Effects of organic nitrogen components from terrestrial input on the phytoplankton community in Jiaozhou Bay.

Dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) from terrestrial input exacerbates eutrophication and induces harmful algal blooms. We investigated the effects of hydrophilic (Hic) and low molecular weight (LMW) DON on the phytoplankton community in Jiaozhou Bay during autumn (October 2017) and spring (May 2018). Our results showed DON additions significantly increased algal growth while decreasing community biodiversity and provide a competitive advantage for Skeletonema costatum. These situations were further intensified by increasing temperature in autumn. Additionally, Hic DON had a higher bioavailability than LMW DON. Based on emission-excitation matrix spectra, we identified protein-like components as the main components of Hic DON whereas humus-like components were the principal components of LMW. Correlation analysis confirmed a positive correlation between DON bioavailability and protein-like components. Therefore, our results indicate DON from terrestrial input disrupts the structural stability of the phytoplankton community and increases the risk of harmful algal blooms, which in turn threaten coastal ecosystems.

Influences of the hydrophilic components of two anthropogenic dissolved organic nitrogen groups on phytoplankton growth in Jiaozhou Bay, China.

Increasing human activities have caused the accumulation of dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) in the ocean, which can alter dominant coastal phytoplankton species. However, insights into DON's effects on marine phytoplankton growth are insufficient compared with those of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN), especially regarding the role of specific DON components. Therefore, in this study, the effects of the hydrophilic (Hic) and low molecular weight (LMW) components of two anthropogenic DON sources on the growth and bioavailable nitrogen uptake of phytoplankton were studied using in situ cultural experiments conducted in Jiaozhou Bay, China. Animal-derived DON from domestic and livestock breeding showed a higher bioavailability compared with that of vegetal DON derived from agricultural sources, with bioavailable component proportions of 76% ± 4% and 66% ± 3%, respectively. Both forms of DON could be absorbed by Skeletonema costatum, stimulating it to become the dominant species in the mesocosm ecosystem; the hydrophilic components of DON contributed approximately 75% of the uptake of DON by S. costatum. The bioavailability of LMW DON was significantly (p < 0.05) lower than that of the Hic DON. The high bioavailability of the Hic DON was mainly associated with its protein-like T1 and T2 components, identified using parallel factor analysis on the excitation-emission-matrix spectra, while the low bioavailability of LMW DON was mainly associated with the humus-like A component. The protein-like T2 components may be directly absorbed by algae, while T1 may be transformed through mineralization and algal absorption. Understanding the impacts of anthropogenic DON and its components on phytoplankton will help improve coastal environmental management. More knowledge of the effect of anthropogenic DON on the phytoplankton community structure in coastal waters should be accumulated in the future.

[Distribution Characteristics of Chromophoric Dissolved Organic Matter and Nutrients from the Yellow Sea and Bohai Sea in Autumn].

Water samples were collected from the Yellow and Bohai seas during November 2013 and the chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) and nutrients concentrations were investigated, including their composition, source and distribution characteristics. CDOM was analyzed by excitation-emission matrix spectroscopy (EEMS) in combination with a parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC). Three terrestrial humic-like substances (C1, C2, and C3) and one protein-like (C4) substances were identified. The three terrestrial humic-like components had a similar horizontal distribution, decreasing from inshore to offshore. The protein-like component, showed higher values for both inshore and offshore areas in the Yellow Sea at the surface layer and the middle layer of the Bohai Sea, while in other layers it had a similar distribution pattern as the terrestrial humic-like components. In the Bohai Sea, the dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) concentration showed a decreasing trend from inshore to offshore areas and the concentration of dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP) gradually decreased from the Caofeidian coastal and central areas to other adjacent areas. The dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) showed an increasing from inshore to the central area of the Bohai Sea. DIN and DON were higher in surface layer than in the bottom layer and for DIP this was the opposite in the Bohai Sea. In the Yellow Sea, DON concentrations showed a decreasing trend from inshore to offshore areas. DIN and DIP had higher concentrations at inshore areas in the surface and middle layers, while in the bottom layer they had higher concentrations in offshore areas. The vertical distribution of the DIN and DIP showed higher values in the bottom layer than surface layers and for DON this was the opposite. These results also showed that the concentrations of DIN, DON, and DIP in the Bohai sea were overall higher than the Yellow Sea. A discriminant analysis was performed through redundancy analysis (RAD) of these water quality parameters, including the four fluorescent components, an absorption coefficient (a355), chlorophyll a concentration, conductivity, dissolved oxygen (DO), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), DIN, DON, and DIP. The RDA indicated that the four fluorescent components are mainly affected by terrestrial inputs. DOC was affected by both terrestrial and marine sources but terrestrial inputs were the major contributor. It was also indicated that the DIN concentration was affected by terrestrial inputs in the Bohai Sea area and by both terrestrial and marine sources in the Yellow Sea. DON concentrations were mainly affected by marine sources in the Bohai Sea and terrestrial inputs in the Yellow Sea. DIP concentrations were affected by both terrestrial and marine sources in the studied areas.

