黄海近岸海洋趋磁细菌的多样性研究

海洋趋磁细菌在黄海、东海的近岸海域沉积物中分布广泛，形态上以球菌为主，部分地区有杆菌、螺旋菌。在青岛汇泉湾发现大量的海洋趋磁细菌，趋磁球菌占优势，最大丰度可达105 cells/cm3。 透射电镜观察潮间带趋磁细菌以球菌或卵球菌占绝对优势；潮下带菌体形态多样，有球形或卵球形、长短杆状、弧状和螺旋状，其中球形或卵球形趋磁细菌占优势。电镜观察还发现磁小体的排列方式多样化，大多数呈链状排列，有单链、双链及多链，还有的呈环状或者成簇排列。磁小体的形态也多种多样，有正方体、棱柱体、立方八面体、子弹头状、片状和齿状。 PCR-RFLP分析RT收集潮间带得到的三个菌株同属于α-变形菌亚纲中的未培养的趋磁球菌，三者之间相似性都在98%以上，可能都属于同一个属。潮下带RT收集，测序分析得到10个菌株。发现9个属于α-变形菌亚纲，1个属于γ-变形菌亚纲，共有8个不同的属，优势种是MRT-81和MRT-82。目前尚未获得这些细菌的纯培养。 结合电镜观察的结果发现，潮间带形态单一，属于同一个属；潮下带形态多样，属于8个不同的属。电镜结果跟RFLP的结果一致。结合区域特点我们分析潮间带水深大约0.5-1 m，在大潮最低潮时可能暴露于空气中，且受潮汐的影响，物化环境变化较大。潮下带水深常年>2 m，物化环境比较稳定。这可能是造成两个区域多样性差别的主要原因。 我们得到的所有的序列与未培养和已纯培养的海洋趋磁球菌的16S rDNA相似性都不高于94%，两优势菌群与纯培养的MC-1相似性都不高于88%，可能为新发现的海洋趋磁细菌资源。

南黄海重磁资料处理与断裂系统研究

南黄海位于中国大陆和朝鲜半岛之间，北与北黄海相通，南与东海相连，是奠基于下扬子地台前震旦纪变质岩基底之上一个多旋回盆地的叠覆。 目前研究表明，南黄海兼跨中朝、扬子和华南3大构造单元，区域构造复杂，是我国近海唯一未获得工业性流油的海域，我国在该区与韩国尚存在海域及油气资源的划界争议问题。对南黄海开展研究，从开展理论研究、开发海洋资源、维护海洋权益等方面出发都有重大意义。由于我国在该区的勘探与研究成效不高，认识较浅，故应加大对该区的研究力度。 本文收集了南黄海重力与磁力资料，对这些资料进行了处理。通过对这些海洋重磁资料的常规处理，本文得到了该地区区域布格重力异常及磁异常的上下延拓图、导数异常图等常规成果图件，对研究区重磁异常进行了分区和特征解释；应用小波多尺度分解的方法对重磁数据进行了分析，并结合常规处理结果，对研究区的断裂系统进行了讨论；初步探讨了南黄海盆地的形成与演化。并获得如下几点结论： 1)研究区中断裂十分发育，优势走向为NE—NEE向，是太平洋板块挤压作用的结果，同时，研究区内不同方向（如NE、NW、EW和NS向等）的断裂相互交错，互有切割，有明显的多期活动的迹象； 2)证实了朝鲜半岛西缘断裂带的存在，其在靠近济州岛时表现的更为破碎；黄海中央断裂带为一条，走向为NNW，向南逐渐变为NW向延伸； 3)南黄海盆地是一个自晚元古代以来不断迁移叠合、并经多次改造而使原貌小完整的序列残留盆地，具有复杂的形成与演化过程。

