Responses of Picoplankton to Nutrient Perturbation in the South China Sea, with Special Reference to the Coast-wards Distribution of Prochlorococcus

Responses of Prochlorococcus (Pro), Synechococcus (Syn), pico-eukaryotes (Euk) and heterotrophic bacteria (Bact) in pelagic marine ecosystems to external nutrient perturbations were examined using nitrogen- (N), phosphorus- (P), iron- (Fe), and cobalt- (Co) enriched incubations in the South China Sea in November 1997. Variations in abundance of the 4 groups of microorganism and cellular pigment content of the autotrophs during incubation were followed by flow-cytometric measurements for seven days. During the incubation, Syn and Euk showed a relatively higher demand on Fe and N, while Pro required higher levels of Co and P. The Fe was inadequate for all the organisms in the deep euphotic zone (75 m) of the study area. The experimental results also implied that biological interaction among the organisms played a role in the community structure shift during the incubation. It seemed that besides the effects of temperature, there are some other physical and chemical limitations as well as impacts from biological interactions on Pro distribution in coast waters.

Flow cytometry investigation of picoplankton across latitudes and along the circum Antarctic Ocean

Using a flow cytometer （FCM） onboard the R/V Xuelong during the 24th Chinese Antarctic cruise, picoplankton community structure and biomass in the surface water were examined along the latitude and around the Antarctic Ocean. Salinity and temperature were automatically recorded and total Chl a was determined. Along the cruise, the abundance of Synechococcus, Prochlorococ- cus, pico-eukaryotes and heterotrophic bacteria ranged in 0.001-1.855~ 10s ind./L, 0.000-2.778×108 ind./L, 0.002-1.060×108 ind./L and 0.132-27.073×108 ind./L, respectively. Major oceanic distri- bution of Synechococcus and Prochlorococcus appeared between latitudes 30°N and 30°S. Prochlorococcus was mainly influenced by water temperature, water mass combination and freshwater inflow. Meanwhile, Synechococcus distribution was significantly associated with landing freshwater inflow. Pico-eukaryotes and heterotrophic bacteria were distributed all over the oceans, but with a relatively low abundance in the high latitudes of the Antarctic Ocean. Principal Component Analysis showed that at same latitude of Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean, picoplankton distribution and constitution were totally different, geographical location and different water masses combination would be main reasons.

Community structure of picoplankton abundance and biomass in the southern Huanghai Sea during the spring and autumn of 2006

During spring and autumn of 2006, the investigations on abundance, carbon biomass and distri- bution of picoplankton were carried out in the southern Huanghai Sea （Yellow Sea, sHS）. Three groups of picoplankton-Synechococcus （Syn）, Picoeukaryotes （PEuk） and heterotrophic bacteria （BAC） were identified, but Prochlorococcus （Pro） was undetected. The average abundance of Syn and PEuk was lower in spring （5.0 and 1.3×10^3 cells/cm^3, respectively） than in autumn （92.4 and 2.7×0^3 cells/cm^3, respectively）, but it was opposite for BAC （1.3 and 0.7×10^6 cells/cm^3 in spring and autumn, respectively）. And the total carbon biomass of picoplankton was higher in spring （37.23×11.67） mg/m^3 than in autumn （21.29×13.75） mg/m^3. The ratios of the three cell abundance were 5：1：1 341 and 30：1：124 in spring and autumn, respectively. And the ratios of carbon biomass of them were 5：7：362 and 9：4：4 in spring and autumn, respectively. Seasonal distribution characteristics of Syn, PEuk, BAC were quite different from each other. In spring, Syn abundance decreased in turn in the central waters （where phytoplankton bloom in spring occurred）, the southern waters and inshore waters of the Shandong Peninsula （where even Syn was undetected）; the high values of PEuk abundance appeared in the central and southern waters and the inshore of the Shandong Peninsula; the abundance of BAC was nearly three order of magnitude higher than that of photosynthetic picoplankton, and high values appeared in the central waters. In autumn, Syn abundance in central waters was higher than that in surrounding waters, while for PEuk abundance, it decreased in turn in the inshore waters of the Shandong Peninsula, the southern waters and the central waters; BAC presented a complicated blocky type distribution. Sub-surface maximum of each group of picopalnkton appeared in both spring and autumn. Compared with the available lit- eratures concerning the studied area, the range of Syn abundance was larger, and the abundance of BAC was higher. In addition, the conversion factors for calculating picoplanktonic carbon biomass were discussed, with the conversion factors which are different from previous studies in the same surveyed waters. The result of regression analysis showed that there was distinct positive correlation between BAC and photosynthetic picoplankton in spring （r=0.61, P 〈0.001）, but no correlation was found in autumn.

