Summer phytoplankton assemblages and carbon biomass in the northern south China sea

Gui, Jiang; Wei, Yuqiu; Sun, Jun; Le, Fengfeng; Cai, Yuhang; Ning, Xin

doi:10.1016/j.csr.2020.104276

Cited by 10 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…Although many studies have been conducted on the spatial and temporal distribution of Chl-a [44,45,68] and particulate organic carbon [69][70][71] in the SCS using ocean color data, little research has focused on phytoplankton carbon. It has long been recognized that the high concentration of Chl-a in winter in the northern SCS was due to the strong mixing caused by the northeast monsoon [46,[72][73][74].…”

Section: Spatial and Temporal Variability Of Phytoplankton Carbon And θmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For example, Ning et al (2004) [37] used multidisciplinary survey data to describe the phytoplankton seasonal distribution and revealed clearly coupled physical-chemical-biological oceanographic processes in relation to phytoplankton abundance and production in the SCS. Additional studies used satellite derived Chl-a data to investigate the spatial and temporal distributions of phytoplankton in the SCS and found significant seasonal change, with high concentration in winter and low values in summer, and higher Chl-a in inshore areas than that in the central sea basin [39][40][41][42][43][44][45]. In the northern SCS, Chl-a starts to increase in September and reaches its maximum in December or January [46].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Spatiotemporal Variability of Surface Phytoplankton Carbon and Carbon-to-Chlorophyll a Ratio in the South China Sea Based on Satellite Data

Wang

Jiang

et al. 2020

Remote Sensing

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The spatiotemporal variability of phytoplankton biomass has been widely studied because of its importance in biogeochemical cycles. Chlorophyll a (Chl-a)—an essential pigment present in photoautotrophic organisms—is widely used as an indicator for oceanic phytoplankton biomass because it could be easily measured with calibrated optical sensors. However, the intracellular Chl-a content varies with light, nutrient levels, and temperature and could misrepresent phytoplankton biomass. In this study, we estimated the concentration of phytoplankton carbon—a more suitable indicator for phytoplankton biomass—using a regionally adjusted bio-optical algorithm with satellite data in the South China Sea (SCS). Phytoplankton carbon and the carbon-to-Chl-a ratio (θ) exhibited considerable variability spatially and seasonally. Generally, phytoplankton carbon in the northern SCS was higher than that in the western and central parts. The regional monthly mean phytoplankton carbon in the northern SCS showed a prominent peak during December and January. A similar pattern was shown in the central part of SCS, but its peak was weaker. Besides the winter peak, the western part of SCS had a secondary maximum of phytoplankton carbon during summer. θ exhibited significant seasonal variability in the northern SCS, but a relatively weak seasonal change in the western and central parts. θ had a peak in September and a trough in January in the northern and central parts of SCS, whereas in the western SCS the minimum and maximum θ was found in August and during October–April of the following year, respectively. Overall, θ ranged from 26.06 to 123.99 in the SCS, which implies that the carbon content could vary up to four times given a specific Chl-a value. The variations in θ were found to be related to changing phytoplankton community composition, as well as dynamic phytoplankton physiological activities in response to environmental influences; which also exhibit much spatial differences in the SCS. Our results imply that the spatiotemporal variability of θ should be considered, rather than simply used a single value when converting Chl-a to phytoplankton carbon biomass in the SCS, especially, when verifying the simulation results of biogeochemical models.

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Section: Spatial and Temporal Variability Of Phytoplankton Carbon And θmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatiotemporal Variability of Surface Phytoplankton Carbon and Carbon-to-Chlorophyll a Ratio in the South China Sea Based on Satellite Data

Wang

Jiang

et al. 2020

Remote Sensing

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“…The Pearl River and its tributaries flow through the Pearl River Delta, where extensive cultivation of commercial crops is associated with much use of chemical fertilizers. The high concentrations of nitrate in the Pearl River due to runoff from farmland (Gui et al., 2020) have supported generally high phytoplankton biomass in the Pearl River plume (Dai et al., 2008). As the plume flows eastward and interacts with the waters of the South China Sea (SCS), the gradual reduction of nutrient concentrations has a profound impact on the phytoplankton biomass and community composition in the Pearl River plume continuum (Gao et al., 2020; Yin et al., 2004).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Responses of Phytoplankton Communities to the Effect of Both River Plume and Coastal Upwelling

