2012 Vol. 31, No. 6
Display Method:
2012, (6): 1-11.
doi: 10.1007/s13131-012-0248-2
Abstract:
Fronts, baroclinic transport, and mesoscale variability of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) along 115°E are examined on the basis of CTD data from two hydrographic cruises occupied in 1995 as a part of the World Ocean Circulation Experiment (WOCE cruise I9S) and in 2004 as a part of CLIVAR/CO2 repeat hydrography program. The integrated baroclinic transport across I9S section is (97.2×106±2.2×106) m3/s relative to the deepest common level (DCL). The net transport at the north end of I9S, determined by the south Australian circulation system, is about 16.5×106 m3/s westward. Relying on a consistent set of water mass criteria and transport maxima, the ACC baroclinic transport, (117×106±6.7×106) m3/s to the east, is carried along three fronts:the Subantarctic Front (SAF) at a mean latitude of 44°-49°S carries (50.6×106±13.4×106) m3/s; the Polar Front (PF), with the northern branch (PF-N) at 50.5°S and the southern branch (PFS) at 58°S, carries (51.3×106±8.7×106) m3/s; finally, the southern ACC front (SACCF) and the southern boundary of the ACC (SB) consist of three cores between 59°S and 65°S that combined carry (15.2×106±1.8×106) m3/s. Mesoscale eddy features are identifiable in the CTD sections and tracked in concurrent maps of altimetric sea level anomalies (SLA) between 44°-48°S and 53°-57°S. Because of the remarkable mesoscale eddy features within the SAF observed in both the tracks of the cruises, the eastward transport of the SAF occurs at two latitude bands separating by 1°. Both the CTD and the altimetric data suggest that the mesoscale variability is concentrated around the Antarctic Polar Frontal Zone (APFZ) and causes the ACC fronts to merge, diverge, and to fluctuate in intensity and position along their paths.
Fronts, baroclinic transport, and mesoscale variability of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) along 115°E are examined on the basis of CTD data from two hydrographic cruises occupied in 1995 as a part of the World Ocean Circulation Experiment (WOCE cruise I9S) and in 2004 as a part of CLIVAR/CO2 repeat hydrography program. The integrated baroclinic transport across I9S section is (97.2×106±2.2×106) m3/s relative to the deepest common level (DCL). The net transport at the north end of I9S, determined by the south Australian circulation system, is about 16.5×106 m3/s westward. Relying on a consistent set of water mass criteria and transport maxima, the ACC baroclinic transport, (117×106±6.7×106) m3/s to the east, is carried along three fronts:the Subantarctic Front (SAF) at a mean latitude of 44°-49°S carries (50.6×106±13.4×106) m3/s; the Polar Front (PF), with the northern branch (PF-N) at 50.5°S and the southern branch (PFS) at 58°S, carries (51.3×106±8.7×106) m3/s; finally, the southern ACC front (SACCF) and the southern boundary of the ACC (SB) consist of three cores between 59°S and 65°S that combined carry (15.2×106±1.8×106) m3/s. Mesoscale eddy features are identifiable in the CTD sections and tracked in concurrent maps of altimetric sea level anomalies (SLA) between 44°-48°S and 53°-57°S. Because of the remarkable mesoscale eddy features within the SAF observed in both the tracks of the cruises, the eastward transport of the SAF occurs at two latitude bands separating by 1°. Both the CTD and the altimetric data suggest that the mesoscale variability is concentrated around the Antarctic Polar Frontal Zone (APFZ) and causes the ACC fronts to merge, diverge, and to fluctuate in intensity and position along their paths.
2012, (6): 12-18.
doi: 10.1007/s13131-012-0249-1
Abstract:
By introducing the wave-induced Coriolis-Stokes forcing into ageostrophic motion equation, the Eulerian transport is modified by the wave-induced Stokes drift. The long-term mean contributions of the Stokes transport with remotely generated swells being included to the ageostrophic transport are analyzed using the ECMWF (European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts) reanalysis data. The ratio of Stokes transport to Ekman transport in north-south (N-S) direction can reach a maximum of over 50% in the subtropical region. The preliminary influence of the Stokes transport on the North Pacific gyre is all year persistent, while the effect on the North Atlantic gyre is only obvious in boreal winter and early spring.
