• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
• /
• v.28 no.5
• /
• pp.712-720
• /
• 2022

In this study, we evaluated the production and photoreactivity of CDOM of two polar phytoplanktons - Phaeocystis antarctica and Phaeocystis pouchetii, in order to find out UV effects on phytoplanktons. In visible region, CDOM in media of both phytoplanktons under UV-R decreased during 48hrs incubation period. However, in UV region CDOM decreased 30 % in the media of P. antarctica, but increased 10% in media of P. pouchetii, compared to CDOM concentrations of control after 48 hr incubation. This result indicates that biota in polar environment would not well protected from UV-R harmful effect when P. antarctica is dominant because of loss of CDOM, but when P. pouchetii is dominant species, production of UV absorbing organic matter could play more efficiently for UV screening for marine biota. Also we confirmed that FDOM of humic substance (C-peak) produced by these phtoplanktons under UV-R stress were well matched with fluorescence characteristics of the UV-protecting compound, MAAs. This finding shows that Phaeocystis pouchetti with low photoreactivity would contribute to DOM pool of polar marine environment under stratification by global warming.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
• /
• v.20 no.11
• /
• pp.1357-1371
• /
• 2011

Suspended and sinking particles were collected during ODP Leg 119 to the Indian Ocean sector of the Antarctic Ocean. Field work was carried out at four sampling sites in Prydz Bay. Two of these sites were located in the Outer Bay, and two in the Inner Bay. At the four locations, a total of ten deployments of a sediment trap array were made. The concentrations of carotenoids both in suspended and sinking particulate matter in Prydz Bay were analyzed using HPLC. Fucoxanthin was the dominant carotenoid pigments both in suspended and sinking particles. The present study also indicates that 19'-hexanoyoxyfucoxanthin-containing prymesiophytes (Phaeocystis spp.) was abundant in the study area. The flux rates of carotenoids were generally highest at 50 m, and approximately double the flux rates at deeper horizons, however, at Inner Bay sites, the mean flux rates of carotenoids were greatest at 200 m, and 3 times greater than that of 50 m. Such anomalous high fluxes at 200 m imply that grazers were locally abundant between 100 m and 200 m at these sites close to land, and this hypothesis is supported by visual evidence of lots of fecal pellets in the 200 m trap. Integrates standing stocks versus sinking pigments data support that particulate material in Prydz Bay was not recycled rapidly.

• Ocean and Polar Research
• /
• v.25 no.4
• /
• pp.625-631
• /
• 2003

While phytoplankton diversity and productivity in the Southern Ocean has been widely studied in recent years, most attention has been given to elucidating environmental factors that affect the dynamics of micro-plankton (mainly diatoms) and nano-plankton (mainly Phaeocystis antarctica). Only limited effects have been given to studying the occurrence and the potential risks associated with the blooming of dinoflagellates in the relevant waters. This study focused on the appearance and toxicological characteristics of a toxic dinoflagellate, Alexandrium tamarense, identified and isolated from the Drake Passage in a research cruise from November to December 2001 The appearance of A. tamarense in the Southern Ocean indicates the risk of a paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) outbreak there and is therefore of scientific concern. Results showed that while the overall quantity of A. tamarense in water samples from 30meters below the sea surface often comprised less than 0.1% of the total population of phytoplankton, the highest concentration of A. tamarense (20 cells $L^{-1}$) was recorded in the portion of the Southern Ocean between the southern end of South America and the Falkland Islands. Waters near the Polar Front contained the second highest concentrations of 10-15 cells $L^{-1}$. A. tamarense was however rarely found in waters near the southern side of the Polar Front, indicating that cold sea temperatures near the Antarctic ice does not favor the growth of this dinoflagellate. One strain of A. tamarense from this cruise was isolated and cultured for further study in the laboratory. Experiments showed that this strain of A. tamarense has a high tolerance to temperature variations and could survive at temperatures ranging from $5-26^{\circ}C$. This shows the cosmopolitan nature off. tamarense. With regard to the algal toxins produced, this strain of A. tamarense produced mainly C-2 toxins but very little saxitoxin and gonyailtoxin. The toxicological property of this A. tamarense strain coincided with a massive death of penguins in the Falkland Islands in December 2002 to January 2003.