Effects of phosphorus limitation on sinking velocities of phytoplankton during summer in the Changjiang River Estuary

Xinchi You; Qiang Hao; Jie Zhu; Wei Zhang; Haiyan Jin; Dewang Li; Huanhong Ji; Yu Ke; Feng Zhou

doi:10.1007/s13131-024-2376-x

Volume 43 Issue 6

Jun. 2024

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Xinchi You, Qiang Hao, Jie Zhu, Wei Zhang, Haiyan Jin, Dewang Li, Huanhong Ji, Yu Ke, Feng Zhou. Effects of phosphorus limitation on sinking velocities of phytoplankton during summer in the Changjiang River Estuary[J]. Acta Oceanologica Sinica, 2024, 43(6): 131-141. doi: 10.1007/s13131-024-2376-x

Citation:

Xinchi You, Qiang Hao, Jie Zhu, Wei Zhang, Haiyan Jin, Dewang Li, Huanhong Ji, Yu Ke, Feng Zhou. Effects of phosphorus limitation on sinking velocities of phytoplankton during summer in the Changjiang River Estuary[J]. Acta Oceanologica Sinica, 2024, 43(6): 131-141. doi: 10.1007/s13131-024-2376-x

Citation:

Xinchi You, Qiang Hao, Jie Zhu, Wei Zhang, Haiyan Jin, Dewang Li, Huanhong Ji, Yu Ke, Feng Zhou. Effects of phosphorus limitation on sinking velocities of phytoplankton during summer in the Changjiang River Estuary[J]. Acta Oceanologica Sinica, 2024, 43(6): 131-141. doi: 10.1007/s13131-024-2376-x

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Effects of phosphorus limitation on sinking velocities of phytoplankton during summer in the Changjiang River Estuary

doi: 10.1007/s13131-024-2376-x

Xinchi You^{1, 2, 3},
Qiang Hao^{3, 4},
Jie Zhu^{1, 3},
Wei Zhang^{3, 4},
Haiyan Jin^{2, 3, 4},
Dewang Li^{3, 4},
Huanhong Ji^{5, 6},
Yu Ke^{5, 6},
Feng Zhou^{2, 1, 7
,
,}

1.
Ocean College, Zhejiang University, Zhoushan 316021, China
2.
State Key Laboratory of Satellite Ocean Environment Dynamics, Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou 310000, China
3.
Key Laboratory of Marine Ecosystem Dynamics, Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou 310012, China
4.
Donghai Laboratory, Zhoushan 316021, China
5.
East China Sea Ecological Center, Ministry of Natural Resources, Shanghai 201206, China
6.
Key Laboratory of Marine Ecological Monitoring and Restoration Technologies, Ministry of Natural Resources, Shanghai 201206, China
7.
Observation and Research Station of Yangtze River Delta Marine Ecosystems, Ministry of Natural Resources, Zhoushan 316021, China

Funds: The National Programme on Global Change and Air-Sea Interaction (Phase Ⅱ)—Hypoxia and Acidification Monitoring and Warning Project in the CE under contract No. GASI-01-CJK; the Science Foundation of Donghai Laboratory under contract No. DH-2022KF0215; the Oceanic Interdisciplinary Program of Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Scientific Research Fund of the Second Institute of Oceanography, MNR under contract No. SL2022ZD207; the National Key R&D Program of China under contract No. 2021YFC3101702; the Long-term Observation and Research Plan in the Changjiang Estuary and Adjacent East China Sea (LORCE) Project under contract No. SZ2001.

More Information

Corresponding author: zhoufeng@sio.org.cn
Received Date: 2023-11-21
Accepted Date: 2024-02-02

Available Online: 2024-08-05

Publish Date: 2024-06-30

Abstract

Abstract

The sinking of phytoplankton is critical to organic matter transportation in the ocean and it is an essential process for the formation of coastal hypoxic zones. This study was based on a field investigation conducted during the summer of 2022 in the Changjiang River (Yangtze River) Estuary (CJE) and its adjacent waters. The settling column method was employed to measure the sinking velocity (SV) of different size fractions of phytoplankton at the surface of the sea and to analyze their environmental control mechanisms. The findings reveal significant spatial variation in phytoplankton SV (−0.55–2.41 m/d) within the CJE. High-speed sinking was predominantly observed in phosphate-depleted regions beyond the CJE front. At the same time, an upward trend was more commonly observed in the phosphate-rich regions near the CJE mouth. The SV ranges for different size-fractionated phytoplankton, including micro- (>20 μm), nano- (2–20 μm), and picophytoplankton (0.7–2 μm), were −0.50–4.74 m/d, −1.04–1.59 m/d, and −1.24–1.65 m/d, respectively. Correlation analysis revealed a significant negative correlation between SV and dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP), implying that the influence of DIP contributes to SV. The variations in phytoplankton alkaline phosphatase activity suggested a significant increase in SV across all size fractions in the event of phosphorus limitation. Phytoplankton communities with limited photosynthetic capacity (maximum photochemical efficience, Fv/Fm < 0.3) were found to have higher SV than that of communities with strong capacity, suggesting a link between sinking and alterations in physiological conditions due to phosphate depletion. The findings from the in situ phosphate enrichment experiments confirmed a marked decrease in SV following phosphate supplementation. These findings suggest that phosphorus limitation is the primary driver of elevated SV in the CJE. This study enhances the comprehension of the potential mechanisms underlying hypoxic zone formation in the CJE, providing novel insights into how nearshore eutrophication influences organic carbon migration.
- phytoplankton,
- sinking velocity,
- Changjiang River Estuary,
- phosphorus limitation,
- alkaline phosphatase

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