Application of a new multi-metric phytoplankton index to the assessment of ecological status in marine and transitional waters

Patterns of phytoplankton size spectra variation with gradients of environmental stress have been observed in freshwater, transitional waters and marine ecosystems, driving the development of size spectra based assessment tools.In this study, we have tested on transitional and coastal waters a new Index of Size spectra Sensitivity of Phytoplankton (ISS-Phyto), which integrates simple size spectra metrics, size class sensitivity to anthropogenic disturbance, phytoplankton biomass (chlorophyll a) and taxonomic richness thresholds. ISS-Phyto has been tested both among and within ecosystems along pressure gradients based on expert view assessment; the adequacy of symmetric and both left and right asymmetric models of phytoplankton size class sensitivity have been compared.The results showed that ISS-Phyto consistently discriminated between anthropogenic and natural disturbance conditions. Left asymmetric models of size spectra sensitivity, assuming greater disturbance tolerance with respect to eutrophication and organic enrichment of increasingly large size classes, showed the best fit comparing all ecosystems; in three of the four considered ecosystems (Varna, Helsinki, Mompás-Pasaia), they seemed to discriminate best between different levels of disturbance also within ecosystems. Moreover, they demonstrated significant and inverse patterns of variation along the overall pressure gradient as well as along the inorganic phosphorus (DIP), chlorophyll a and trophic index (TRIX) gradients.Therefore, ISS-Phyto, originally developed for transitional waters, seems to be an adequate assessment tool of ecological status also in coastal marine waters; moreover, it seems adequate to describe within ecosystem disturbance gradients. Hence, ISS-Phyto helps to understand the relationships between anthropogenic impact and ecosystem response from the individual point of view, with reference to the simple parameter of body size.     

The composite trophic status index (TRIX) as a potential tool for the regulation of Turkish marine aquaculture as applied to the eastern Aegean coast (Izmir Bay)

This research examines the current water quality status of Izmir Bay, using the trophic index (TRIX) as a tool for the regulation of Turkish marine finfish aquaculture. In 2007, new legislation was enacted in Turkey related to the protection of coastal waters, especially those of enclosed bays and gulfs, from pollution by fish farming. However, the legislation does not apply to any other coastal zone stakeholders; for this reason the entire Izmir Bay was examined. Use of the composite trophic status index (TRIX) produced mean TRIX values of 3.6 for the aquaculture area (AA) and 2.5 for areas of the outer bay where no aquaculture takes place; this indicates ‘no risk of eutrophication’ as defined by Turkish law. In the inner Izmir Bay, there is a mean TRIX value of 4.3, which is above the threshold of four and typical for ‘high eutrophication risk’ areas, as expected because of heavy urbanization. The study then applied the UNTRIX indices adjusted to local conditions, revealing that both the inner bay and the aquaculture area (AA) can be classified as of ‘poor’ status whereas the outer bay can be defined as ‘good’. The UNTRIX‐based trophic classification is in good agreement with TRIX for both the outer and inner parts of the bay; however, there is no agreement regarding the classification of the aquaculture area.     

Synechococcus as an indicator of trophic status in the Cochin backwaters,west coast of India

Eutrophication is a major problem in coastal water bodies. Information about the trophic status of water bodies will enable proper management of coastal ecosystems. In this regard, biological organisms which are sensitive to environmental changes can serve as indicators of ecosystem trophic status. In this study, seasonal and spatial variations of picophytoplankton (PP; <3 μm size) community structure was assessed in the Cochin backwaters (CB) with respect to the prevailing environmental conditions during three seasons, post-monsoon (PM-I; October 2011 and PM-II; November 2012), pre-monsoon (PrM; May 2012) and monsoon (MON; August 2012). CB, along the west coast of India, receives continuous load of nutrients throughout the year through anthropogenic wastes. Trophic status index (TRIX) scores showed that CB is highly eutrophic with a high phytoplankton biomass. Synechococcus was the dominant PP observed in the study area. Seasonal and spatial salinity variations influenced the PP distribution, especially Synechococcus where PE-rich Synechococcus (SYN-PE) were dominant in higher saline (>30) and PC-rich Synechococcus (SYN-PC) in lower saline (<30) waters. SYN-PC showed a significant positive relation with chlorophyll a suggesting that this group contributes substantially to the total phytoplankton biomass. TRIX scores and SYN-PC: SYN-PE abundance ratio were negatively correlated with salinity suggesting an influence of the tidal amplitude. SYN-PC correlated positively and SYN-PE negatively with TRIX scores suggesting that these groups occupy contrasting ecological niches. These findings imply that PP distribution pattern can serve as an indicator of the trophic status of coastal water bodies.     