ECOLOGICAL STUDY OF PICOPLANKTON IN NORTHERN SOUTH CHINA SEA

Abundance, carbon biomass and composition of picoplankton along a transect (fromthe Pearl River estuary to Dongsha Island) in the northern South China Sea were measured by flow cytom-etry (FCM); and the vertical structure, composition variation, relationship between heterotrophic and au-totrophic picoplankton as well as the controlling mechanism of diel variation were studied. Results showedthat along the horizontal direction, both Synechococcus (SYN) and picoeukaryote (PEUK) were highest inabundance and dominated autotrophic picoplankton in the Pearl River estuary, but decreased

EFFECTS OF IRON ON PICOPLANKTON IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA AS REVEALED BY SIMULATED IN SITU INCUBATION EXPERIMENT

Iron （FeCl3） enrichment experiment was carried out at 6. 3°N, 110°E in the SouthChina Sea. Cell abundances of the main groups of picoplankton Synechococcus, Prochlorococcus, picoeu-karyote and heterotrophic bacteria were traced during the experiment by flow cytometry （FCM）. Resultsshowed that picoplankton responded rapidly to iron of nano mole concentration. However, high concentra-

Influence of the northern Yellow Sea Cold Water Mass on picoplankton distribution around the Zhangzi Island,northern Yellow Sea

Picoplankton distribution around the Zhangzi Island（northern Yellow Sea）was investigated by monthly observation from July 2009 to June 2010.Three picoplankton populations were discriminated by flow cytometry,namely Synechococcus,picoeukaryotes and heterotrophic prokaryotes.In summer（from July to September）,the edge of the northern Yellow Sea Cold Water Mass（NYSCWM）resulting from water column stratification was observed.In the NYSCWM,picoplankton（including Synechococcus,picoeukaryotes and heterotrophic prokaryotes）distributed synchronically with extremely high abundance in the thermocline（20 m）in July and August（especially in August）,whereas in the bottom zone of the NYSCWM（below 30 m）,picoplankton abundance was quite low.Synechococcus,picoeukaryotes and heterotrophic prokaryotes showed similar response to the NYSCWM,indicating they had similar regulating mechanism under the influence of NYSCWM.Whereas in the non-NYSCWM,Synechococcus,picoeukaryotes and heterotrophic prokaryotes exhibited different distribution patterns,suggesting they had different controlling mechanisms.Statistical analysis indicated that temperature,nutrients（NO3^and PO4^3-）and ciliate were important factors in regulating picoplankton distribution.The results in this study suggested that the physical event NYSCWM,had strong influence on picoplankton distribution around the Zhangzi Island in the northern Yellow Sea.

Tidal effects on diel variations of picoplankton and viruses in the Changjiang estuary

Spatial distributions and seasonal variations of picoplankton (i.e. Synechococcus spp., Prochlorococcus spp., picoeukaryotes and heterotrophic bacteria) and viruses in the Changjiang estuary have been reported in the past. However, short-term variations (e.g. at a tidal timescale) of these organisms and their regulating factors remain unclear. We determined the time-series of fluctuations of picoplankton and viruses with tide simultaneously in flow cytometry in the Changjiang estuary during a cruise in June 2006, in which a tidal model based rectangle equation was applied. The results indicate that high cell abundances of picoplankton and viruses occurred during flood tide and low cell abundances during ebb tide. The period of the surface cell abundance variations was about 13 h, suggesting the surface cell abundances in the Changjiang estuary were largely regulated by tide. However, cell abundances in middle and bottom waters varied in different periods due to influences of tidal induced physical forces such as resuspension and stratification. Therefore, tidal action is an important factor for the diel variations of picoplankton and viruses in the Changjiang estuary.

