Nitrogen uptake by size-fractionated plankton in permanently well-mixed temperate coastal waters

Nitrogen uptake by net- (15–200 µm), nano- (1–15µm) and picoplankton (<1 µm) was measured overseasonal cycles at two stations with different patterns of biologicaland chemical cycles in the Morlaix Bay (western English Channel).Though assimilable dissolved N nutrient pool at both stationswas nitrate-dominated, characteristics of biomass and N uptakeby netplankton differed from conventional patterns in two respects.In the first, biomass (26–30%) and N uptake (36–43%)were less important than those of nanoplankton. In the second,the netplankton did not show any marked preference for nitrateover ammonium (nitrate to ammonium uptake ratios of 0.98 and1.08). In contrast, nanoplankton had a preference for ammoniumover nitrate (ammonium to nitrate uptake ratios of 2 and 1.2).N uptake by picoplankton was only 8% of total N uptake at bothstations and was supported mainly by regenerated N (66% ammoniumand 17% urea), with nitrate uptake detectable in only one instanceand nitrite uptake in none. Substrate-dependent uptake of ammoniumin all fractions and a higher ammonium uptake in the nanoplanktonfraction in summer at both stations when ambient ammonium concentrationswere high indicated that while nitrate may satisfy a part ofN requirements, availability of ammonium and its flux throughnanoplankton determine the magnitude of total N uptake in thesewaters. Most of the N uptake in picoplankton appears to be autotrophic,suggesting that a substantial part of heterotrophic uptake,if any, could be localized in the fractions >1 µm,and mediated by free-living and particle-bound bacteria.     

Seasonal variation in plankton, submicrometre particles and size-fractionated dissolved organic carbon in Antarctic coastal waters

Concentrations of plankton, suspended particles 0.74–87 μm equivalent spherical diameter and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) were measured from May to February at an Antarctic coastal site. Bacteria-sized particles 0.74–1 μm diameter, and bacterial cells and heterotrophic protists all exhibited a seasonal minimum during winter and maxima in summer. Bacteria composed <10% of the bacteria-sized particles. Release of autotrophic protists from the ice caused water column biomass of autotrophs to reach maximum concentrations in October and November, but maximum cell concentration in the water column was reached in January. Microheterotroph biomass weakly reflected the release of the ice algal community but reached maximum concentration during the water column bloom in January. Total DOC concentrations varied from 0.36 mg C l⁻¹ in July to 3.10 mg C l⁻¹ in October, with a yearly average of 1.51 mg C l⁻¹. Ultrafiltration of DOC revealed that the molecular weight composition of the DOC differed greatly through the year. DOC <5 kDa molecular weight reached a maximum of 1.25 mg C l⁻¹ in October and accounted for up to 60% of total DOC in July. Concentrations of high molecular weight DOC (>100 kDa) were highest in July and November, with the DOC (100 kDa–0.5 μm) fraction reaching a maximum of 1.22 mg C l⁻¹ in November and composing 82% of the total DOC in January. Wet chemical oxidation and high-temperature catalytic oxidation organic carbon analyses were compared. Good correlation was observed between methods during summer but no significant correlation existed in winter, indicating that winter DOC may be refractory. Accepted: 21 March 2000     

Seasonal patterns in the sunlight sensitivity of bacterioplankton from Mediterranean surface coastal waters

The sensitivity of coastal marine bacterioplankton to natural photosynthetically active radiation (PAR, 400-700?nm) and ultraviolet radiation (UVR, 280-400?nm) was evaluated in five experiments over a seasonal cycle in the Blanes Bay, NW Mediterranean Sea. Exposure to natural solar radiation generally inhibited bulk bacterial activities or damaged membrane integrity when irradiances were high (i.e. spring and summer experiments) and, in general, UVB (280-320?nm) accounted for most of the inhibition. When assessing activity ((3) H-leucine uptake) at the single-cell level by microautoradiography and rRNA gene probing, seasonally varying responses and sensitivities were found among bacterial groups. While autumn and winter irradiances seemed too low to cause changes in activity, variable effects were found in spring and summer. SAR11 was consistently inhibited by UVR and PAR exposure, whereas Gammaproteobacteria and Bacteroidetes showed higher resistance. Roseobacter, Synechococcus and the NOR5 clade were occasionally photostimulated in their activity, mainly because of PAR. Our results indicate that a component of seasonality exists in the bacterial responses to solar radiation, which vary not only depending on the irradiance and the spectral characteristics, but also on the previous light history and the taxonomic composition of the community.     