Assessing eutrophication in the Portuguese continental Exclusive Economic Zone within the European Marine Strategy Framework Directive

This study reports the state and causes of eutrophication in the Portuguese continental Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), during a 14-year period (1995–2008), following the European Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) and using the trophic index TRIX for an integrated evaluation of indicators of eutrophication, and identifies areas where monitoring is needed to improve the eutrophication assessment. A non-continuous dataset for the 8 indicators specified by the MSFD for eutrophication assessment was used, including published and grey data. Eutrophication indicators were validated and thresholds reviewed, considering regional differences. The diatom:flagellate ratio was found a poor indicator of eutrophication as shifts in the diatom:flagellate ratio naturally occur associated with alternating water column turbulence and upwelling, and stratification, and therefore, could not be associated with anthropogenic nutrient enrichment effects. Assessment areas were, as a whole, classified as non-problem areas concerning eutrophication. Although nutrient enrichment was observed in coastal waters, related to river plume influence, nutrient enrichment direct and indirect effects were generally not detectable, possibly due to water column dispersion and mixing processes. Only occasionally, mild eutrophication was found in specific areas under the influence of major river (Douro, Vouga and Guadiana) plumes, associated with high nutrient and phytoplankton biomass levels and seagrass decline, which indicates the need for directed monitoring on eutrophication in those areas.     

Principal component analysis: Development of a multivariate index for assessing eutrophication according to the European water framework directive

The discriminating power of eutrophication assessment schemes is often affected by the intercorrelation between cause (nutrient concentrations) and response (phytoplankton biomass and diversity) variables. Principal component analysis, a multivariate data reduction technique producing new sets of uncorrelated variables, was applied on nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, phosphate and chlorophyll α concentrations from coastal waters in the Aegean Sea, Eastern Mediterranean, and the first principal component was derived and evaluated as a eutrophication index on an independent dataset. The index, a linear combination of the five variables with almost equal weights, was found efficient in discriminating levels of eutrophication and critical thresholds characterizing oligotrophy, mesotrophy and eutrophication were set. The applicability of these thresholds for the implementation of the European Water Framework Directive was also examined thereof a five-level water quality classification scheme was developed.     

Assessment of nutrient limitation in Rijeka Bay, NE Adriatic Sea, using miniaturized bioassay

In this paper we consider the trophic state and ambient nutrient limitation by the trophic index (TRIX) calculation and nutrient enrichment bioassay using the diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum at two differently eutrophicated NE coastal Adriatic locations (in the Rijeka Bay area). The first station in Rijeka Port had significantly higher concentrations of dissolved inorganic nutrients and TRIX indices (up to 7.53) than the station near Opatija. The DIN/TP ratios in Rijeka Port were lower (11.03 to 44.47) than those in Opatija (38.67 to 82.00), indicating P limitation in Opatija. The nutrient enrichment bioassays revealed P as the key limiting nutrient for the diatom growth at both sites. In addition, silica limitation was found in all water samples with the exception of the surface water samples in Rijeka Port. Nitrogen limitation was rarely evident.     

