A preliminary study on fingerprinting approach in marine sediment dynamics with the rare earth elements

Locating the quantitized natural sediment fingerprints is an important work for marine sediment dynamics study. The total of 146 sediment samples were collected from the Shelf of the East China Sea and five rivers, including Huanghe (Yellow), Changjiang (Yangtze), Qiantang, Ou and Min River. The sediment grain size and the contents of rare earth elements (REEs) were measured with laser particle size analyzer and ICP-MS technology. The results show that absolute REE content (Sigma REE) and the concentration ratio of light REEs to heavy REEs (L/HREE) are different in the sediments among those rivers. There are higher REE contents in being less than 2 m and 2-31 mu m fractions in the Changjiang Estuary surface sediments. The REE contents of bulk sediment are dominated by the corresponding values of those leading size-fractions. Sigma REE of sediment is higher close to the estuaries and declines seaward on the inner shelf of the East China Sea (ECS). The L/HREE ratio has a tendency of increase southward from 28 degrees N. Hydrodynamic conditions plays a predominate role on spacial distributions of the surficial sediment's REE parameters. In some situations, the currents tend to remove the coarser light grains from initial populations, as well as the deposit of the finer heavy mineral grains. In other situations, the currents will change the ratio of sediment constituents, such as ratio between silts and clays in the sediments. As a result, the various values of Sigma REE or L/HREE ratio in different bulk sediments are more affected by the change of size-fractions than source location. Under the long-term stable hydrodynamic environment, i.e., the East China Sea Shelf, new sediment transport model based on the size and density gradation concept may help to understand the spatial distribution patterns of REE parameters.

Warming trend in northern East China Sea in recent four decades

Global warming has become a notable trend especially since an abrupt climate change in 1976. Response of the East China Sea (ECS) to the global warming trend, however, is not well understood because of sparse long-term observation. In this paper, hydrographic observation data of 1957-1996 are collected and reviewed to study climatological variability in northern ECS. Significant warming trends are found in both summer and winter. In summer, the average SST is about 0.46A degrees C higher during the period of 1977-1996 than that of 1957-1976, and the Taiwan Warm Current Water (TWCW) was strengthened. In winter, despite of the cooling effect in the coastal areas adjacent to the Changjiang (Yangtze) River Estuary (CRE), the average SST increase was about 0.53A degrees C during the same period. The causes of this SST warming up in summer are different from in winter. The warming trend and intensification of the TWCW in summer were primarily influenced by the strengthening of the Kuroshio transport, while the warming in winter was mainly induced by the variability of the climate system.

Cross-shelf circulation in the Yellow and East China Seas indicated by MODIS satellite observations

Ocean color and sea surface temperature data from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) onboard the Terra satellite are used to study the cross-shelf circulation and transport of suspended sediments in the Yellow and the East China Seas. The ocean color images show a significant turbid water plume extending in the southeast direction from the Subei coasts of China to the shelf edge south of Cheju during fall-winter, suggesting significant cross-shelf currents in the Yellow Sea/East China Sea in winter. The currents transport suspended sediments from the area of the old Huanghe mouth into the Okinawa Trough. Part of the turbid plume joins the Yellow Sea Warm Current to enter the Yellow Sea trough in winter. The satellite images suggest that the time scales of cross-shelf transport and surface-to-subsurface descending of the suspended sediments are a few weeks. The turbid plume grows in fall, reaches its maximum expansion and intensity in winter-spring, and subsides in late spring. In summer, the plume becomes coastally trapped. Substantial interannual variations of the intensity and coverage of the turbid plume are indicated by the observations. In comparison, the Changjiang Diluted Water in summer only transports a small amount of the Changjiang suspended sediment to the outer shelf south of Cheju, which does not enter the Yellow Sea owing to the weak intrusion of the Yellow Sea Warm Current in summer. The dynamics of the cross-shelf circulation in the Yellow Sea in winter are hypothesized to be associated with (1) the convergence of the Yellow Sea Coastal Current and the Taiwan Warm Current off the Changjiang mouth and (2) the time-dependent forcing of the northerly wind bursts that drives the intrusion of the Yellow Sea Warm Current. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

