Bangqin Huang

Rising CO2 and increased light exposure synergistically reduce marine primary productivity

Carbon dioxide and light are two major prerequisites of photosynthesis. Rising CO2 levels in oceanic surface waters in combination with ample light supply are therefore often considered stimulatory to marine primary production(1-3). Here we show that the combination of an increase in both CO2 and light exposure negatively impacts photosynthesis and growth of marine primary producers. When exposed to CO2 concentrations projected for the end of this century(4), natural phytoplankton assemblages of the South China Sea responded with decreased primary production and increased light stress at light intensities representative of the upper surface layer. The phytoplankton community shifted away from diatoms, the dominant phytoplankton group during our field campaigns. To examine the underlying mechanisms of the observed responses, we grew diatoms at different CO2 concentrations and under varying levels (5-100%) of solar radiation experienced by the phytoplankton at different depths of the euphotic zone. Above 22-36% of incident surface irradiance, growth rates in the high-CO2-grown cells were inversely related to light levels and exhibited reduced thresholds at which light becomes inhibitory. Future shoaling of upper-mixed-layer depths will expose phytoplankton to increased mean light intensities(5). In combination with rising CO2 levels, this may cause a widespread decline in marine primary production and a community shift away from diatoms, the main algal group that supports higher trophic levels and carbon export in the ocean.

Alkaline phosphatase activity and utilization of dissolved organic phosphorus by algae in subtropical coastal waters

Alkaline phosphatase activity (APA) and the availability of dissolved organic phosphorus (DOP) to marine algae were determined in Xiamen Bay and in algal batch culture systems. Results showed that APA changed with seasons, increasing to the highest value in summer and decreasing to the lowest in autumn and spring in Xiamen Bay. Tests on natural populations of planktonic algae and bacteria community showed that algae were mostly responsible for DOP utilization, while bacteria could not take up DOP compounds. Results from algal batch cultures also supported the above conclusion. Relationships between APA and environmental factors indicated that APA was negatively correlated with phosphorus level such as phosphate and small molecular DOP, and APA played an important role in utilization of DOP by algae. All the results emphasized the ecological significance of DOP in subtropical coastal waters.

Alkaline Phosphatase Gene Sequence And Transcriptional Regulation By Phosphate Limitation In Amphidinium Carterae (Dinophyceae)1

Alkaline phosphatase (AP) in phytoplankton facilitates the utilization of dissolved organic phosphorus (DOP) when the dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP) is limited in the environment. The AP gene sequence and its expression under DIP limitation has not been studied in dinoflagellates. In this study, we isolated the full‐length cDNA of AP from the toxic dinoflagellate Amphidinium carterae Hulburt (2,112 bp, named as acaap). The deduced amino acid sequence of acaap (ACAAP, 704 amino acid residues) was identified as a membrane‐associated protein, in agreement with the dominantly cell surface localization of the AP activity shown with enzyme‐labeled fluorescence (ELF) labeling. ACAAP shares sequence similarity in the key domains with APs from diatoms, proteobacteria, and cyanobacteria. In accordance, phylogenetic reconstruction showed clustering of ACAAP with counterparts in those organisms, although branches were long as a result of the generally high variability of the gene sequence. The expression levels of acaap were studied for A. carterae cultured in media with different phosphate concentrations using quantitative reverse‐transcription PCR (RT‐qPCR) method. The result showed that the transcription level of acaap was elevated in the DIP‐depleted cultures relative to the DIP‐replete cultures and repressed upon resupply of DIP. The transcription level of acaap exhibited a positive correlation with AP enzyme activity. Taken together, these results demonstrate that AP activity and gene expression are regulated by the availability of DIP in A. carterae, suggesting that AP expression is a promising indicator of DIP stress in this and possibly other species of dinoflagellates.

Role of particle stock and phytoplankton community structure in regulating particulate organic carbon export in a large marginal sea

