Palynology from surface sediment samples of the Arctic Ocean

Freshwater chlorophycean algae are characteristic organic-walled microfossils in recent coastal and shelf sediments from the Beaufort, Laptev and Kara seas (Arctic Ocean). The persistent occurrence of the chlorophycean algae Pediastrum spp. and Botryococcus cf. braunii in marine palynomorph assemblages is related to the discharge of freshwater and suspended matter from the large Siberian and North American rivers into the Arctic shelf seas. The distribution patterns of these algae in the marine environments reflect the predominant deposition of riverine sediments and organic matter along the salinity gradient from the outer estuaries and prodeltas to the shelf break. Sedimentary processes overprint the primary distribution of these algae. Resuspension of sediments by waves and bottom currents may transport sediments in the bottom nepheloid layer along the submarine channels to the shelf break. Bottom sediments and microfossils may be incorporated into sea ice during freeze-up in autumn and winter leading to an export from the shelves into the deep sea. The presence of these freshwater algae in sea-ice and bottom sediments in the central Arctic Ocean confirm that transport in sea ice is an important process which leads to a redistribution of shallow water microfossils.

Adenylate concentration and energy charge in different thallus regions and after UV radiation in brown, red and green algae

A method was developed to extract adenine nucleotides AMP, ADP, and ATP from marine macroalgal tissue to gain information on the cellular energy charge. Quantification was carried out by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Three species from the rocky shore of the island of Helgoland (German Bight) were examined: Laminaria saccharina (Phaeophyta), Chondrus crispus (Rhodophyta), and Ulva lactuca (Chlorophyta). In L. saccharina and C. crispus, the adenylate energy charge (AEC) was determined in different thallus regions. AEC varied in relation to tissue age and function. Higher AEC values typically occurred in thallus regions with meristematic activity. Furthermore, L. saccharina and U. lactuca were exposed to UV-A and elevated UV-B radiation. The AEC was calculated and the maximal quantum yield of photosystem II (Fv/Fm) was determined as indicators for UV stress. In both species, the AEC remained at high values (0.72 ± 0.04), while Fv/Fm dropped rapidly. The results show that the photosynthesis of the phaeophyte is more resistant to UV radiation than the chlorophyte.

Table 3: Comparison of freshwater species in Ob and Yenisei during the 1997 cruise

Phytoplankton biomass distribution (chlorophyll a, chl. a) and species composition (cell numbers) were investigated during three expeditions to the Kara Sea with "Akademik Boris Petrov" (BP) in 1997, 1999, and 2000. The distribution of biomass in the estuaries of Ob and Yenisei showed a similar range in 1997 (0.2 to 3.2 µg/l) and 2000 (0.4 to 3.5 ug/l); higher chl. a concentrations during these two years were found in Yenisei than in Ob. In 1999, phytoplankton biomass in the Ob and Ob Estuary was much higher than in 1997 and 2000, with maximum values above 10.0 ug chl. a/l. In 1999, biomass in Yenisei was lower (1.5 to ~5 ug/l) than in Ob but slightly higher than in 1997 and in 2000. During the expedition in 2000, the research area extended farther to the north, here, lowest phytoplankton biomass during all three years was found. Typical summer values for integrated chl.a biomass (surface to bottom) ranged between 6 and 20 mg m**-2. Strong differences existed in species composition in both rivers, the estuaries, and the open Kara Sea. In general, three or four different populations could be distinguished in surface waters: (1) freshwater diatoms together with bluegreen algae in both rivers, (2) centric and small pennate diatoms mainly brackish species in the estuaries, (3) north of 74°N, brackish/marine species dominated, i.e. in 1999 Thalassiosira cfpunctigera and Chaetoceros spp prevailed in the phytoplankton bloom in Ob. (4) At the northernmost, almost marine stations, a region with a more heterogeneous composition of unicellular plankton was encountered. We assume, we found different seasonal signals of phytoplankton development during 1997/2000 and 1999, respectively. However, the yearly fluctuation of freshwater runoff of both rivers seems to have the strongest influence on the timing and duration of phytoplankton blooms, species compositions and biomass standing stocks during summer.