长江口北港和北支浮游动物群落生态学比较研究

浮游动物是河口生态系统的重要组成部分，在食物网中，浮游动物是浮游植物捕食者，对浮游植物有摄食压力，所以控制浮游植物数量的增长。同时，浮游动物还是鱼类的饵料，从而影响渔业资源的数量。长江口是各种经济鱼、虾和蟹的重要产卵场、索饵场和洄游场。长江口各个分汊的分流量的差异较大，导致不同分汊的水文环境明显不同，其中最为明显就是北港和北支水域。然而以往对浮游动物的研究仅限于某一水域，没有对整体水域进行研究，本文选择最具代表性的北港和北支水域，对两水域浮游动物的群落生态特征进行比较研究。 本论文的数据来源于2004年5、8、11月和2005年2月在长江口北港和北支水域4个航次的海洋综合调查资料。通过采用优势度和优势种贡献率等生态学指标，同时结合逐步回归分析，讨论了温、盐与浮游动物总丰度变化的关系。结果表明，就四季而言，浮游动物总丰度和盐度呈显著正相关，和温度负相关。而就单个季节而言，除了5月和2月落潮，总丰度和盐度均呈显著正相关，与温度相关关系不显著。调查水域优势种主要为河口半咸水种或近海种。北港的盐度约为0-5, 表现为长江淡水特征；北支的盐度约为12-28，表现为长江径流和外海水团混合水团的特征。上述优势种的盐度适应和水团分布特征决定了长江口浮游动物分布的时空变化，即盐度较高的水域往往有较高的丰度，北支的总丰度和生物量均大于北港。此外，在长江口口内水域，水温较低的枯水期，浮游动物丰度高于水温较高的丰水期，温度的季节波动，以及主要优势种中华华哲水蚤（Sinocalanus sinensis）对低温环境的适应，是调查水域浮游动物总丰度季节变化的重要因素。 另一方面，本论文通过物种多样性、累积优势度曲线等群落水平的指标和相似性检验分析（ANOSIM），对长江口北港和北支浮游动物群落及其主要优势种的差异，以及主要生态因子对浮游动物群落的影响进行了分析。结果表明，北港主要由潮汐影响的淡水和低盐水组成，北支由中、高盐水组成。春季，北港浮游动物丰度和多样性均低于北支，主要优势种为中华华哲水蚤；北支优势种种数较多，主要是真刺唇角水蚤（Labidocera euchaeta）。夏季，北港和北支的多样性较接近，但是种类组成差别较大，北港以中华华哲水蚤和太平洋纺锤水蚤（Acartia pacifica）为主构成河口半咸水群落，北支以由火腿许水蚤（Schmackeria poplesia）、虫肢歪水蚤（Tortanus vermiculus）和太平洋纺锤水蚤等构成河口低盐群落。秋季，北港的丰度和多样性均低于北支，两个水域的群落差异明显，北港主要由中华华哲水蚤构成，北支由小拟哲水蚤（Paracalanus parvus）、针刺拟哲水蚤（Paracalanus aculeatus）、真刺唇角水蚤和中华哲水蚤（Calanus sinicus）等近岸和外海种组成。冬季，两个水域种数和多样性均较低，群落差别达四季最小，中华华哲水蚤占绝对优势。温度和盐度及其相互作用是决定长江口浮游动物群落特征的最主要因素。其中温度是造成研究水域浮游动物群落季节变化的主要因素，而由径流和外海水之间的消长引起的盐度变化是造成北港和北支浮游动物群落区域变化的决定因素。

