Methane in the Yellow Sea and East China Sea: dynamics, distribution, and production

Ye, Wangwang; Du, Guanxiang; Zhang, Honghai; Zhang, Guiling

doi:10.1007/s00343-021-1010-4

Methane in the Yellow Sea and East China Sea: dynamics, distribution, and production

Chemistry
Published: 08 December 2021

Volume 40, pages 530–550, (2022)
Cite this article

Journal of Oceanology and Limnology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Wangwang Ye^1,2,3^na1,
Guanxiang Du^1,3^na1,
Honghai Zhang^1,3 &
…
Guiling Zhang^1,3

268 Accesses
4 Citations
Explore all metrics

Abstract

The Yellow Sea (YS) and East China Sea (ECS) are important marginal seas of the western Pacific. Understanding the dynamics of methane (CH₄) in the YS and ECS are essential to evaluate the role of coastal seas in global warming. We measured dissolved CH₄ at various depths in the water column of the YS and ECS during a cruise from March to April 2017. The concentrations of CH₄ varied greatly in different water masses, suggesting that the hydrographic conditions can substantially affect the CH₄ distribution. The CH₄ budget in the shelf of the ECS, which was estimated with a box model, suggests CH₄ consumption in the water column was the major sink (>95%), followed by a loss with a total of 2.2% CH₄ released to the atmosphere. Overall a local CH₄ production of 0.28 nmol/(L·d) was needed to maintain the CH₄ excess. Results from laboratory incubations showed an increase in CH₄ (1.5 times higher than the value of the control) after the addition of dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP). Field incubations result in a CH₄ production rate of 1.2 nmol/(L·d) under a N-stressed conditions (N:P<1), indicates that the DMSP-dependent CH₄ production prefer to occur in the oligotrophic seawaters, where nitrogen is depleted. This study demonstrates that the marginal seas of China is a hotspot for CH₄ dynamics, and the cycling of methylated sulfur compounds (such as DMSP) may contribute importantly to locally formed CH₄. This may have further implication to carbon and sulfur biogeochemical cycles in the western Pacific.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

A novel model of the carbon cycle in the Cambrian ocean

Article 21 May 2024

Water mass influence on spatial and seasonal distributions of diatoms, dinoflagellates and coccolithophores in the western Barents Sea

Article Open access 26 May 2024

Dissolved trace elements and nutrients in the North Sea—a current baseline

Article Open access 11 May 2024

Data Availability Statement

All data included in this study are available upon request by contact with the corresponding author.