黄海浮游动物功能群的研究

浮游动物在海洋生态系统物质循环和能量流动中起着至关重要的作用。浮游动物物种组成、生物量和次级生产力的变化会改变生态系统的结构和功能。在黄海生态系统中如何描述这个过程，并使它易于模拟是本论文的研究目的。生物量和生产力是海洋生态系统食物网的基础。谁是浮游动物生物量和次级生产力的基础？哪些种类在生态系统中起关键作用？这些问题在黄海这样的温带陆架边缘海区很难回答，原因是物种组成、生物量和生产力的季节变化显著。因此，在对黄海食物产出的关键过程进行模拟时，需要应用既准确又简便的方法来对浮游动物群落的生态过程进行模拟。在对黄海浮游动物群落结构和物理海洋学特征进行充分的分析之后，浮游动物功能群的方法被确定用来进行黄海生态系统结构和功能的模拟。 根据浮游动物的粒径、摄食习性和营养功能，黄海浮游动物被分为6个功能群：大型浮游甲壳动物功能群（Giant crustacean，GC）、大型桡足类功能群（Large copepods, LC）、小型桡足类功能群（Small copepods，SC）、毛颚类功能群（Chaetognaths）、水母类功能群（Medusae）和海樽类功能群（Salps）。GC、LC和SC是按照粒径大小而划分的功能群，他们是高营养层次的主要食物资源。毛颚类和水母类是两类胶质性的肉食性浮游动物功能群，他们与高营养层次竞争摄食饵料浮游动物；海樽类与其他浮游动物种类竞争摄食浮游植物，而本身的物质和能量却不能有效的传递到高营养层次。本文研究报道了浮游动物各功能群的时空分布、基于浮游动物动能群的黄海生态区划分、饵料浮游动物功能群的生产力、毛颚类对浮游动物的摄食压力以及中华哲水蚤（Calanus sinicus）的摄食生态学。 春季，浮游动物生物量为2.1 g m–2，GC、LC和SC对生物量的贡献率分别为19, 44 和 26%。高生物量的LC和SC功能群主要分布于山东半岛南岸的近岸海域，而GC主要分布在远岸站位。夏季，浮游动物的生物量为3.1 g m–2，GC贡献了73%。GC、LC和SC主要分布在黄海的中部海域。秋季，浮游动物生物量为1.8 g m–2，GC、LC和SC的贡献率相似，分别为36, 33和23%，高生物量的GC和LC分布在黄海中部，而SC主要分布在远岸站位。GC和LC是冬季浮游动物生物量（2.9 g m–2）的优势功能群，分别贡献率了57%和27%，高生物量的GC、LC和SC都分布在黄海的中部海域。与GC、LC和SC相比，毛颚类生物量较低，主要分布于黄海的中北部海域。水母类（本文中指小型水母类）和海樽类斑块分布明显，主要分布于黄海沿岸和北部海域。属于不同功能群的约10个种类为浮游动物的优势种，控制着浮游动物群落的动态。 春季，黄海可以被分成4个浮游动物生态区，浮游动物生物量的分布中心位于山东半岛南岸近岸海域，与第一个生态区相对应，LC和SC在分布中心起主要的控制作用；夏、秋和冬季，黄海分别被分成3、4和3个生态区，浮游动物生物量的分布中心均位于黄海的中部海域，均与各季节的第一个生态区相对应，GC和LC是分布中心生态区的优势功能群，对分布中心起主要的控制作用。黄海冷水团（YSCBW）在GC、LC和SC的空间分布模式中起着重要的作用。黄海不同季节浮游动物生态区的空间分布模式及生态区中起控制作用的优势功能群类别有着重要的生态学意义。 我们将饵料浮游动物功能群细化为0.16–0.25 mm、0.25–0.5 mm、0.5–1 mm、1–2 mm和 >2 mm5个粒径组。应用生物能量学的方法研究了不同粒径浮游动物的生产力。