Growth responses of Ulva prolifera to inorganic and organic nutrients: Implications for macroalgal blooms in the southern Yellow Sea, China.

The marine macrophyte Ulva prolifera is the dominant green-tide-forming seaweed in the southern Yellow Sea, China. Here we assessed, in the laboratory, the growth rate and nutrient uptake responses of U. prolifera to different nutrient treatments. The growth rates were enhanced in incubations with added organic and inorganic nitrogen [i.e. nitrate (NO3(-)), ammonium (NH4(+)), urea and glycine] and phosphorus [i.e. phosphate (PO4(3-)), adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and glucose 6-phosphate (G-6-P)], relative to the control. The relative growth rates of U. prolifera were higher when enriched with dissolved organic nitrogen (urea and glycine) and phosphorus (ATP and G-6-P) than inorganic nitrogen (NO3(-) and NH4(+)) and phosphorus (PO4(3-)). In contrast, the affinity was higher for inorganic than organic nutrients. Field data in the southern Yellow Sea showed significant inverse correlations between macroalgal biomass and dissolved organic nutrients. Our laboratory and field results indicated that organic nutrients such as urea, glycine and ATP, may contribute to the development of macroalgal blooms in the southern Yellow Sea.

[Lake algae chemotaxonomy technology based on fluorescence excitation emission matrix and parallel factor analysis].

An in vivo three-dimensional fluorescence method for the determination of algae community structure was developed by parallel factor (PARAFAC) analysis and CHEMTAX. The PARAFAC model was applied to fluorescence excitation-emission matrix (EEM) of 23 algae species and 12 fluorescent components were identified according to the residual sum of squares and specificity of the composition profiles of fluorescent. Based on the 12 fluorescent components, the algae species at different growth stages were correctly classified at the division level using Bayesian discriminant analysis (BDA). Then the reference fluorescent component ratio matrix was constructed for CHEMTAX, and the EEM-PARAFAC-CHEMTAX method was developed to differentiate taxonomic groups of algae. When the fluorometric method was used for 531 single-species samples, the average correct discrimination ratio (CDR) was 99.1% and the correct discrimination ratios (CDRs) were 100% at the division level except Chlorophyta, the CDR of which was 97.5%. The CDRs for 95 mixtures were above 98.5% for the dominant algae species and above 90.5% for the subdominant algae species, with average relative contents of 69.7% and 26.4%, respectively. This technique would be of great aid when low-cost and rapid analysis is needed for samples in a large batch.

[Resolving characteristic of CDOM by excitation-emission matrix spectroscopy combined with parallel factor analysis in the seawater of outer Yangtze Estuary in Autumn in 2010].

