847 resultados para DIN
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该文利用表面荧光显微镜观测计数法和[甲基-<'-3>H]胸腺嘧啶示踪法对春秋两季节中国黄、东海异养细菌生态分布及其生产力状况,以及异养细菌及其生产力与浮游植物叶绿素、无机氮盐之间的关系进行了研究.主要内容如下:春秋两季节黄东海海洋异养细菌丰度大致相当,异养细菌平均值在5~7×10<'8>Cell/l范围之间.春季异养细菌丰度总体表现为随离岸越远先逐渐降低后略微增高的趋势,秋季异养细菌丰度有离岸越远逐渐增高的趋势.秋季黄、东海海洋异养细菌生产力明显高于春季,并且秋季异养细菌的生长率也高于春季.秋季异养细菌生产力与初级生产的比值明显高于春季,且东海高于黄海.春季异养细菌生物量与浮游植物叶绿素及无机氮盐之间无明显相关性.秋季异养细菌生物量与浮游植物叶绿素相关性在东海有较显著相关性,在黄海该相关性比东海低;异养细菌生物量与NO<,3>ˉ和DIN表现出明显相关性,该相关性在黄海明显高于东海.异养细菌在一年的变化有明显规律,冬季最低,秋季和春季相当.在一天当中,异养细菌数量变化有一定规律性,且其变化与浮游植物细胞数量变化有一定关系.
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在胶州湾内、东海与南海通过现场实验(营养盐添加实验与稀释实验)的方法,对N(N0_3~--N、NH_4~+-N)、P、Fe、Si营养盐以及小型浮游动物对浮游植物生长的调控机制进行了初步研究。同时还在胶州湾内开展了上、下行效应的比较研究,主要结果如下:1 在胶州湾内共进行了25次富营养现场实验与12次稀释实验,网采浮游植物(20-200μm)与微型浮游植物(2-20μm)是叶绿素a生物量的主要组成部分,比较而言,在周年的水平上,微型浮游植物比网采浮游植物更多的支配着浮游植物群落的叶绿素a生物量。在营养盐添加实验中,培养后期浮游植物群落也都是网采浮游植物与微型浮游植物占叶绿素a生物量的优势地位。胶州湾是营养盐含量较高,且营养盐变化不规律的海区,但胶州湾各季节的DIN/P基本都大于16:1的Redfield比值。营养盐添加实验的结果显示,在湾内,似乎在秋季无营养盐限制浮游植物生长的情况发生;而在冬、春季发生Si限制的可能性很大;除Fe外,在夏季似乎N(NO_3~--N、NH_4~+-N)、P、Si营养盐限制都有可能发生,但无明显的规律性。在周年的水平上,Si似乎是最主要的限制性营养盐,而P与N都可能产生次级营养盐限制。营养盐添加实验中分级叶绿素的结果显示,网采浮游植物与微型浮游植物在冬、春季一般会经历较显著的Si限制作用,在夏季N似乎对网采浮游植物与微型浮游植物的生长有更重要的调控作用。超微型浮游植物的生长似乎主要受到P的调控。在胶州湾内,网采浮游植物的生长似主要受到上行效应的调控,而下行效应似是控制超微型浮游植物生长的主要机制。从整个浮游植物群落(<200μm)的周年变化情况来看,在控制浮游植物的生物量上,似乎下行效应比上行效应更有效。 2在东海,除402站(122°33'E、30°45'N)位于长江口,受到显著的陆源输入影响外(特别是该站有相当高的SiO_3~(2-)-Si含量),418站(127°30'E、27°55'N)、Y136站(128°、30°27')与E064(125°14'E、25°48'N)站都位于开放海区,营养盐含量都很低。1999年的航次,表层的硝酸盐与铵盐含量都比1998年的航次高,但另外三种常量营养盐含量都低。402站有较高比例的网采浮游植物与微型浮游植物叶绿素a生物量,相应的超微型浮游植物占总叶绿素a生物量的比例则显著低于其它三站。位于陆架区的Y136站,其微型浮游植物叶绿素a生物量则显著低于沿岸海区,但超微型浮游植物叶绿素a生物量则显著增加,占总叶绿素a的50%以上。处于开放海区的418站与E064站,网采浮游植物叶绿素a生物量所占的比例已经很低,而无一例外的是超微型浮游植物叶绿素a生物量贡献了总叶绿素a生物量的大部分。但在培养后期,各组处理中网采浮游植物占总叶绿素a生物量的比例都高于初始值。营养盐添加实验的结果显示,沿岸海水中,从比例上看,浮游植物的生长似乎更需要N而不是P,但是太高的N/P添加对浮游植物生长的促进作用反不如适中的N/P的添加;在418站,各种营养盐的添加对浮游植物的生长都有促进作用(Fe除外),但P的作用更显著一些,在添加的两种N源中,NH_4~+-N的作用比NO_3~--N的作用更显著;在E064站,培养中各实验组的总叶绿素a生物量都有不同程度的增加,但NH_4~+-N与NO_3~--N的作用更显著;Y136站的实验结果与E064站相似,也是NH_4~+-N与NO_3~--N的作用更显著,而且该站Si的作用还比较显著(强于P)。在开放海区,1998年夏季,似乎是P限制着浮游植物群落的生长,但在1999年春季则可能是N限制着浮游植物的生物量。稀释实验的结果显示,在长江口附近的402站与开放海区的E064站浮游植物的生长率都显著高于大陆架的Y136站。小型浮游动物的摄食率则无明显的空间变化趋势,除开放海区的E064站显著高外,其它三站摄食率接近。这一结果与浮游物的群落组成,浮游植物的群落组成以及光照、温度等条件有关。营养盐添加实验与稀释实验的结果都证实,更可能是营养盐通过上行效应,而不是小型浮游动物实施下行效应控制着网采浮游植物的的生长;在东海的实验区域似乎是上行效应控制着微型浮游植物的种群数量变动,从营养盐添加实验的结果看,由于时间的不同,似乎有春季N限制与夏季P限制的季节交替;超微型浮游植物的生长也主要受到营养盐的控制,似乎也有春季N限制与夏季P限制的季节交替;摄食对微型浮游植物的生长有一定的调控作用,但这一调控机制并不是十分有效。3 在南海的航次中,表层硝酸盐的平均浓度较低,经常检测不出,但表层磷酸盐、铵盐与硅酸盐的浓度要比东热带太平洋等贫营养海区高。4 断面沿经度横跨大洋,其表层各种营养盐的平均浓度均低于2断面与5断面,(硝酸盐一般都在检测限之下,铵盐与磷酸盐的平均值分别为0.20与0.12 μM),属于营养盐较低的海区;2断面表层各种营养盐的平均浓度最高(硝酸盐、铵盐与磷酸盐分别为0.29、1.17与O.19μM);5断面表层平均的营养盐含量介于2断面与4断面之间,但硝酸盐含量经常在检测限之下。