Seasonal cycle of nitrogen and phytoplankton biomass in a well-mixed coastal system (Eastern English Channel)

The hydrological structure of the French coastal part of the eastern English Channel is strongly linked with tidal regimes and riverine input. Two distinct water masses are separated by a frontal area and drift along the coast in SW–NE direction. These two water masses are well-mixed during the entire year. We studied the seasonal dynamic of nitrogenous nutrients, chlorophyll a and organic particulate carbon and nitrogen at two stations, characteristic of these water masses, during the year 1994. Results show (i) a winter stock of nitrate and ammonium, (ii) a pre-bloom period corresponding to the use of ammonium, (iii) a high bloom period of short duration using nitrate, (iv) a post-bloom period with little phytoplanktonic activity probably limited by nutrients other than nitrogen and (v) an autumnal period of reconstitution of stock. The essential difference between the two stations is the importance of winter stock of nutrients and of bloom chlorophyll a concentration, with the coastal station richer than the offshore one. An assumption about the nitrogen available for new production in this area gives a value of 57% of the winter stock of inorganic nitrogen.     

Decomposition of urea by size-fractionated planktonic community in a eutrophic reservoir in Japan

Free bacterial populations were separated from an intact planktonic community in water of a eutrophic reservoir in Japan by filtration through Whatman GF/ C glass fiber filters (mean porosity 1.2 µm). Urea decomposition by the free bacterial populations and the intact planktonic community was determined in six different months.The separated free bacteria apparently did not take part in urea-decomposition in waters of the reservoir through the year: the number of free heterotrophic bacteria increased during the urea-decomposition experiments, however, the concentration of urea did not decrease. Whereas, in five cases out of six, urea was decomposed by the intact planktonic community. Probably, phytoplankton were responsible for most of the urea-decomposition. On the assumption that the decomposition of urea obeyed first-order kinetics, rate constants were calculated to be 0.00–0.63 day^–1 with a mean value of 0.21 day^–1.     

Seasonal patterns of ammonium and nitrate uptake in nine temperate forest ecosystems

Summary Seasonal patterns of net N mineralization and nitrification in the 0–10 cm mineral soil of 9 temperate forest sites were analyzed using approximately monthlyin situ soil incubations. Measured nitrification rates in incubated soils were found to be good estimates of nitrification in surrounding forest soils. Monthly net N mineralization rates and pools of ammonium-N in soil fluctuated during the growing season at all sites. Nitrate-N pools in soil were generally smaller than ammonium-N pools and monthly nitrification rates were less variable than net N mineralization rates. Nitrate supplied most of the N taken up annually by vegetation at 8 of the 9 sites. Furthermore, despite the large fluctuations in ammonium-N pools and monthly net N mineralization, nitrate was taken up at relatively uniform rates during the growing season at most sites.     

Seasonal microbial community dynamics correlate with phytoplankton-derived polysaccharides in surface coastal waters

Phytoplankton produce large amounts of polysaccharide gel material known as transparent exopolymer particles (TEP). We investigated the potential links between phytoplankton-derived TEP and microbial community structure in the sea surface microlayer and underlying water at the English Channel time-series station L4 during a spring diatom bloom, and in two adjacent estuaries. Major changes in bacterioneuston and bacterioplankton community structure occurred after the peak of the spring bloom at L4, and coincided with the significant decline of microlayer and water column TEP. Increased abundance of Flavobacteriales and Rhodobacterales in bacterioneuston and bacterioplankton communities at L4 was significantly related to the TEP decline, indicating that both taxa could be responsible. The results suggest that TEP is an important factor in determining microbial diversity in coastal waters, and that TEP utilisation could be a niche occupied by Flavobacteriales and Rhodobacterales.     