By introducing the wave-induced Coriolis-Stokes forcing into ageostrophic motion equation, the Eulerian transport is modified by the wave-induced Stokes drift. The long-term mean contributions of the Stokes transport with remotely generated swells being included to the ageostrophic transport are analyzed using the ECMWF (European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts) reanalysis data. The ratio of Stokes transport to Ekman transport in north-south (N-S) direction can reach a maximum of over 50% in the subtropical region. The preliminary influence of the Stokes transport on the North Pacific gyre is all year persistent, while the effect on the North Atlantic gyre is only obvious in boreal winter and early spring.
2012, (6): 19-31.
doi: 10.1007/s13131-012-0250-8
Abstract:
Multiple linear regression (MLR) method was applied to quantify the effects of the net heat flux (NHF), the net freshwater flux (NFF) and the wind stress on the mixed layer depth (MLD) of the South China Sea (SCS) based on the simple ocean data assimilation (SODA) dataset. The spatio-temporal distributions of the MLD, the buoyancy flux (combining the NHF and the NFF) and the wind stress of the SCS were presented. Then using an oceanic vertical mixing model, the MLD after a certain time under the same initial conditions but various pairs of boundary conditions (the three factors) was simulated. Applying the MLR method to the results, regression equations which modeling the relationship between the simulated MLD and the three factors were calculated. The equations indicate that when the NHF was negative, it was the primary driver of the mixed layer deepening; and when the NHF was positive, the wind stress played a more important role than that of the NHF while the NFF had the least effect. When the NHF was positive, the relative quantitative effects of the wind stress, the NHF, and the NFF were about 10, 6 and 2. The above conclusions were applied to explaining the spatio-temporal distributions of the MLD in the SCS and thus proved to be valid.
Multiple linear regression (MLR) method was applied to quantify the effects of the net heat flux (NHF), the net freshwater flux (NFF) and the wind stress on the mixed layer depth (MLD) of the South China Sea (SCS) based on the simple ocean data assimilation (SODA) dataset. The spatio-temporal distributions of the MLD, the buoyancy flux (combining the NHF and the NFF) and the wind stress of the SCS were presented. Then using an oceanic vertical mixing model, the MLD after a certain time under the same initial conditions but various pairs of boundary conditions (the three factors) was simulated. Applying the MLR method to the results, regression equations which modeling the relationship between the simulated MLD and the three factors were calculated. The equations indicate that when the NHF was negative, it was the primary driver of the mixed layer deepening; and when the NHF was positive, the wind stress played a more important role than that of the NHF while the NFF had the least effect. When the NHF was positive, the relative quantitative effects of the wind stress, the NHF, and the NFF were about 10, 6 and 2. The above conclusions were applied to explaining the spatio-temporal distributions of the MLD in the SCS and thus proved to be valid.
2012, (6): 32-45.
doi: 10.1007/s13131-012-0251-7
Abstract:
A laboratory experiment on alongshore currents is conducted for two plane beaches with slopes 1:40 and 1:100 to investigate the instability of alongshore currents. The dye release experiment is also performed synchronously in surf zone. Complicated and strongly unstable motions of alongshore currents are observed in the experiment. To examine the spatial and temporal variations of the shear instabilities of longshore clearly, dye batches are released in surf zone. The deformation of the dye patch is observed efficiently and effectively with charge coupled device (CCD) system. Some essential characteristics of the shear instability are validated from the results of image analyses of the temporal variation of the dye patch. The influences of alongshore currents, Stokes drift, large-scale vorticity and the shear instabilities on the transport of dye are analyzed using the collected images. The spatial structure of the instabilities of longshore currents is studied by analyzing collected images of the dye patch. And the phase velocity of the meandering movements is obtained through measuring the movement distances of the oscillations of dye patch in alongshore direction with time. The results suggest that the propagation speed of the shear instability is approximately 50%-75% of maximum of mean alongshore currents for irregular and regular waves. The calculated propagation speed using a linear instability analysis theory is compared with the experimental results. The comparison shows agreements between them.
