Variations in silicate concentration affecting photosynthetic carbon fixation by spring phytoplankton assemblages in surface water of the Strait of Malacca
The Strait of Malacca (SoM), the world's busiest sea-route, is increasingly polluted as the rapid development of world trades, affecting phytoplankton primary productivity therein. The variations of surface phytoplankton biomass, size-structure and carbon fixation were investigated across the SoM during the spring period (May 4 to 9, 2011). Chlorophyll a concentration increased from 0.12 A mu g/L at the northwest entrance of the SoM to a maximal 0.63 A mu g/L at narrowest section, and decreased to 0.10 A mu g/L at the southeast entrance. Photosynthetic carbon fixation by phytoplankton coincided well with Chl a biomass, and increased from 10.8 to 22.3 A mu g C/(L center dot d), then decreased to 9.21 A mu g C/(L center dot d); while the carbon fixation rate showed an inverse pattern to the changes of Chl a, and decreased from 87.1 to 35.5 A mu gC/(A mu gChla center dot d) and increased thereafter to 95.3 A mu g C/(A mu g Chl a center dot d). Picophytoplankton cells (< 3 A mu m) contributed to more than 60% and 50% of the total Chl a and carbon fixation at both the entry waters; while the contributions of pico-cells decreased sharply to the minimum of 18.3% and 27.5% at the narrowest part of the SoM. In particular, our results showed that the silicate concentration positively regulated Chl a biomass and carbon fixation, reflecting that the higher silicate favoured the growth of phytoplankton and thus led to higher primary production in this strait.
Variations in silicate concentration affecting photosynthetic carbon fixation by spring phytoplankton assemblages in surface water of the Strait of Malacca.pdf（530KB）
[Li Gang; Lin Qiang; Shen Pingping; Song Xingyu; Wang Shengfu; Huang Liangmin; Tan Yehui] Chinese Acad Sci, Key Lab Marine Bioresources Sustainable Utilizat, South China Sea Inst Oceanol, Guangzhou 510301, Guangdong, Peoples R China; [Ni Guangyan] Chinese Acad Sci, Key Lab Vegetat Restorat & Management Degraded Ec, South China Bot Garden, Guangzhou 510160, Guangdong, Peoples R China.Variations in silicate concentration affecting photosynthetic carbon fixation by spring phytoplankton assemblages in surface water of the Strait of Malacca,ACTA OCEANOLOGICA SINICA,2013,32(4):77-81
Variations in silicate concentration affecting photosynthetic carbon fixation by spring phytoplankton assemblages in surface water of the Strait of Malacca.pdf
