Chlorophyll-a, primary production rates, carbon concentrations and cell counts of coccolithophores, diatoms and microzooplankton measured in water samples from the North Atlantic during the M87/1 cruise in April 2012

The Deep Convection cruise repeatedly sampled two locations in the North Atlantic, sited in the Iceland and Norwegian Basins, onboard the RV Meteor (19 March - 2 May 2012). Samples were collected from multiple casts of a conductivity-temperature-depth (CTD) - Niskin rosette at each station. Water samples for primary production rates, community structure, chlorophyll a [Chl a], calcite [PIC], particulate organic carbon [POC] and biogenic silicic acid [BSi] were collected from predawn casts from six light depths (55%, 20%, 14%, 7%, 5% and 1% of incident PAR). Additional samples for community structure and ancillary parameters were collected from a second cast. Carbon fixation rates were determined using the 13C stable isotope method. Water samples for diatom and micro zooplankton counts, collected from the predawn casts, were preserved with acidic Lugol's solution (2% final solution) and counted using an inverted light microscope. Water samples for coccolithophore counts were collected onto cellulose nitrate filters and counted using polarising light microscopy. Water samples for Chl a analysis were filtered onto MF300 and polycarbonate filters and extracted in 90% acetone. PIC and BSi samples were filtered onto polycarbonate filters and analysed using an inductively coupled plasma emission optical spectrometer and a SEAL QuAAtro autoanalyser respectively.

Mesocosm experiment on warming and acidification effects in 2012: Microzooplankton data

Global warming and ocean acidification are among the most important stressors for aquatic ecosystems in the future. To investigate their direct and indirect effects on a near-natural plankton community, a multiple-stressor approach is needed. Hence, we set up mesocosms in a full-factorial design to study the effects of both warming and high CO2 on a Baltic Sea autumn plankton community, concentrating on the impacts on microzooplankton (MZP). MZP abundance, biomass, and species composition were analysed over the course of the experiment. We observed that warming led to a reduced time-lag between the phytoplankton bloom and an MZP biomass maximum. MZP showed a significantly higher growth rate and an earlier biomass peak in the warm treatments while the biomass maximum was not affected. Increased pCO2 did not result in any significant effects on MZP biomass, growth rate, or species composition irrespective of the temperature, nor did we observe any significant interactions between CO2 and temperature. We attribute this to the high tolerance of this estuarine plankton community to fluctuations in pCO2, often resulting in CO2 concentrations higher than the predicted end-of-century concentration for open oceans. In contrast, warming can be expected to directly affect MZP and strengthen its coupling with phytoplankton by enhancing its grazing pressure.

Mesocosm experiment on warming and acidification effects in 2012: Microzooplankton abundance

In order to allow full comparability with other ocean acidification data sets, the R package seacarb (Gattuso et al, 2015) was used to compute a complete and consistent set of carbonate system variables, as described by Nisumaa et al. (2010). In this dataset the original values were archived in addition with the recalculated parameters (see related PI). The date of carbonate chemistry calculation is 2016-10-12.

Report of the 2005 Workshop on Ocean Ecodynamics Comparison in the Subarctic Pacific