Seasonal dynamics of a glycan-degrading flavobacterial genus in a tidally mixed coastal temperate habitat

Coastal marine habitats constitute hotspots of primary productivity. In temperate regions, this is due both to massive phytoplankton blooms and dense colonisation by macroalgae that mostly store carbon as glycans, contributing substantially to local and global carbon sequestration. Because they control carbon and energy fluxes, algae-degrading microorganisms are crucial for coastal ecosystem functions. Environmental surveys revealed consistent seasonal dynamics of alga-associated bacterial assemblages, yet resolving what factors regulate the in situ abundance, growth rate and ecological functions of individual taxa remains a challenge. Here, we specifically investigated the seasonal dynamics of abundance and activity for a well-known alga-degrading marine flavobacterial genus in a tidally mixed coastal habitat of the Western English Channel. We show that members of the genus Zobellia are a stable, low-abundance component of healthy macroalgal microbiota and can also colonise particles in the water column. This genus undergoes recurring seasonal variations with higher abundances in winter, significantly associated to biotic and abiotic variables. Zobellia can become a dominant part of bacterial communities on decaying macroalgae, showing a strong activity and high estimated in situ growth rates. These results provide insights into the seasonal dynamics and environmental constraints driving natural populations of alga-degrading bacteria that influence coastal carbon cycling.     

Seasonal variation of activity patterns in roe deer in a temperate forested area

We investigated the activity patterns of a European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) population living in a forested Apennine area in central Italy, in order to shed light on the environmental and biological factors that were expected to account for the observed activity patterns on daily and yearly bases. Daily and seasonal activity patterns of 31 radio-collared roe deer were assessed through sessions of radio tracking for a total period of 18 consecutive months. Roe deer showed bimodal activity patterns throughout the year, with the two highest peaks of activity recorded at dawn and dusk. Activity patterns of males and females differed during the territorial period (from early spring to late summer), whereas they did not during the nonterritorial period. Most likely, behavioral thermoregulation can be held responsible for variation of daily activity patterns in different seasons. In winter, for instance, activity during the dawn period was significantly higher than in other seasons and daylight activity was significantly higher than at night. Nocturnal activity was highest in summer and lowest in winter. During the hunting season, moreover, roe deer showed lower activity levels than during the rest of the year. The prediction that roe deer would show lower activity levels during full moon nights, when the predation risk was assumed to be higher, was not confirmed by our data. Activity rhythms in roe deer were thus subjected to both endogenous and environmental factors, the latter working as exogenous synchronization cues. Accordingly, in changing environmental and ecological conditions, a circadian cycle of activity could be seen as the result of complex interactions among daily behavioral rhythm, digestive physiology, and external modifying factors.     

Comparative study of the reproduction of Calanus helgolandicus in well-mixed and seasonally stratified coastal waters of the western English Channel

Field estimates of the production and viability of eggs of thecopepod Calanus helgolandicus were conducted weekly during 1993and 1994 at two fixed stations in the western English Channel.The stations were located in the coastal zone off Roscoff (NWFrance) and Plymouth (SW England). These areas are characterizedby homogeneous and seasonally stratified waters, respectively.In these two different environments, the egg production ratevaried seasonally and was significantly correlated with chlorophylla concentration, but not with surface temperature. Significantcorrelations between fecundity and particulate carbon and nitrogenwere found only off Plymouth. The seasonal pattern of fecunditydiffered between the two sites. Off Plymouth, spawning occurredearlier, lasted longer and was significantly higher than inRoscoff waters. In both localities, fecundity was generallybelow the maximum specific egg production rate (     

Uptake and regeneration of inorganic nitrogen in coastal waters influenced by the Mississippi River spatial and seasonal variations