K206与K508站在培养实验的初始时刻都是超微型浮游植物占总叶绿素a生物量的大部分,但K409站网采浮游植物、微型浮游植物与超微型浮游植物的叶绿素a生物量分别占总叶绿素a生物量的30%左右。培养中,各组处理中网采浮游植物叶绿素a生物量占总叶绿素a生物量的比例都增加。K409站位于南海中央,该站浮游植物对各种营养盐的添加都有显著的响应效果;K206站位于2断面中部巴士海峡处,本站除P的添加效果较明显外,另外几种营养盐的富营养效果都不显著;K508站磷酸盐与硝酸盐的添加效果较明显。总的来说,各种营养盐的添加对浮游植物的生长都有促进作用,但磷酸盐的作用似乎更显著一些。实验结果可能更反应了N、P、Fe这几种营养盐的共同限制作用。Si限制不如其它几种营养盐显著。南海Fe的限制情况也不严重。各站浮游植物摄食率(g)与生长率(u)的空间变化都不显著。各站的g/u都在0.4左右,说明在南海小型浮游动物的摄食压力比较一致。K409站与K508站浮游植物的生长率显著高于K206站。小型浮游动物的摄食率与浮游植物生长率的变化趋势一致,都是中部的K409站与南边的K508站高于北边的K206站。这可能是各采样站点浮游动物种类组成不同的结果。网采浮游植物似乎主要受到各种营养盐的限制,其中P的作用最显著,N也较显著,随地域不同,间或有Fe的限制作用发生。在南海的中部,可能存在N、P、Fe营养盐对微型浮游植物的共同限制作用,但在北部,可能有微弱的P限制作用,而在大洋的南部,几乎无营养盐限制微型浮游植物的生长,摄食在控制微型浮游植物的生物量上并不是十分有效。超微型浮游植物的生长似乎同时受到营养盐与小型浮游动物摄食的控制,营养盐添加实验的结果显示可能P对超微型浮游植物的生长促进作用最大,同时进行的稀释实验证实,小型浮游动物的摄食活动在调节超微型浮游植物的生长上也相当有效。
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本文整合大量表层沉积物、悬浮体(大面和垂直站位)、短柱状样品、水文站水文观测资料、生态环境调查资料、遥感影像、水深图及前人文献资料等,通过多种技术手段较为系统地研究黑泥湾海带养殖海区的表层沉积物分布规律、悬浮泥沙输移扩散、水下沉积过程信息的历史记录、海带养殖活动对黑泥湾海区水动力条件与环境条件演变的影响。结果表明,大规模海带养殖使黑泥湾湾内底床趋于稳定,海带养殖架群区外边界紊流作用加强导致该处底床变化较大。大规模海带植被体的充填使海区的悬浮泥沙运移路径和空间分布形态发生改变,养殖边界处悬浮体浓度梯度较大,外围高浓度的悬浮体对海带养殖筏架区影响较小。自1980’s大规模海带养殖活动以来沉积物粒度呈细化趋势,LOI揭示的有机质含量则呈增长趋势,海带养殖繁盛期(春季)黑泥湾营养盐DIN损耗明显。SWAN模式结果表明,海带架群的消浪作用显著,其消浪作用强弱与海带筏架数量、入射波强度等密切相关,黑泥湾养殖区的消浪系数(Cd)约在0.2~0.4之间。
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富营养化已经成为世界性的环境问题。作为我国最大河口的长江口,富营养化问题也日渐突出。如何准确地评价富营养化程度,对预防和解决水体的富营养化问题有重要的意义。 本论文以长江口海域2004年和2005年共8个季度的现场调查为基础,分析了该海域的营养状况;进行了室内模拟培养实验,尝试寻找能反映环境营养条件的微藻的生理生化指标。 对长江口海域2004年和2005年的海水的营养状况进行了分析,并主要运用模糊综合评价方法对富营养水平进行了评价。结果表明: ⑴长江口海域DIN的含量较高,为主要的污染物质,其它的指标较好; ⑵约有一半的调查站点呈现富营养化,长江口门及冲淡水区富营养化程度较高,外海富营养化程度较低,富营养程度从外海向近岸增加; ⑶富营养化区域全年除少数站点外,大部分都分布于盐度小于20的一侧,明显的季节分布和区域分布,表明长江口海域的富营养化水平主要受到长江冲淡水的控制。 对中肋骨条藻(Skeletonema costatum)进行了室内模拟培养,对微藻生理生化指标变化与环境营养条件的关系进行了初步探索。结果显示: ⑴环境营养条件影响藻的大多数生理生化指标,不同的氮磷起始浓度和氮磷比下的藻细胞的指标也有差异 ⑵藻细胞的叶绿素a含量、碱性磷酸酶活性、RNA/DNA比值对环境营养条件的反映较为明显,有作为指示富营养化水平指标的可能性,应进一步研究。
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From November 2002 to 2006, five cruises were undertaken in the Yangtze River Estuary and the adjacent East China Sea to compare the nutrient concentrations, ratios and potential nutrient limitation of phytoplankton growth before and after impoundment (June 2003) of the Three Gorges Dam (TGD). Concentrations of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN), soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) and total nitrogen (TN) exhibited an increasing trend from 2002 to 2006. In contrast, total phosphorus (TP) concentration exhibited a decreasing trend. The mean concentrations of DIN, SRP, and TN in the total study area increased from 21.4 mu M, 0.9 mu M, and 41.8 mu M in 2002 to 37.5 mu M, 1.3 mu M. and 82.2 mu M in 2006, respectively. while TP decreased from 2.1 mu M to 