Journal of Tropical Oceanography ›› 2010, Vol. 29 ›› Issue (6): 65-70.doi: 10.11978/j.issn.1009-5470.2010.06.065cstr: 32234.14.j.issn.1009-5470.2010.06.065

• Marine biology • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Effects of turbulence on phytoplankton: species differences

LI Dong-mei1,2, GAO Yong-li, TIAN Tian1,2, LAU Cyrus3, YIN Ke-dong1   

  1. 1. Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Environmental Dynamics, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, CAS, Guangzhou 510301, China; 2. Graduate University of CAS, Beijing, 100049 China; 3. Atmospheric, Marine and Coastal Environmental Program, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong
  • Received:2009-03-20 Revised:2010-04-23 Online:2010-12-15 Published:2010-12-15
  • Contact: 殷克东。 E-mail:kdyin@scsio.ac.cn
  • About author:李冬梅(1981—), 女, 吉林省长春市人, 硕士研究生, 主要从事营养盐限制方面的研究。E-mail: ldm-hunter@163.com
  • Supported by:

    中国科学院南海海洋研究所青年基金项目(SQ200815); 中国科学院、国家外国专家局创新团队国际合作伙伴计划(KZCX2-YW-
     T001); 国家自然科学基金项目(40676074, 40125016)

Abstract:

Turbulence is common in marine waters. Turbulence can affect the thickness of micro-boundary layer surrounding an algal cell, and therefore affects the gradient of nutrients across the micro-boundary layer. The gradient would determine uptake of nutrients, and hence the growth rate. Ten algal species were studied, including Nitzschia closterium, Skeletonema costatum, Prorocentrum dentatum, Fibrocapsa japonica, Heterosigma akashiwo, Platymonas subcordiformis, Platymonas helgolandica var Tsingtaoensis, Pyramimonas sp. Pyramidomonas, Phaeocystis spp, and Prymnesium patelliferium. It is found that the growth rates of those species were significantly influenced by 100r•min?1 stirring (P<0.05). Little effect was found in green algae growth. The 100r•min?1 stirring enhanced the growth of Phaeocystis spp and Prymnesium patelliferium, stimulated these species to reach a higher maximum biomass than under no-stirring condition, and prolonged the growth time of algae before reaching the maximum. The 100r•min?1 turbulence reduced the growth of Nitzschia closterium, Skeletonema costatum, Prorocentrum dentatum, and Fibrocapsa japonica. Different algae have different responses to turbulence, and it is believed that turbulence is an important factor in phytoplankton interspecies competition.

Key words: turbulence, alga, growth rate, maximum biomass