I. Scientific Issues Posed by OECOS II. Participant Contributions to the OECOS Workshop A. ASPECTS OF PHYTOPLANKTON ECOLOGY IN THE SUBARCTIC PACIFIC Microbial community compositions by Karen E. Selph Subarctic Pacific lower trophic interactions: Production-based grazing rates and grazing-corrected production rates by Nicholas Welschmeyer Phytoplankton bloom dynamics and their physiological status in the western subarctic Pacific by Ken Furuya Temporal and spatial variability of phytoplankton biomass and productivity in the northwestern Pacific by Sei-ichi Saitoh, Suguru Okamoto, Hiroki Takemura and Kosei Sasaoka The use of molecular indicators of phytoplankton iron limitation by Deana Erdner B. IRON CONCENTRATION AND CHEMICAL SPECIATION Iron measurements during OECOS by Zanna Chase and Jay Cullen 25 The measurement of iron, nutrients and other chemical components in the northwestern North Pacific Ocean by Kenshi Kuma The measurement of iron, nutrients and other chemical components in the northwestern North Pacific Ocean by Kenshi Kuma C. PHYSICAL OCEANOGRAPHY, FINE-SCALE DISTRIBUTION PATTERNS AND AUTONOMOUS DRIFTERS The use of drifters in Lagrangian experiments: Positives, negatives and what can really be measured by Peter Strutton The interaction between plankton distribution patterns and vertical and horizontal physical processes in the eastern subarctic North Pacific by Timothy J. Cowles D. MICROZOOPLANKTON Microzooplankton processes in oceanic waters of the eastern subarctic Pacific: Project OECOS by Suzanne Strom Functional role of microzooplankton in the pelagic marine ecosystem during phytoplankton blooms in the western subarctic Pacific by Takashi Ota and Akiyoshi Shinada E. MESOZOOPLANKTON Vertical zonation of mesozooplankton, and its variability in response to food availability, density stratification, and turbulence by David L. Mackas and Moira Galbraith Marine ecosystem characteristics and seasonal abundance of dominant calanoid copepods in the Oyashio region by Atsushi Yamaguchi, Tsutomu Ikeda and Naonobu Shiga OECOS: Proposed mesozooplankton research in the Oyashio region, western subarctic Pacific by Tsutomu Ikeda Some background on Neocalanus feeding by Michael Dagg Size and growth of interzonally migrating copepods by Charles B. Miller Growth of large interzonal migrating copepods by Toru Kobari F. MODELING Ecosystem and population dynamics modeling by Harold P. Batchelder III. Reports from Workshop Breakout Groups A. PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL ASPECTS WITH EMPHASIS ON IRON AND IRON SPECIATION B. PHYTOPLANKTON/MICROZOOPLANKTON STUDIES C. MESOZOOPLANKTON STUDIES IV. Issues arising during the workshop A. PHYTOPLANKTON STOCK VARIATIONS IN HNLC SYSTEMS AND TROPHIC CASCADES IN THE NANO AND MICRO REGIMES B. DIFFERENCES BETWEEN EAST AND WEST IN SITE SELECTION FOR OECOS TIME SERIES C. TIMING OF OECOS EXPEDITIONS D. CHARACTERIZATION OF PHYSICAL OCEANOGRAPHY V. Concluding Remarks VI. References (109 page document)

Small-scale spatial and temporal variability in growth and mortality of fish larvae in the subtropical northcentral Gulf of Mexico: implications for assessing recruitment success

Extensive plankton collections were taken during seven September cruises (1990–93) along the inner continental shelf of the northcentral Gulf of Mexico (GOM). Despite the high productivity and availability of food during these cruises, significant small-scale spatial variability was found in larval growth rates for both Atlantic bumper (Chloroscombrus chrysurus, Carangidae) and vermilion snapper (Rhomboplites aurorubens, Lutjanidae). The observed variability in larval growth rates was not correlated with changes in water temperature or associated with conspicuous hydrographic features and suggested the existence of less-recognizable regions where conditions for growth vary. Cruise estimates of mortality coefficients (Z) for larval Atlantic bumper (n=32,241 larvae from six cruises) and vermilion snapper (n= 2581 larvae from four cruises) ranged from 0.20 to 0.37 and 0.19 to 0.29, respectively. Even in a subtropical climate like the GOM, where larval-stage durations may be as short as two weeks, observed variability in growth rates, particularly when combined with small changes in mortality rates, can cause order-of-magnitude differences in cumulative larval survival. To what extent the observed differences in growth rates at small spatial scales are fine-scale “noise” that ultimately is smoothed by larger-scale processes is not known. Future research is needed to further characterize the small-scale variability in growth rates of larvae, particularly with regard to microzooplankton patchiness and the temporal and spatial pattern of potential predators. Small-scale spatial variability in larval growth rates may in fact be the norm, and understanding the implications of this subtle mosaic may help us to better evaluate our ability to partition the causes of recruitment variability.