三峡工程截流后长江口海区表层悬沙分布与河口锋带特征

本文收集了三峡截流前后长江口海区1988－2007年间十二景landsat TM遥感影像并进行了表层悬浮泥沙含量的反演，定性的描述了长江口海区洪、枯季的表层悬沙扩散外界和高浑浊水域范围的变化趋势，分析了河流泥沙输移入海形态的变化特征及表层悬沙浓度的变化特征。 通过对2002-2004年在长江口滨外区表层悬浮体取样数据的实验室处理，揭示了三峡截流后表层悬沙的分布特征；通过多船同步定点观测捕捉到了长江口河口锋带的位置并分析了河口锋带的动力特征，结果表明：长江口河口锋位于（122o10′E，30o50′N）至（122o20′E，31o00′N）一线附近，在河口锋带位置有着较为强烈的河海相互作用，流速不符合典型的对数流速曲线，河水与海水的相互消长局限于海面以下5m的表层范围，在河口锋面区悬浮泥沙为泥沙流伏在海水之上输运。长江口悬沙体浓度由于三峡蓄水作用表现为下降趋势，悬浮体扩散范围相比截流前向口门后退，长江口滨外区羽状锋带随之向口门后退。 利用二维潮流数值模型较成功地模拟出了每个季度长江河口外的流场情况及河口锋带的发育情况，模拟表明：春、夏、秋三季河口锋带较易出现，且小潮期间发育最好。冬季长江河口海洋动力较强，易于发生海水入侵，尤其是北支；夏季是长江三角洲的主要建设期，锋带作用的存在使得泥沙大部分在锋带的内外区域沉积；春秋两季是平衡期；冬季主要是冲刷的时期。

长江口及其邻近海域鱼类群落结构分析

根据长江口及其邻近海域鱼类群落的历史调查资料，综合运用主成分分析(PCA)、无偏对应分析(DCA)和典范对应分析(CCA)等群落排序方法，以及双向指示种分析(TWINSPAN)等数量分类方法，分析了1998-2004年长江口鱼类群落结构，以及其相关环境因子的变化特征。从群落和环境两方面，分别探讨了其空间分布、时间动态和季节变化的特征，并着重讨论了环境因子对群落特征的影响程度。结果表明： 在空间分布上，自近岸到外海的水深、盐度、浊度、透明度、营养盐和悬浮物这一综合梯度，与鱼类丰度关系最密切。近岸区以营养盐丰富、初级生产力高等特点，为近岸的广盐性和半咸水鱼类提供了充足的食物来源；以高浊度和高溶解氧浓度，提供了良好的庇护所。外海区鱼类种类丰富，但丰度较低。南北方向上大致以31°30′N为界，鱼类群聚在特定季节表现出明显的空间分化。 在时间动态上，1998-2004年长江口及邻近海域生态环境的改变，驱动了鱼类群落的演替，具体表现为：三峡水库蓄水前，群落主控因子为水深、底层水温和底层溶解氧，蓄水后主控因子为表底层pH值、表层温度和表层溶解氧；蓄水后冲淡水量的减少导致海域内盐度升高，悬浮物的减少改善了浮游植物生长的光照条件；与此相关，春季和秋季鱼类群聚均发生了显著变化，海洋性鱼类和浮游生物食性鱼类在群落中比重分别有所增加。 在季节变化上，冬季环境以低水温、高溶解氧为突出特点，夏季则反之；春季表层pH值显著高于其他季节，而表底层温度与秋季相比偏低；秋季环境条件接近中等水平。受此影响，鱼类群落发生明显的季节性演替，主要表现为鱼类丰度的波动、物种组成和优势种组成的更替，以及各功能群相对比例的此消彼长。