结果表明：浮游动物次级生产力5月份最高，为91.9 mg C m–2 d–1，其次是6月和9月，分别为75.6 mg C m–2 d–1和65.5 mg C m–2 d–1，8月、3月和12月较低，仅为42.3 mg C m–2 d–1、35.9 mg C m–2 d–1和27.9 mg C m–2 d–1。根据这些结果，黄海浮游动物年次级生产力为18.9 g C m–2 year–1。0.16–0.25 mm和 0.25–0.5 mm 两个粒径组对浮游动物次级生产力的贡献率为58–79%，即相对应的SC功能群的周转率（P/B, 0.091–0.193 d–1）要高于GC和LC。 黄海毛颚类功能群的优势种类为强壮箭虫（Sagitta crassa）、纳嘎箭虫（S. nagae）、肥胖箭虫（S. enflata）和百陶箭虫（S. bedoti）。我们对这四种箭虫的生产力和对浮游动物生物量和生产力的摄食压力进行了研究。结果表明：黄海毛颚类总的生物量为98–217 mg m–2，总的生产力为1.22–2.36 mg C m–2 d–1。黄海毛颚类的生物量占浮游动物总生物量的6.35–14.47%，而生产力仅占浮游动物总生产力的2.54–6.04%。强壮箭虫和纳嘎箭虫是黄海毛颚类功能群的绝对优势种，控制着黄海毛颚类群落的动态。黄海毛颚类总的摄食率为4.24–8.18 mg C m–2d–1，对浮游动物现存量和生产力总的摄食压力分别为为0.94%和12.56%。黄海冬季，浮游动物的现存量和生产力为0.4 g C m–2和0.026 g C m–2d–1，而毛颚类的摄食压力却达到了全年的最大值，为1.4%和20.94%。因此，毛颚类的摄食可能对冬季浮游动物群落结构造成重要的影响。通过不同体长组箭虫的摄食率可以推断，黄海毛颚类全年主要摄食小型桡足类，对SC功能群的摄食压力最大。但是在夏季黄海冷水团形成的月份，毛颚类对前体长为2 mm的LC功能群中的种类摄食压力也较大，但此时，由于优势种中华哲水蚤进入滞育阶段，因此毛颚类的摄食会对其种群数量造成严重的影响。 中华哲水蚤在春、秋季的摄食率分别为2.08–11.46和0.26–3.70 µg C female–1 day–1，与微型浮游生物的现存量呈显著的正相关。春季，在黄海的北部，中华哲水蚤通过摄食微型浮游生物吸收的碳量能够满足其代谢和繁殖需求，而在黄海的南部和秋季黄海冷水团锋区附近，中华哲水蚤必须通过摄食其他类型的食物资源来维持其代谢和生殖需求。较低的摄食率、无产卵以及种群中CV期桡足幼体占优势表明，秋季中华哲水蚤在黄海冷水团区域内处于滞育状态。中华哲水蚤优先摄食微型原生动物，并且春季中华哲水蚤总的生长效率（GGE, 3–39%）与食物中微型原生动物的比例呈显著的正相关，表明微型原生动物具有较高的营养价值。但是，因较低的产卵率（0.16–12.6 eggs female–1 day–1）而导致的中华哲水蚤较低的总生长效率（13.4%），可能就是由于其食物中的必需营养成分含量不足（或缺乏）造成的。 本文从生物量的角度，对黄海浮游动物各功能群的时空分布、生态区划分进行了研究报道，对GC、LC和SC功能群的生产力、毛颚类对浮游动物的摄食压力和中华哲水蚤的摄食生态学进行了较为深入的研究，这些结果为黄海食物产出的关键过程的模拟提供了基础资料。今后的研究重点应搞清楚黄海水母类对浮游动物次级生产力的摄食压力和海樽类在食物产出模型中产生的负效应的程度，浮游动物各功能群的组成、季节变化和空间分布模式的长期变化，尤其是在气候变化和人类活动的影响下，将是今后研究的重点。