Benthic communities along a littoral of the Central Adriatic Sea (Italy)

Bacteria, meio- and macrofauna were investigated at different depths in a coastal area of the Central Adriatic Sea, yielding information about the composition and abundance of the benthic community. In particular, 14 nematode genera were recorded for the first time in the Upper Adriatic Sea. All communities resulted as being significantly different between inshore and offshore stations, especially when the season interaction was considered. Sediment grain size seemed to be the main natural variable, along with trophic resources, affecting the distribution and composition of these benthic components, whilst there was no clear evidence of competition for food sources and predatory pressure between the communities. Meiofauna appeared the most useful community for detecting disturbances and river influences. In particular, the lowest copepod abundance in the shallow waters seemed to be related to a greater anthropogenic disturbance inshore, whilst meiofaunal abundance and diversity together with the nematode maturity index suggest the influence of the Foglia and Metauro rivers and the small stream Arzilla.     

On the record of the Lessepsian migrant Fistularia commersonii (Rüppell, 1835) from the Adriatic Sea

On 7 November and 15 December 2006, two specimens of the Lessepsian migrant Fistularia commersonni were caught in trammel nets off the coastal waters of Tricase Porto (southwestern Adriatic, Italy) and Sveti Andrija (southeastern Adriatic, Croatia), respectively. These represent the first records of this species in the Adriatic Sea.     

Testing relationships between macroalgal cover and Secchi depth in the Baltic Sea

The present study tests whether relationships between macroalgal cover and water quality, recently developed for Danish coastal waters, are more universal and also applies at the other extreme of the Baltic Sea in Finnish coastal waters. We found that algal cover increases as a function of Secchi depth according to the same logarithmic function in Danish and Finnish coastal waters. Algal cover at a given depth (here modelled for 4 m) increases with increasing Secchi depth and approaches a maximum at the high Secchi depths found in the clearest areas of the Danish coastal waters. For a given Secchi depth the combined Danish/Finnish algal model thus predicts a similar cover of the algal community at a given water depth at both extremes of the Baltic Sea which represent quite different algal habitats. These results suggest that light limitation, and thus shading effects of eutrophication may cause similar reductions of macroalgal cover across ecosystems.     

广东省典型水库浮游植物群落特征与富营养化研究

研究了广东省19座主要水库2000年丰水期和枯水期浮游植物状况,并根据浮游植物群落结构和多样性指数对水库进行营养状况评价。结果表明,东江流域的新丰江和白盘珠水库水质良好,属于贫营养型水库;大部分水库为中营养型,而鹤地、契爷石和石岩这3座位于沿海经济发达地区水库属于富营养型。流域上游水库水质明显优于下游水库,山区水库水质优于沿海水库,东江流域水库水质普遍较好。北江流域次之,而粤西沿海和珠江三角洲地区各水库均受到不同程度的污染。     

Phytoplankton population density and volume as indicators of eutrophication in the eastern part of the Adriatic Sea

Population density and volume-biomass of microplankton, nanoplankton and total phytoplankton were analyzed at 14 stations along the eastern part of the Adriatic Sea. Based upon data frequency distribution, four categories of ecosystems were established in the investigated area. Criteria for ecosystem categorization and biological evaluation of eutrophication are proposed.     

Phytoplankton communities and biomass size structure (fractionated chlorophyll “a”), along trophic gradients of the Basque coast (northern Spain)