A laboratory experiment on alongshore currents is conducted for two plane beaches with slopes 1:40 and 1:100 to investigate the instability of alongshore currents. The dye release experiment is also performed synchronously in surf zone. Complicated and strongly unstable motions of alongshore currents are observed in the experiment. To examine the spatial and temporal variations of the shear instabilities of longshore clearly, dye batches are released in surf zone. The deformation of the dye patch is observed efficiently and effectively with charge coupled device (CCD) system. Some essential characteristics of the shear instability are validated from the results of image analyses of the temporal variation of the dye patch. The influences of alongshore currents, Stokes drift, large-scale vorticity and the shear instabilities on the transport of dye are analyzed using the collected images. The spatial structure of the instabilities of longshore currents is studied by analyzing collected images of the dye patch. And the phase velocity of the meandering movements is obtained through measuring the movement distances of the oscillations of dye patch in alongshore direction with time. The results suggest that the propagation speed of the shear instability is approximately 50%-75% of maximum of mean alongshore currents for irregular and regular waves. The calculated propagation speed using a linear instability analysis theory is compared with the experimental results. The comparison shows agreements between them.
2012, (6): 46-55.
doi: 10.1007/s13131-012-0252-6
Abstract:
The coupling numerical model of wave interaction with porous medium is used to study waveinduced pore water pressure in high permeability seabed. In the model, the wave field solver is based on the two dimensional Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations with a k-ε closure, and Forchheimer equations are adopted for flow within the porous media. By introducing a Velocity-Pressure Correction equation for the wave flow and porous flow, a highly efficient coupling between the two flows is implemented. The numerical tests are conducted to study the effects of seabed thickness, porosity, particle size and intrinsic permeability coefficient on regular wave and solitary wave-induced pore water pressure response. The results indicate that, as compared with regular wave-induced, solitary wave-induced pore water pressure has larger values and stronger action on seabed with different parameters. The results also clearly show the flow characteristics of pore water flow within seabed and water wave flow on seabed. The maximum pore water flow velocities within seabed under solitary wave action are higher than those under regular wave action.
The coupling numerical model of wave interaction with porous medium is used to study waveinduced pore water pressure in high permeability seabed. In the model, the wave field solver is based on the two dimensional Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations with a k-ε closure, and Forchheimer equations are adopted for flow within the porous media. By introducing a Velocity-Pressure Correction equation for the wave flow and porous flow, a highly efficient coupling between the two flows is implemented. The numerical tests are conducted to study the effects of seabed thickness, porosity, particle size and intrinsic permeability coefficient on regular wave and solitary wave-induced pore water pressure response. The results indicate that, as compared with regular wave-induced, solitary wave-induced pore water pressure has larger values and stronger action on seabed with different parameters. The results also clearly show the flow characteristics of pore water flow within seabed and water wave flow on seabed. The maximum pore water flow velocities within seabed under solitary wave action are higher than those under regular wave action.
2012, (6): 56-65.
doi: 10.1007/s13131-012-0247-3
Abstract:
The major feature, interannual variability and variation cause of the Mindanao Eddy and its impact on the thermohaline structure are analyzed based on the Argo profiling float data, the history observed data and the SODA data. The analysis results show that the Mindanao Eddy is a permanent cyclonic meso-scale eddy and spreads vertically from about 500 m depth upward do about 50 m depth. In addition to its strong seasonal variability, the Mindanao Eddy displays a remarkable interannual variability associated with ENSO. It strengthens and expands eastward during El Nino ? while it weakens and retreats westward during La Nina. ? The interannual variability in the Mindanao Eddy may be caused by the North Equatorial Counter Current, the North Equatorial Current, the Mindanao Current and the Indonesian Through Flow. The eddy variability can have a great influence on the thermohaline structure pattern in the local upper ocean. When the eddy is strong, the cold and low salinity water inside the eddy moves violently upward from deep layer, the thermocline depth greatly shoals, and the subsurface high salinity water largely decreases,with the upper mixed layer becoming thinner, and vice versa.
The major feature, interannual variability and variation cause of the Mindanao Eddy and its impact on the thermohaline structure are analyzed based on the Argo profiling float data, the history observed data and the SODA data. The analysis results show that the Mindanao Eddy is a permanent cyclonic meso-scale eddy and spreads vertically from about 500 m depth upward do about 50 m depth. In addition to its strong seasonal variability, the Mindanao Eddy displays a remarkable interannual variability associated with ENSO. It strengthens and expands eastward during El Nino ? while it weakens and retreats westward during La Nina. ? The interannual variability in the Mindanao Eddy may be caused by the North Equatorial Counter Current, the North Equatorial Current, the Mindanao Current and the Indonesian Through Flow. The eddy variability can have a great influence on the thermohaline structure pattern in the local upper ocean. When the eddy is strong, the cold and low salinity water inside the eddy moves violently upward from deep layer, the thermocline depth greatly shoals, and the subsurface high salinity water largely decreases,with the upper mixed layer becoming thinner, and vice versa.