The Mississippi and Atchafalaya Rivers introduce large amountsof nutrients to surface waters of the northern Gulf of Mexico.This paper reports the most complete data to date on inorganicnitrogen uptake and regeneration in a broad range of coastalenvironments influenced by the river water, along with informationon nutrient concentrations and including pico-, nano-, and microplanktonspecies composition. Nitrate in surface waters is greatly reducednear the river plume, at salinities between 5 and 25 PSU, wherethe largest variance in uptake rates was observed, and was coincidentwith peaks in surface chlorophyll. Despite the depletion ofnitrate, nitrogen limitation was a rare event during the study,because of relatively high ammonium concentrations (>1 µmolNH₄⁺ I^–1 and regeneration rates. Two contrasting situationscharacterize the seasonal nitrogen dynamics in surface shelfwaters. High nitrate input during the spring caused a largebloom in which the cells were well adapted to use nitrate.Thedominant phytoplankton species were chain forming diatoms, alsoreported in sediment-trap studies in the area. Ammonium regenerationonly accounted for a small fraction of the nitrogen requirementsduring the bloom. In contrast, the low flow of river water duringsummer resulted in low nitrate concentrations in surface water.In this case phytoplankton productivity was highly reduced andmay depend greatly on ‘in sita’ ammonium regeneration.     

Seasonal patterns in a temperate intertidal fish community on the west coast of South Africa

Synopsis Seasonality was investigated in an intertidal ichthyofaunal community on the west coast of South Africa. Fishes were collected monthly from 12 to 16 intertidal pools between May 1992 and May 1993, using the ichthyocide rotenone. On each occasion sampling effort was divided equally between four biologically determined shore zones, namely the cochlear, lower and upper balanoid and littorina zones. A total of 5 409 fishes belonging to 20 species and five families was collected. All fishes were intertidal residents. No seasonal trend could be found in the total density of fishes during the year, the densities of individual species, species diversity or evenness. Thus species composition remained stable over the year. The proportion of mature individuals of each species decreased in summer as a result of recruitment of juveniles at this time. This almost complete lack of seasonality was attributed to the absence of transient species from this community.     

Spatiotemporal patterns of marine mammal distribution in coastal waters of Galicia, NW Spain

The spatial and seasonal distribution of cetaceans and possible links with environmental conditions were studied at the Galician continental shelf. Data were collected between February–August 2001 and June–September 2003 during opportunistic surveys onboard fishing boats. Seven species of cetaceans were identified from 250 sightings of 6,846 individuals. The common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) was by far the most frequently sighted and the most widely distributed species. Spatiotemporal trends in cetacean distribution and abundance, and their relationships with environmental parameters (sea depth, SST and chlorophyll-a) were quantified using generalised additive models (GAMs). Results for all cetaceans were essentially the same as for common dolphins alone. Modelling results indicated that the number of common dolphin sightings per unit effort was higher further south. The number of individual common dolphins seen per sighting of this species (i.e. group size) was however higher in the north and west of the study area, higher later in the year and higher in 2001 than in 2003. In contrast, the number of common dolphin calves seen (per sighting of this species) was higher in the south. Models including environmental variables indicated larger common dolphin group sizes in deeper waters and at higher chlorophyll concentrations (i.e. in more productive areas). There was also a positive relationship between survey effort and group size, which is probably an artefact of the tendency of the survey platforms (fishing boats) to spend most time in areas of high fish abundance. Numbers of common dolphin calves per sighting were found to be higher in shallower waters. The results are consistent with common dolphins foraging mainly in deeper waters of the Galician continental shelf, while more southern inshore waters may represent a nursery area.     

