Size-fractionated productivity and nutrient dynamics of phytoplankton in subtropical coastal environments

It is now well established that the size distribution of phytoplankton plays an important role in primary production processes and nutrient dynamics of coastal environment. In situ observations showed that nanophytoplankton (3–20 μm) contributed 72.08% and58.18% of phytoplankton biomass and 58.32% and 41.14% of primary productivity to Xiamen Western Waters and the northern Taiwan Strait, respectively; picophytoplankton (0.2–3 μm) dominated the biomass (64.70%) and productivity (66.09%) in the southern Taiwan Strait. Furthermore, nanophytoplankton accounted for 75% of phosphate uptake with the highest rate constant (8.3×10^-5 s^-1) and uptake rate in unit water volume (5.4×10^-5 mmol dm^-3s^-1); picophytoplankton had the highest uptake rate in unit biomass (5.4×10^-5 mmol mg^-1s^-1) and photosynthetic index (3.8 mgC mgChl a^-1h^-1). All the results highlighted the remarkable characteristics of small size ranged (0.2–20 μm) phytoplankton in subtropical coastal environments: main contributor to phytoplankton biomass and production, high efficiency on organic carbon production and nutrient recycling. The far reaching environmental and ecological implications were discussed. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Distribution of microbial populations and their relationship with environmental parameters in the coastal waters of Qingdao,China

In order to understand the large‐scale distribution of microbial populations simultaneously and their relationship with environmental parameters, flow cytometry was used to analyse samples collected from 46 stations in the coastal waters of Qingdao in spring, 2007. The distribution of virus was significantly and positively correlated with heterotrophic bacteria. Two groups of picophytoplankton (Synechococcus and picoeukaryotes) were detected; however, Prochlorococcus was not found. Picoeukaryotes and nanophytoplankton were abundant in the near‐shore waters, whereas Synechococcus was abundant in the off‐shore areas. No variation was found in vertical distribution of virus, heterotrophic bacteria, Synechococcus and nanophytoplankton abundances, except picoeukaryotes abundance in the bottom layer was dramatically lower than that in the upper layers. Correlation analyses indicated that the relationship between abiotic variables and heterotrophic bacteria, pico‐ and nanophytoplankton was closer than that between abiotic variables and virioplankton. Temperature and nutrients were the synchronous factors controlling the growth of heterotrophic bacteria, pico‐ and nanophytoplankton in the coastal waters of Qingdao in spring. The results suggested that synergistic and antagonistic effects existed among microbial groups.     

Pico‐, Nano‐, Microplankton Abundance and Primary Productivity in a Eutrophic Coastal Area of the Aegean Sea,Mediterranean

Primary productivity, pico‐, nano‐, microplankton and key environmental factors were studied in a eutrophic coastal area of the Aegean Sea during the winter – spring period. Primary productivity reached high values and showed similar trends of change to those of nanophytoplankton abundance. Nano‐ and microplankton cell densities showed high variability while picoplankton abundance was kept relatively stable. Diatoms dominated nanophytoplankton for most of the winter – spring period while a shift to dinoflagellates was initiated with the development of thermal stratification in late spring. Ciliates and heterotrophic dinoflagellates reached high densities in contrast to heterotrophic nanoflagellates. Our results emphasize the close relation between grazer densities and bacteria, cyanobacteria and nanoplanktic algal changes in this eutrophic coastal area of the Mediterranean.     

Abundance and Biomass Responses of Microbial Food Web Components to Hydrology and Environmental Gradients within a Floodplain of the River Danube

This study investigated the relationships of time-dependent hydrological variability and selected microbial food web components. Samples were collected monthly from the Kopa?ki Rit floodplain in Croatia, over a period of 19 months, for analysis of bacterioplankton abundance, cell size and biomass; abundance of heterotrophic nanoflagellates and nanophytoplankton; and concentration of chlorophyll a. Similar hydrological variability at different times of the year enabled partition of seasonal effects from hydrological changes on microbial community properties. The results suggested that, unlike some other studies investigating sites with different connectivity, bacterioplankton abundance, and phytoplankton abundance and biomass increased during lentic conditions. At increasing water level, nanophytoplankton showed lower sensitivity to disturbance in comparison with total phytoplankton biomass: this could prolong autotrophic conditions within the floodplain. Bacterioplankton biomass, unlike phytoplankton, was not impacted by hydrology. The bacterial biomass less affected by hydrological changes can be an important additional food component for the floodplain food web. The results also suggested a mechanism controlling bacterial cell size independent of hydrology, as bacterial cell size was significantly decreased as nanoflagellate abundance increased. Hydrology, regardless of seasonal sucession, has the potential to structure microbial food webs, supporting microbial development during lentic conditions. Conversely, other components appear unaffected by hydrology or may be more strongly controlled by biotic interactions. This research, therefore, adds to understanding on microbial food web interactions in the context of flood and flow pulses in river-floodplain ecosystems.     