1.7 mu M. The concentration of dissolved reactive silica (DRSi) had no major fluctuations and the differences were not significant. The mean concentration of DRSi in the total study area ranged from 52.5 to 92.3 mu M. The Si:N ratio decreased significantly from 2.7 in 2002 to 1.3 in 2006, while TN: TP ratio increased from 22.1 to 80.3. The area of potential P limitation of phytoplankton growth expanded after 2003 and potential Si limitation appeared in 2005 and 2006. Potential P limitation mainly occurred in an area of salinity less than 30 after 2003, while potential Si limitation occurred where the salinity was greater than 30. By comparison with historical data, the concentrations of nitrate and SRP in this upper estuary during November 1980-2006 increased obviously after impoundment of TGD but DRSi decreased. Meanwhile, the ratios of N:P, Si:N and Si:P decreased obviously. (c) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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There is excess nitrate (NO3) in the Pearl River coastal plume in the southern waters of Hong Kong in summer. We hypothesize that phosphorus (P) limitation controls the utilization of excess NO3 due to the high N:P ratio in the Pearl River. To test this hypothesis, we conducted two 1-day cruises on July 13 and 19, 2000 to examine the response of the phytoplankton to P additions with respect to changes in biomass, uptake of nutrients and nutrient uptake ratios using a batch incubation of natural water samples collected from the Pearl River estuary and adjacent coastal waters. At a station (E1, salinity =5) in the Pearl River estuary, the N/P ratio at the surface was 46:1, (64 muM DIN: 1.3 muM PO4) and decreased to 24:1 (12 muM DIN: 0.5 muM PO4) downstream at a station (Stn 26, salinity =26) in the coastal plume south of Hong Kong. Without a P addition, NO3 in the water samples collected at E1 could not be depleted during a 9 day incubation (similar to20 muM NO3 remaining). With a P addition, NO3 disappeared completely on day 6 with the depletion of the added PO4 (2-3 muM). This was also true for a station, E4 (salinity= 15) further downstream, but within the estuary. At Stn 26, in the coastal plume south of Hong Kong, NO3 (similar to11.5 muM) was eventually depleted without the addition of PO4, but it took 8 days instead of 5 days for Stn E4. The uptake ratio of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) to PO4, without a P addition was 51:1, 43:1 and 46:1 for Stns E1, E4 and 26, respectively. With a P addition, the DIN/PO4 uptake ratio decreased to 20:1, 14:1 and 12:1, respectively, for the 3 stations. These results clearly indicate potential P limitation to utilization of NO3 in the Pearl River