中国近海浮游细菌生物量与生产力的生态分布特点

本论文研究了胶洲湾、东海和渤海的蓝细菌（Synechococcus）、生物量、异养细菌生物量和生产力的生态学特点。并在汇泉湾、渤海和东海用分极增减法对海洋蓝细菌在微型食物环（the microbial loop）中的作用进行了初步研究。在以上海区调查研究的时间如下：胶州湾：1993年2月、5月、9月11月，1996年5月、1999年3月、5月和12月。汇泉湾：1996年4月至1998年4月。东海：1997年2-3月，1998年7月。渤海1998年9-10月，1999年4-5月。研究结果如下：胶州湾：蓝细菌生物量的变化范围是11.4-0.03 mgC/m~3，季节变化是夏季>秋季和春季>冬季。其水平分布是除夏季蓝细菌生物量是沿岸浅水区向湾外递减外，其它三季（春、秋和冬季）是由湾外向湾内至沿岸浅水区递减。蓝细菌生物量与海水温度周年变化正相关，与季节海水温度的关系是秋、冬季分布变化一致，春、夏季分布变化相反。海水温度是影响胶州湾蓝细菌生物量分布变化的主要原因。异养细菌生物量和生产力的变化范围分别是29.8-1.62 mgC/m~3; 129.12-1.92 mgC/m~3.d。季节变化都是夏季>秋季、春季>冬季。夏季的异养细菌生物量和生产力水平分布趋势与蓝细菌生物量的分布变化相同。海水温度对异养细菌生产力的影响较对异养细菌生物量的影响大。异养细菌生产力相比（BP:PP）的变化在0.58-0.02之间，季节分布变化是夏季>秋季、春季>冬季。夏季表层的BP:PP由沿岸浅水区向湾心、湾口和湾外递减。东海：蓝细菌生物量的变化范围是46.72-0.011 mgC/m~3，夏季高平均是23.59 mgC/m~3，冬季低平均是3.61 mgC/m~3。冬季蓝细菌生物量的水平分布明显受黑潮的影响，在表面和20米层是由东南向西北方向递减。其垂直分布是冬季表层和20米层>底层，夏季是20米层>表层>底层；在连续站冬111站和410站变化都是中层>底层>表层。异养细菌生物量和生产力的变化范围分别是17.2-4.4 mgC/m~3（1997.2）；376.8-7.2 mgC/m~3.d。异养细菌生产力夏季高平均是35.1 mgC/m~3.d。异养细菌生物量的水平分布是由沿岸向外海递增（1997.2），异养细菌生产力的水平分布是冬季异养细菌生产力在32度断面有由沿岸向外递减趋势，PN断面的变化与冬季相似。垂直分布，冬季和夏季的异养细菌生产力的垂直变化在2断面是底层大于表面，PN断面则是表层大于底层，32度断面大多断站是底层大于表层。在连续站冬季111站异养细菌生产力的变化是底层>中层>表层，409站的变化是中层>底层>表层，夏季111站和410站都是中>底层>表层。异养细菌生物量（1997.2）表层分布变化与海水温度分布变化相似，底层变化相反。异养细菌生产力与初级生产力相比（BP:PP），冬季在0.04-0.30之间，平均为0.17；夏季在0.20-0.43之间平均0.32。冬季在长江口附近BP：PP有一个高值区是0.30，夏季在111站附近有一个高值区是0.43。从连续站111站和409’站观测发现底层的BP：PP明显高于表层。渤海：蓝细菌生物量秋季（16.6-0.37 mgC/m~3）比春季（0.44-0.015 mgC/m~3）高。其秋季的水平分布与海水盐度水平分布相同，与海水温度水平分布相反。异养细菌生产力秋季（189-62.2 mgC/m~3.d）与春季（193.2-49.8 mgC/m~3.d）相当。但秋季捕层BP普遍小于底层，而春季是表层普遍大于底层。根据颗粒分级培养实验结果，海洋蓝图细菌在微型食物环中的作用如下：在汇泉湾的春季和秋季蓝细菌可能主要被小型浮游动物（microzooplankton 20-200 μm）捕食。在渤海的春季和秋季也是同样结果。但在东海夏季的111站和410站附近（东海大陆架中部）微型浮游动物（nanozooplankton 2-20 μm）对蓝细菌的捕食压力明显。