Abundance of cryptophyceae and chlorophyll b-containing organisms in the Weddell-Scotia Confluence area in the spring of 1988

Summary During a cruise in the Weddell-Scotia Confluence area (EPOS Leg 2: November–January 1988/1989) nanophytoplankton composition was determined by employing taxon-specific pigment measurements with HPLC. The biomass of the most important components was estimated by using specific pigment ratios measured in cultures of two cryptomonads and a prasinophyte. Highest cryptophyte biomass was found along the retreating ice-edge; the contribution of cryptophytes to total phytoplankton crop increased with time, reaching monospecific bloom conditions at the end of the cruise. Chlorophyll b-containing organisms and Prymnesiophyceae were present everywhere and dominated in the ice-covered part of the survey area. Cryptophyte-specific pigment measurements were in reasonable agreement with cryptophyte cell numbers. Prasinophyte cell counts, however, did not match with measured chlorophyll b concentrations. The quantitative importance of the nanophytoplankton groups reported here underlines the diversity of the plankton in the Southern Ocean's marginal ice zone system which may have implications for food chain dynamics.Data presented here were collected during the European Polarstern Study (EPOS) sponsored by the European Science Foundation     

胶州湾叶绿素a浓度及浮游植物的粒级组成

2008年2、5、8和11月对胶州湾及邻近水域中表层叶绿素a浓度和浮游植物粒级组成进行了调查.结果表明:胶州湾内和湾外表层叶绿素a年平均浓度分别为4.90和2.03 mg·m^-3;叶绿素a浓度的平面分布呈现自东北部及近岸向中部、南部及湾外递减的趋势;叶绿素a浓度季节变化明显,冬季和夏季浓度较高,春季次之,呈现温带海域双峰型的变化趋势.胶州湾浮游植物粒级组成以微型浮游植物为主,平均占叶绿素a总量的60.9%,其次是小型浮游植物,超微型浮游植物所占比例最低,与我国近海浮游植物粒级组成基本一致.与历史资料相比,微型浮游植物所占比例有所增加,超微型浮游植物所占比例降低.     

Size-fractionated Primary Production in the South Atlantic and Atlantic Sectors of the Southern Ocean

Results are presented from size fractionated chlorophyll a (Chla) and primary production studies along a transect between Antarcticaand southern Africa during the second South African AntarcticMarine Ecosystem Study (SAAMES II), conducted in late australsummer (January to February) 1993. Total integrated Chl a alongthe transect was highest in the vicinity of the Marginal IceZone (MIZ) and Antarctic Polar Front (APF). At these stations,integrated Chl a biomass was always >25 mg Chl a m^–2and was dominated by microphytoplankton. Although nominal increasesinChl a biomass were also associated with the Subantarctic Front(SAF) and Subtropical Convergence (STC), total Chl a biomassin these regions was dominated by nanophytoplankton. Withinthe inter-frontal regions, total integrated Chl a biomass waslower, generally <25 mg Chl a m^–2, and was always dominatedby nanophytoplankton. An exception was found in the AgulhasReturn Current (ARC) where picophytoplankton dominated. Totaldaily integrated production along the transect ranged between60 and 436 mg C m^–2 day^–1. Elevated production rateswere recorded at stations occupied in the vicinity of the MIZand at all the major oceanic frontal systems. The contributionsof the various size fractions to total daily production displayedthe same spatial pattern as integrated biomass, with microphytoplanktonbeing the most important contributor in areas characterizedby elevated phytoplankton biomass. Outside these regions, nanophytoplanktondominated the total phytoplankton production. Again, an exceptionwas found in the ARC north of the STC where picophytoplanktondominated total production. There, the lowest production alongthe entire transect was recorded, with total daily integratedproduction always <90 mg C m^–2 day^–1. The increasedproduction rates recorded in the MIZ appeared to result fromincreased water column stability as indicated by a shallow mixed-layerdepth. Within the inter-frontal regions, the existence of adeep mixed layer appeared to limit phytoplankton production.Low silicate concentrations in the waters north of the APF mayalso have limited the growth of large microphytoplankton.     