estuary, resulting in excess NO3 in waters of the coastal plume downstream of the estuary, some of which would eventually be transported offshore. High uptake ratios of N:P without a P addition (43N:1P) suggest that phytoplankton have a nitrogen uptake capacity in excess of the Redfield ratio of 16N: 1P by 2.5-3 times. The value of 2.5-3 times was likely a maximum that should have contained a contribution of P released from desorption of P from sediments or from regeneration by zooplankton grazing and bacterial activity during the incubation of natural water samples. Without a P addition, however, phytoplankton biomass did not increase. This means that P turnover rates or regeneration may allow phytoplankton to take up additional N in excess of the Redfield ratio and store it, but without increasing the algal biomass. Therefore, high ambient N:P ratios in excess of the Redfield ratio do indicate potential P limitation to phytoplankton biomass in this estuarine coastal ecosystem. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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Based on 1997-1998 field investigations in the Changjiang river mouth, rain sampling from the river's upper reaches to the mouth, historical data, and relevant literature, the various sources of Total Nitrogen (TN) and Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen (DIN) in the Changjiang river catchment and N transport in the Changjiang river mouth were estimated. The export fluxes of various form of were mainly controlled by the river runoff, and the export fluxes of NO3-N, DIN and TN in 1998 (an especially heavy flood year) were 1438 103 tonnes (t) yr(-1) or 795.1 kg km(-2) yr(-1) 1746 10(3) t yr(-1) or 965.4 kg km(-2) yr(-1) and 2849 10(3) t yr(-1) or 1575.3 kg km(-2) yr(-1), respectively. The TN and DIN in the Changjiang river came mainly from precipitation, agricultural nonpoint sources, N lost from fertilizer and soil, and point sources of industrial waste and residential sewage discharge, which were about 56.2% and 62.3%, 15.4% and 18.5%, 17.1% and 14.4%, respectively, of the N outflow at the Changjiang river mouth; maximum transport being in the middle reaches.
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Due to the influence of human activities, nutrient concentrations, nutrient ratios and phytoplankton composition have notably changed in Jiaozhou Bay, China since the 1960s. From the 1960s to the 1990s, nutrient concentrations have increased 1.4 times for PO4-P, 4.3 times for NO3-N, 4.1 times for NH4-N and 3.9 times for DIN. The atomic ratio of DIN:PO4-P increased very rapidly from 15.9 +/- 6.3 for the 1960s, to 37.8 +/- 22.9 for the 1990s. SiO3-Si concentration has remained at a