2012, (6): 66-71.
doi: 10.1007/s13131-012-0253-5
Abstract:
Precise measurements of the CO2 gas transfer across the air-sea interface provide a better understanding of the global carbon cycle. The air-sea CO2 fluxes are obtained by the eddy covariance method and the bulk method from a buoy observation in the northern Huanghai sea. The effects of buoy motion on flux calculated by the eddy covariance method are demonstrated. The research shows that a motion correction can improve the correlation coefficient between the CO2 fluxes estimated from two different levels. Without the CO2-H2O cross-correlation correction which is termed as PKT correction, the air-sea CO2 fluxes estimated by eddy covariance method using the motion corrected data are nearly an order of magnitude larger than those estimated by the bulk method. After the CO2-H2O cross-correlation correction, some eddy covariance CO2 fluxes indeed become closer to the bulk CO2 flux, whereas some are overcorrected which are in response to small water vapor flux.
Precise measurements of the CO2 gas transfer across the air-sea interface provide a better understanding of the global carbon cycle. The air-sea CO2 fluxes are obtained by the eddy covariance method and the bulk method from a buoy observation in the northern Huanghai sea. The effects of buoy motion on flux calculated by the eddy covariance method are demonstrated. The research shows that a motion correction can improve the correlation coefficient between the CO2 fluxes estimated from two different levels. Without the CO2-H2O cross-correlation correction which is termed as PKT correction, the air-sea CO2 fluxes estimated by eddy covariance method using the motion corrected data are nearly an order of magnitude larger than those estimated by the bulk method. After the CO2-H2O cross-correlation correction, some eddy covariance CO2 fluxes indeed become closer to the bulk CO2 flux, whereas some are overcorrected which are in response to small water vapor flux.
2012, (6): 72-82.
doi: 10.1007/s13131-012-0254-4
Abstract:
Massive sulfide precipitates found in the Southwest Indian Ridge (SWIR) 49.6°E hydrothermal field are enriched in gold. Here, the mineralogy and mineral chemistry of these massive sulfides to constrain the process of gold precipitation were studied. Sulfide samples in this field include lowertemperature Zn-rich sulfides and relative higher-temperature Fe-rich sulfides. Zn-rich sulfides are dominated by sphalerite-pyrite-chalcopyrite assemblages, with concentrations of gold ranging from 9.08 to 17.0 μg/g. Fe-rich sulfides consist mainly of pyrite-marcasite-isocubanite assemblages, with gold concentrations from 2.17 to 3.79 μg/g. The significant enrichment in gold within the lowertemperature Zn-rich sulfides and the effective separation of Zn and Fe in hydrothermal precipitates at the surface of this field are here interpreted to reflect the strong temperature dependence of gold transportation and deposition within the sulfides. In Zn-rich samples, large amounts of isolated native gold grains were identified. They were found mainly as inclusions up to 8 μm in diameter, occupying porous cavities in sphalerite or in the elevated iron content rim of sphalerite. The fineness of the gold ranged from 810 to 830. Unlike previously published results on other hydrothermal fields, these data show a low gold fineness values in SWIR 49.6°E. The FeS content of sphalerite associated with gold grains ranged from 3.2 mole% to 18.9 mole%. This was higher than in other fields, indicating that the sulfur activity is relatively low during the gold precipitation process and that sulfur activity may be one of the main factors affecting gold fineness in the SWIR 49.6°E hydrothermal field. Evidence regarding gold fineness and sulfur activity suggests that gold was quite likely transported as AuHS0 rather than as a Au(HS)2- complex.