长江口上升流区营养盐动力学

近年来，东中国海赤潮灾情严重，且74.7%的赤潮集中在 30°30′～32°00′N、122°15′～123°10′E的“赤潮高发区”。在研究该区赤潮成因时，长江口沿岸上升流的影响越来越受到人们的关注，并被一些专家观测和研究。但目前为止，针对该区营养盐动力学特征及其对叶绿素a影响的研究较少，且不系统。 本文根据2004年四个季度月的调查资料，系统地探讨了长江口上升流区营养盐动力学特征；估算了上升流的营养盐通量，并和陆源输入通量进行了比较。初步探讨了上升流对该区营养盐结构和浮游植物生长的影响。为深入研究长江口富营养化和赤潮形成机制提供了参考。 结果表明春季在122°20′～123°00′E，31°00′～32°00′N以北海域存在低温、高盐、低溶解氧的沿岸上升流。它不但可把底层高含量磷酸盐输送到10m层以上海区，而且还为上层海区输入了相对低含量硝酸盐和硅酸盐，从而改善了上层营养盐结构，使得营养盐比值接近Redfield Ratios，同时还改善了上层的透明度；从而有利于浮游植物的繁殖。夏季上升流受到强大的长江冲淡水压制，表现不如春季明显，主体水团出现在122°20′～123°00′E，31°15′～31°50′N海区10m层以下。 在秋、冬季，上升流现象被更强的对流现象所掩盖，表现为台湾暖流表层水的入侵。表、底层水域不仅温、盐度分布十分接近，而且营养盐结构差异也较小。冬季台湾暖流水中的磷酸盐含量远比秋季高，与春、夏季上升流水团中磷酸盐含量接近。硝酸盐和硅酸盐含量比秋季稍高，比春、夏季上升流水团中的含量稍低。 叶绿素a季节性分布表明，在春、夏季的10m层以下水域，叶绿素a受到透明度限制，含量相差不大；而在表层和10m层之间，春季叶绿素a的含量远高于夏季，说明春季的营养盐结构和自然条件更有利于浮游植物的繁荣生长。在秋季台湾暖流水影响的区域，表层叶绿素a含量较夏季稍低。而冬季该区叶绿素a含量则是最低的。 对长江口上升流水团春季营养盐通量的计算结果表明，上升流水团中磷酸盐输送通量远远高于长江径流输入，是其径流通量的两倍以上，可能会成为影响该海区磷酸盐分布以及浮游植物生长的一个值得关注的因素。 关键词：上升流，营养盐动力学，营养盐结构，叶绿素a，长江冲淡水

长江口附近海域三维悬浮泥沙的数值模拟研究

本文构建了长江口外海域三维悬浮泥沙输运数值模型，其中水动力模型中主要考虑了潮汐潮流、出入径流及风浪等作用，输运模型中考虑了粘性泥沙的絮凝、粘性和非粘性泥沙的再悬浮等过程。并与2006年8月份在长江口外海域获得的定点连续站测流资料及悬浮泥沙的观测资料进行了比较。为了进一步提高模式结果的精确性，采用将动力模式与实测资料相结合的趋近同化方法，在连续方程和泥沙输运方程中分别增加一个松弛项，将模拟结果向已有实测调和常数的控制点推算潮高值和悬沙浓度观测值趋近。数值实验证明，将验潮站资料和泥沙观测资料引入到数值模式中去，可以有效的改善模式的模拟结果。将该方法运用到长江口外附近海域的悬浮泥沙数值模拟当中，并泥沙输运水平紊动扩散系数也做了合理的修改，其模拟结果也得到了不错的改进，所得结果适用于计算长江口外海域的水动力和泥沙输运情况。 可以大体得到泥沙在长江口内外分布规律：悬浮泥沙浓度自近岸向外海降低,长江口外123°E以东浓度一般不超过10mg/l，终年悬浮泥沙高值区见于河口区,一般超过300mg/l，以长江口、杭州湾悬浮泥沙浓度最高。悬浮泥沙浓度垂向剖面的计算值与观测数据符合良好。 在潮周期中，悬浮泥沙浓度的变化与