Small temporal variation in abundance of virioplankton compared to bacterioplankton and phytoplankton in two bays in the northern South China Sea

Variations of picoplankton groups were investigated over a one-month period in Daya Bay and Sanya Bay,in the northern South China Sea.The two coastal regions exhibited different variation patterns in physicochemical parameters.Moreover,the diel variations of picoplankton groups were different between the two bays.The abundance of the picoplankton in Sanya Bay displayed a pronounced diel variation,while it was not significant in Daya Bay.In addition,some similar patterns of picoplankton abundance were discovered.In the two bays,virioplankton exhibited the smallest fluctuation range,whereas picocyanobacteria fluctuated most markedly.The fluctuation range of picoplankton groups was larger in spring tide than in neap tide,especially in Sanya Bay.Random forest model analysis demonstrated that the variation of picoplankton groups was attributed to physical and chemical factors in Sanya Bay and Daya Bay,respectively.Therefore,our findings suggest that virioplankton abundance can persist more stably in response to changing environmental conditions compared to bacterioplankton and picophytoplankton.

Picoplankton and virioplankton abundance and community structure in Pearl River Estuary and Daya Bay, South China

By using flow cytometry techniques, we investigated the abundance and composition of the heterotrophic prokaryotes, virioplankton and picophytoplankton community in the Pearl River Estuary and Daya Bay in the summer of 2012. We identified two subgroups of prokaryotes, high nucleic acid（HNA） and low nucleic acid（LNA）, characterized by different nucleic acid contents. HNA abundance was significantly correlated with larger phytoplankton and Synechococcus（Syn） abundance, which suggested the important role of organic substrates released from primary producers on bacterial growth. Although LNA did not show any association with environmental variables, it was a vital component of the microbial community. In contrast to previous studies, the total virioplankton concentration had a poor relationship with nutrient availability. The positive relationship between large-sized phytoplankton abundance and the V-I population confirmed that V-I was a phytoplankton-infecting viral subgroup. Although the V-II group（bacteriophages）was dominant in the virioplankton community, it was not related with prokaryotic abundance, which indicated factors other than hosts controlling V-II abundance or the uncertainty of virus-host coupling. With respect to the picophytoplankton community,our results implied that river input exerted a strong limitation to Syn distribution in the estuary, while picoeukaryotes（Euk） were numerically less abundant and showed a quite different distribution pattern from that of Syn, and hence presented ecological properties distinct from Syn in our two studied areas.

Influence of agriculture and aquaculture activities on the response of autotrophic picoplankton in Laguna Macapule, Gulf of California (Mexico)

Introduction:The lagoon is a component of coastal zones,whose populations of autotrophic picoplankton(APP)remain largely unstudied.These lagoons display high-nutrient productivity and additionally may also be subjected to anthropogenic activities.This study selected Laguna Macapule,located on the eastern shore in the mid-region of the Gulf of California,due to the fact that a drainage network servicing the surrounding agricultural region(>230,000 hectares under cultivation)directs irrigation runoff,shrimp farm effluents,and urban wastewater containing large quantities of nutrients to be discharged into this lagoon.We propose to identify the APP’s response to various types of environmental and anthropogenic influence in this highly impacted coastal lagoon.Methods:Two sites(separated by 2.7 km)were monitored from December 2007 to December 2008.One,located at the entrance to Laguna Macapule(oceanic influence)and the other a discharge canal(eutrophic conditions)inside the lagoon at El Tortugón.Results:APP was the numerically dominant phytoplankton fraction(15×106 to 620×106 cells L−1)with coccoidal cyanobacteria as the dominant fraction throughout the year.Peak levels were reached in spring-early autumn and they were the second largest contributor to biomass.Abundance of APP cells corresponds to the lagoon’s eutrophic status.Maximum numbers and a higher average of APP were recorded at the El Tortugón channel during the warm season(months with SST higher than 24°C).The general positive relationship of the APP’s annual cycle at both sites as well as a negative relationship with heterotrophic nanoflagellates(HNF)abundance,supports the idea that natural forcing,in particular sea surface temperature(SST)is the predominant influences on APP’s seasonal variability.Conclusions:Distinguishable significant differences in APP abundances and nutrients were recognizable between the two sites.The interplay of these variables contributed to lower densities of APP in winter and high densities in springearly autumn.N:P=~4 suggests that spring-early autumn abundance of the APP autotrophic component was sustained by urea from shrimp farm discharge water.Thus,a total nutrient-based approach is likely the most suitable tool for establishing nitrogen limitation of biological production in Laguna Macapule and similarly impacted ecosystems around the world.

