The toxicity of seven major HAB (harmful algal bloom) species/strains, Prorocentrum donghaiense, Phaeocystis globosa, Prorocentrum micans, Alexandrium tamarense (AT-6, non-PSP producer), Alexandrium lusitanicum, Alexandrum tamarense (ATHK) and Heterosigma akashiwo were studied against rotifer Brachionus plicatilis under laboratory conditions. The results show that P. donghaiense, P. globosa, P. micans, A. tamarense (AT-6), or A. lusitanicum could maintain the individual survival and reproduction, as well as the population increase of the rotifer, but the individual reproduction would decrease when exposed to these five algae at higher densities for nine days; H. akashiwo could decrease the individual survival and reproduction, as well as population increase of the rotifer, which is similar to that of the starvation group, indicating that starvation might be its one lethal factor except for the algal toxins; A. tamarense (ATHK) has strong lethal effect on the rotifer with 48h LC50 at 800 cells/mL. The experiment on ingestion ability indicated by gut pigment change shows that P. donghaiense, P. globosa, P. micans, A. tamarense (AT-6) and A. lusitanicum can be taken by the rotifers as food, but A. tamarense (ATHK) or H. akashiwo can be ingested by the rotifers. The results indicate that all the indexes of individual survival and reproduction, population increase, gut pigment change of the rotifers are good and convenient to be used to reflect the toxicities of HAB species. Therefore, rotifer is suggested as one of the toxicity testing organisms in detecting the toxicity of harmful algae.
This study explores the potential existence of local stocks of Synechogobius ommaturus using otolith chemical signatures. The concentrations of 10 elements (K, Ca, Na, Mg, Sr, Pb, Ba, Mn, Co, Zn) in the otoliths from eight stocks (Dandong, Dalian, Tianjin, Dongying, Weihai, Qingdao, Ganyu and Xiamen) of S. ommaturus were measured by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry and regressed against otolith weight. No significant correlation between otolith weight and concentrations of Na, Mg, Ca, Sr, Co, Ba, Zn and Pb were observed. Concentrations of K and Mn were correlated with otolith weight. Consequently, the residuals of the regressions were used instead of the original concentrations in subsequent analyses. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed no significant difference between males and females in otolith chemical signatures. Differences were found among the locations for K, Sr, Mn, Co, Ba, Pb, but not for Ca, Na, Mg and Zn. Residuals of the regressions of elemental concentrations against otolith weight that fitted the normal distribution and homogeneity were studied by discriminant analysis. The success of the discriminant function to predict the location of S. ommaturus capture ranged from 100% for Weihai and Xiamen stocks, to only 44.4% and 62.5% for Qingdao and Dandong stocks, respectively. The average prediction success was 80.3%.
A Lagrangian model is used to evaluate source regions of particles collected in the sediment traps at the DYFAMED(Dynamique des Flux Atmosphériques en Méditerranée) station by tracking particles backwards from March 1 to August 31, 2001. The analysis suggests that source regions depend on the flow fields, the settling speed of the particles, and the deployment depths of the traps. Monthly variation is observed in the distribution patterns of source regions, which is caused by the currents. The source regions are located around the traps and up to hundreds of kilometers away. As the settling speed increases with the particle diameters, the distance to the source regions decreases. The vertical flux can be approximately estimated in 1D for the particles with diameters larger than 500 μm. Furthermore, traps moored at various depths at the DYFAMED can collect particles that originated from different regions in the Ligurian Sea.
The fatty acid compositions of seston and Calanus sinicus were investigated to study trophic relationships in Jiaozhou Bay. Principal component analysis was carried out to ordinate the fatty acid patterns of seston in stations and months. The results showed that diatoms were most abundant in the phytoplankton at station A5 (located in the northwest of the bay:36°9′N, 120°20′E) and least abundant at station D7 (located outside of the bay: 35°59′N, 120°26′E). By contrast, dinoflagellates were most abundant at station D7 and least abundant at station A5. According to the annual variations of 16:1ω7 and 18:4ω3/ 16:1ω7, diatoms flourished mainly in spring and summer, while dinoflagellates bloomed exclusively in summer. A distinctive feature of the fatty acid composition of C. sinicus was the prevalence of 20:5ω3 and 22:6ω3. The higher content of 16:1ω7 over 18:4ω3 in females indicated that diatoms contributed more than dinoflagellates to the diet of C. sinicus. The feeding intensity of C. sinicus on diatoms was higher in spring and autumn than in other seasons. The herbivorous indicators 20:1 and 22:1 were comparatively low, suggesting that besides phytoplankton, C. sinicus might feed on a wider range of particles including organic detritus, bacteria and small copepods.