夏季长江口外海区域上升流现象的数值研究

中国沿岸海域是上升流的多发区. 渤、黄海域，东海陆架区，台湾海峡，以及南海沿岸都存在众多的上升流区. 上升流有利于穿越陆架的物质输运，可以把下层海水中的营养物质带至真光层，促进浮游植物生长，为赤潮爆发提供有利条件. 长江口外和浙江沿岸上升流区连续几年爆发大规模赤潮，该海域已成为我国近海赤潮严重的区域之一. 同时上升流也是该海域海洋渔场形成的重要动力因子. 因此，对长江口外及浙江沿岸上升流的研究具有重要的意义. 本文基于Blumberg等（1996）的ECOMSED模式，对长江口外海区域夏季的上升流现象进行了数值模拟研究. 为了提高对长江口外海区域上升流模拟的准确性和可靠性，模式综合考虑了径流，风应力，环流，热通量和M2，S2，K1，O1四个主要分潮的作用. 本文首先进行控制实验，综合考虑各种动力因子，模拟长江口外南部冷水区的上升流现象，再单独考虑各个动力因子做数值实验，并对各种数值实验结果进行分析对比来研究产生该区域上升流现象的主要原因. 我们设计了3个数值实验：不考虑风应力和热通量、不考虑环流、仅考虑温盐和潮因子. 方便起见，将综合考虑各种动力因子的数值模拟称作控制实验. 各种实验结果的分析表明，长江口外水下河谷的南边（杭州湾口门中心东侧），上升流主要是由向北流动的台湾暖流通过底Ekman效应和陆坡的抬升共同作用产生的. 夏季偏南风对长江口外水下河谷西侧上升流的产生有一定影响，但作用不大. 此外，潮汐潮流对上升流的产生也起着一定的作用，但在本文关注的上升流区潮作用影响不大.

海洋微藻产生溶解有机物及东海溶解有机物三维荧光特征研究

本文通过胶州湾围隔实验、微藻培养实验研究了海洋微藻产生溶解有机物的三维荧光特性，并初步利用经验正交函数对三维荧光光谱图进行了主成分分析，通过东海取样研究了东海荧光溶解有机物的时空分布特征，并对荧光溶解有机物的来源进行了分析。得到了一些初步结论： 胶州湾围隔实验中不同营养盐培养结果表明浮游植物可产生类蛋白和类腐殖质荧光，类蛋白荧光峰由类酪氨酸(tyrosine-like)荧光峰和类色氨酸(tryptophan-like)荧光峰组成，主要位置为Exmax/Emmax=270nm/290~310nm，Exmax/Emmax= 270~290/320~350的荧光峰强度比较弱；在Exmax/Emmax=250~260/380~480nm(A峰)、Exmax/Emmax=310~320/380~420nm(C峰)和Exmax/Emmax=330~350/420~480nm(M峰)位置均出现零散的类腐殖质荧光峰，其中以A峰为主。类酪氨酸荧光强度明显高于类腐殖质荧光强度。浮游植物量降低时，类酪氨酸荧光强度与叶绿素a浓度呈明显的负相关。硅藻和甲藻产生的类酪氨酸和类色氨酸荧光强度之间具有较好的相关性，两者来源相似, 并且甲藻与硅藻相比能够产生更多的类蛋白荧光物质。不同环境下类腐殖质混合物的组分比例不同，甲藻生长环境下相对于硅藻具有较低的A:C比值。 在实验室培养中肋骨条藻（Skeletonema costatum）、塔玛亚历山大藻（Alexandrium tamarense）、微小亚历山大藻（Alexandrium mimutum）、锥状斯氏藻（Scrippsiella trochoidea）、东海原甲藻（Prorocentrum donghaiense）及海洋原甲藻（Prorocentrum micans）的实验结果表明，微藻在生长过程中产生出荧光溶解有机物，中肋骨条藻为代表的硅藻主要产生类腐殖质荧光物质，而甲藻在指数增长期主要产生类蛋白荧光物质。进入消亡期后类蛋白荧光和类腐殖质荧光强度迅速增大，原因可能是衰老、死亡藻细胞的破碎释放出大量的荧光有机物质所致，此外还有细菌对非荧光有机物进一步降解。塔玛亚历山大藻、微小亚历山大藻、东海原甲藻及海洋原甲藻的类蛋白荧光强度在消亡后期由于细菌降解或光降解等因素而降低。同属微藻产生的荧光物质相似，例如塔玛亚历山大藻与微小亚历山藻、东海原甲藻与海洋原甲藻，但具体荧光峰位置有所不同。利用经验正交函数能够对三维荧光光谱谱图进行主成份分析。 在利用三维荧光光谱法研究长江口海域台风前后不同站位荧光溶解有机物荧光特性及分布特征的结果表明，长江口海区主要的荧光溶解有机物荧光峰为T峰、S峰和A峰。风前和风后的类色氨酸分别来源于相似物质。风前，在表层浮游植物能够产生类蛋白荧光物质，而底层类蛋白荧光物质不受浮游植物的影响，长江冲淡水能够带来部分类蛋白荧光物质；表层的类腐殖质不受浮游植物的影响，而底层的浮游植物在降解过程中能够产生一部分类腐殖质，并且长江冲淡水对表层和底层的类腐殖质来源均有很大贡献。风后，表层的类色氨酸与叶绿素a浓度不呈相关性，而底层却呈正相关，另外表层和底层的类色氨酸均受到长江冲淡水的影响；表层和底层的类腐殖质与叶绿素a均没有相关性，但受陆源影响显著，长江冲淡水能带来类腐殖质。