References

Araujo J, Pratihary A, Naik R, Naik H, Naqvi S W A. 2018. Benthic fluxes of methane along the salinity gradient of a tropical monsoonal estuary: implications for CH₄ supersaturation and emission. Marine Chemistry, 202: 73–85, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marchem.2018.03.008.
Article Google Scholar
Archer S D, Gilbert F J, Nightingale P D, Zubkov M V, Taylor A H, Smith G C, Burkill P H. 2002. Transformation of dimethylsulphoniopropionate to dimethyl sulphide during summer in the North Sea with an examination of key processes via a modelling approach. Deep Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography, 49(15): 3067–3101, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0967-0645(02)00072-3.
Article Google Scholar
Bange H W, Bartell U H, Rapsomanikis S, Andreae M O. 1994. Methane in the Baltic and North Seas and a reassessment of the marine emissions of methane. Global Biogeochemical Cycles, 8(4): 465–480, https://doi.org/10.1029/94GB02181.
Article Google Scholar
Bange H W, Bergmann K, Hansen H P, Kock A, Koppe R, Malien F, Ostrau C. 2010. Dissolved methane during hypoxic events at the Boknis Eck time series station (Eckernförde Bay, SW Baltic Sea). Biogeosciences, 7(4): 1279–1284, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-7-1279-2010.
Article Google Scholar
Borges A V, Speeckaert G, Champenois W, Scranton M I, Gypens N. 2018. Productivity and temperature as drivers of seasonal and spatial variations of dissolved methane in the Southern Bight of the North Sea. Ecosystems, 21(4): 583–599, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10021-017-0171-7.
Article Google Scholar
Bryan J R, Rlley J P, Williams P J L. 1976. A winkler procedure for making precise measurements of oxygen concentration for productivity and related studies. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 21(3): 191–197, https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-0981(76)90114-3.
Article Google Scholar
Bussmann I, Hackbusch S, Schaal P, Wichels A. 2017. Methane distribution and oxidation around the Lena Delta in summer 2013. Biogeosciences, 14(21): 4985–5002, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-14-4985-2017.
Article Google Scholar
Chen C T A, Wang S L. 1999. Carbon, alkalinity and nutrient budgets on the East China Sea continental shelf. Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, 104(C9): 20675–20686, https://doi.org/10.1029/1999jc900055.
Article Google Scholar
Damm E, Helmke E, Thoms S, Schauer U, Nöthig E, Bakker K, Kiene R P. 2009. Methane production in aerobic oligotrophic surface water in the central Arctic Ocean. Biogeosciences, 6: 10355–10379, https://doi.org/10.5194/bgd-6-10355-2009.
Google Scholar
Damm E, Kiene R P, Schwarz J, Falck E, Dieckmann G. 2008. Methane cycling in Arctic shelf water and its relationship with phytoplankton biomass and DMSP. Marine Chemistry, 109(1–2): 45–59, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marchem.2007.12.003.
Article Google Scholar
Damm E, Thoms S, Beszczynska-Möller A, Nöthig E M, Kattner G. 2015. Methane excess production in oxygen-rich polar water and a model of cellular conditions for this paradox. Polar Science, 9(3): 327–334, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polar.2015.05.001.
Article Google Scholar
Davis D, Chen G, Kasibhatla P, Jefferson A, Tanner D, Eisele F, Lenschow D, Neff W, Berresheim H. 1998. DMS oxidation in the Antarctic marine boundary layer: comparison of model simulations and held observations of DMS, DMSO, DMSO₂, H₂SO₄(g), MSA(g), and MSA(p). Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, 103(D1): 1657–1678, https://doi.org/10.1029/97JD03452.
Article Google Scholar
de Angelis M A, Lee C. 1994. Methane production during Zooplankton grazing on marine phytoplankton. Limnology and Oceanography, 39(6): 1298–1308, https://doi.org/10.4319/lo.1994.39.6.1298.
Article Google Scholar
Di P F, Feng D, Tao J, Chen D F. 2020. Using time-series videos to quantify methane bubbles flux from natural cold seeps in the South China Sea. Minerals, 10(3): 216, https://doi.org/10.3390/min10030216.
Article Google Scholar
Ferrón S, Alonso-Pérez F, Ortega T, Forja J M. 2009. Benthic respiration on the northeastern shelf of the Gulf of Cádiz (SW Iberian Peninsula). Marine EcologyProgress Series, 392: 69–80, https://doi.org/10.3354/meps08240.
Article Google Scholar
Florez-Leiva L, Damm E, Farías L. 2013. Methane production induced by dimethylsulfide in surface water of an upwelling ecosystem. Progress in Oceanography, 112–113: 38–48, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pocean.2013.03.005.
Article Google Scholar
Grossart H P, Frindte K, Dziallas C, Eckert W, Tang K W. 2011. Microbial methane production in oxygenated water column of an oligotrophic lake. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 108(49): 19657–19661, https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1110716108.
Article Google Scholar
Guan B X, Fang G H. 2006. Winter counter-wind currents off the southeastern China coast: a review. Journal of Oceanography, 62(1): 1–24, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10872-006-0028-8.
Article Google Scholar
Günthel M, Donis D, Kirillin G, Ionescu D, Bizic M, McGinnis D F, Grossart H P, Tang K W. 2019. Contribution of oxic methane production to surface methane emission in lakes and its global importance. Nature Communications, 10(1): 5497, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-13320-0.
Article Google Scholar
Hickox R, Belkin I, Cornillon P, Shan Z Q. 2000. Climatology and seasonal variability of ocean fronts in the East China, Yellow and Bohai seas from satellite SST data. Geophysical Research Letters, 27(18): 2945–2948, https://doi.org/10.1029/1999GL011223.
Article Google Scholar
IPCC. 2013. Climate Change 2013: The Physical Science Basis. Cambridge University Press, New York.