Massive sulfide precipitates found in the Southwest Indian Ridge (SWIR) 49.6°E hydrothermal field are enriched in gold. Here, the mineralogy and mineral chemistry of these massive sulfides to constrain the process of gold precipitation were studied. Sulfide samples in this field include lowertemperature Zn-rich sulfides and relative higher-temperature Fe-rich sulfides. Zn-rich sulfides are dominated by sphalerite-pyrite-chalcopyrite assemblages, with concentrations of gold ranging from 9.08 to 17.0 μg/g. Fe-rich sulfides consist mainly of pyrite-marcasite-isocubanite assemblages, with gold concentrations from 2.17 to 3.79 μg/g. The significant enrichment in gold within the lowertemperature Zn-rich sulfides and the effective separation of Zn and Fe in hydrothermal precipitates at the surface of this field are here interpreted to reflect the strong temperature dependence of gold transportation and deposition within the sulfides. In Zn-rich samples, large amounts of isolated native gold grains were identified. They were found mainly as inclusions up to 8 μm in diameter, occupying porous cavities in sphalerite or in the elevated iron content rim of sphalerite. The fineness of the gold ranged from 810 to 830. Unlike previously published results on other hydrothermal fields, these data show a low gold fineness values in SWIR 49.6°E. The FeS content of sphalerite associated with gold grains ranged from 3.2 mole% to 18.9 mole%. This was higher than in other fields, indicating that the sulfur activity is relatively low during the gold precipitation process and that sulfur activity may be one of the main factors affecting gold fineness in the SWIR 49.6°E hydrothermal field. Evidence regarding gold fineness and sulfur activity suggests that gold was quite likely transported as AuHS0 rather than as a Au(HS)2- complex.
2012, (6): 83-91.
doi: 10.1007/s13131-012-0255-3
Abstract:
To reveal the sediment transporting mechanism between the abandoned Huanghe River (Yellow River) Delta and radial sand ridges, "End Member" Model and grain size trend analysis have been employed to separate the "dynamic populations" in the surficial sediment particle spectra and to determine the possible sediment transporting pathway. The results reveal four "dynamic subpopulations" (EM1 to EM4) and two reverse sediment transporting directions:a northward transport tend from the radial sand ridges to mud patch, and a southward transport trend in deep water area outside the mud patch. Combined with the published hydrodynamic information, the transporting mechanism of dynamic populations has been discussed, and the main conclusion is that the transporting of finer subpopulations EM1 and EM2 is controlled by the "anticlockwise residual current circulation" forming during tidal cycle, which favor a northward transporting trend and the forming of mud patch on the north of radial sand ridges, while the transporting of coarser EM3 is mainly controlled by wind driven drift in winter, which favors a southward transporting direction.
To reveal the sediment transporting mechanism between the abandoned Huanghe River (Yellow River) Delta and radial sand ridges, "End Member" Model and grain size trend analysis have been employed to separate the "dynamic populations" in the surficial sediment particle spectra and to determine the possible sediment transporting pathway. The results reveal four "dynamic subpopulations" (EM1 to EM4) and two reverse sediment transporting directions:a northward transport tend from the radial sand ridges to mud patch, and a southward transport trend in deep water area outside the mud patch. Combined with the published hydrodynamic information, the transporting mechanism of dynamic populations has been discussed, and the main conclusion is that the transporting of finer subpopulations EM1 and EM2 is controlled by the "anticlockwise residual current circulation" forming during tidal cycle, which favor a northward transporting trend and the forming of mud patch on the north of radial sand ridges, while the transporting of coarser EM3 is mainly controlled by wind driven drift in winter, which favors a southward transporting direction.
2012, (6): 92-103.
doi: 10.1007/s13131-012-0256-2
Abstract:
This study aims to explore the distribution of meiofaunal abundance in relation to environmental factors in the Beibu Gulf, a natural semi-enclosed part of the South China Sea, surrounded by China and Vietnam. Meiofauna and ten benthic environmental factors were determined at 27 sampling stations in the Beibu Gulf in four surveys during 2006-2007. The results show a clear geographical trend in meiofaunal abundance, water depth, salinity and clay content. The meiofaunal abundance and the clay content decreased, whereas the water depth and the salinity increased from the north to the south of the Gulf. The percentage of meiofaunal abundance in the 0-2 cm layer increased, whereas in the 2-5 cm and 5-10 cm layers it decreased from the north to the south of the Gulf. Correlation analysis show significant negative correlations between meiofaunal abundance and water depth, benthic temperature, salinity and pH, but significant positive correlations between meiofaunal abundance and dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll a and clay content.