长江口海域氮的同位素特征及其环境意义

本论文以稳定氮同位素（δ15N）技术为基础，对长江口海域氮的同位素特征及其环境意义进行了研究。确立了一套完整的水体中氮的稳定同位素分析预处理方法，并运用该方法对2006年长江干流以及长江口海域表层水体中的溶解态硝酸盐和悬浮颗粒物的δ15N特征进行分析，根据不同季节、不同区域内其δ15N值的变化研究水体中氮的迁移、转化等生物地球化学过程，揭示其环境行为，从而对该海域的氮循环机制进行探索。主要结果如下： 稳定氮同位素的分析准确与否，预处理过程是关键。不同形态、不同水体中氮的预处理方法不同。本文以传统的蒸馏法为基础，对适合海水中溶解态硝酸盐的氮同位素分析预处理方法进行研究并改进，并进行了不同实验条件的验证，效果较好。此外，对淡水体系中溶解态硝酸盐的氮同位素分析预处理方法以及悬浮颗粒物的氮同位素分析方法也进行了研究，确立了一套完整的水体中氮的稳定同位素分析方法，对δ15N技术在河口氮循环研究中的广泛应用提供了基础。 依据上述方法，对2006年2、5、8、11月份长江口海域表层水体中的溶解态硝酸盐δ15N值（δ15N-NO3-）进行分析。研究发现，δ15N-NO3-分布范围在0.4‰到6.5‰之间，平均为3.5‰，具有明显的时空分布特点，在不同季节不同区域内所受的物理、生物地球化学作用不同。口门内，δ15N-NO3-的季节变化主要受长江径流输入影响，来源单一。最大浑浊带，δ15N-NO3-的分布规律不明显，保守混合行为较差，说明该区域的影响作用复杂，不同季节水体中发生的生物地球化学作用存在差异。外海区，δ15N-NO3-的季节变化明显，春季>秋季>夏季>冬季，与生物对硝酸盐的吸收程度变化相一致，反映了生物作用在该区域的影响显著。 同样在2006年2、5、8、11月份本文对长江口海域表层水体中悬浮颗粒物的δ15N（δ15Np）组成进行了研究。δ15Np值分布在0.6-8.2‰之间，同样具有明显的时空分布特点，其变化趋势与陆源输入和水体中氮的生物地球化学过程有关。口门内，表层水体中δ15Np的变化主要受长江径流的陆源输入影响，生物地球化学作用影响较弱；最大浑浊带，水体中的悬浮颗粒有机氮受微生物的降解活动影响明显，各季节均存在不同程度的颗粒物分解作用；外海区，陆源输入减弱，悬浮颗粒物的δ15Np值主要受微藻的同化吸收作用以及一定程度的颗粒物分解作用影响。 长江口海域水体中溶解态硝酸盐和悬浮颗粒有机氮之间存在重要的相互转化作用，二者之间δ15N的变化及其相互关系反映了一定的生物地球化学变化和环境信息。总体而言，长江口海域表层水体中δ15N-NO3-的分布水平较δ15Np略低，二者之间的分馏ε总体偏正。其中，δ15N-NO3-与δ15Np的最低值均出现在2月份，说明该季节水体溶解态硝酸盐和悬浮颗粒物都可能受到一致的外源输入影响，其内部生物地球化学作用较弱。5月份和11月份水体中的δ15N-NO3-值和δ15Np值均各自水平相近，说明在这两个季节溶解态硝酸盐和悬浮颗粒物都可能受到程度相近的外源输入或生物吸收作用的影响，分馏ε偏负程度较大。8月份δ15N-NO3-值较低而δ15Np值较高，分馏ε在四个季节中最大，可能是该季节程度较大的颗粒物分解作用影响所致。 2006年长江干流表层水体中溶解态硝酸盐及悬浮颗粒物的δ15N组成也具有明显的时空分布特点，二者季节变化规律相近，丰水期（5、8月份）δ15N值较高，而枯水期（2、11月份）较低。δ15N-NO3-与δ15Np之间呈现明显的正向相关关系，其空间分布趋势相同，自长江上游至下游δ15N值逐渐升高，说明二者均受到相似的氮来源影响；长江上游氮的来源均以大气沉降和农业源（无机化肥和土壤有机氮）为主，而中、下游水体氮的来源则都偏重于工业及生活排污的贡献，随着人类活动程度以及工业化、城市化程度的升高，硝酸盐及悬浮颗粒有机氮的来源发生变化，其δ15N值相应增加。