In this study, we utilize 234Th/238U disequilibrium to determine particulate organic carbon (POC) export from the euphotic zone in the South China Sea. Depth profiles of 234Th, total chlorophyll, pigments, and POC were collected during four cruises from August 2009 to May 2011, covering an entire seasonal cycle of spring, summer, autumn, and winter. The extensive data set that was acquired allows for an evaluation of the seasonal variability of upper ocean POC export and its controls in a large marginal sea. The results show that 234Th fluxes from the euphotic zone fall in the range of 528−1550, 340−2694, and 302–2647 dpm m−2 d−1 for the coastal, shelf, and basin regimes, respectively. In these regimes, POC/234Th ratios at the base of the euphotic zone fall in the range of 5.7–58.2, 4.6–44.0, and 2.5–15.5 μmol dpm−1, respectively. Accordingly, for the coastal, shelf, and basin regimes, the mean POC export fluxes from the euphotic zone are 24.3, 18.3, and 6.3 mmolC m−2 d−1, respectively. Seasonal variations in POC export flux are remarkable in the study area, and POC export peaks were generally observed in autumn. We use a simple linear regression (LLS) method to examine the correlation of POC export versus POC stock and versus plankton community structure. We found a strong correlation (R2 = 0.73, p < 0.005) between POC export flux and the fraction of diatom in the coastal area, indicating that POC export flux in this province is driven by large phytoplankton, in particular, diatoms. In the shelf area, a relatively strong correlation (R2 = 0.54, p < 0.0001) was noted for POC export flux and POC stock in the euphotic zone. This indicates that POC export flux in the South China Sea shelf is primarily controlled by POC stock. In contrast, in the South China Sea basin, we identified a weak but intriguing correlation (R2 = 0.26, p < 0.0001) between POC export flux and the fraction of haptophytes and prasinophytes that are typically < 5 μm in size. This suggests that mechanisms controlling POC export flux in the South China Sea basin are complicated. However, small phytoplankton may play a significant role in controlling POC export flux since they dominate the phytoplankton community structure in this region.

An Estimate on External Fluxes of Phosphorus and its Environmental Significance in Xiamen Western Sea

Abstract Atmospheric deposition, benthic release, freshwater runoff and sewage discharge inputs of phosphorus to the Xiamen Western Sea were estimated. It was found that benthic release was probably most significant, having a flux rate of the order of 1 mmol P m−2 d−1. The Xiamen Western Sea is P limited, and the results of this study suggest that pulse inputs of P may play an important role in the triggering of red tides.

Size-fractionated productivity and nutrient dynamics of phytoplankton in subtropical coastal environments

It is now well established that the size distribution of phytoplankton plays an important role in primary production processes and nutrient dynamics of coastal environment. In situ observations showed that nanophytoplankton (3–20 µm) contributed 72.08% and58.18% of phytoplankton biomass and 58.32% and 41.14% of primary productivity to Xiamen Western Waters and the northern Taiwan Strait, respectively; picophytoplankton (0.2–3 µm) dominated the biomass (64.70%) and productivity (66.09%) in the southern Taiwan Strait. Furthermore, nanophytoplankton accounted for 75% of phosphate uptake with the highest rate constant (8.3×10-5 s-1) and uptake rate in unit water volume (5.4×10-5 mmol dm-3s-1); picophytoplankton had the highest uptake rate in unit biomass (5.4×10-5 mmol mg-1s-1) and photosynthetic index (3.8 mgC mgChl a-1h-1). All the results highlighted the remarkable characteristics of small size ranged (0.2–20 µm) phytoplankton in subtropical coastal environments: main contributor to phytoplankton biomass and production, high efficiency on organic carbon production and nutrient recycling. The far reaching environmental and ecological implications were discussed.

Responses of Phytoplankton Communities to Environmental Variability in the East China Sea

We investigated seasonal and spatial patterns of phytoplankton variability in the East China Sea in order to understand biomass and compositional responses to environmental factors in the contemporary ocean. We used satellite imagery from 2002 to 2013 to define the mean seasonal climatology of sea surface temperature and chlorophyll a. Phytoplankton and environmental measurements were synthesized for the study region and four seasons from 11 cruises conducted from 2006 to 2012. The results of CHEMTAX analyses on group-specific phytoplankton composition were consistent with those of microscopy and flow cytometry observations, revealing three patterns of seasonal variability. Canonical correspondence analysis and generalized additive models (GAMs) were used to resolve the spatiotemporal variations of major phytoplankton groups and their relationships to month, temperature, salinity, nutrients, mixed layer depth, and bottom depth. Monsoon forcing drove the distributional patterns of environmental factors and was critical to explaining phytoplankton dynamics at the seasonal scale. Compared to autumn and winter, significantly higher chlorophyll a concentrations were observed during spring and summer, associated with the spring bloom and the Changjiang (Yangtze) River plume, respectively. Diatoms dominated biomass over the East China Sea, especially during the summer months influenced by the Changjiang (Yangtze) River plume, whereas dinoflagellates were especially important during spring blooms. GAMs analysis showed the differences in their responses to environmental variability, with a clear mid-range salinity optimum (~31) and a more pronounced temperature effect for dinoflagellates. The photosynthetic bacteria, Prochlorococcus and Synechococcus, both increased strongly with warming, but Prochlorococcus showed stronger sensitivity to variations in physical environmental parameters, whereas Synechococcus was more responsive to chemical (nutrient) variability, with broader tolerance of low-salinity conditions.