Otolith shape is species specific and is an ideal marker of fish population affiliation. In this study, otolith shape of spottedtail goby Synechogobius ommaturus is used to identify stocks in different spawning locations in the Yellow Sea. The main objectives of this study are to explore the potential existence of local stocks of spottedtail goby in the Yellow Sea by analysis of otolith shape, and to investigate ambient impacts on otolith shape. Spottedtail goby was sampled in five locations in the Yellow Sea in 2007 and 2008. Otoliths are described using variables correlated to size (otolith area, perimeter, length, width, and weight) and shape (rectangularity, circularity, and 20 Fourier harmonics). Only standardized otolith variables are used so that the effect of otolith size on the shape variables could be eliminated. There is no significant difference among variables of sex, year, and side (left and right). However, the otolith shapes of the spring stocks and the autumn stocks differ significantly. Otolith shape differences are greater among locations than between years. Correct classification rate of spottedtail goby with the otolith shape at different sampling locations range from 29.7%–77.4%.
The mixed layer depth(MLD) in the upper ocean is an important physical parameter for describing the upper ocean mixed layer.We analyzed several major factors influencing the climatological mixed layer depth(CMLD),and established a numerical simulation in the South China Sea(SCS) using the Regional Ocean Model System(ROMS) with a high-resolution(1/12°×1/12°) grid nesting method and 50 vertical layers.Several ideal numerical experiments were tested by modifying the existing sea surface boundary conditions.Especially,we analyzed the sensitivity of the results simulated for the CMLD with factors of sea surface wind stress(SSWS),sea surface net heat flux(SSNHF),and the difference between evaporation and precipitation(DEP).The result shows that of the three factors that change the depth of the CMLD,SSWS is in the first place,when ignoring the impact of SSWS,CMLD will change by 26% on average,and its effect is always to deepen the CMLD;the next comes SSNHF(13%) for deepening the CMLD in October to January and shallowing the CMLD in February to September;and the DEP comes in the third(only 2%).Moreover,we analyzed the temporal and spatial characteristics of CMLD and compared the simulation result with the ARGO observational data.The results indicate that ROMS is applicable for studying CMLD in the SCS area.
Flow cytometric determinations of the abundance distribution and community structure of picophytoplankton (i.e.,Prochlorococcus spp.,orange fluorescence Synechococcus spp.and picoeukaryotes) were used for samples taken from the Philippine Sea in the western tropical Pacific Ocean from September to October of 2004.A fluorescence probe was employed to detect Chlorophyll a (Chl a).Abundances of Prochlorococcus spp.,orange fluorescence Synechococcus spp.and picoeukaryotes ranged from 0.1 to 58×103 cells ml-1,0.38 to 17×102 cells ml-1 and 0.42 to 26×102 cells ml-1,respectively.Synechococcus spp.and picoeukaryotes co-occurred in relatively shallow water with the maximum abundance observed at 50 to 70 m depth,while Prochlorococcus spp.only occurred in the 70 to 200 m layer.Prochlorococcus spp.was the dominant picophytoplankton population in terms of abundance and biomass.The cell size and carbon biomass content were estimated for the three picophytoplankton groups.In addition,among the three groups of picophytoplankton,the relative contribution of red fluorescence to the total red fluorescence varied with depth.The fluorescence and light scatter properties of individual cells indicated that in the upper 100 m layer,picoeukaryotes were a major contributor to total red fluorescence,while at the depth below 100 m,Prochlorococcus spp.and Synechococcus spp.made an important contribution to the total red fluorescence.