中国近海和西北太平洋温跃层时空变化分析、模拟及预报

温度跃层是反映海洋温度场的重要物理特性指标，对水下通讯、潜艇活动及渔业养殖、捕捞等有重要影响。本文利用中国科学院海洋研究所“中国海洋科学数据库”在中国近海及西北太平洋（110ºE-140ºE,10ºN-40ºN）的多年历史资料（1930-2002年，510143站次），基于一种改进的温跃层判定方法，分析了该海域温跃层特征量的时空分布状况。同时利用Princeton Ocean Model(POM)，对中国近海，特别是东南沿海的水文结构进行了模拟，研究了海洋水文环境对逆温跃层的影响。最后根据历史海温观测资料，利用EOF分解统计技术，提出了一种适于我国近海及毗邻海域，基于现场有限层实测海温数据，快速重构海洋水温垂直结构的统计预报方法，以达到对现场温跃层的快速估计。 历史资料分析结果表明，受太阳辐射和风应力的影响，20°N以北研究海域，温跃层季节变化明显，夏季温跃层最浅、最强，冬季相反，温跃层厚度的相位明显滞后于其他变量，其在春季最薄、秋季最厚。12月份到翌年3月份，渤、黄及东海西岸，呈无跃层结构，西北太平洋部分海域从1月到3月份，也基本无跃层结构。在黄海西和东岸以及台湾海峡附近的浅滩海域，由于风力搅拌和潮混合作用，温跃层出现概率常年较低。夏季，海水层化现象在近海陆架海域得到了加强，陆架海域温跃层强度季节性变化幅度(0.31°C/m)明显大于深水区(约0.05°C/m)，而前者温跃层深度和厚度的季节性变化幅度小于后者。20°N以南研究海域，温跃层季节变化不明显。逆温跃层主要出现在冬、春季节（10月-翌年5月）。受长江冲淡水和台湾暖流的影响，东南沿海区域逆温跃层持续时间最长，出现概率最大，而在山东半岛北及东沿岸、朝鲜半岛西及北岸，逆温跃层消长过程似乎和黄海暖流有关。多温跃层结构常年出现于北赤道流及对马暖流区。在黑潮入侵黄、东、南海的区域，多温跃层呈现明显不同的季节变化。在黄海中部，春季多温跃层发生概率高于夏季和秋季，在东海西部，多跃层主要出现在夏季，在南海北部，冬季和春季多温跃层发生概率大于夏季和秋季。这些变化可能主要受海表面温度变化和风力驱动的表层流的影响。 利用Princeton Ocean Model(POM)，对中国东南沿海逆温跃层结构进行了模拟，模拟结果显示，长江冲淡水的季节性变化以及夏季转向与实际结果符合较好，基本再现了渤、黄、东海海域主要的环流、温盐场以及逆温跃层的分布特征和季节变化。通过数值实验发现，若无长江、黄河淡水输入，则在整个研究海域基本无逆温跃层出现，因此陆源淡水可能是河口附近逆温跃层出现的基本因素之一。长江以及暖流（黑潮和台湾暖流）流量的增加，均可在不同程度上使逆温跃层出现概率及强度、深度和厚度增加，且暖流的影响更加明显。长江对东南沿海逆温跃层的出现，特别是秋季到冬季初期，有明显的影响，使长江口海域逆温跃层位置偏向东南。暖流对于中国东南沿海的逆温跃层结构，特别是初春时期，有较大影响，使长江口海域的逆温跃层位置向东北偏移。 通过对温跃层长期变化分析得出，黄海冷水团区域，夏季温跃层强度存在3.8年左右的年际变化及18.9年左右的年代际变化，此变化可能主要表现为对当年夏季和前冬东亚地区大气气温的热力响应。东海冷涡区域，夏季温跃层强度存在3.7年的年际变化，在El Nino年为正的强度异常，其可能主要受局地气旋式大气环流变异所影响。谱分析同时表明，该海域夏季温跃层强度还存在33.2年的年代际变化，上世纪70年代中期，温跃层强度由弱转强，而此变化可能与黑潮流量的年代际变化有关。 海洋水温垂直结构的统计预报结果显示，EOF分解的前四个主分量即能够解释原空间点温度距平总方差的95%以上，以海洋表层附近观测资料求解的特征系数推断温度垂直结构分布的结果最稳定。利用东海陆架区、南海深水区和台湾周边海域三个不同区域的实测CTD样本廓线资料，对重构模型的检验结果表明，重构与实测廓线的相关程度超过95%的置信水平。三个区重构与实测温度廓线值的平均误差分别为0.69℃，0.52℃，1.18℃，平均重构廓线误差小于平均气候偏差，统计模式可以很好的估算温度廓线垂直结构。东海陆架海区温度垂直重构廓线与CTD观测廓线获得的温跃层结果对比表明，重构温跃层上界、下界深度和强度的平均绝对误差分别为1.51m、1.36m和0.17℃/m，它们的平均相对误差分别为24.7%、8.9%和22.6%，虽然温跃层深度和强度的平均相对误差较大，但其绝对误差量值较小。而在南海海区，模型重构温跃层上界、下界和强度的平均绝对预报误差分别为4.1m、27.7m和0.007℃/m，它们的平均相对误差分别为16.1%、16.8%和9.5%，重构温跃层各特征值的平均相对误差都在20%以内。虽然南海区温跃层下界深度平均绝对预报误差较大，但相对于温跃层下界深度的空间尺度变化而言（平均温跃层下界深度为168m），平均相对误差仅为16.8%。因此说模型重构的温度廓线可以达到对我国陆架海域、深水区温跃层的较好估算。 基于对历史水文温度廓线观测资料的分析及自主温跃层统计预报模型，研制了实时可利用微机简单、快捷地进行温跃层估算及查询的可视化系统，这是迄今进行大范围海域温跃层统计与实时预报研究的较系统成果。