Dynamics of phytoplankton and picoplankton over a tidal cycle in a subtropical lagoon

The influences of a tidal cycle on the distribution of autotrophic plankton were investigated in a hyper-eutrophic lagoon designated as a scenic area.Results showed that the highest concentrations of picoplankton and phytoplankton were found in the middle and inner part of the lagoon,irrespective of the tides.The MDS result also revealed that phytoplankton communities,dominated by Ceratium furca,were similar among stations in the inner bay during both flood tides and ebb tides.The time series sampling results at the inlet-outlet channel revealed that almost the same amounts of phytoplankton and picoplankton were carried through the channel during flood and ebb tides,with no trend in nutrient fluctuations except for phosphate which had a net loss from the lagoon.The results showed that tidal cycles do not effectively flush away phytoplankton and picoplankton from the lagoon,and the blooming of phytoand picoplankton is inevitable should the situation stay the same.Steps are needed to alleviate the eutrophication condition instead of depending on the natural process such as tidal cycle.

基于光合色素化学分类和流式细胞术结合的珠江口自养微微型浮游生物种群时空分布特征

为探究珠江口海域自养微微型浮游生物种群时空分布特征及其与环境之间的关系,于2013年5~11月,运用高液相色谱(HPLC)法和流式细胞术对珠江口海域表层水体中微微型浮游生物进行测定。流式细胞计数结果显示,珠江口海域自养微微型浮游生物由聚球藻(Synechococcus,Syn)和微微型真核生物(Picoeukaryotes,PEUK)组成。聚球藻始终占据总细胞丰度的主导地位。光合色素化学分类法(Chemotaxonomy,CHEMTAX)分析表明,自养微微型浮游生物群落结构具有明显的季节性变化,春季和夏季生物量以聚球藻为主,秋季生物量以青绿藻为主。CHEMTAX分析和流式细胞计数结果的相关性分析表明,在春季和夏季Syn细胞丰度与CHEMTAX生物量(即Syn贡献chla)之间呈现极显著正相关(P<0.01),PEUK细胞丰度与CHEMTAX生物量(即PEUK贡献chla)也存在显著正相关(P<0.05);然而,在秋季则无显著性相关关系(P>0.05)。冗余分析表明,温度和营养盐浓度是影响自养微微型浮游生物群落分布与组成的重要因素。另外,盐度、透明度、悬浮颗粒物对自养微微型浮游生物具有一定影响。

