scholarly journals Dynamics of phytoplankton community structure in the South China Sea in response to the East Asian aerosol input

2012 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 1519-1536 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Guo ◽  
J. Yu ◽  
T.-Y. Ho ◽  
L. Wang ◽  
S. Song ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South China Sea ◽  
Trace Metal ◽  
Atmospheric Deposition ◽  
South China ◽  
Phytoplankton Community ◽  
East Asian ◽  
The South China Sea ◽  
The South ◽  
China Sea ◽  
Aerosol Loading

Abstract. Recent studies have demonstrated atmospheric deposition as an important source of bioreactive compounds to the ocean. The South China Sea (SCS), where aerosol loading is among the highest in the world, however, is poorly studied, particularly on the in situ response of phytoplankton community structures to atmospheric deposition. By conducting a series of microcosm bioassays at different hydrographical locations and simulating different aerosol event scales, we observed both positive and negative responses to the input of East Asian (EA) aerosol with high nitrogen (N) and trace metal contents, in terms of biomass, composition and physiological characteristics of phytoplankton communities. High levels of aerosol loading relieved phytoplankton nitrogen and trace metal limitations in SCS, and thus increased total phytoplankton biomass, enhanced their physiological indicators (e.g. photosynthetic efficiency) and shifted phytoplankton assemblages from being dominated by picoplankton to microphytoplanton, especially diatoms. However, under low levels of aerosol loading, the composition shift and biomass accumulation were not apparent, suggesting that the stimulation effects might be counterbalanced by enhanced grazing mortality indicated by increased abundance of protist grazers. Trace metal toxicity of the aerosols might also be the reason for the reduction of picocyanobacteria when amended with high EA aerosols. The magnitude and duration of the deposition event, as well as the hydrographical and trophic conditions of receiving waters are also important factors when predicting the influence of an aerosol deposition event. Our results demonstrated different responses of phytoplankton and microbial food web dynamics to different scales of atmospheric input events in SCS and highlighted the need for achieving an accurate comprehension of atmospheric nutrient on the biogeochemical cycles of the oceans.

scholarly journals Dynamics of phytoplankton community structure in the South China Sea in response to the East Asian aerosol input

2011 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 6637-6680 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Guo ◽  
J. Yu ◽  
T.-Y. Ho ◽  
B. Chen ◽  
L. Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Community Structure ◽  
South China Sea ◽  
Trace Metal ◽  
Atmospheric Deposition ◽  
South China ◽  
Phytoplankton Community ◽  
Aerosol Deposition ◽  
The South China Sea ◽  
China Sea ◽  
Aerosol Loading

Abstract. Recent studies have regarded atmospheric deposition as an increasingly important source of nutrients to the ocean. The South China Sea (SCS), where aerosol loading is among the highest in the world, however, is poorly studied particularly on the in situ changes of phytoplankton community structures in response to atmospheric deposition. By conducting a series of microcosm bioassays at different hydrographical locations and simulating different aerosol event scales, we observed both positive and negative responses induced by the input of East Asia (EA) aerosol with high nitrogen (N) and trace metal contents, in terms of both community structure and physiological characteristics of phytoplankton. High levels of aerosol loading profoundly relieved phytoplankton nitrogen and trace metal limitations in SCS, and thus increased total phytoplankton biomass, enhanced their physiological indicators (e.g. photosynthetic efficiency) and shifted phytoplankton assemblages from being dominated by picoplankton to microphytoplanton, especially diatoms. However, under low levels of aerosol loading, the composition shift and biomass accumulation were not apparent, suggesting that the stimulation effects might be counterbalanced by enhanced grazing mortality indicated by increased abundance of protist grazers. Trace metal toxicity of the aerosols was also an important negative factor to phytoplankton growth, especially picocyanobacteria, implicated by the high copper (Cu) concentration in the microcosm that surpassed the toxicity threshold of marine cyanobacteria. Moreover, the magnitude and duration of the deposition event, as well as the hydrographical and trophic conditions of receiving waters are also important factors when predicting the influence of an aerosol deposition event. Our results demonstrated that the EA aerosol deposition events could profoundly change nutrient and phytoplankton dynamics in SCS and highlighted the need for achieving an accurate comprehension of atmospheric nutrient on the biogeochemical cycles of the oceans.