环境样本中微型和微微型浮游植物高通量测序的引物优化

分别以18Sr DNA的V4区和V9区为目标基因,采用高通量测序平台和生物信息学方法,分析海水样品中微型和微微型浮游植物多样性。利用在线分析软件对V4(F/R)、V9(F/R)和C4(F/R)3对引物的敏感性、特异性进行了评估和比较,发现自行设计的引物V4(F/R)对真核藻类的扩增特异性高于V9(F/R)和C4(F/R)。高通量测序结果显示,检测样品平均获得68834条原始序列,高质量数据占99%以上,获得基因注释的序列数达94%以上。3对引物V4(F/R)、V9(F/R)、C4(F/R)鉴定的平均微型/微微型浮游植物OTUs数分别为78、42、58,引物V4(F/R)鉴定效率相对较高,同时对细小微胞藻(Micromonas pusilla)、(金牛微球藻Ostreococcus tauri)、密球藻(Pycnococcus provasolii)、抑食金球藻(Aureococcus anophagefferens)、赤潮异弯藻(Heterosigma akashiwo)等优势种检出频率高于引物V9(F/R)。相对已发表的2对引物,设计的引物V4(F/R)对海洋微型和微微型藻类多样性检测更为高效。     

Fast microzooplankton grazing on fast-growing,low-biomass phytoplankton: a case study in spring in Chesapeake Bay,Delaware Inland Bays and Delaware Bay

Dilution experiments were performed to examine the growth and grazing mortality rates of picophytoplankton (<2 μm), nanophytoplankton (2–20 μm), and microphytoplankton (>20 μm) at stations in the Chesapeake Bay (CB), the Delaware Inland Bays (DIB) and the Delaware Bay (DB), in early spring 2005. At station CB microphytoplankton, including chain-forming diatoms were dominant, and the microzooplankton assemblage was mainly composed of the tintinnid Tintinnopsis beroidea. At station DIB, the dominant species were microphytoplanktonic dinoflagellates, while the microzooplankton community was mainly composed of copepod nauplii and the oligotrich ciliate Strombidium sp. At station DB, nanophytoplankton were dominant components, and Strombidium and Tintinnopsis beroidea were the co-dominant microzooplankton. The growth rate and grazing mortality rate were 0.13–3.43 and 0.09–1.92 d⁻¹ for the different size fractionated phytoplankton. The microzooplankton ingested 73, 171, and 49% of standing stocks, and 95, 70, and 48% of potential primary productivity for total phytoplankton at station CB, DIB, and DB respectively. The carbon flux for total phytoplankton consumed by microzooplankton was 1224.11, 100.76, and 85.85 μg C l⁻¹ d⁻¹ at station CB, DIB, and DB, respectively. According to the grazing mortality rate, carbon consumption rate and carbon flux turn over rates, microzooplankton in study area mostly preferred to graze on picophytoplankton, which was faster growing but was lowest biomass component of the phytoplankton. The faster grazing on Fast-Growing-Low-Biomass (FGLB) phenomenon in coastal regions is explained as a resource partitioning strategy. This quite likely argues that although microzooplankton grazes strongly on phytoplankton in these regions, these microzooplankton grazers are passive. Handling editor: K. Martens     

Increasing picocyanobacteria success in shelf waters contributes to long‐term food web degradation

Continental margins are disproportionally important for global primary production, fisheries and CO₂ uptake. However, across the Northeast Atlantic shelves, there has been an ongoing summertime decline of key biota—large diatoms, dinoflagellates and copepods—that traditionally fuel higher tropic levels such as fish, sea birds and marine mammals. Here, we combine multiple time series with in situ process studies to link these declines to summer nutrient stress and increasing proportions of picophytoplankton that can comprise up to 90% of the combined pico‐ and nanophytoplankton biomass in coastal areas. Among the pico‐fraction, it is the cyanobacterium Synechococcus that flourishes when iron and nitrogen resupply to surface waters are diminished. Our field data show how traits beyond small size give Synechococcus a competitive edge over pico‐ and nanoeukaryotes. Key is their ability to grow at low irradiances near the nutricline, which is aided by their superior light‐harvesting system and high affinity to iron. However, minute size and lack of essential biomolecules (e.g. omega‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and sterols) render Synechococcus poor primary producers to sustain shelf sea food webs efficiently. The combination of earlier spring blooms and lower summer food quantity and quality creates an increasing period of suboptimal feeding conditions for zooplankton at a time of year when their metabolic demand is highest. We suggest that this nutrition‐related mismatch has contributed to the widespread, ~50% decline in summer copepod abundance we observe over the last 60 years. With Synechococcus clades being prominent from the tropics to the Arctic and their abundances increasing worldwide, our study informs projections of future food web dynamics in coastal and shelf areas where droughts and stratification lead to increasing nutrient starvation of surface waters.     