春季海南岛近岸海域尿素与浮游生物的脲酶活性

2011年春季(4-5月),对海南岛的海口湾、澄迈湾、文昌八门湾、陵水新村湾和大东海5个海湾的尿素浓度及浮游生物的脲酶活性开展调查研究,结合其它理化环境因子,分析海南岛近岸海域尿素的可利用性及其对该海区浮游植物生长可能产生的影响.结果表明,海南岛近岸水体中尿素平均浓度为2.07-3.30 μmol/L,占总溶解态氮TDN含量的14％-38％,尿素占TDN比例由北向东、南方向递增.浮游生物脲酶活性为0.30-0.84 μmolN· L-1· h-1,海口湾最高,从北部向东、南部逐渐减少.各海湾较高水平的尿素和脲酶活性主要分布在排污口、养殖区或旅游区的近岸海域.硅藻为优势种,甲藻种类少且密度低,部分甲藻密度达到104-105个/L的水体,尿素和脲酶活性也处于较高水平.海区浮游植物细胞密度与脲酶活性或尿素占TDN比例等因子存在相关性,表明尿素是海南海域浮游植物生长不可忽略的重要氮源.尿素在一定程度上促进春季海南岛近岸海域甲藻等浮游植物的生长,可能对浮游植物群落结构的改变产生重要影响.     

Environmental influences on Vibrio populations in northern temperate and boreal coastal waters (Baltic and Skagerrak Seas)

Even if many Vibrio spp. are endemic to coastal waters, their distribution in northern temperate and boreal waters is poorly studied. To identify environmental factors regulating Vibrio populations in a salinity gradient along the Swedish coastline, we combined Vibrio-specific quantitative competitive PCR with denaturant gradient gel electrophoresis-based genotyping. The total Vibrio abundance ranged from 4 x 10(3) to 9.6 x 10(4) cells liter(-1), with the highest abundances in the more saline waters of the Skagerrak Sea. Several Vibrio populations were present throughout the salinity gradient, with abundances of single populations ranging from 5 x 10(2) to 7 x 10(4) cells liter(-1). Clear differences were observed along the salinity gradient, where three populations dominated the more saline waters of the Skagerrak Sea and two populations containing mainly representatives of V. anguillarum and V. aestuarianus genotypes were abundant in the brackish waters of the Baltic Sea. Our results suggest that this apparent niche separation within the genus Vibrio may also be influenced by alternate factors such as nutrient levels and high abundances of dinoflagellates. A V. cholerae/V. mimicus population was detected in more than 50% of the samples, with abundances exceeding 10(3) cells liter(-1), even in the cold (annual average water temperature of around 5 degrees C) and low-salinity (2 to 4 per thousand) samples from the Bothnian Bay (latitude, 65 degrees N). The unsuspected and widespread occurrence of this population in temperate and boreal coastal waters suggests that potential Vibrio pathogens may also be endemic to cold and brackish waters and hence may represent a previously overlooked health hazard.     

Eutrophication and macroalgal blooms in temperate and tropical coastal waters: nutrient enrichment experiments with Ulva spp.

Receiving coastal waters and estuaries are among the most nutrient‐enriched environments on earth, and one of the symptoms of the resulting eutrophication is the proliferation of opportunistic, fast‐growing marine seaweeds. Here, we used a widespread macroalga often involved in blooms, Ulva spp., to investigate how supply of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), the two main potential growth‐limiting nutrients, influence macroalgal growth in temperate and tropical coastal waters ranging from low‐ to high‐nutrient supplies. We carried out N and P enrichment field experiments on Ulva spp. in seven coastal systems, with one of these systems represented by three different subestuaries, for a total of nine sites. We showed that rate of growth of Ulva spp. was directly correlated to annual dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) concentrations, where growth increased with increasing DIN concentration. Internal N pools of macroalgal fronds were also linked to increased DIN supply, and algal growth rates were tightly coupled to these internal N pools. The increases in DIN appeared to be related to greater inputs of wastewater to these coastal waters as indicated by high δ¹⁵N signatures of the algae as DIN increased. N and P enrichment experiments showed that rate of macroalgal growth was controlled by supply of DIN where ambient DIN concentrations were low, and by P where DIN concentrations were higher, regardless of latitude or geographic setting. These results suggest that understanding the basis for macroalgal blooms, and management of these harmful phenomena, will require information as to nutrient sources, and actions to reduce supply of N and P in coastal waters concerned.