This study aims to explore the distribution of meiofaunal abundance in relation to environmental factors in the Beibu Gulf, a natural semi-enclosed part of the South China Sea, surrounded by China and Vietnam. Meiofauna and ten benthic environmental factors were determined at 27 sampling stations in the Beibu Gulf in four surveys during 2006-2007. The results show a clear geographical trend in meiofaunal abundance, water depth, salinity and clay content. The meiofaunal abundance and the clay content decreased, whereas the water depth and the salinity increased from the north to the south of the Gulf. The percentage of meiofaunal abundance in the 0-2 cm layer increased, whereas in the 2-5 cm and 5-10 cm layers it decreased from the north to the south of the Gulf. Correlation analysis show significant negative correlations between meiofaunal abundance and water depth, benthic temperature, salinity and pH, but significant positive correlations between meiofaunal abundance and dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll a and clay content.
2012, (6): 104-116.
doi: 10.1007/s13131-012-0257-1
Abstract:
Seasonal variations in zooplankton abundance, biomass, species diversity and community structure were investigated in the Sanmen Bay, China. Samples were collected from 15 stations, on the seasonal basis, in April (spring), July (summer) and October 2005 (autumn) and January 2006 (winter), respectively. The results show that zooplankton species number, abundance and biomass varied widely and had distinct spatial heterogeneity in the Sanmen Bay. A total of 72 species of zooplankton belonging to 56 genera and 17 groups of pelagic larvae were identified. The zooplankton species richness was strongly related to salinity. Based on hierarchical cluster analysis, zooplankton in this study area were classified into three groups:coastal, neritic and pelagic groups, which corresponded to the upper, middle and lower portion of the Sanmen Bay, respectively. The coastal low-saline species were dominant in the study area. The zooplankton abundance and biomass reached a peak in summer, moderate in spring and autumn, and the lowest in winter. Zooplankton abundance decreased from the upper to lower portion of the bay in April, when the highest biomass occurred in the middle portion of the bay. There were the same spatial distribution patterns for the biomass and abundance in July, with the maximum in the middle of the bay. However, zooplankton abundance was the highest in the middle of the bay in October, when maximum biomass occurred near the lower of the bay. Zooplankton abundance and biomass were evenly distributed in the Sanmen Bay in January. Spatial and temporal variations in zooplankton and their relationship with environmental factors were also analyzed. The BIOENV results indicate that the combination of chlorophyll a (Chl-a), salinity, dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN), dissolved oxygen (DO) and silicate (SiO3) was responsible for the variations in zooplankton community structure in the Sanmen Bay. The environmental changes played an important role in changes in the zooplankton community structure in the Sanmen Bay.
Seasonal variations in zooplankton abundance, biomass, species diversity and community structure were investigated in the Sanmen Bay, China. Samples were collected from 15 stations, on the seasonal basis, in April (spring), July (summer) and October 2005 (autumn) and January 2006 (winter), respectively. The results show that zooplankton species number, abundance and biomass varied widely and had distinct spatial heterogeneity in the Sanmen Bay. A total of 72 species of zooplankton belonging to 56 genera and 17 groups of pelagic larvae were identified. The zooplankton species richness was strongly related to salinity. Based on hierarchical cluster analysis, zooplankton in this study area were classified into three groups:coastal, neritic and pelagic groups, which corresponded to the upper, middle and lower portion of the Sanmen Bay, respectively. The coastal low-saline species were dominant in the study area. The zooplankton abundance and biomass reached a peak in summer, moderate in spring and autumn, and the lowest in winter. Zooplankton abundance decreased from the upper to lower portion of the bay in April, when the highest biomass occurred in the middle portion of the bay. There were the same spatial distribution patterns for the biomass and abundance in July, with the maximum in the middle of the bay. However, zooplankton abundance was the highest in the middle of the bay in October, when maximum biomass occurred near the lower of the bay. Zooplankton abundance and biomass were evenly distributed in the Sanmen Bay in January. Spatial and temporal variations in zooplankton and their relationship with environmental factors were also analyzed. The BIOENV results indicate that the combination of chlorophyll a (Chl-a), salinity, dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN), dissolved oxygen (DO) and silicate (SiO3) was responsible for the variations in zooplankton community structure in the Sanmen Bay. The environmental changes played an important role in changes in the zooplankton community structure in the Sanmen Bay.