Tong,

Ma,

Cai

et al. 2023

JGR Biogeosciences

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River plumes and coastal upwelling systems are both nutrient‐abundant habitats compared to the open ocean, and the mechanisms that structure the phytoplankton community when these occur together are unclear. In this study we investigated the dynamics and drivers of phytoplankton biomass and community composition in the Pearl River plume‐coastal upwelling system on the northern South China Sea shelf during summer. We found that phytoplankton biomass was lower in the plume than in upwelled water. Diatoms were the only dominant group in the upwelled water. In contrast, diatoms and Synechococcus were co‐dominant in the plume, and the negative correlation between the proportions of these two groups indicated that they occupied distinct niches. The lower phytoplankton biomass in plume waters was due to nutrient limitation, and there was a transition from limitation by phosphorus to limitation by nitrogen in the plume along its path. This bottom‐up control limited only diatoms, whereas Synechococcus was limited mainly by top‐down control via microzooplankton grazing. This difference led to niche differentiation of the dominant phytoplankton groups in the plume‐upwelling system. This discovery of niche differentiation enhances understanding of food web structure and will facilitate modeling of marine biogeochemical cycles.

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“…Therefore, this approach may not always be robust. Moreover, C:Chl a ratios vary over a wide range (6 g g −1 -333 g g −1 ) based on laboratory and field studies (Sathyendranath et al, 2009;Jakobsen and Markager, 2016;Gui et al, 2020). Light plays an important role in controlling the C:Chl a ratio by regulating phytoplankton pigment composition (Wang et al, 2009a).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hydrodynamics drives shifts in phytoplankton community composition and carbon-to-chlorophyll a ratio in the northern South China Sea

Chen,

Shi,

et al. 2023

Front. Mar. Sci.

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Phytoplankton play significant roles in the carbon cycle in oceans. Phytoplankton biomass and community composition are often mediated by ocean hydrodynamics. It is vital to quantify the phytoplankton carbon content and carbon:Chlorophyll a (C:Chl a) ratio and to better understand the link between hydrodynamics and phytoplankton communities in marine environments, which are important parameters in marine biogeochemical models. Environmental variables, phytoplankton community composition, abundance, particulate organic carbon, and Chl a were determined in summer in the northern South China Sea (SCS), which was influenced by the Pearl River discharge, upwelling, and anticyclonic eddy, to examine the links between hydrodynamics, phytoplankton community, and C:Chl a ratio. Our results showed that the spatial variabilities in phytoplankton community composition, and carbon content, and C:Chl a ratio were driven by hydrodynamics. Nutrient enrichment favored the growth of diatoms, especially small chain-forming diatoms at the Pearl River Estuary stations. From inshore to offshore, the dominant phytoplankton shifted from small-chain diatoms to large diatoms and dinoflagellates, increasing phytoplankton biodiversity from inshore to offshore. Weak upwelling caused an increase in Synechococcus abundance, while an anticyclonic eddy resulted in a high abundance of Prochlorococcus and Trichodesmium spp. in the present study. We found that the relationship between phytoplankton carbon content and the logarithm of Chl a concentration fit an exponential curve. The C:Chl a ratio increased from 72.7 g g−1 at Pearl River Estuary stations, to 101 g g−1 at Pearl River discharge dilution stations and to 131 g g−1 at SCS surface stations due to shifts in phytoplankton community composition. The low C:Chl a ratio was attributed to the high abundance of diatoms in the Pearl River plume-impacted area, whereas a high C:Chl a ratio was related to the dominance of cyanobacteria at SCS surface stations. Our findings provide insights into quantifying phytoplankton carbon content and understanding the links between hydrodynamics, phytoplankton community composition, carbon content, and C:Chl a ratio in oceans.

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Summer phytoplankton assemblages and carbon biomass in the northern south China sea

Cited by 10 publications

References 22 publications

Spatiotemporal Variability of Surface Phytoplankton Carbon and Carbon-to-Chlorophyll a Ratio in the South China Sea Based on Satellite Data

Spatiotemporal Variability of Surface Phytoplankton Carbon and Carbon-to-Chlorophyll a Ratio in the South China Sea Based on Satellite Data

Responses of Phytoplankton Communities to the Effect of Both River Plume and Coastal Upwelling

Hydrodynamics drives shifts in phytoplankton community composition and carbon-to-chlorophyll a ratio in the northern South China Sea

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