The distribution and estuarine behavior of fluorescent components of chromophoric dissolved organic matter in the seawater of outer Yangtze Estuary were determined by fluorescence excitation emission matrix spectra combined with parallel factor analysis. Six individual fluorescent components were identified by PARAFAC models, including three terrestrial humic-like components C1 [330 nm/390(430) nm], C2 (390 nm/480 nm), C3 (360 nm/440 nm), marine biological production component C5 (300 nm/400 nm) and protein-like components C4 (290 nm/350 nm) and C6 (275 nm/300 nm). The results indicated that C1, C2, and C3 showed a conservative mixing behavior in the whole estuarine region, especially in high-salinity region. And the fluorescence intensity proportion of C1 and C3 decreased with increase of salinity and fluorescence intensity proportion of C2 kept constant with increase of salinity in the whole estuarine region. While C4 showed conservative mixing behavior in low-salinity region and non-conservative mixing behavior in high-salinity region, and fluorescence intensity proportion of C4 increased with increase of salinity. However, C5 and C6 showed a non-conservative mixing behavior and fluorescence intensity proportion increased with increase of salinity in high-salinity region. Significantly spatial difference was recorded for CDOM absorption coefficient in the coastal region and in the open water areas with the highest value in coastal region and the lowest value in the open water areas. The scope of absorption coefficient and absorption slope was higher in coastal region than that in the open water areas. Significantly positive correlations were found between CDOM absorption coefficient and the fluorescence intensities of C1, C2, C3, and C4, but no significant correlation was found between C5 and C6, suggesting that the river inputs contributed to the coastal areas, while CDOM in the open water areas was affected by terrestrial inputs and phytoplankton degradation.

[Seasonal variation and spatial distribution of nutrients and their relationships with harmful algal blooms in coastal area of the East China Sea].

Based on the data from four cruises that carried out in the Changjiang River estuary and its adjacent areas from 2002-04 to 2003-02, the seasonal variation and spatial distribution of nutrients were analyzed, and the relationship between nutrients condition and the harmful algal blooms (HABs) was also discussed. Results showed that the annual average concentration of nutrient was (17.93 +/- 2.46) micromol x L(-1) for DIN, (0.59 +/- 0.11) micromol x L(-1) for PO4(3-) -P, (15.34 +/- 3.23) micromol x L(-1) for SiO3(2-) -Si, and the study area was in the state of eutrophication. The average concentration of nutrient showed a remarkable seasonal fluctuation with the higher value in autumn and winter and lower value in spring and summer. The spatial distribution of the nutrients was typically such that the concentrations of DIN, PO4(3-) -P and SiO3(2-) -Si decreased from inshore to offshore area, and the contours generally decreased rapidly in down-coast directions. DIN and SiO3(2-) -Si of the study area were largely contributed by Changjiang River diluted water and other terrigenous inputs, while PO4(3-) -P mainly by Changjiang River diluted water and the Taiwan Warm Current. The following HABs showed that its occurrences were usually laid in the areas with higher nutrients and lower total suspended particles (TSP).

[Selective algicidal activity of Gemini1231 biquaternary ammonium salt].

The growth-inhibiting effects of Gemini1231 surfactant on Prorocentrum donghaiense, Alexandrium tamarense, Gymnodinium sp., Heterosigma akashiwo, Skeletonema costatum , Platymonas helgolanidica and Platymonas subcordiforus were investigated. The results demonstrate that the growth of P. donghaiense, A. tamarense and H. akashiwo was strongly inhibited in medium containing Gemini1231 from 0.2 to 0.5 mg x L(-1), and the S. costatum was also inhibited at concentrations above 0.5 mg x L(-1). However, the effects of this surfactant on the growth of Gymnodinium sp. and two beneficial green microalgae tested were negligible under the same treatment, indicating the potential for the selective control of red tide organisms. In addition, the analysis of the correlation between the inhibitory effect of the Gemini1231 on the algae tested and fatty acid composition of the algae implied that the differences in the fatty acid composition, especially the proportion of PUFAs, were responsible for the species-specific responses to biquaternary ammonium salt.

[Kinetic model for bioconcentration of No. 0 diesel water-accommodated fraction by phytoplankton].