东海大规模赤潮对微型浮游动物群落结构影响的研究

本文从赤潮发生前的现场模拟实验、赤潮发生时的现场培养实验和赤潮发生过程中的现场调查等方面，较为系统地研究了东海大规模赤潮对微型浮游动物群落结构的影响。 2005年长江口及邻近海区赤潮发生前，赤潮973MC2005－03航次在本海区进行了综合调查，期间分别于4月27日、5月4日和5月8日，在zzf1、zc18a和ra5三个站位利用现场船基培养的方法，研究了添加到赤潮密度106 cells L-1的东海原甲藻（Prorocentrum donghaiense）对微型浮游动物群落结构的影响。结果发现，赤潮密度的东海原甲藻对小型无壳纤毛虫的种群数量影响较大，而对中大型砂壳纤毛虫的影响较小，从而使得微型浮游动物群落有向中大型砂壳纤毛虫演替的趋势。在zzf1站位，小型无壳纤毛虫占绝对优势，添加东海原甲藻72 h后，优势种由管游虫（Cyrtostrombidium sp.）演替为另一种小型无壳纤毛虫急游虫4（Strombidium sp.4）；在以中型砂壳纤毛虫百乐拟铃虫（Tintinnospsis beroidea）为优势种的zc18a站位，仍然是以此为优势种，但其在群落中的优势度更加明显；ra5站位也是以小型无壳纤毛虫为主，添加东海原甲藻72 h后，其群落结构由急游虫2（Strombidium sp.2）向中大型砂壳纤毛虫纤毛虫百乐拟铃虫和亚速岛网纹虫（Favella azorica）演替。不同站位微型浮游动物群落结构变化的差异与其本身的群落结构组成有一定关系，也与浮游植物的群落组成有关。zzf1和ra5站位实验组中微型浮游动物的总丰度和总生物量都低于对照组，而zc18a站位变化不明显，这是由于前两个站位实验组中的优势种管游虫（zzf1站位）和急游虫2（ra5站位）的丰度和生物量迅速下降，而zc18a站位实验组的优势种百乐拟铃虫的丰度和生物量比较稳定造成的。 2005年长江口及邻近海区赤潮发生时，赤潮973 MC2005－04航次在本海区进行了综合调查，期间分别于5月26日、5月28日、5月28日和5月29日，在xzm1、srb、sra1和hb8a四个站位利用现场培养的方法，研究了东海大规模赤潮对微型浮游动物群落结构的影响。结果发现，东海大规模赤潮对微型浮游动物群落结构的影响与赤潮藻的密度密切相关：xzm1、srb和sra1站位是赤潮区，两种赤潮藻的总密度分别为，1.3×106 cells L-1、1.8×106 cells L-1和5.6×106 cells L-1，而hb8a站位位于非赤潮区，两种赤潮藻的总密度仅为5×105 cells L-1；实验进行72 h后，在以大型砂壳纤毛虫网纹虫和筒壳虫（Tintinnidium sp.）为主的xzm1、srb和sra1站位，仍然是以这些大型砂壳纤毛虫为主，且其在群落中的百分比显著增大，尤其在赤潮藻密度最高的的sra1站位，这种演替趋势表现的最明显；而在以小型无壳纤毛虫急游虫2为主的hb8a站位，微型浮游动物群落向中型砂壳纤毛虫真丁丁虫（Eutintinnus sp.）演替。培养过程中微型浮游动物总丰度的变化以及总生物量的变化都与赤潮藻的密度密切相关：赤潮藻密度较低的xzm1站位和srb站位变化不大；赤潮藻密度较高的sra1站位则快速下降；而非赤潮区的hb8a站位呈快速上升的趋势。以上结果进一步表明东海大规模赤潮能使微型浮游动物群落向中大型砂壳纤毛虫演替。 在2006年4月18日－5月30日，赤潮973项目MC2006航次在长江口及其邻近海区围绕东海原甲藻和米氏凯伦藻赤潮进行了综合调查。为了研究该过程中微型浮游动物群落结构的变化，我们在南北5个断面共计21个站位进行了取样，样品涉及赤潮发生前期、发生期和消退期。本次调查共发现纤毛虫66种，其中砂壳纤毛虫有8属37种，寡毛类无壳纤毛虫25种，另外还有前口类3属4种。在赤潮发生前之前，小型无壳纤毛虫的丰度普遍较高，平均值为1574 ind L-1，而中大型砂壳纤毛虫的丰度普遍偏低，平均值仅为14 ind L-1；赤潮发生以后，在大多数站位小型无壳纤毛虫的丰度出现不同程度的下降，平均值降为171 ind L-1，而中大型砂壳纤毛虫的丰度出现一定程度的上升，平均值增至216 ind L-1。赤潮消退时，小型无壳纤毛虫丰度的平均值降为109 ind L-1，而中大型砂壳纤毛虫的丰度继续增长，变为401 ind L-1。不同微型浮游动物百分比的统计结果也表明：微型浮游动物群落由小型无壳纤毛虫向中大型砂壳纤毛虫演替的趋势：小型无壳纤毛虫在群落中百分比的平均值由赤潮发生前的62 %变为赤潮发生时的32 %，至赤潮消退时又降为15 %；而中大型砂壳纤毛虫百分比的平均值从赤潮发生前的10 %变为赤潮发生时的24 %，至赤潮消退时增至50 %。典型站位za3、za5、zb7和zb9的结果再次表明了赤潮发生过程中微型浮游动物群落由小型无壳纤毛虫向中大型砂壳纤毛虫演替的趋势。 由以上赤潮发生前的现场模拟实验、赤潮发生时的现场培养实验和赤潮发生过程中的现场调查的结果均可见，东海大规模赤潮可以改变微型浮游动物的群落结构，呈现由小型无壳纤毛虫向中大型砂壳纤毛虫演替的趋势，进而有可能影响中大型浮游动物等摄食者的种群数量和群落结构，最终可能会影响整个海洋生态系统的结构和功能。