南海北部微微型光合浮游生物的丰度及环境调控

1999年夏季首次在南海北部海域进行了微微型光合浮游生物(photosyntheticpicoplankton)的观测研究,发现了聚球藻(Synechococcus,Syn)、原绿球藻(Prochlorococcus,Pro)和真核球藻(Eukaryotes,Euk)3类微微型光合浮游生物存在,并对其丰度与分布及其环境调控机制进行了研究。结果表明,研究海区Syn,Pro和Euk丰度的总平均值分别为(5.0±7.6)×10~4,(4.6±4.2)×10~4和(1.8±1.1)×10~3个/cm^3,Syn种群丰度的高值大多出现在营养盐丰富的雷州半岛及海南岛东部海域的河口、沿岸带与陆架,北部湾次之,是陆坡和开阔海的数十分之一;其水层分布主要在跃层以上,跃层以下其值迅速降低,发现Pro存在两个不同种群:表层种群和深层种群,前者分布型式与Syn相似,后者的分布型式迥然不同,其丰度向营养盐贫瘠的外海、陆坡和开阔海显著增高;同时发现Pro水层分布的高值主要出现在真光层的底部,并往往出现在硝酸盐跃层之上,Euk在不同海域的分布差异不如Syn和Pro来得大,但仍以沿岸带与陆架为高,陆坡与开阔海较低,水层分布的高值大多出现在真光层的底部,而且它是对次表层叶绿素a极大值的主要贡献者,这些分布型式的差异,取决于环境的调控和3类生物生态生理适应的差异。 研究海区Syn,Pro和Euk

厦门港微型浮游生物叶绿素的分布和作用

于1989年2月—1990年2月，运用分光光度法对厦门港各大小类群浮游生物叶绿素测定结果表明，微型浮游生物（3—20μm）是初极生产者中的最主要组成者（叶绿素a平均占74．7％）；小型（20－200μm）和极微型（＜3μm）浮游生物不是重要类群（平均占18．0和7．3％）。因此认为，在浮游植物定量研究中用采水方法采集浮游植物比用网采方法更客观。微型浮游生物生物量季节变化明显，夏季＞春季＞秋、冬季。

英那河水库渔业生态学调查

于2002—2003年夏、秋、冬季和春季分别对扩建前的英那河水库非生物环境、生物群落和渔产力进行了调查。结果表明：英那河水库属于富营养型,N∶P值达62.62,属于磷限制型水库;浮游植物共有151个种属,密度为2.5×10^7个/L,生物量为10.58 mg/L,以硅藻和绿藻占优势,叶绿素a含量为15.31μg/L;浮游动物共见到83个种属,密度为992个/L,生物量为4.21 mg/L,以枝角类和桡足类为主;超微藻类的密度为（0.73-5.80）×107个/L;浮游细菌总数为2.57×10^7个/L,夏季最高,达5.78×10^7个/L;异氧菌密度平均为2.53×10^6个/L;底栖动物5种,密度平均为471个/m^2,生物量为1.21 g/m^2,以粗腹摇蚊幼虫和水丝蚓占优势;共有水生维管束植物2种,鱼类39种,软体动物2种。此外,还对英那河水库的水质类型、营养状况和鱼产力进行了讨论。

热带西太平洋Y3和M2海山微食物网主要类群生态分布与比较

2014年12月和2016年3月分别对热带西太平洋Y3海山(中层海山)和M2海山(浅海山)微食物网主要类群(包括聚球藻、原绿球藻、微微型真核浮游生物、异养细菌和浮游纤毛虫)丰度和生物量垂直分布进行了研究。结果表明,Y3和M2海山水文环境比较相似但略有区别,叶绿素最大值层(DCM)分别在75—100m和110m水层,微食物网各主要类群在垂直尺度上的分布与叶绿素a浓度紧密相关。其中浮游纤毛虫呈现"双峰型"模式,即丰度高值出现在表层和DCM层;原绿球藻和微微型真核浮游生物呈现"单峰型"模式,丰度高值出现在DCM层;聚球藻和异养细菌峰型相对不显著,DCM层以浅丰度较高,DCM层以深丰度明显降低。分析其原因,可能是受到温度、光照和营养盐的共同影响。Y3和M2海山微食物网结构的垂直变化不完全一致。其中,Y3海山30m以浅和150m以深异养细菌生物量占绝对优势,75—100m水层自养型生物(原绿球藻和微微型真核浮游生物)占绝对优势;M2海山75m以浅和200m以深异养细菌占绝对优势,110—150m自养型生物占绝对优势。M2海山自养型生物占优势的水层要明显深于Y3海山,可能与它们的海山类型和采样季节不同有关。