黄海中华哲水蚤繁殖、种群补充与生活史研究

中华哲水蚤是黄、东海浮游动物关键种，连接初级生产与较高营养级，在海洋生态系统中占据核心地位。在以往研究基础上，依据2006年3月至2007年8月黄海9个航次、胶州湾11个航次现场调查数据以及大量室内实验数据，本文研究了中华哲水蚤的繁殖、种群补充以及油脂积累的季节变化，期望初步阐明中华哲水蚤在黄海的种群动态及驱动因素、并构建其生活史概念模型。 3、4月份，黄海与胶州湾中华哲水蚤的生殖腺普遍发育成熟、产卵率较高，中华哲水蚤种群进入繁殖、种群补充的活跃期，恰好可以利用此时较好的食物条件。5、6月份，中华哲水蚤在黄海近岸海区仍表现出较高的产卵率，而陆架海区的中华哲水蚤生殖腺成熟度、产卵率逐渐降低，种群逐渐表现出度夏特征—C5占优势、积累大量脂类。整个夏季，中华哲水蚤的繁殖率、种群补充率在整个黄海都较低，尤其在黄海冷水团区：中华哲水蚤生殖腺停滞于未成熟的GS1－GS2期，产卵率为零。10月，中华哲水蚤在冷水团边缘潮汐锋区的繁殖、种群补充活跃，或许可以解释秋、冬季近岸种群的恢复。11月之后，随着垂直混合的加强，黄海冷水团逐渐消失，此时陆架区的中华哲水蚤种群结束度夏过程，并以较低的繁殖率进行种群补充，直到次年3、4月份食物环境转好，中华哲水蚤种群出现新一轮繁殖、补充高峰。本文依据中华哲水蚤雌体密度、产卵率、孵化率等计算了中华哲水蚤的种群潜在补充率，我们发现，陆架区种群仅在3、4月份出现较强补充以及冬季的微弱补充，而近岸海区除夏季外，于各个季节均可进行比较活跃的种群补充，其中春季种群补充规模、强度最大；整体来看，春季是黄海中华哲水蚤种群补充的最重要时期。 本文详细研究了中华哲水蚤的繁殖与各种环境、雌体自身因素之间的关系：1、统计结果表明，中华哲水蚤的产卵率与海区食物条件（浮游植物生物量、纤毛虫丰度）之间具有紧密联系，而与油囊体积无关；在饥饿培养条件下，中华哲水蚤只能维持3－6天的产卵，而添加食物2－7天内，即可逐渐恢复产卵；体内积累油脂在饥饿过程中有所消耗，不过仍然不能阻止产卵率的下降；这些结果表明中华哲水蚤繁殖的能量所需主要来自于近期摄食，而体内储存脂类可能主要用于代谢所需，是应对不利条件的一种能量缓冲。2、统计分析表明：产卵率与雌体前体长间具有一定的正相关性，这可能由于体长较长的雌体往往具有较高的怀卵量；产卵率与温度之间没有显著的统计关系，温度可能通过调节中华哲水蚤的代谢率、体长等间接影响到产卵率。3、值得一提的是，本文发现中华哲水蚤的产卵率与其生殖腺成熟度之间具有非常紧密的统计关系，这为通过保存样品估算产卵率以及长期历史样品、数据间的比较提供了可能。 春季硅藻水华是黄海及其邻近海域的重要季节性特征。本文针对硅藻水华与中华哲水蚤繁殖的关系进行了多次现场研究，我们发现，硅藻水华因其发生海区、硅藻优势种类不同而对中华哲水蚤繁殖具有复杂多样的影响。2006年3月，胶州湾东部海区发生中肋骨条藻（Skeletonema costatum）水华，中华哲水蚤的产卵率显著增高，但其孵化率相对较低（50%左右）；2007年2月，胶州湾东部发生环纹劳德藻（Landeria annulata）水华，中华哲水蚤卵的孵化率在各种处理下均接近100%；2006年4月，黄海东北部发生太平洋海链藻（Thalassiosira pacifica）水华，产卵率与孵化率均处于调查海区的中等水平；2007年4月，黄海中部海区发生中肋骨条藻水华，中华哲水蚤在此次调查海区平均产卵率高达27.8 卵/雌体/天，远远高于以往同时期的调查结果，孵化率、幼体存活率也普遍较高；此次硅藻水华对于黄海陆架区中华哲水蚤的种群补充具有积极的促进作用。综上，硅藻水华对中华哲水蚤繁殖的影响表现出种类、海区特异性，其具体机理仍需进一步研究。 本文研究了黄海中华哲水蚤C5期油脂积累的区域、季节变化，并探讨了油脂积累对中华哲水蚤的生理、生活史的可能作用。黄海近岸区的C5期油囊体积常年较小，而陆架区则表现出明显的季节差异。在陆架区，C5期是中华哲水蚤度夏种群的主要组成部分，其油囊体积与度夏过程有密切联系：最大油囊体积（可占前体部体积的30%以上）出现于度夏准备期（5、6月），随着度夏过程的进行，油囊体积因代谢而不断消耗，至12月时，油囊体积降低到与近岸种群无异。次年4月以后，油脂积累可能随食物条件转好而再次开始积累。我们认为黄海中华哲水蚤所积累油脂除了可以为休眠提供能量以克服较长时期食物缺乏之外，还可能是休眠的诱导因素，对其生活史具有重要意义。 黄海近岸海区与陆架海区在水团特征、中华哲水蚤种群丰度与结构、繁殖特征、种群补充、油脂储存策略等方面具有显著差异，因此，本文分别讨论了这两个区域中华哲水蚤的生活史。黄海陆架海区中华哲水蚤在全年共有4－5个世代：11月末，中华哲水蚤结束度夏过程，种群中占优势的C5期个体开始蜕皮为成体、逐渐成熟、繁殖，由此产下的子代可称之为G0，此世代在食物条件较差的冬季发育成熟后可以产下G1；G1于3月初发育成熟，恰逢春季较好的食物条件，于是在3月初－5月中旬很可能发育G2、G3两个世代；假若陆架区食物环境适宜，5月中旬后很可能产生新的世代—G4；G3与G4两个世代的混合种群共同进入度夏过程，期间，一小部分C5蜕皮为成体，大部分C5保持滞育状态；至12月冷水团消退后，G3、G4世代C5蜕皮、成熟，开始新的生活周期。中华哲水蚤生殖腺成熟度、油囊体积的季节变化与上述概念模型具有较好的对应关系，另外，这两个参数简单易用、对环境变化敏感，可以尝试应用于气候变化与桡足类关系等长期研究中。 以往的研究更多的关注于黄海陆架区的中华哲水蚤种群，对近岸种群的关注较少，本文初步探讨了近岸种群的种群补充、世代情况。相对于陆架区，黄海近岸区中华哲水蚤的生活史更为复杂，区域差异较大。近岸海区中华哲水蚤产卵率、种群周转率较高；同时，近岸海区是多种鱼类的产卵场、索饵场，该区域的各营养级间的能量流动对黄海海洋生态系统的结构功能至关重要。因此，在将来的研究中，近岸海区中华哲水蚤种群的生态学、生活史应该受到同样的重视。