Eutrophication is a major threat to coastal ecosystems. Within Europe, the Water Framework Directive (WFD) has established the need of developing methods of assessment. Bulk chlorophyll “a” is used world-wide as an indicator of eutrophication. However, the size structure of the phytoplankton communities has not been investigated, in detail, in relation to eutrophication pressures. This study investigates the suitability of fractionated chlorophyll “a” (<10 and >10 μm), as an indicator of eutrophication. Along the Basque coast (northern Spain) several water bodies, ranging from offshore waters to the heads of the estuaries, were surveyed during 2008. Physico-chemical conditions and chlorophyll “a” showed a distinct spatial gradient. Trophic richness increased towards the middle and inner parts of the estuaries, where nutrient inputs, from natural or anthropogenic sources, together with the residence time of the water are usually higher. In summer, phytoplankton biomass and abundance decreased, generally, in offshore and coastal waters; in estuaries, they tended to increase. The chlorophyll distribution within the two size fractions was coherent with the phytoplankton taxonomic composition. In summer, the relative abundance of small-sized cells (diatoms and non-siliceous taxa) increased. The relationships between size-fractionated chlorophyll and physico-chemical variables differed, when comparing the offshore and coastal waters, with the estuaries. In the offshore and coastal waters, a strong seasonality was observed; in estuaries, an important spatial component was found. Fractionated chlorophyll provided complementary useful information on anthropogenic pressures. However, more research is necessary to utilise this variable as a tool for ecological status assessment, within the WFD.     

Complex patterns in phytoplankton and microeukaryote diversity along the estuarine continuum

Estuaries and coastal lagoons are included within the transitional waters category, according to the Water Framework Directive. However, criteria for their differentiation and characterisation are still under discussion and require more research. In particular, detailed observations of biodiversity in more complex transitional and coastal waters are lacking. Microscopic and molecular analyses were therefore used to investigate phytoplankton diversity and spatial community structure, in early spring, along the freshwater-to-marine continuum of the Segura River (Spain), an intensively regulated semiarid basin discharging into the Mediterranean Sea. In addition to the salinity gradient as the major factor determining taxa distribution, influence of multiple anthropogenic and climatic impacting factors (drought, confined waters, irrigation canal) leads to a significant spatial heterogeneity of the aquatic habitat types associated with variations in community composition. Several shifts within the phytoplankton distribution pattern along the continuum are revealed using multivariate analyses. An impressive bloom of the cryptophyte Plagioselmis prolonga occurred in the mixing zone, associated with a typical euryhaline community indicative of eutrophication. The 18S rDNA diversity revealed a microeukaryotic richness including several little-known groups, heterotrophic representatives, and potential parasites. By combining morphological and molecular approaches we revealed the presence of a ‘hidden’ diversity often neglected in traditional surveys.     

Assessing water quality and classifying trophic status for scientifically based managing the water resources of the Lake Timsah,the lake with salinity stratification along the Suez Canal

Lake Timsah is considered as the biggest water body at Ismailia City with a surface area of 14?km². It is a saline shallow water basin lies approximately mid-way between the south city of Suez and the north city of Port Said at 30^o35′46.55“N and 32^o19′30.54″E. Because it receives water with high and low salinities, salinity stratification is producing in the Lake Timsah, with values of 14–40‰ for the surface water and over 40‰ for the bottom water. The temperature of the lake water decreased to below 19 °C in the winter and rose to above 29?°C in the summer; the concentration of dissolved oxygen ranged between 6.5 and 12.2?l^?1 and the pH fluctuated between 7.9 in its lower value and 8.2 in its higher value. Water transparency was very low as indicated by Secchi disc readings recorded during this study and varied between 0.3 and 2.7?m. The main chemical nutrient (phosphorus) reached its highest levels of 96?µg?l^?1 in winter and their lowest values of 24?µg?l^?1 during summer. This nutrient concentration is high especially by comparing with those of unpolluted marine waters, but is typical of the more eutrophic coastal waters worldwide. The composition and abundance of phytoplankton with dominancy of diatoms and increased population density (20,986 cell l^?1) reflect the eutrophic condition of the lake. The intensive growth of phytoplankton was enriched by high concentration of chlorophyll a with annual values ranged between 6.5 and 56?µg?l^?1. The objective of the present work was quantitative assessment of the quality of the water of the Lake Timsah using different approaches. During the present study, three different approaches were applied for the quantitative assessment of Lake Timsah water quality: the trophic state index (TST); trophic level index (TLI) and water quality index (WQI). Application of the trophic state and trophic level indices (TSI & TLI) revealed that the Lake Timsah has trophic indices of 60 and 5.2 for TSI and TLI, respectively. Both indices reflected the eutrophic condition of the lake waters and confirmed that the eutrophication is a major threat in the Lake Timsah. On the other hand, the WQI calculated for the Lake Timsah during the present study with an average of 49 demonstrated that the water of the Lake Timsah is bad and unsuitable for main and/or several uses. Moreover, WQI allows accounting for several water resource uses and can serve a more robust than TSI and/or TLI and can be used effectively as a comprehensive tool for water quality quantification. In conclusion, the three subjective indices used for the assessment process for the lake water are more suitable and effective for needs of the sustainable water resources protection and management of the Lake Timsah.     

