Latitudinal variability (6°S–20°N) of early summer phytoplankton species compositions and size-fractioned productivity from Java Sea to South China Sea
Li, G.; Huang, L.; Liu, H.; Ke, Z.; Lin, Q.; Ni, G.; Yin, J.; Li, K.; Song, X.; Shen, P.; Tan, Y. (2012). Latitudinal variability (6°S–20°N) of early summer phytoplankton species compositions and size-fractioned productivity from Java Sea to South China Sea. Mar. Biol. Res. 8(2): 163-171. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17451000.2011.615323
In: Marine Biology Research. Taylor & Francis: Oslo; Basingstoke. ISSN 1745-1000; e-ISSN 1745-1019, more
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| Keywords |
Aquatic communities > Plankton > Phytoplankton
Chemical reactions > Photochemical reactions > Photosynthesis > Carbon fixation
Population characteristics > Population structure > Size distribution
Spatial variations > Latitudinal variations
Marine/Coastal |
| Author keywords |
Carbon fixation; latitudinal variation; phytoplankton; size distribution |
| Authors | | Top |
- Li, G.
- Huang, L.
- Liu, H.
- Ke, Z.
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- Lin, Q., more
- Ni, G.
- Yin, J.
- Li, K.
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- Song, X.
- Shen, P.
- Tan, Y.
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| Abstract |
In order to study the effects of latitudinal change in physical and chemical environments on phytoplankton cells, we investigated the early summer phytoplankton biomass, species composition and size-fractioned productivity in surface water from the Java Sea to the South China Sea (from 6°S to 20°N) from 18 May to 27 May 2010. Chlorophyll a (Chl a) concentration decreased latitudinally from 0.18 (~6°S) to 0.05 µg l–1 (~10°N). The dominant species, the cyanobacteria Trichodesmium erythraeum, dinoflagellates (e.g. Gyrodinium dominans, Amphidinium carterae and Gonyaulax spp.) and diatoms (e.g. Thalassionema nitzschioides, Rhizosolenia spp. and Chaetoceros spp.) changed to only the dinoflagellate species. Also, the Chl a biomass increased to 0.14 µg l–1 towards the end of the survey (~20°N) with the dinoflagellates as the most abundant group. Productivity of phytoplankton assemblages coincided with Chl a concentration, and decreased accordingly from 9.24 ± 0.71 to 2.87 ± 0.41 µg C l–1 day–1, then increased to 5.45±1.1 µg C l–1 day–1. Chl a concentration and productivity were significantly correlated (P<0.05) with microplankton cell abundance, as well as nutrient concentrations, which appeared to exert a strong influence over latitudinal variation in primary production. |
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