments and could account for such phenomena as magnetite accumulation and the formation of uranium deposits at ca. 100 degrees C. Reduction of toxic metals with hyperthermophilic microorganisms or their enzymes might be applied to the remediation of metal-contaminated waters or waste streams.     

Synthesis, characterization, and antitumor properties of some metal complexes of 2,6-diacetylpyridine bis(N4-azacyclic thiosemicarbazones)

Complexes of Mn(II), Fe(III), Fe(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II) and Pt(II) with 2,6-diacetylpyridine bis(N4-azacyclic thiosemicarbazones), abbreviated as H2L, have been prepared and characterized by elemental analysis, molar conductance, magnetic moments (300-78 K) and spectral studies. On the basis of these studies, a distorted six-coordinate structure for Fe(L)Cl and a distorted five-coordinate structure for M(L) (M = Mn(II), Fe(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II), or Pt(II] are suggested. The ligands undergo deprotonation and appear to coordinate through the thione sulphur, the imine nitrogen and pyridyl nitrogen. All the ligands and metal complexes were screened for their antitumor activity against P 388 lymphocytic leukemia test system in mice, and it was found that a few of them possess significant activity at the dosages used.     

Nutrient addition affects net and gross mineralization of phosphorus in the organic layer of a tropical montane forest

In tropical ecosystems with highly weathered soils, transformation of organic phosphorus (P) to bioavailable inorganic P plays a crucial role for the nutrition of organisms. In these ecosystems, P is suspected to be growth-limiting and might therefore be affected by atmospheric nutrient deposition occurring even in remote areas such as montane rainforests. We assessed effects of P and nitrogen (N) addition on net and gross P mineralization rates, and microbial P immobilization in the organic layer along an altitudinal gradient of a tropical montane rainforest in Ecuador. Net P mineralization rates amounted to 1.8 ± 0.9 (at 1000 m a.s.l.), 3.7 ± 0.6 (at 2000 m) and 2.0 ± 0.4 (at 3000 m) mg P kg^?1 day^?1. Altitudinal differences led to an increased microbial P immobilization at 1000 m compensating for a higher gross P mineralization. P addition increased net P mineralization rates at 2000 and 3000 m, suggesting a higher P demand at 1000 m. At higher altitudes, P likely was released as a by-product during organic matter decomposition. Gross P mineralization, determined by means of the isotopic dilution approach, could not be calculated for control and N treatments due to rapid microbial P immobilization. For P (+N) treatments, gross P mineralization rates were lowest at the 1000 m site towards the end of the long-term incubation period. Atmospheric P deposition in the tropics might lead to P fertilization effects through direct input as well as through acceleration of P release from organic matter, thereby increasing P availability for organisms.     

Production of lower-trophic organisms during incubation of unaltered deep-sea water

Incubation of unaltered deep-sea water and grazing experiment of nano- and micro- protozooplankton during incubation of deep-sea water were carried out to quantitatively characterize the planktonic structures of lower-trophic organisms and clarify the trophic pathways and controlling mechanisms involved. Phytoplankton biomass increased to 637 mg as carbon weight in a 500-l tank on Day 7 and was dominant in the planktonic structure of lower-trophic organisms. Nitrates in the incubation water was depleted after Day 7 and phytoplankton biomass decreased rapidly. On the other hand, bacteria, heterotrophic nano-flagellates and ciliates increased toward the end of incubation and were dominant in the later days of incubation. In grazing experiments on microbial organisms, bacterivory is more important for the carbon pathway in microbial food webs than herbivory when phytoplankton biomass is less than that of bacteria (low P/B conditions), while herbivory is more important than bacterivory when phytoplankton biomass is more than that of bacteria (high P/B conditions). Deep-sea water exhibited high phytoplankton productivity due to inherent high nutrients values. After depletion of nutrients, phytoplankton decreased (due also to enhanced nano- and micro-zooplankton grazing) and microbial organisms dominated. Thus, nutrients in the incubation water control the planktonic structure of lower-trophic organisms.