Ability of phytoplankton trait sensitivity to highlight anthropogenic pressures in Mediterranean lagoons: A size spectra sensitivity index (ISS-phyto)

Size spectra exhibit common patterns of variation and predictable responses to pressures across ecosystem types, functional guilds and taxonomic groups. Here, we extend the size spectra approach to phytoplankton ecological status assessment in transitional waters by developing, testing and validating a multi-metric index of size spectra sensitivity (ISS-phyto), which integrates size structure metrics with others such as phytoplankton diversity, biomass and sensitivity of size classes to anthropogenic disturbance. The ability of various theoretical models of size spectra sensitivity to discriminate between disturbed and undisturbed ecosystems and levels of anthropogenic stress was evaluated. We used data on phytoplankton samples collected in 14 Mediterranean and Black sea transitional water ecosystems (coastal lagoons) from Italy, Albania, Greece, Bulgaria and Romania, and compared the models’ efficiency by looking at their pressure–impact response along salinity and enrichment gradients, the latter quantified as variations in dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) and dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP). Data from a fifteenth Mediterranean lagoon was used for external validation purposes. Right asymmetric models of size class sensitivity, implying higher sensitivity of smaller cell size classes, were found to contribute to the ISS-phyto multimetric tool more effectively than symmetric and left asymmetric models, distinguishing disturbed from undisturbed lagoons and disturbed from undisturbed stations within the same lagoon. When based on right asymmetric sensitivity models, i.e., those that were most efficient in identifying anthropogenic impacts, ISS-phyto also showed the best fit of pressure–response relationships along the salinity and enrichment gradients; at low to high levels of impact ISS response was driven by size class sensitivity and at very high impacts by phytoplankton biomass. A scheme for the classification of Ecological Quality Status based on ISS-phyto is proposed and validated. The validation procedure found that ISS-phyto is an effective and sensitive monitoring tool, robust, easy to apply and to inter-calibrate among laboratories.     

Altered Sea Ice Thickness and Permanence Affects Benthic Ecosystem Functioning in Coastal Antarctica

Antarctic sea ice and the cold waters surrounding the continent are key elements of the global climate system, influencing heat redistribution, oceanic circulation and the absorption of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. However, the Southern Ocean is predicted to warm by 1–6°C over the next century, altering sea ice extent, thickness and permanence. To better understand the connections between coastal sea ice conditions and the functioning of Antarctica’s unique marine benthic ecosystems, we performed manipulative experiments on the seafloor at two southwestern Ross Sea sites with contrasting sea ice conditions. Benthic systems at both study sites were net heterotrophic during the study period (early November), with primary production most likely limited by light availability rather than nutrients. There was five times more fresh algal detrital material in benthic sediments at the site with the thinner, snow-free, annually formed sea ice, relative to the site with thicker, multiyear sea ice. This elevated quantity and quality of algal detrital matter corresponded with a significantly greater rate of sediment oxygen utilization by the benthos and an altered pathway of nitrogen regeneration (tighter coupling between nitrification and denitrification). Large benthic animals (brittle stars, Ophionotus victoriae) enhanced the efflux of dissolved inorganic nutrients from the sediment to the water column and played a greater role in nutrient regeneration at the site with more food. Although changes in sea ice characteristics in the Western Ross Sea are difficult to predict at present, large benthic organisms can be expected to have an expanded role in mediating the effects of elevated coastal productivity and detritus supply on ecosystem dynamics in this part of Antarctica.     