2012, (6): 117-126.
doi: 10.1007/s13131-012-0258-0
Abstract:
The gene (741 bp) encoding carboxylesterase from the thermophilic bacterium Geobacillus sp. ZHl was cloned and overexpressed in Escherichia coli. The purified recombinant protein presented a molecular mass of about 40 kDa by SDS-PAGE analysis. Enzyme assays using p-nitrophenyl esters with different acyl chain lengths as the substrates confirmed its esterase activity, yielding highest specific activity with p-nitrophenyl acetate. Among the p-nitrophenyl esters tested, the carboxylesterase presented preference for p-nitrophenyl caprylate, but hydrolyzed p-nitrophenyl butyrate more efficiently. When p-nitrophenyl butyrate was used as a substrate, the recombinant carboxylesterase exhibited highest activity at pH 8.0 and 60℃. Almost no decrease in esterase activity was observed at 60℃ for 3 h, and over 40% of activity was still maintained after incubation at 90℃ for 3 h. These results indicate that Geobacillus sp. ZH1 recombinant esterase was thermostable. The enzymatic activity was inhibited by the addition of phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride, indicating that it contains serine residue, which plays a key role in the catalytic mechanism. Except SDS and xylene, this esterase showed stability toward other tested detergents and organic solvents. Cloning, expression, and biochemical characterization of Geobacillus sp. ZH1 carboxylesterase lay a good foundation for its structural characterization and industrial application.
The gene (741 bp) encoding carboxylesterase from the thermophilic bacterium Geobacillus sp. ZHl was cloned and overexpressed in Escherichia coli. The purified recombinant protein presented a molecular mass of about 40 kDa by SDS-PAGE analysis. Enzyme assays using p-nitrophenyl esters with different acyl chain lengths as the substrates confirmed its esterase activity, yielding highest specific activity with p-nitrophenyl acetate. Among the p-nitrophenyl esters tested, the carboxylesterase presented preference for p-nitrophenyl caprylate, but hydrolyzed p-nitrophenyl butyrate more efficiently. When p-nitrophenyl butyrate was used as a substrate, the recombinant carboxylesterase exhibited highest activity at pH 8.0 and 60℃. Almost no decrease in esterase activity was observed at 60℃ for 3 h, and over 40% of activity was still maintained after incubation at 90℃ for 3 h. These results indicate that Geobacillus sp. ZH1 recombinant esterase was thermostable. The enzymatic activity was inhibited by the addition of phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride, indicating that it contains serine residue, which plays a key role in the catalytic mechanism. Except SDS and xylene, this esterase showed stability toward other tested detergents and organic solvents. Cloning, expression, and biochemical characterization of Geobacillus sp. ZH1 carboxylesterase lay a good foundation for its structural characterization and industrial application.
2012, (6): 127-138.
doi: 10.1007/s13131-012-0259-z
Abstract:
The authors have isolated and characterized a novel serine palmitoyltransferase (SPT)-like gene in marine Emiliania huxleyi virus (EhV-99B1). The open-reading frame (ORF) of EhV99B1-SPT encoded a protein of 496 amino acids with a calculated molecular mass of 96 kDa and Ip 6.01. The results of sequence analysis showed that there was about 31%-45% identity in amino acid sequence with other organisms. The maximum likelihood phylogenetic tree suggested that the EhV99B1-SPT gene possibly horizontally transferred from the eukaryote. Hydrophobic profiles of deduced amino acid sequences suggested a hydrophobic, globular and membrane-associated protein with five transmembrane domains (TMDs) motifs. Several potential N-linked glycosylation sites were presented in SPT. These results suggested that EhV99B1-SPT was an integral endoplasmic reticulum membrane protein. Despite lower sequence identity, the secondary and three-dimensional structures predicted showed that the "pocket" structure element composed of 2α-helices and 4β-sheets was the catalytic center of this enzyme, with a typical conserved "TFTKSFG" active site in the N-terminal region and was very close to those of prokaryotic organisms. However, the N-terminal domain of EhV99B1-SPT most closely resembled the LCB2 catalysis subunit and the C-terminal domain most closely resembled the LCB1 regulatory subunit of other organisms which together formed a spherical molecule. This "chimera" was highly similar to the prokaryotic homologous SPT. For a functional identification, the EhV99B1-LCB2 subunit gene was expressed in Escherichia coli, which resulted in significant accumulation of new sphingolipid in E. coli cells.