Siliceous microplankton in surface sediments and the water column of the Red Sea

We studied the siliceous microplankton assemblages (mainly diatoms) from plankton tows (mesh size 20 µm) and surface sediment samples collected along a N-S transect in the northern Red Sea (28-21°N). In addition, we analyzed differences/similarities between plankton and sediment assemblages within a brine-filled basin (the southern basin) of the Shaban Deep and compared these assemblages with those from outside the brine. Plankton samples revealed the overwhelming dominance of diatoms over other siliceous groups. Diatoms accounted for ca. 97% of all biosiliceous particles at 120-20 m (vs. 2.9% silicoflagellates and 0.4% radiolarians), and ca. 94% at 200-120 m (vs. 4.5% silicoflagellates and 1.6% radiolarians). In general, a marine, warm-water (tropical/subtropical) diatom assemblage characterizes the plankton samples. Representatives of the Nitzschia bicapitata group are by far the most abundant contributors at both depth intervals (average=43%), ranging from ca. 30% in the North to ca. 60% in the South. Biogenic opal content in non-brine surface sediments is very low, (below 0.2 wt.% SiO2); and concentration of siliceous microorganisms is also low and of the order of 5*10**3-10**4 microorganisms/g dry sediment. Diatoms are the main contributors to the opal signal in the 20-40 µm fraction, while they share dominance with radiolarians in the >40 µm fraction. Total diatom concentrations average 1.2*10**4 valves/g in the 20-40 µm fraction and 4*10**3 valves/g in the >40 µm fraction. Robust taxa of warm water affinity (Alveus marinus, Azpeitia neocrenulata, Azpeitia nodulifera and Roperia tesselata) characterize the surface sediments. In contrast, biogenic opal content in brine surface sediment samples is much higher than in the non-brine samples, ranging from 2.8 to 3.8 wt.% SiO2, and concentration of siliceous microorganisms is 3-4 orders of magnitude higher. In addition here, diatoms dominate the opal signal. The taxa found in these samples are a mixture of non-brine and plankton samples, and fragile forms (e.g., N. bicapitata group, Neodelphineis indica) are well preserved in these sediments. Thus, brine sediments in this region seem to offer a great potential for palaeoenvironmental studies.

Ocean acidification alleviates low-temperature effects on growth and photosynthesis of the red alga Neosiphonia harveyi (Rhodophyta)

This study aimed to examine interactive effects between ocean acidification and temperature on the photosynthetic and growth performance of Neosiphonia harveyi. N. harveyi was cultivated at 10 and 17.5 °C at present (~380 µatm), expected future (~800 µatm), and high (~1500 µatm) pCO2. Chlorophyll a fluorescence, net photosynthesis, and growth were measured. The state of the carbon-concentrating mechanism (CCM) was examined by pH-drift experiments (with algae cultivated at 10 °C only) using ethoxyzolamide, an inhibitor of external and internal carbonic anhydrases (exCA and intCA, respectively). Furthermore, the inhibitory effect of acetazolamide (an inhibitor of exCA) and Tris (an inhibitor of the acidification of the diffusive boundary layer) on net photosynthesis was measured at both temperatures. Temperature affected photosynthesis (in terms of photosynthetic efficiency, light saturation point, and net photosynthesis) and growth at present pCO2, but these effects decreased with increasing pCO2. The relevance of the CCM decreased at 10 °C. A pCO2 effect on the CCM could only be shown if intCA and exCA were inhibited. The experiments demonstrate for the first time interactions between ocean acidification and temperature on the performance of a non-calcifying macroalga and show that the effects of low temperature on photosynthesis can be alleviated by increasing pCO2. The findings indicate that the carbon acquisition mediated by exCA and acidification of the diffusive boundary layer decrease at low temperatures but are not affected by the cultivation level of pCO2, whereas the activity of intCA is affected by pCO2. Ecologically, the findings suggest that ocean acidification might affect the biogeographical distribution of N. harveyi.

Freshwater mesocosm experiment 2012 in Vancouver, Canada on effects of increased temperature and food chain length on oxygen fluxes and plankton community structure

Over broad thermal gradients, the effect of temperature on aerobic respiration and photosynthesis rates explains variation in community structure and function. Yet for local communities, temperature dependent trophic interactions may dominate effects of warming. We tested the hypothesis that food chain length modifies the temperature-dependence of ecosystem fluxes and community structure. In a multi-generation aquatic food web experiment, increasing temperature strengthened a trophic cascade, altering the effect of temperature on estimated mass-corrected ecosystem fluxes. Compared to consumer-free and 3-level food chains, grazer-algae (2-level) food chains responded most strongly to the temperature gradient. Temperature altered community structure, shifting species composition and reducing zooplankton density and body size. Still, food chain length did not alter the temperature dependence of net ecosystem fluxes. We conclude that locally, food chain length interacts with temperature to modify community structure, but only temperature, not food chain length influenced net ecosystem fluxes.

The interstitial subsoil fauna on the beach of Sarso Island, Red Sea

The scope of this research was to find out, how important is the presence of brackish water for the formation of the characteristical littoral subsoil fauna in the interstitial spaces of beaches. There is little precipitation in the Red Sea area and therefore little influence of freshwater on the beach. Moreover, the sandy beach of Sarso Island (Farasan Archipelago) is bordered landwards and underneath by solid limestone, preventing subsoil fresh water, if there is any, from penetrating into the beach region. The salinity of the interstitial water from Sarso beach lies a little above the salinity of the adjacent sea. The microfauna of Sarso beach is composed to a rather big proportion of such species that are known to be characteristical littoral subsoil water species, partially of world wide distribution. The ecological analysis of this fauna, i.e. the freeliving Nematodes, reveals the presence of two distinct associations: 1. the association of the low level subsoil region, close to the sea, with clear interstitial water, subject to regular exchange with the water of the adjcent sea. 2. the association of the high level subsoil region, 4-10 meter distant from the sea, with brownish water. Contrary to earlier results there is no distinction in salinity between the two associations, so it is not longer justified to apply the term brackish water fauna on the animals living in the association of the high level subsoil region.