Ecological status assessment of European lakes: a comparison of metrics for phytoplankton, macrophytes, benthic invertebrates and fish

Data on phytoplankton, macrophytes, benthic invertebrates and fish from more than 2000 lakes in 22 European countries were used to develop and test metrics for assessing the ecological status of European lakes as required by the Water Framework Directive. The strongest and most sensitive of the 11 metrics responding to eutrophication pressure were phytoplankton chlorophyll a, a taxonomic composition trophic index and a functional traits index, the macrophyte intercalibration taxonomic composition metric and a Nordic lake fish index. Intermediate response was found for a cyanobacterial bloom intensity index (Cyano), the Ellenberg macrophyte index and a multimetric index for benthic invertebrates. The latter also responded to hydromorphological pressure. The metrics provide information on primary and secondary impacts of eutrophication in the pelagic and the littoral zone of lakes. Several of these metrics were used as common metrics in the intercalibration of national assessment systems or have been incorporated directly into the national systems. New biological metrics have been developed to assess hydromorphological pressures, based on aquatic macrophyte responses to water level fluctuations, and on macroinvertebrate responses to morphological modifications of lake shorelines. These metrics thus enable the quantification of biological impacts of hydromorphological pressures in lakes.     

Nitrogen cycling in coastal marine ecosystems

It is generally considered that nitrogen availability is one of the major factors regulating primary production in temperate coastal marine environments. Coastal regions often receive large anthropogenic inputs of nitrogen that cause eutrophication. The impact of these nitrogen additions has a profound effect in estuaries and coastal lagoons where water exchange is limited. Such increased nutrient loading promotes the growth of phytoplankton and fast growing pelagic macroalgae while rooted plants (sea-grasses) and benthic are suppressed due to reduced light availability. This shift from benthic to pelagic primary production introduces large diurnal variations in oxygen concentrations in the water column. In addition oxygen consumption in the surface sediments increases due to the deposition of readily degradable biomass. In this review the physico-chemical and biological factors regulating nitrogen cycling in coastal marine ecosystems are considered in relation to developing effective management programmes to rehabilitate seagrass communities in lagoons currently dominated by pelagic macroalgae and/or cyanobacteria.     

Characteristics of a landscape water with high salinity in a coastal city of China and measures for eutrophication control

Eutrophication of landscape waters is drawing public concerns in China but few studies have been conducted on the problem associated with high water salinity as what happens at Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-city in Tianjin, a coastal metropolis of northern China. In order to find ways for eutrophication control, a comparative study was conducted on three landscape water bodies, namely Qingjing Lake, Jiyun River and Jiyun River Oxbow, which are under varied conditions of salinity, organic, and nutrients intrusion. The spatial and temporal variations of water quality were revealed by water sampling and analyses, and correlative relationships were obtained between water salinity and other parameters related to eutrophication. By utilizing a trophic level index (TLI), the eutrophication status of the three landscape water bodies in different seasons could further be evaluated. As a result, water temperature, as expected, showed the strongest effect on eutrophication because higher TLI together with higher Chl-a concentrations tended to occur in later spring and summer seasons, while nutrient concentration, especially TP, was also the determinative factor to the eutrophication status. Of the three water bodies, the Jiyun River Oxbow showed a salinity as high as 20 g/L or more in contrast with the other two water bodies with salinity as 4–5 g/L. Although its TP concentration was usually very low (about 0.1 mg/L), it was under a moderate eutrophication status almost in all seasons, indicating that high salinity tends to induce alga growth. Dilution of saline inflow and nutrients reduction could thus be proposed as the main measures for eutrophication control of landscape waters in the study area.