The authors have isolated and characterized a novel serine palmitoyltransferase (SPT)-like gene in marine Emiliania huxleyi virus (EhV-99B1). The open-reading frame (ORF) of EhV99B1-SPT encoded a protein of 496 amino acids with a calculated molecular mass of 96 kDa and Ip 6.01. The results of sequence analysis showed that there was about 31%-45% identity in amino acid sequence with other organisms. The maximum likelihood phylogenetic tree suggested that the EhV99B1-SPT gene possibly horizontally transferred from the eukaryote. Hydrophobic profiles of deduced amino acid sequences suggested a hydrophobic, globular and membrane-associated protein with five transmembrane domains (TMDs) motifs. Several potential N-linked glycosylation sites were presented in SPT. These results suggested that EhV99B1-SPT was an integral endoplasmic reticulum membrane protein. Despite lower sequence identity, the secondary and three-dimensional structures predicted showed that the "pocket" structure element composed of 2α-helices and 4β-sheets was the catalytic center of this enzyme, with a typical conserved "TFTKSFG" active site in the N-terminal region and was very close to those of prokaryotic organisms. However, the N-terminal domain of EhV99B1-SPT most closely resembled the LCB2 catalysis subunit and the C-terminal domain most closely resembled the LCB1 regulatory subunit of other organisms which together formed a spherical molecule. This "chimera" was highly similar to the prokaryotic homologous SPT. For a functional identification, the EhV99B1-LCB2 subunit gene was expressed in Escherichia coli, which resulted in significant accumulation of new sphingolipid in E. coli cells.
2012, (6): 139-148.
doi: 10.1007/s13131-012-0260-6
Abstract:
A high quality cDNA library was constructed from the brown alga Laminaria japonica, with the titer of 1.2×105 pfu/ml. The average insert size of the cDNA library is about 1.6 kb. From the cDNA library, 591 cDNA clones were randomly selected and sequenced. As a result, 574 EST (expressed sequence tag) sequences were generated. All of the 574 ESTs were submitted to the dbEST database section of GenBank with the accession numbers from CX942625 to CX943198. The cDNA library was screened with a α-32p labeled 453 bp TPS gene probe, which is a partial sequence yielded from Porphyra yezoensis. Four positive cDNA clones were screened and the sequencing data showed that these four cDNA clones covered majority of L. japonica TPS cDNA sequence. After PCR amplification, sequencing and assembling, the entire ORF (open reading frame) sequence of the TPS gene was obtained, which was named LjTPS. LjTPS encodes a protein containing 908 amino acids with a calculated molecular mass of 101 674 Daltons. The LjTPS gene was successfully expressed in E. coli and rice. The LjTPS gene has potential application both in plant breeding to stress tolerance and in deciphering the TPS gene function and mechanism to stress tolerance.
A high quality cDNA library was constructed from the brown alga Laminaria japonica, with the titer of 1.2×105 pfu/ml. The average insert size of the cDNA library is about 1.6 kb. From the cDNA library, 591 cDNA clones were randomly selected and sequenced. As a result, 574 EST (expressed sequence tag) sequences were generated. All of the 574 ESTs were submitted to the dbEST database section of GenBank with the accession numbers from CX942625 to CX943198. The cDNA library was screened with a α-32p labeled 453 bp TPS gene probe, which is a partial sequence yielded from Porphyra yezoensis. Four positive cDNA clones were screened and the sequencing data showed that these four cDNA clones covered majority of L. japonica TPS cDNA sequence. After PCR amplification, sequencing and assembling, the entire ORF (open reading frame) sequence of the TPS gene was obtained, which was named LjTPS. LjTPS encodes a protein containing 908 amino acids with a calculated molecular mass of 101 674 Daltons. The LjTPS gene was successfully expressed in E. coli and rice. The LjTPS gene has potential application both in plant breeding to stress tolerance and in deciphering the TPS gene function and mechanism to stress tolerance.