El Niño 1997-1998 impact on the plankton dynamics in the Gulf of Nicoya, Pacific coast of Costa Rica

The impact of the El Ni?o 1997-1998 phenomenom on plankton dynamics was studied during 1997 at the Punta Morales estuary, Gulf of Nicoya, Pacific coast of Costa Rica. The study covered dry season/transition and the rainy season. Phytoplankton (microphytoplankton > 30 microm and nanophytoplankton) were collected at two depths (50 and 10% light incidence) using a 5 L Niskin bottle, and samples taken to determine chlorophyll a. Temperature, salinity, oxygen, and Secchi depth were measured. Horizontal sub-surface zooplankton hauls were conducted with a conic zooplankton net of 0.49 m diameter and 280 microm mesh width, supplied with a flowmeter. Surface sea water temperature average was 29.9 +/- 0.9 degrees C, with a maximum of 31.5 degrees C in April and a minimun of 28 degrees C in March and October. Chlorophyll a concentration (phytoplankton net) averaged 3.1 +/- 1.7 mg/m3, with higher values during the rainy season and lower values during the transition. Nanophytoplankton chlorophyll a concentration averaged 2.5 +/- 1.2 mg/m3, with a maximum during the transition season. For both fractions there were significant differences between transition and rainy seasons, and for nanophytoplankton between dry and transition seasons (p < 0.05). In the last case, differences were explained by temperature. Herbivorous copepods dominated the abundance and biomass of zooplankton, with a biomass maximun of 167.3 in October and a minimun of 7.1 mg DW/m3 in December. These values are higher than those found some years ago in the same zone and those reported for some places in the Caribbean. The El Ni?o 1997-1998 phenomenon in the plankton dynamics appears to have produced a change in the phytoplankton structure. This is the first attempt to evaluate the possible impact of El Ni?o on the plankton dynamics of the Pacific coast of Central America.     

Lipids of different phytoplankton groups differ in sensitivity to degradation: Implications for carbon export

The future of life on Earth depends on how the ocean might change, as it plays an important role in mitigating the effects of global warming. The main role is played by phytoplankton. Not only are phytoplankton the base of the oceans' food web, but they also play an important role in the biological carbon pump (BCP), the process of forming organic matter (OM) and transporting it to the deep sea, representing a sink of atmospheric CO₂. Lipids are considered important vectors for carbon sequestration. A change in the phytoplankton community composition as a result of ocean warming is expected to affect the BCP. Many predictions indicate a dominance of small at the expense of large phytoplankton. To gain insight into interplay between the phytoplankton community structure, lipid production and degradation, and adverse environmental conditions, we analyzed phytoplankton composition, particulate organic carbon (POC) and its lipid fraction in the northern Adriatic over a period from winter to summer at seven stations with a gradient of trophic conditions. We found that at high salinity and low nutrient content, where nanophytoplankton prevailed over diatoms, the newly fixed carbon is substantially directed toward the synthesis of lipids. Lipids produced by nanophytoplankton, coccolithophores, and phytoflagellates, are more resistant to degradation than those produced by diatoms. The difference in lipid degradability is discussed as a difference in the size of the cell phycosphere. We hypothesize that the lipids of nanophytoplankton are less degradable due to the small phycosphere with a poorer bacterial community and consequently a lower lipid degradation rate compared with diatoms. The lipid chemical composition of the different phytoplankton groups could have a different susceptibility to degradation. Results suggest a successful lipid carbon sink of nanophytoplankton and, thus, a negative feedback on global warming.     