2009年冬、夏季南海北部超微型浮游生物的分布特征及其环境相关分析

2009年2月(冬季)和8月(夏季)在南海北部海域(nSCS)采用流式细胞术对聚球藻、原绿球藻、超微型光合真核生物3类超微型光合浮游生物和异养浮游细菌的丰度和碳生物量的时空分布特征进行了研究,并分析了其与环境因子之间的关系。结果表明,夏季聚球藻和原绿球藻的平均丰度高于冬季,超微型光合真核生物和异养浮游细菌的丰度反之,为冬季高于夏季。聚球藻、超微型光合真核生物和异养浮游细菌在富营养的近岸陆架海域丰度较高,而原绿球藻高丰度则出现在陆坡开阔海域。在垂直分布上,聚球藻主要分布在跃层以上,跃层以下丰度迅速降低;原绿球藻高丰度主要出现在真光层底部;超微型光合真核生物在水层中的高值同样出现在真光层底部,且与Pico级份叶绿素a浓度分布一致;异养浮游细菌在水体中的分布与聚球藻类似。这些分布格局的差异,取决于环境条件的变化和4类超微型浮游生物生态生理适应性的差异。在超微型光合浮游生物群落中,各类群碳生物量的贡献因季节和海域类型的不同而发生变化:聚球藻在夏季近岸陆架区占超微型光合浮游生物总碳生物量的41%,原绿球藻在陆坡开阔海成为主要贡献者(50%),超微型光合真核生物碳生物量以冬季为高(在近岸陆架区占比68%)。冬、夏季异养浮游细菌碳生物量均高于超微型光合浮游生物碳生物量。

南黄海秋季浮游病毒丰度分布及其与宿主和环境因子的相关性研究

利用流式细胞仪对南黄海秋季浮游病毒丰度在水平分布和垂直分布上的特征进行了研究,并分析了浮游病毒丰度与异养细菌、微微型浮游植物等宿主丰度以及环境因子的相关性。结果表明,该海区秋季浮游病毒丰度在(2.22×106)—(1.60×107)ind/ml之间,平均值8.32×106ind/ml。病毒丰度在调查海域的东北和中南部海域出现高值区,在西南部出现低值区,且浮游病毒丰度与异养细菌丰度的平面分布趋势较一致。在表层、中层和底层水体,浮游病毒丰度平均值分别为8.63×106、7.83×106、8.49×106ind/ml,表层和底层丰度无显著差异,但均高于中层(P<0.05)。相关性分析表明,浮游病毒丰度与异养细菌丰度、VBR呈显著正相关(P<0.01),与微微型真核浮游植物丰度呈显著负相关(P<0.05),与聚球藻、水深、水温、盐度、溶氧、叶绿素a浓度无明显相关性(P>0.05)。

夏季南黄海主要环境因子对微微型浮游生物分布影响

利用流式细胞技术,获取南黄海夏季微微型浮游生物丰度数据,分析了其组成和分布规律,并探讨了主要的影响因子。2011年夏季,聚球藻、微微型真核藻、异养细菌在整个调查海区的平均丰度分别在1×104、1×103、1×106 cells/mL数量级上。在全调查海区,聚球藻和微微型真核藻受温度和光照的限制明显,主要集中分布在温跃层及其以上水层;而营养盐的限制较小,它们的影响只有在沿岸流影响明显的西部海区才能较为明显的体现出来。结果表明在该海域浓度较高的营养盐能够促进微微型浮游生物的生长,但不是其限制因素;异养细菌受环境因子限制较小,即使在深海也保持着较高的丰度。

南沙群岛微型与超微型真核藻类遗传多样性的初步研究

用分子生物学方法建立了南沙海域5号采样点附近海域的微型、超微型真核藻类185rDNA文库,采用RFLP和基因测序的手段对其遗传多样性进行了初步探讨。研究表明南沙海域的微型、超微型藻类的遗传多样性十分丰富,而且尚有大量未获培养的、分类位置未知的物种有待研究。