Characteristics of nitrogen forms in the southern Huanghai Sea surface sediments

The distributions of different forms of nitrogen in the surface sediments of the southern Huanghai Sea are different and affected by various factors. The contents of IEF-N, SOEF-N and TN gradually decrease eastward, and those of SAEF-N northward, while those of WAEF-N westward. Around the seaport of the old Huanghe (Yellow) River, the contents of both SOEF-N and TN are the highest. Among all the factors, the content of fine sediment is the predominant factor to affect the distributions of different forms of nitrogen. The contents of IEF-N, SOEF-N, and TN have visibly positive correlation with the content of fine sediments, and the correlative coefficient is 0.68, 0.58 and 0.71 respectively, showing that the contents of the three forms of nitrogen increase with those of fine sediments. The content of WAEF-N is related to that of fine sediments to a certain extent, with a correlative coefficient of 0.35; while the content of SAEF-N is not related to that of fine sediments, showing that the content of SAEF-N is not controlled by fine grain-size fractions of sediments. In addition, the distributions of different forms of nitrogen are also interacted one another, and the contents of IEF-N and SOEF-N are obviously affected by TN, while those of inorganic nitrogen (WAEF-N, SAEF-N and IEF-N) are not affected by SOEF-N and TN obviously, although they are interacted each other.

Grazing impact of copepods on phytoplankton in the Bohai Sea

During spring (April/May 1999) and autumn (September/October 1998) cruises in the Bohai Sea, China, copepods were the dominant components of mesozooplankton, the most abundant species being Calanus sinicus, Centropages mcmurrichi, Paracalanus parvus, Acartia bifilosa and Oithona similis. Pigment ingestion rates by three size classes of copepods (200-500, 500-1000 and > 1000 mum) were measured. In the south of the investigation area, gut pigment content (GPC), individual pigment-specific ingestion rates and grazing impacts on phytoplankton were lower in spring than in autumn. In the central area, GPC and individual pigment-specific ingestion rates were higher in spring than in autumn. The grazing impact on phytoplankton by the copepod assemblages was lower in spring than in autumn, however, because of the relatively smaller biomass in spring. In the western area where the Bohai Sea joins the Yellow Sea, GPC, individual pigment-specific ingestion rates and grazing impacts on phytoplankton were higher in spring than in autumn. Among the three size groups, the small-sized animals (200-500 mum) contributed more than 50% (range 38-98%) of the total copepod grazing during both cruises. The grazing impact on phytoplankton by copepods was equivalent to 11.9% (range 3.0-37.1%) of the chlorophyll-a standing stock and 53.3% (range 21.4-91.4%) of the primary production during the spring cruise. Grazing impact was equivalent to 6.3% (range 2.0-11.6%) of the chlorophyll-a standing stock and >100% (range 25.7-141.6%) of the primary production during the autumn cruise. The copepod community apparently consumed only a modest proportion of the standing stock of phytoplankton during spring and autumn blooms. They did, however, sometimes graze a significant proportion of daily primary production and hence were presumably able to limit the rate of further accumulation of phytoplankton, or even to prevent it. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Distribution characteristics of matrix-bound phosphine along the coast of China and possible environmental controls

Matrix-bound phosphine (MBP) concentrations in surface sediments collected from 37 stations along the coast of China in 2006 are reported. MBP was found in all samples and the average concentration was 6.30 ng kg(-1) dry weight (dw). The distribution of MBP showed certain spatial variation characteristics with high MBP concentrations at stations near to the coast. The average concentrations of MBP in the northern Yellow Sea (NYS), the southern Yellow Sea (SYS), the northern area of East China Sea (NECS), the southern area of East China Sea (SECS), and South China Sea (SCS) were 5.57 +/- 3.78, 3.78 +/- 2.81, 5.27 +/- 3.07, 5.48 +/- 4.05 and 13.52 +/- 7.86 ng kg(-1) dw. respectively. The correlations between MBP and influencing factors, such as the sedimentary environmental characteristics (sediment type, the grain size, contents of phosphorous, organic matters and redox potential) and the aquatic environmental characteristics (temperature, salinity, depth and hydrodynamics) were studied. The results indicated that MBP was strongly influenced by various factors, such as total phosphorus (TP), organic phosphorus (OP), organic carbon (OC), the grain size and hydrodynamics, all of which not only offered reasonable interpretations for the distribution characteristics of MBP but also provided evidence to support the viewpoint that phosphine originated from OP decomposition. This work is the first comprehensive study of the distribution of MBP along the coast of China and its relationships with environmental factors which will lead to a better understanding of the phosphorus (P) biogeochemical cycle in the sea. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Response of the diatom flora in Jiaozhou Bay, China to environmental changes during the last century