REACTIVE OXYGEN METABOLISM IN THE TROPICAL BROWN ALGA DICTYOTA DICHOTOMA

There is a growing understanding that phagotrophic ciliates are often important members of aquatic communities in terms of their trophic role and mobilization of small cell production to higher consumers. As formidable consumers of small phytoplankton species they are likely to be also important in determining the community composition of the pico- and nanophytoplankton assemblages. Dilution method experiments were conducted during the winter and summer in the South Slough, an arm of the Coos Bay on the southern Oregon coast, to assess the impact of ciliate grazing on two size fractions of chlorophyll (0.2 to 5 mm and> 5 mm) and on the growth and abundance of specific phytoplankton groups, particularly cryptophytes and Synechococcus sp. The premise of the dilution technique is that grazers are diluted with their food and the observed rate of change in chlorophyll or phytoplankton abundance is linearly related to the dilution factor. Results from previous studies using the dilution technique have been given in terms of the grazing impact of microzooplankton on total chlorophyll. The findings of the research presented using a more rigorous application of the dilution method suggest that ciliates are differential in their grazing of phytoplankton, targeting small phytoplankton biomass and preying selectively on components of the assemblage that constitute this biomass.     

Short-term interactions between phytoplankton and intertidal seagrass vegetation in a coastal lagoon (Bassin d’Arcachon, SW France)

We experimentally simulated the temporality of the interactions between intertidal seagrasses and phytoplankton in the context of nutrient enrichment from continental origin. Phytoplankton development was retarded after 1-day exposure to intertidal Zostera noltii Hornemann vegetation samples, with respect to control treatments. This was not explained by resource competition and we hypothesized a direct interference between seagrass leaves and phytoplankton. After separation from the vegetation in 5-day incubations, the final yield of large phytoplankton, mainly diatoms and haptophytes, was determined by nutrient loading. In contrast, Synechococcus-like cells (SYN), phototrophic picoeukaryotes and nanophytoplankton decreased after day 3, most likely due to grazing control. A second experiment was designed to test the pelagos?Cbenthos coupling in more detail. Therefore, we compared the effect of aboveground biomass of Z. noltii alone with the effect of the entire vegetation including the sediment. This experiment did not provide unequivocal support for our initial hypothesis on direct interference competition between Z. noltii leaves and phytoplankton. Surprisingly, we found a spectacular decrease of SYN, phototrophic picoeukaryotes and nanophytoplankton in treatments with Z. noltii vegetation including the sediment, which could be attributed to benthic grazing by suspension feeders.     

Picophytoplankton, nanophytoplankton, heterotrohpic bacteria and viruses in the Changjiang Estuary and adjacent coastal waters

Flow cytometry (FCM) was used to examine the abundances anddistributions of different picophytoplankton groups (i.e. Synechococcus,Prochlorococcus and picoeukaryotes), nanophytoplankton, heterotrophicbacteria and viruses were examined in the Changjiang Estuary,China and adjacent coastal waters during autumn 2004. Watertemperature and light availability were found to be criticalfactors for picophytoplankton growth. Positive correlationswere found between picophytoplankton, heterotrophic bacteriaand viruses, and a seaward-increasing trend in the V-I (thegroup yielding high green fluorescence according to FCM) populationwithin viruses was detected. The importance of nanophytoplanktonis progressively usurped by picophytoplankton with increasingdistance offshore. Picoeukaryotes are the most successful groupamong picophytoplankton in near-shore eutrophic waters, whereasProchlorococcus surpasses other groups within the pico- andnanophytoplankton community in offshore oligotrophic regionsof the East China Sea Shelf.     

THE IMPACT OF DIFFERENTIAL GRAZING BY PHAGOTROPHIC CILIATES ON PHYTOPLANKTON BIOMASS AND COMMUNITY STRUCTURE

There is a growing understanding that phagotrophic ciliates are often important members of aquatic communities in terms of their trophic role and mobilization of small cell production to higher consumers. As formidable consumers of small phytoplankton species they are likely to be also important in determining the community composition of the pico‐ and nanophytoplankton assemblages. Dilution method experiments were conducted during the winter and summer in the South Slough, an arm of the Coos Bay on the southern Oregon coast, to assess the impact of ciliate grazing on two size fractions of chlorophyll (0.2 to 5 mm and> 5 mm) and on the growth and abundance of specific phytoplankton groups, particularly cryptophytes and Synechococcus sp. The premise of the dilution technique is that grazers are diluted with their food and the observed rate of change in chlorophyll or phytoplankton abundance is linearly related to the dilution factor. Results from previous studies using the dilution technique have been given in terms of the grazing impact of microzooplankton on total chlorophyll. The findings of the research presented using a more rigorous application of the dilution method suggest that ciliates are differential in their grazing of phytoplankton, targeting small phytoplankton biomass and preying selectively on components of the assemblage that constitute this biomass.     