very low level from the 1980s to the 1990s. The high ratio of DIN: PO4-P and low ratios of SiO3-Si:PO4-P (7.6 +/- 8.9) and SiO3-Si:DIN (0.19 +/- 0.15) showed the nutrient structure of Jiaozhou Bay has changed from more balanced to unbalanced during the last 40 years. The possibility that DIN and/or PO4-P as limiting factors of Jiaozhou Bay phytoplankton has been lessened or eliminated and that of SiO3-Si limiting has been increased. The changes in nutrient structure may have led to the decrease of large diatoms and a shift of phytoplankton species composition. It is likely that there is a trend from large diatoms to smaller cells in Jiaozhou Bay. (C) 2001 Academic Press.
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Eutrophication has become increasingly serious and noxious algal blooms have been of more frequent occurrence in the Yangtze River Estuary and in the adjacent East China Sea. In 2003 and 2004, four cruises were undertaken in three zones in the estuary and in the adjacent sea to investigate nitrate (NO3-N), ammonium (NH4-N), nitrite (NO2-N), soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP), dissolved reactive silica (DRSi), dissolved oxygen (DO), phytoplankton chlorophyll a (Chl a) and suspended particulate matter (SPM). The highest concentrations of DIN (NO3-N+NH4-N+NO2-N), SRP and DRSi were 131.6, 1.2 and 155.6 mu M, respectively. The maximum Chl a concentration was 19.5 mg m(-3) in spring. An analysis of historical and recent data revealed that in the last 40 years, nitrate and SRP concentrations increased from 11 to 97 mu M and from 0.4 to 0.95 mu M, respectively. From 1963 to 2004, N:P ratios also increased from 30-40 up to 150. In parallel with the N and P enrichment, a significant increase of Chl a was detected, Chl a maximum being 20 mg m(-3), nearly four times higher than in the 1980s. In 2004, the mean DO concentration in bottom waters was 4.35 mg l(-1), much lower than in the 1980s. In comparison with other estuaries, the Yangtze River Estuary was characterized by high DIN and DRSi concentrations, with low SRP concentrations. Despite the higher nutrient concentrations, Chl a concentrations were lower in the inner estuary (Zones 1 and 2) than in the adjacent sea (Zone 3). Based on nutrient availability, SPM and hydrodynamics, we assumed that in Zones 1 and 2 phytoplankton growth was suppressed by high turbidity, large tidal amplitude and short residence time. Furthermore, in Zone 3 water stratification was also an important factor that resulted in a greater phytoplankton biomass and lower DO concentrations. Due to hydrodynamics and turbidity, the open sea was unexpectedly more sensitive to nutrient enrichment and related eutrophication processes.