The diatom flora in a 164 cm long sediment core obtained from Jiaozhou Bay (Yellow Sea, China) was analyzed in order to trace the response of diatoms to environmental changes over the past 100 years. The sediment core was dated by Pb-210 and Cs-137 and represented approximately 100 years (1899-2001 A.D.). The flora was mainly composed of centric diatoms (59-96%). The concentration of diatoms declined sharply above 30 cm (after similar to 1981 A.D.), while the dominant species changed from Thalassiosira anguste-lineatus, Thalassiosira eccentria, Coscinodiscus excentricus, Coscinodiscus concinnus and Diploneis gorjanovici to Cyclotella stylorum and Paralia sulcata. Species richness decreased slightly, and the cell abundance of warm-water species increased. We argue that these floral changes were probably caused by climate change in combination with eutrophication resulting from aquaculture and sewage discharge. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Seasonal and spatial variation in abundance and egg production of Paracalanus parvus (Copepoda: Calanoida) in/out Jiaozhou Bay, China

The spatial distribution of stage-specific abundance and reproduction of the copepod Paracalanus parvus were studied from October 2005 to September 2006 in the Jiaozhou Bay. This copepod occurred continuously in this bay throughout the year. The species reached the lowest abundance in April and peaked in June. From October to December, distribution center mainly occurred in offshore water and at the mouth of the bay. In winter, early copepodites and adults gradually decreased and till February, most of the population was only comprised of CIV-CV stages. Overwintering copepodites matured in March and males tended to mature before female. From May to September, each stage occurred in the population and gradually reached high abundance. Temperature and chlorophyll a (Chl-a) concentration in the three stations can't clearly explain the seasonal variation in stage-specific abundance, so we surmised the important effect of the Yellow Sea. Egg production rate (EPR) reached its lowest in winter and peaked in June at 60.8 eggs female(-1) day(-1) in nearshore water. In the warming period, EPR in nearshore water was statistically higher and EPR > 10 eggs female(-1) day(-1) lasted longer than that in offshore water, showing the importance of nearshore water for recruitment of R parvus. Our study showed that EPR was positively related to temperature and total chlorophyll a in offshore water and mouth of the bay. In nearshore water, the relationships between EPR and temperature and Chl-a in three size fractions were not the same as those in offshore water, suggesting complicated ecosystem in such a eutrophic area in warming period. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Immune condition of Apostichopus japonicus during aestivation

Aestivation is an indispensable state in the life history of sea cucumbers, Apostichopus japonicus. The immune characteristics of the coelomic fluid of A. japonicus, were investigated during aestivation. Samples were collected between July and November 2006 from a coastal pond located off the Yellow Sea in Jiaonan, Shandong Province, China. The total coelomocytes counts (TCC), total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD), catalase (CAT), myeloperoxidase (MPO), and lysozyme (IZM) in the coelomic fluid were measured. The activities of catecholamines, [adrenaline (AD), noradrenaline (NA), and dopamine (DOP)] were estimated. TCC decreased from July to September, indicating weakness of the cellular immune activity at that time. Activities of SOD, CAT, MPO, and LZM changed significantly from July to October. Catecholamines AD and NA in coelomic fluid were significantly higher on August 21 and November 27. There was no significant variation in DOP during the sampling period. Thus, immune characters in coelomic fluid of A. japonicus changed significantly during aestivation. Water temperature was significantly and negatively correlated with TCC, and salinity was significantly and positively correlated with AD and NA. The mechanism of aestivation in A. japonicus is complex and might not be attributed only to environmental changes, such as temperature and salinity, as shown in previous studies. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Isolation and characterization of novel marine Roseobacter clade members producing unique intracellular chromium-rich aggregates

The marine Roseobacter clade comprises one of the largest fractions of heterotrophic marine bacteria and accounts for about 16% of 16S rRNA gene clones retrieved from marine bacterioplankton. Their global distribution seems to be related to oceanic water masses and their environmental and biogeochemical properties. In this study, we report isolation and characterization of novel Roseobacter clade members from the Yellow Sea, China. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences reveals that the new isolates (YSCB1, YSCB2, YSCB3 and YSCB4) are closely related to uncultured Arctic seawater bacterium R7967 (99.57-100% sequence identity) and to the cultured Roseobacter sp. DSS-1 (99.27-99.76% sequence identity) isolated from the southeastern coastal water of the USA. Interestingly, YSCB strains possess unique intracellular chromium-containing aggregates. Therefore, these novel Roseobacter clade members exhibit a peculiar property in mineral biogeneration. (c) 2006 Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved.