Adventitious root production and plastic resource allocation to biomass determine burial tolerance in woody plants from central Canadian coastal dunes

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Burial is a recurrent stress imposed upon plants of coastal dunes. Woody plants are buried on open coastal dunes and in forested areas behind active blowouts; however, little is known about the burial responses and adaptive traits of these species. The objectives of this study were: (a) to determine the growth and morphological responses to burial in sand of seven woody plant species native to central Canadian coastal dunes; and (b) to identify traits that determine burial tolerance in these species. METHODS: Field experiments were conducted to determine the responses of each species to burial. Saplings were exposed to burial treatments of 0, 10, 25, 50 and 75 % of their height. Burial responses were evaluated based on regressions of total biomass, height, adventitious root production and percentage allocation to shoot, root and adventitious root biomass on percentage burial. KEY RESULTS: Pinus strobus and Picea glauca lacked burial tolerance. In response to the burial gradient, these species showed a strong linear decline in total biomass, minimal adventitious root production that peaked at moderate levels (25-50 % burial) and no change in allocation to shoots vs. roots. The tolerant species Juniperus virginiana, Thuja occidentalis and Picea mariana showed a quadratic response to burial, with little change in biomass up to 50 % burial, but a large decline at 75 %. These species produced abundant adventitious roots up to 50 % burial, but did not alter allocation patterns over the range of burial levels. Populus balsamifera and Salix cordata were stimulated by burial. These species showed linear increases in biomass with increasing burial, produced copious adventitious roots across the gradient and showed a clear shift in allocation to vertical shoot growth and adventitious root production at the expense of the original roots under high burial conditions. CONCLUSIONS: Adventitious root production and plastic resource allocation to biomass are adaptive traits of coastal dune woody plants in central Canada, and provide a basis for assessing burial tolerance in woody plants on coastal dunes throughout the world.     

Plant size metrics and organic carbon content of Florida salt marsh vegetation

Carbon stored in soil and vegetative biomass in mangrove swamps, salt marshes, and seagrass flats (“coastal blue carbon”) is a significant component of the coastal carbon budget due to the ability of these ecosystems to sequester atmospheric carbon dioxide as plant biomass and peat. Growing interest in the protection of these essential yet vulnerable coastal ecosystems, as well as recognition of their capacity to sequester atmospheric carbon dioxide, has led to the need for rapid and accurate quantification of location-specific coastal blue carbon stocks. This study provides allometric equations for the calculation of aboveground dry biomass based on plant height for 18 salt marsh species from Tampa Bay, Florida, USA. The 18 plant species were also analyzed for carbon and nitrogen content to determine the appropriate carbon conversion factor to use for blue carbon calculations. The salt marsh plants had an average of 1.2 ± 0.4% nitrogen and 41.1 ± 5.5% carbon. With the exception of Batis maritima, which had a carbon content of only 23.4%, carbon content for all other species ranged from 33.4–47.1%. The four most succulent plant species in this study contained an average of 33.3 ± 7.0% carbon, while the nine graminoid species contained 44.4 ± 2.0% carbon. These species-specific equations and carbon data provide non-destructive methods to rapidly quantify vegetative biomass and carbon stocks for monitoring efforts and blue carbon stock assessments.     

雷州半岛近海夏季浮游植物和浮游细菌生物量的分布及其影响因素

于2010年7月(夏季)调查了雷州半岛近海海域浮游植物和细菌生物量的空间分布特征,并分析了其与海区主要环境因子间的相互关系。结果表明:雷州半岛近海海域夏季浮游植物生物量的变化范围为15.66～1114.92mg.m-3;平均值为192.49mg.m-3;夏季浮游细菌生物量的变化范围为3.36～50.12mgC.m-3,平均值为18.43mgC.m-3;浮游植物生物量水平分布格局在不同区域间没有显著差异,浮游细菌生物量的水平分布呈现西部海区>东部海区>南部海区的格局,差异极显著;浮游植物和浮游细菌生物量在表底层的垂直分布格局没有明显的规律,表、底层生物量或高或低,差异不显著;浮游植物和浮游细菌生物量多体现近岸站位>中间站位>远岸站位,即从陆向向海向呈递减的分布格局;夏季雷州半岛近海海域浮游细菌生物量与水温、pH和硅酸盐呈显著或极显著正相关,与盐度、TOC和磷酸盐呈极显著负相关;浮游植物生物量与pH和DO呈显著或极显著正相关,与盐度和TOC呈显极显著负相关;浮游植物生物量与浮游细菌生物量存在显著的正相关性,二者存在着相互影响的调控关系。