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Systematic studies of the changes in dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) and dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP) and their effects on phytoplankton over the last 30 years in the Bohai Sea are presented. The amount of sewage disposal, use of fertilizer and the Huanghe River runoff were found to have a significant influence on the DIN or DIP concentrations in the Bohai Sea over the last 30 years. Moreover, the changes in DIN and DIP resulted in changes in the limiting nutrients of phytoplankton in the Bohai Sea from nitrogen in the early 1980s to nitrogen-phosphorus in the late 1980s, and then to phosphorus after the 1990s. In addition, changes in nitrogen and phosphorus had a significant effect on the phytoplankton community structure. The half saturation constant (K (s)) was used to evaluate the effect of nutrients on the phytoplankton community structure in the Bohai Sea over the last 30 years. Cell abundance percentages of dominant phytoplankton species with high K (s) values for phosphorus and low K (s) values for nitrogen have decreased since the 1980s, while those of dominant phytoplankton species with low K (s) values for phosphorus and high K (s) values for nitrogen increased during this period.
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Both nitrate (NO (3) (-) ) and soluble reactive phosphate (PO (4) (3-) ) concentration in the freshwater end-member at the mouth of the Changjiang River have increased dramatically since the 1960s. Within the same period in the sea area, with surface salinity > 30, NO (3) (-) concentration has shown an obvious increase, PO (4) (3-) has not changed greatly and dissolved reactive silica (SiO (3) (2-) ) has deceased dramatically. An examination of the elemental ratio of NO (3) (-) to PO (4) (3-) at the mouth of the Changjiang River did not show a systematic trend from the 1960s to 2000s largely because both nutrients increased simultaneously. In comparison, the elemental ratio of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) to PO (4) (3-) in surface seawater, with salinity > 22, has shown a clearly increasing trend. Furthermore, an overall historical change of the SiO (3) (2-) :PO (4) (3-) ratio has undergone a reverse trend in this area. Based on the changes of SiO (3) (2-) :PO (4) (3-) and DIN:PO (4) (3-) ratios, we can conclude that an overall historical change of SiO (3) (2-) :DIN ratio has decreased in this area from the 1950-1960s to 2000s. The argument that phytoplankton productivity in the Changjiang estuary has been enhanced by increasing nutrient input from the riverine transport was supported by these results. A comparative study analyzing the shift of phytoplankton composition from the mid-1980s to 2000s was also made. The results indicated that the average yearly percentage of diatom species in the Changjiang estuary has decreased from 84.6% during 1985-1986 to 69.8% during 2004-2005. Furthermore, the average yearly percentage of diatom abundance in the Changjiang estuary decreased from 99.5% during to 75.5% over the same time period, while the abundance of dinoflagellates has increased dramatically, from 0.7% to 25.4%.