Late Quaternary coccolith records in the South China Sea and East Asian monsoon dynamics

2013 ◽  
Vol 111 ◽  
pp. 88-96 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiang Su ◽  
Chuanlian Liu ◽  
Luc Beaufort ◽  
Jun Tian ◽  
Enqing Huang
Keyword(s):  
South China Sea ◽  
South China ◽  
Asian Monsoon ◽  
East Asian Monsoon ◽  
Late Quaternary ◽  
East Asian ◽  
The South China Sea ◽  
The South ◽  
China Sea ◽  
Monsoon Dynamics

scholarly journals Trace metal cycling in the surface water of the South China Sea: Vertical fluxes, composition, and sources

2010 ◽  
Vol 55 (5) ◽  
pp. 1807-1820 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tung-Yuan Ho ◽  
Wen-Chen Chou ◽  
Ching-Ling Wei ◽  
Fei-Jan Lin ◽  
George T. F. Wong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Surface Water ◽  
South China Sea ◽  
Trace Metal ◽  
South China ◽  
The South China Sea ◽  
The South ◽  
Metal Cycling ◽  
China Sea ◽  
Vertical Fluxes ◽  
Trace Metal Cycling

Is Australia's Indo-Pacific strategy an illusion?

2020 ◽  
Vol 96 (1) ◽  
pp. 95-109 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brendan Taylor
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Policy ◽  
South China Sea ◽  
South China ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
East Asian ◽  
The South China Sea ◽  
The South ◽  
China Sea ◽  
Middle Power

Abstract Australia has been among the most prominent advocates of the increasingly popular Indo-Pacific concept. This article argues that Canberra's enthusiasm for the concept stems from its appeal to the two dominant traditions of Australian foreign policy—a ‘dependent ally’ tradition and a ‘middle power’ approach. While these two traditions are typically seen as being in tension, the Indo-Pacific concept provides a rare point of convergence between them. The article begins by outlining the appeal of the Indo-Pacific concept to each of these traditions. Using a case-study of recent Australian policy toward the South China Sea disputes, however, the article then demonstrates that Australia has in practice implemented its stated Indo-Pacific strategy far less consistently than its very vocal support would appear to suggest. This disjuncture is attributed to the growing influence of a third, generally understudied, ‘pragmatic’ Australian foreign policy tradition. Because Australia has been such a prominent champion of the Indo-Pacific concept, the article concludes that this divergence between the rhetoric and the reality of Australia's Indo-Pacific strategy threatens to have a negative impact on the concept's broader international appeal and sustainability, particularly among Australia's south-east Asian neighbours.

ASEAN and China have far to go to agree key sea code

2019 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
South China Sea ◽  
South China ◽  
East Asian ◽  
Code Of Conduct ◽  
The South China Sea ◽  
Political Crisis ◽  
The South ◽  
Arms Sales ◽  
Content Type ◽  
China Sea

Subject Negotiations over a Code of Conduct for the South China Sea. Significance ASEAN and China last month agreed on a first draft of a Code of Conduct (CoC) for the South China Sea, where four South-east Asian countries and Beijing have conflicting maritime and territorial jurisdictional claims. China wants the CoC to be signed by 2021. As ASEAN-China negotiations continue, tensions are rising in the South China Sea between Beijing and Washington, which supports ‘freedom of navigation’ operations in the South China Sea, and between Beijing and the South-east Asian claimants. Impacts China-US friction over trade, the political crisis in Hong Kong and US arms sales to Taiwan will exacerbate tensions in the South China Sea. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte will come under growing pressure to recalibrate his pro-Beijing policy. Vietnam will step up its vigilance in the South China Sea while trying to manage tensions with China through bilateral discussions.

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