Experimental study on the impact of dinoflagellate Alexandrium species on populations of the rotifer Brachionus plicatilis

To investigate harmful effects of the dinoflagellate Alexandrium species on microzooplankton, the rotifer Brachionus plicatilis was chosen as an assay species, and tested with 10 strains of Alexandrium including one known non-PSP-producer (Alexandrium tamarense, AT-6). HPLC analysis confirmed the PSP-content of the various strains: Alexandrium lusitanicum, Alexandrium minutum and Alexandrium tamarense (ATHK, AT5-1, AT5-3, ATC102, ATC103) used in the experiment were PSP-producers. No PSP toxins were detected in the strains Alexandrium sp1, Alexandrium sp2. Exposing rotifer populations to the densities of 2000 cells ml(-1) of each of these 10 Alexandrium strains revealed that the (non-PSP) A. tarnarense (AT-6) and two other PSP-producing algae: A. lusitanicum, A. minutum, did not appear to adversely impact rotifer populations. Rotifers exposed to these three strains were able to maintain their population numbers, and in some cases, increase them. Although some increases in rotifer population growth following exposures to these three algal species were noted, the rate was less than for the non-exposed control rotifer groups. In contrast, the remaining seven algal strains (A. tamarense ATHK, AT5-1, AT5-3, ATC102, ATC103; also Alexandrium sp1 and Alexandrium sp2) all have adverse effects on the rotifers. Dosing rotifers with respective algal cell densities of 2000 cells ml-1 each, for Alexandrium spl, Alexandrium sp2, and A. tamarense strains ATHK and ATC103 showed mean lethal time (LT50) on rotifer populations of 21, 28, 29, and 36h, respectively. The remaining three species (A. tamarense strains AT5-1, AT5-3, ATC102) caused respective mean rotifer LT50S of 56, 56, and 71 h, compared to 160 h for the unexposed "starved control" rotifers. Experiments to determine ingestion rates for the rotifers, based on changes in their Chlorophyll a content, showed that the rotifers could feed on A. lusitanicum, A. minutum and A. tamarense strain AT-6, but could graze to little or no extent upon algal cells of the other seven strains. The effects on rotifers exposed to different cell densities, fractions, and growth phases of A. tamarense algal culture were respectively compared. It was found that only the whole algal cells had lethal effects, with strongest impact being shown by the early exponential growth phase of A. tamarense. The results indicate that some toxic mechanism(s), other than PSP and present in whole algal cells, might be responsible for the adverse effects on the exposed rotifers. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Summer feeding activities of zooplankton in Prydz Bay, Antarctica