Simultaneous enumeration of diatom, protozoa and meiobenthos from marine sediments using Ludox-QPS method

The Ludox-QPS method is a newly developed technique, which combines the Ludox HS 40 density centrifugation and quantitative protargol stain, to enumerate marine ciliates with good taxonomic resolution. We tested the method for simultaneous enumeration of diatoms, protozoa and meiobenthos and compared its extraction efficiency for meiobenthos with that of the routine Ludox-TM centrifugation and a modified protocol using Ludox HS 40. We conducted the evaluation with a sample size of 8.3 ml each from sandy, muddy-sand and muddy sediments collected from the intertidal area of the Yellow Sea in summer 2006 and spring 2007. The Ludox-QPS method not only produced high extraction efficiencies of 97 +/- 1.3% for diatoms and 97.6 +/- 0.8% for ciliates, indicating a reliable enumeration for eukaryotic microbenthos, but also produced excellent extraction efficiencies of on average 97.3% for total meiobenthos, 97.9% for nematodes and 97.8% for copepods from sands, muddy sands and mud. By contrast, the routine Ludox-TM centrifugation obtained only about 74% of total meiobenthos abundance with one extraction cycle, and the modified Ludox HS 40 centrifugation yielded on average 93% of total meiobenthos: 89.4 +/- 2.0% from sands, 93 +/- 4.1% from muddy sands and 97.1 +/- 3.0% from mud. Apart from the sediment type, sample volume was another important factor affecting the extraction efficiency for meiobenthos. The extraction rate was increased to about 96.4% when using the same modified Ludox centrifugation for a 4 ml sediment sample. Besides the excellent extraction efficiency, the Ludox-QPS method obtained higher abundances of meiobenthos, in particular nematodes, than the routine Ludox centrifugation, which frequently resulted in an uncertain loss of small meiobenthos during the sieving process. Statistical analyses demonstrated that there were no significant differences between the meiobenthos communities revealed by the Ludox-QPS method and the modified Ludox HS 40 centrifugation, showing the high efficiency of the Ludox-QPS method for simultaneous enumeration of diatom, protozoa and meiobenthos. Moreover, the comparatively high taxonomic resolution of the method, especially for diatoms and ciliates, makes it feasible to investigate microbial ecology at community level.

Community structure and seasonal dynamics of planktonic ciliates along salinity gradients

The ciliate community structure and seasonal dynamics in a solar saltern of the Yellow Sea were studied based oil 4 sampling dates and 8 stations with salinities from 27.7 parts per thousand to 311.0 parts per thousand. The effects of the type and concentration of the fixative used (Lugol's and Bouin's) were tested at the first sampling date. Fixative type and fixative concentration had significant effects on ciliate abundance and blovolume, with 1% Lugol's giving the best results. A detailed investigation using live observations and protargol staining techniques revealed a total of 98 morphospecies from 8 sampling stations. There was obvious seasonal variation in species composition at most of the stations, but this tended to be less distinct with increasing salinity, as the dominant ciliate group shifted from oligotrichs to heterotrichs. Ciliate abundance varied from 4.40 x 10(1) to 2.11 x 10(5) cells l(-1) and biomass ranged between 2.39 and 9.87 x 10(3) mu g Cl-1 (at a salinity of 147.6 parts per thousand). Both abundance and biomass decreased abruptly when salinity exceeded 100-150 parts per thousand. Statistical analyses Suggested that the dynamics of ciliate abundance and biomass were regulated by both salinity and by season, but those of diversity and species richness were mainly controlled by salinity and both significantly decreased with increasing salinity. (C) 2009 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Summertime community structure of intertidal macrobenthos in Changdao Archipelago, Shandong Province, China

The community structure of intertidal macrobenthos in Changdao Archipelago (north of Shandong Peninsula, between Bohai Bay and the northern Yellow Sea) was examined based on samples collected from 14 stations in five transects in June 2007. Three stations corresponding to high, medium and low tidal areas were set up for each transect. A total of 68 macrobenthic species were found in the research region, most of which belonged to Mollusca and Crustacea. The average abundance and biomass of the macrobenthos was 1383 ind./m(2) and 372.41 g/m(2), respectively. The use of an arbitrary similarity level of 20% resulted in identification of five groups among the 14 stations in the research region. There were remarkable differences in the biomass, abundance and Shannon-Wiener diversity index of the different sediments. Specifically, the order of biomass was rocky shores > gravel > mud-sand > coarse sand > stiff mud, while the order of abundance was rocky shores > coarse sand > mud-sand > gravel > stiff mud, and that of the diversity index was mud-sand > gravel > stiff mud > rocky shores > coarse sand. The above results revealed that the sediment type was the most important factor affecting the structure of the macrobenthic community of the intertidal zone.