A "cW (pollutant concentration in water) Balance Method" was proposed, and the kinetic parameters for bioconcentration of No. 0 diesel water-accommodated fraction by phytoplankton was measured and calculated by a modified bioconcentration model with non-linear fitting software. The data and parameters obtained by "cW Balance Method" showed well correlationship with those by the extraction of ultrasonication bath with the equilibrium method. The technique proposed in the present study is particularly well suited for the study on the bioconcentration of organic pollution toxins in the field for its convenience, simplicity, veracity and reliability.

[Nutrient distribution and its controlling mechanism in the adjacent area of Changjiang River estuary].

In this paper, the nutrient distribution, its structural characteristic and controlling mechanism around the Changjiang River estuary during Autumn 1997 and Spring 1998 were discussed, and a clear seasonal variation of nutrient distribution and structure was observed in this area. The concentrations of NO3(-)-N, SiO3(2-)-Si, PO4(3-)-P, DOP, PP and TP in Autumn 1997 were higher than those in Spring 1998, and their average concentrations were 4.97, 11.6, 0.44, 0.26, 0.82 and 1.52 mumol.L-1, respectively. However, the concentrations of NO2(-)-N, NH4(+)-N, DON, PN and TN in Spring 1998 were higher than those in Autumn 1997, with the average concentration of 0.70, 2.26, 9.88, 7.88 and 25.3 mumol.L-1, respectively. The main form of phosphorus in Autumn 1997 was PP, with the percentage about 54%, while PO4(3-)-P was the dominant fraction, with about 51% of phosphorus in Spring 1998. Both DON and PN were the main fractions of nitrogen in Autumn 1997 and Spring 1998 as well. Due to the influences of the Changjiang dilution water, the concentrations of phosphate, nitrate and silicate along the coastal area were higher than those in the outer area, except the phosphate in Spring 1998, which mainly came from Taiwan warm current. It indicated that the distribution of the nutrients in the survey area was mainly controlled by the Changjiang dilution water and the high salinity sea-water from the Taiwan warm current, and the influence of Taiwan warm current on phosphate was larger in Spring than in Autumn.

[Distributions of COD and petroleum hydrocarbons and their relationships with occurrence of red tide in East China Sea].

Based on the data of COD and petroleum hydrocarbons collected in the cruise from April 25 to May 2, 2002 in intensive red tide occurrence areas in East China Sea, the distribution of COD, and petroleum hydrocarbons and the eutrophication index(EI) were analyzed. The results showed that the EI and COD value were both high in coastal water, and decreased gradually away from shore. After the preliminary study on the relationships between correlative factors and occurrence of red tide, it was found that high EI and COD were necessary. There would be great chances for the red tide to break out under conditions that the EI was between 2.5 and 15 and COD concentration was between 0.8 to 1.4 mg.L-1 in seawater, along with the favorable temperature and salinity.

[Nutrient distribution and its relationship with occurrence of red tide in coastal area of East China Sea].

Nutrient (NO3(-)-N, PO4(3-)-P, Sio3(2-)-Si, NH4(+)-N, etc.) concentrations in coastal area of East China Sea were measured during April 25 to May 2, 2002, and the relationship between the spatial distribution of the nutrients and the red tide occurrence in the studied area was analyzed. The results showed that compared to the 1st class seawater quality of the national standard, the concentrations of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) and PO4(-)-P were 46% and 60% higher, respectively, showing that the studied area, especially the Changjiang River estuary and the Hangzhou Bay, was at a disadvantage of eutrophication. Furthermore, the nutrient concentrations inshore were much higher than those offshore, and the isolines nearly paralleled with the coastline, meaning that the nutrient distributions were mainly influenced by terrestrial discharges. It also showed that the relatively high concentrations of nutrients, especially DIN and PO4(3-)-P, might result in the red-tide occurrence. However, the red tide did not occur in the area with the highest concentrations of the nutrients, further demonstrating that the eutrophication was not the unique environmental factor inducing red-tide occurrence.