Relationships between nitrogen and phosphorus forms and ratios and the development of dinoflagellate blooms in the East China Sea

During late spring and early summer of 2005, large-scale (> 15 000 km(2)), mixed dinoflagellate blooms developed along the the coast of the East China Sea. Karenia mikimotoi was the dominant harmful algal bloom species in the first stage of the bloom (late May) and was succeeded by Prorocentrum donghaiense approximately 2 wk later. Samples were collected from different stations along both north-south and west-east transects, from the Changjiang River estuary to the south Zhejiang coast, during 3 cruises of the Chinese Ecology and Oceanography of Harmful Algal Blooms Program, before and during the bloom progression. Nitrogen isotope tracer techniques were used to measure rates of NO3-, NH4+, urea, and glycine uptake during the blooms. High inorganic nitrogen (N), but low phosphorus (P) loading from the Changjiang River led to high dissolved inorganic N:dissolved inorganic P ratios in the sampling area and indicate the development of P limitation. The rates of N-15-uptake experiments enriched with PO43- were enhanced compared to unamended samples, suggesting P limitation of the N-uptake rates. The bloom progression was related to the change in availability of both organic and inorganic N and P. Reduced N forms, especially NH4+, were preferentially taken up during the blooms, but different bloom species had different rates of uptake of organic N substrates. K mikimotoi had higher rates of urea uptake, while P. donghaiense had higher rates of glycine uptake. Changes in the availability of reduced N and the ratios of N:P in inorganic and organic forms were suggested to be important in the bloom succession. Nutrient ratios and specific uptake rates of urea were similar when compared to analogous blooms on the West Florida Shelf.