COMPARATIVE ALKALINE PHOSPHATASE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE ALGAL BLOOM DINOFLAGELLATES PROROCENTRUM DONGHAIENSE AND ALEXANDRIUM CATENELLA, AND THE DIATOM SKELETONEMA COSTATUM

The alkaline phosphatase (AP) characteristics of three algal bloom species in the coastal waters of China [Prorocentrum donghaiense D. Lu, Alexandrium catenella (Whedon et Kof.) Balech, and Skeletonema costatum (Grev.) Cleve] were analyzed in a laboratory batch culture experiment using bulk assay and the single‐cell enzyme‐labeled fluorescence (ELF) method. Results showed that the AP of these three test species shared some common characteristics: AP was inducible in all three species and was expressed by algae under phosphorus (P)–stress conditions; no constitutive AP enzyme was detected in the three test species. Once AP was produced, all three test species gradually released the enzymes into the water, and the algae would reinduce AP production. There were also different specific AP characteristics among the three test species under severe P‐stressed conditions. In P. donghaiense, AP covered most of the cell, and the AP production sites were mainly on the cell surface, although some could be observed inside cells. AP also covered the whole cell of A. catenella, but the AP sites were mainly inside the cell with only some on the cell surface. Only one or two AP sites could be detected in S. costatum, and they were all on the cell surface.

An integrative approach to phylogeny reveals patterns of environmental distribution and novel evolutionary relationships in a major group of ciliates.

Peritrichs are a major group of ciliates with worldwide distribution. Yet, its internal phylogeny remains unresolved owing to limited sampling. Additionally, ecological distributions of peritrichs are poorly known. We performed substantially expanded phylogenetic analyses of peritrichs that incorporated SSU rDNA sequences of samples collected from three continents, revealing a number of new relationships between and within major lineages that greatly challenged the classic view of the group. Interrogation of a dataset comprising new environmental sequences from an estuary and the open ocean generated with high throughput sequencing and clone libraries plus putative environmental peritrich sequences at Genbank, produced a comprehensive tree of peritrichs from a variety of habitats and revealed unique ecological distribution patterns of several lineages for the first time. Also, evidence of adaptation to extreme environments in the Astylozoidae clade greatly broadened the phylogenetic range of peritrichs capable of living in extreme environments. Reconstruction of ancestral states revealed that peritrichs may have transitioned repeatedly from freshwater to brackish/marine/hypersaline environments. This work establishes a phylogenetic framework for more mature investigations of peritrichs in the future, and the approach used here provides a model of how to elucidate evolution in the context of ecological niches in any lineage of microbial eukaryotes.

An ITS-based phylogenetic framework for the genus Vorticella: finding the molecular and morphological gaps in a taxonomically difficult group

Vorticella includes more than 100 currently recognized species and represents one of the most taxonomically challenging genera of ciliates. Molecular phylogenetic analysis of Vorticella has been performed so far with only sequences coding for small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA); only a few of its species have been investigated using other genetic markers owing to a lack of similar sequences for comparison. Consequently, phylogenetic relationships within the genus remain unclear, and molecular discrimination between morphospecies is often difficult because most regions of the SSU rRNA gene are too highly conserved to be helpful. In this paper, we move molecular systematics for this group of ciliates to the infrageneric level by sequencing additional molecular markers—fast-evolving internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions—in a broad sample of 66 individual samples of 28 morphospecies of Vorticella collected from Asia, North America and Europe. Our phylogenies all featured two strongly supported, highly divergent, paraphyletic clades (I, II) comprising the morphologically defined genus Vorticella. Three major lineages made up clade I, with a relatively well-resolved branching order in each one. The marked divergence of clade II from clade I confirms that the former should be recognized as a separate taxonomic unit as indicated by SSU rRNA phylogenies. We made the first attempt to elucidate relationships between species in clade II using both morphological and multi-gene approaches, and our data supported a close relationship between some morphospecies of Vorticella and Opisthonecta, indicating that relationships between species in the clade are far more complex than would be expected from their morphology. Different patterns of helix III of ITS2 secondary structure were clearly specific to clades and subclades of Vorticella and, therefore, may prove useful for resolving phylogenetic relationships in other groups of ciliates.