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To investigate the ecological effect of macroalgae on de-eutrophication and depuration of mariculture seawater, the variation of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) and phosphate (DIP), the amount of Vibrio anguillarum, and total heterotrophic bacteria in Ulva clathrata culture, as well as on the algal surface, were investigated by artificially adding nutrients and V. anguillarum strain 65 from February to April 2006. The results indicated that U. clathrata not only had strong DIN and DIP removal capacities, but also showed a significant inhibitory effect on V. anguillarum, although not reducing the total heterotrophic bacteria. Vibrio anguillarum 65 dropped from 5 similar to 8 x 10(7) cfu mL(-1) to 10 cfu mL(-1) (clone-forming units per mL) in 10 g L-1 of fresh U. clathrata culture within 2 days; i.e., almost all of the Vibrios were efficiently eradicated from the algal culture system. Our results also showed that the inhibitory effect of U. clathrata on V. anguillarum strain 65 was both DIN- and DIP-dependent. Addition of DIN and DIP could enhance the inhibitory effects of the algae on the Vibrio, but did not reduce the total heterotrophic bacteria. Further studies showed that the culture suspension in which U. clathrata was pre-cultured for 24 h also had an inhibitory effect on V. anguillarum strain 65. Some unknown chemical substances, either released from U. clathrata or produced by the alga associated microorganisms, inhibited the proliferation of V. anguillarum 65.
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有机氮含量和C:N比的变化可能是有机质降解和富营养化水体升高的共同结果。红枫湖接受较多的工业和农业废水,其NO3-的δ15N平均值分别为+15.68‰和+8.11‰。废水氮的输入改变了湖泊DIN的氮同位素组成。由于水生生物在同化吸收水体DIN的时候倾向于优先吸收14N,因此产生的生物体δ15N值低于湖水DIN的δ15N值,但这种变化较工业废水输入引起的δ15N值升高意义可能较小。故该湖泊现代沉积有机物δ15N值的变化可以认为主要是工业和农业废水排放量变化的结果。从上述沉积有机物δ15N值的变化可知,红枫湖
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2007
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This study is a compilation and compendium of information on the oud, the most important instrument in Arabic classical music. It has grown out of my own long-time involvement in studying and playing the oud, and in particular out of my interest in the lack of sources and knowledge available to the vast majority of oud players and researchers, as well as for the readers. My own path started from an intensive study of the oud, which included exposure to several treaties; some housed in museums around the globe, and some only available in the Arabic language. The study combines archival research (including Arabic poetry and pre-Islamic Era and medieval treaties), symbolism, new archaeological discoveries, field interviews, and analysis of existing scholarship, and draws on my professional performance experience for detailed stylistic analysis of the oud's performance practice and its historical development. The study consists of participant observation, personal performance, and interviews conducted in person, via telephone, and/or via e-mail, according to the choice of the performers. The performers have been selected from networks of musicians who perform regularly at lounges, concert halls, and private events. These performers have been chosen according to their musical knowledge, technical skill, experience, and activity in Arabic music and oud performance. Chapter one deals with the purpose of this study and the methods of investigation, as well as giving a brief overview of the history of the oud. In addition, there will be an introduction to the Arabic musical system (mâqâm), which is primarily based on the mechanics and sound production of the oud. Chapter two deals with the oud in Arabic sources: the first source is Arabic poetry in the pre-Islamic Era. The second source is Arabic poetry in the medieval era, in which I found a significant number of poets who allude to the oud, providing accurate descriptions of the player, singers, and the scenes within the contexts of oud performance. The third source is the Arab scholars' intensive treatises with meticulous accounts of the instrument's apparatii, including descriptions and measurements of the parts, strings, and tuning. While chapter three deals with the classification, the development of the oud, chapter four deals with topics such as: the symbolism of the oud and its relation to cosmology, astronomy, mathematics and anatomy. In most of the pertinent Arabic writings, philosophers mention a significant correlation between the oud and the other sciences. Chapter five deals with recreating the performance practice of the oud. A case study of the oud performers focuses on their style, technique, training, and personal experiences. Topics such as improvisation and ornamentation, the oud in the Arabic musical ensemble, the social uses and functions, and gender in musical performance practices will be included in detailed analysis. Other important topics will be analyzed such as traditional vs. modern technique, and the repertoire of the oud. Specifically, in regard to technique, the study outline the style of the music, the role of the oud in Arabic ensembles, the function of the oud in music composition, and the form of the ensembles in Arabic performance and practice.