Grazing of dominant zooplankton copepods (Calanoides acutus. and Metridia gerlachei), salps (Salpa thompsoni) and microzooplankton was determined during the austral summer of 1998/1999 at the seasonal ice zone of the Prydz Bay region. The objective was to measure the ingestion rates of zooplankton at the seasonal ice zone, so as to evaluate the importance of different groups of zooplankton in their grazing impact on phytoplankton standing stock and primary production. Grazing by copepods was low, and accounted for less than or equal to 1% of phytoplankton standing stocks and 3.8-12.5% of primary production for both species during this study, even the ingestion rates of individuals were at a high level compared with previous reports. S. thompsoni exhibited a relatively high grazing impact on primary production (72%) in the north of our investigation area. The highest grazing impact on phytoplankton was exerted by microzooplankton during this investigation, and accounted for 10-65% of the standing stock of phytoplankton and 34-100% of potential daily primary production. We concluded that microzooplankton was the dominant phytoplankton consumer in this study area. Salps also played an important role in control of phytoplankton where swarming occurred. The grazing of copepods had a relatively small effect on phytoplankton biomass development.

Feeding activities of zooplankton in the Bohai Sea

The Bohai Sea was the site of the Chinese national GLOBEC programme. During the June 1997 cruises of R/V Science No.1, observations and experiments on zooplankton feeding were conducted. At five 48 h time-series stations the following observations and measurements on zooplankton were carried out: (1) diurnal vertical migration, by collecting samples at different layers every 3 h with a closing net; (2) diurnal feeding rhythms, by gut pigment analysis; and (3) ingestion rate, by both gut pigment analysis and the dilution method. A classification by body size was used to deal with the diversity of species and developmental stages of zooplankton assemblages. Samples were separated into three size groups: small (200-500 mu m), medium (500-1000 mu m) and large (> 1000 mu m). The results showed that the copepods (Calanus sinicus, Paracalanus parvus, Acartia bifilosa and Centropages mcmurrichi) performed clear diurnal vertical migrations. However, their behaviour was different at different stations. The variation in gut pigment content over the 24 h cycle showed strong diurnal feeding rhythms, particularly for the large size group. Gut pigment contents reached their daily maximum during the time from dusk to midnight (18:00-24:00). The peak value was about 10 times the minimum observed in the daytime. The in situ daily grazing rate, based on gut pigment contents and evacuation experiments, was 4.00-12.65 ng chla ind(-1) day(-1) for the small size group, 5.99-66.58 ng chla ind(-1) day(-1) for the medium size group and 31.31-237.13 ng chla ind(-1) day(-1) for the large size group. The copepods consumed only a small part (2.90-13.52%) of the phytoplankton biomass hut about 77% of the daily production. The grazing mortality rate of phytoplankton by microzooplankton (<200 mu m) measured by the dilution method ranged from 0.43 to 0.69 day(-1) The calculated daily consumption of phytoplankton biomass was 35-50%, and 85-319% of the potential production.

Preliminary study on different nutrient pools supplies for the phytoplankton growth in the Jiaozhou Bay in China in the fall of 2004

The source and significance. of two mitrients, nitrogen. and phosphorous, were investigated by a modified dilution method performed on seawater samples from the Jiaozhou Bay in autumn 2004. This modified dilution method accounted for the phytoplankton growth rate, microzooplankton grazing mortality rate, the external nutrient pools, as well as nutrient supplied through remineralization by microzooplankton. The results indicated that the phytoplankton net growth rate increased in turn from inside the bay, to outside the bay, to in the Xiaogang Harbor. The phytoplankton, maximum growth rates and microzooplankton grazing mortality rates were 1.14 and 0.92 d(-1) outside the bay, 0.42 and 0.32 d(-1) inside the bay and 0.98 and 0.62 d(-1) in the harbor respectively. Outside the bay, the remineralized nitrogen (K-r = 24.49) had heavy influence on the growth of the phytoplankton. Inside the bay, the remineralized phosphorus(K-r = 3.49) strongly affected the phytoplankton growth. In the harbor, the remineralized phosphorus (K-r = 3.73) was in larger demand by phytoplankton growth. The results demonstrated that the different nutrients pools supplied for phytoplankton growth were greatly in accordance with the phytoplankton community structure, microzooplankton grazing mortality rates and environmental conditions. It is revealed that, nutrient remineralization is much more important for the phytoplankton growth in the Jiaozhou Bay than previously believed.