Pretreatment Method for Nitrogen Isotopic Analysis of Nitrate in Seawater

A suitable method for the pretreutment of dissolved nitrate samples in seawaters for nitrogen isotopic analysis was established. First, the seawater samples were processed by removing nitrite and amonium. Then Devard's alloy was added in sample for conversion of dissolved nitrate to ammonium. The sample was distilled, and then the ammonium condensate was collected with zeolite. after distillation, the collected condensate was filtered and prepared for determining nitropic values. Some tests of the method were conducted. The distillation condition, the influence of salinity on nitrogen isotopic analysis, absorption of ammonium onto zeolite and an improved method on a large volume of seawater were discussed in this study. The results showed that the distillation step had an average recovery of (104.9 +/- 4.2) % (n = 6) when distillating every 300 mL aliquot of the sample under a strong alkaline condition with 0.5 g devard's alloy and a distillation time of 30 min. The nitrogen isotopic fractionation decreased markedly when salinity was increased from 0% to 0.5%; further increase(1% - 3.5%) showed little effect. The adsorption rate of ammonium onto zeolite had a high yield of (95.96 +/- 1.08) % (n = 6) in average. An improved collection method was used to process a large volume of seawater with several distillations, and had good effect on analysis. The method had been applied to analyze water samples collected from Changjiang estuary. The analytical results indicate that the method is suitable for delta N-15 analysis of dissolved nitrate in seawaters. The present method could provide valuable information about the source and cycle mechanism of dissolved nitrogen in estuary waters.

Main geochemical characteristics and key biogeochemical carbon processes in the East China Sea

Research related to carbon geochemistry and biogeochemistry in the East China Sea is reviewed in this paper. The East China Sea is an annual net sink for atmospheric CO, and a large net source of dissolved inorganic carbon to the ocean. The sea absorbs CO, from the atmosphere in spring and summer and releases it in autumn and winter. The East China Sea is a CO, sink in summer because Changjiang River freshwater flows into it. The net average sea-air interface carbon flux of the East China Sea is estimated to be about 4.3 X 10(6) t/y. Vertical carbon transport is mainly in the form of particulate organic carbon in spring; more than 98% of total carbon is transported in this form in surface water, and the number exceeds 68% in water near the bottom. In the southern East China Sea, the average particulate organic carbon inventory was about one-tenth that of the dissolved organic carbon. Research indicates that the southern Okinawa Trough is an important site for particulate organic carbon export from the shelf. The annual cross-shelf exports are estimated to be 414 and 106 Gmol/y for dissolved organic carbon and particulate organic carbon, respectively. Near-bottom transport could be the key process for shelf-to-deep sea export of biogenic and lithogenic particles.

Temporal and spatial variability in nitrogen uptake kinetics during harmful dinoflagellate blooms in the East China Sea

Temporal and spatial variability in the kinetic parameters of uptake of nitrate (NO3-), ammonium (NH4+), urea, and glycine was measured during dinoflagellate blooms in Changjiang River estuary and East China Sea coast, 2005. Karenia mikimotoi was the dominant species in the early stage of the blooms and was succeeded by Prorocentrum donghaiense. The uptake of nitrogen (N) was determined using N-15 tracer techniques. The results of comparison kinetic parameters with ambient nutrients confirmed that different N forms were preferentially taken up during different stages of the bloom. NO3- (V-max 0.044 h(-1); K-s 60.8 mu M-N) was an important N source before it was depleted. NH4+ (V-max 0.049 h(-1); K-s 2.15 mu M-N) was generally the preferred N. Between the 2 organic N sources, urea was more preferred when K. mikimotoi dominated the bloom (V-max 0.020 h(-1); K-s 1.35 mu M-N) and glycine, considered as a dominant amino acid, was more preferred when P. donghaiense dominated the bloom (V-max 0.025 h(-1); K-s 1.76 mu M-N). The change of N uptake preference by the bloom-forming algae was also related to the variation in ambient N concentrations. Published by Elsevier B.V.