Google Scholar
Jackson J E. 1991. A User’s Guide to Principal Components. John Wiley & Sons, New York.
Book Google Scholar
Jiang S, Zhang J, Zhang R F, Xue Y, Zheng W. 2018. Dissolved lead in the East China Sea with implications for impacts of marginal seas on the open ocean through cross-shelf exchange. Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, 123(8): 6004–6018, https://doi.org/10.1029/2018JC013955.
Article Google Scholar
Jin J, Liu S M, Ren J L, Liu C G, Zhang J, Zhang G L, Huang D J. 2013. Nutrient dynamics and coupling with phytoplankton species composition during the spring blooms in the Yellow Sea. Deep Sea Research Part II. Topical Studies in Oceanography, 97: 16–32, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr2.2013.05.002.
Article Google Scholar
Jørgensen B B, Weber A, Zopfi J. 2001. Sulfate reduction and anaerobic methane oxidation in Black Sea sediments. Deep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers, 48(9): 2097–2120, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0967-0637(01)00007-3.
Article Google Scholar
Jørgensen B B. 1977. Bacterial sulfate reduction within reduced microniches of oxidized marine sediments. Marine Biology, 41(1): 7–17, https://doi.org/10.1007/bf00390576.
Article Google Scholar
Judd A G. 2004. Natural seabed gas seeps as sources of atmospheric methane. Environmental Geology, 46(8): 988–996, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-004-1083-3.
Article Google Scholar
Karl D M, Beversdorf L, Björkman K M, Church M J, Martinez A, Delong E F. 2008. Aerobic production of methane in the sea. Nature Geoscience, 1(7): 473–478, https://doi.org/10.1038/ngeo234.
Article Google Scholar
Karl D M, Tilbrook B D. 1994. Production and transport of methane in oceanic particulate organic matter. Nature, 368(6473): 732–734, https://doi.org/10.1038/368732a0.
Article Google Scholar
Kiene R P, Linn L J, Bruton J A. 2000. New and important roles for DMSP in marine microbial communities. Journal of Sea Research, 43(3–4): 209–224, https://doi.org/10.1016/S1385-1101(00)00023-X.
Article Google Scholar
Kiene R P, Oremland R S, Catena A, Miller L G, Capone D G. 1986. Metabolism of reduced methylated sulfur compounds in anaerobic sediments and by a pure culture of an estuarine methanogen. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 52(5): 1037–1045, https://doi.org/10.1128/AEM.52.5.1037-1045.1986.
Article Google Scholar
Kiene R P, Service S K. 1991. Decomposition of dissolved DMSP and DMS in estuarine waters: dependence on temperature and substrate concentration. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 76: 1–11, https://doi.org/10.3354/meps076001.
Article Google Scholar
Kiene R P, Taylor B F. 1988. Demethylation of dimethylsulfoniopropionate and production of thiols in anoxic marine sediments. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 54(9): 2208–2212, https://doi.org/10.1002/bit.260320617.
Article Google Scholar
Li C X, Yang G P, Wang B D, Xu Z J. 2016. Vernal distribution and turnover of dimethylsulfide (DMS) in the surface water of the Yellow Sea. Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, 121(10): 7495–7516, https://doi.org/10.1002/2016JC011901.
Article Google Scholar
Li F. 1989. Distinction, discrimination and analysis of water masses in the Yellow Sea and East China Sea areas in spring. Journal of Ocean University of Qingdao, 19(1): 22–34, https://doi.org/10.16441/j.cnki.hdxb.1989.s1.007. (in Chinese with English abstract)
Google Scholar
Li W, Wang Y H, Wang J N, Wei H. 2012. Distributions of water masses and hydrographic structures in the Yellow Sea and East China Sea in spring and summer 2011. Oceanologia et Limnologia Sinica, 43(3): 615–623. (in Chinese with English abstract)
Google Scholar
Lin S, Hsieh I J, Huang K M, Wang C H. 2002. Influence of the Yangtze River and grain size on the spatial variations of heavy metals and organic carbon in the East China Sea continental shelf sediments. Chemical Geology, 182(2–4): 377–394, https://doi.org/10.1016/s0009-2541(01)00331-x.
Article Google Scholar
Lin S, Huang K M, Chen S K. 2000. Organic carbon deposition and its control on iron sulfide formation of the southern East China Sea continental shelf sediments. Continental Shelf Research, 20(4–5): 619–635, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0278-4343(99)00088-6.
Article Google Scholar
Liu J, Yu Z G, Zang J Y, Sun T, Zhao C Y, Ran X B. 2015. Distribution and budget of organic carbon in the Bohai and Yellow Seas. Advances in Earth Science, 30(5): 564–578, https://doi.org/10.11867/j.issn.1001-8166.2015.05.564. (in Chinese with English abstract)
Google Scholar
Luong L D, Shakirov R B, Hoang N, Shinjo R, Obzhirov A, Syrbu N, Shakirova M. 2019. Features in REE and methane anomalies distribution in the East China Sea water column: a comparison with the South China Sea. Water Resources, 46: 807–816, https://doi.org/10.1134/S0097807819050142.
Article Google Scholar
Luong L D, Shinjo R, Hoang N, Shakirov R B, Syrbu N. 2018. Spatial variations in dissolved rare earth element concentrations in the East China Sea water column. Marine Chemistry, 205: 1–15, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marchem.2018.07.004.
Article Google Scholar
Martínez A, Ventouras L A, Wilson S T, Karl D M, DeLong E F. 2013. Metatranscriptomic and functional metagenomic analysis of methylphosphonate utilization by marine bacteria. Frontiers in Microbiology, 4: 340, https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2013.00340.
Article Google Scholar
Matrai P A, Keller M D. 1993. Dimethylsulfide in a large-scale coccolithophore bloom in the Gulf of Maine. Continental Shelf Research, 13(8–9): 831–843, https://doi.org/10.1016/0278-4343(93)90012-M.
Article Google Scholar
Matsuno T, Lee J S, Yanao S. 2009. The Kuroshio exchange with the South and East China Seas. Ocean Science, 5(3): 303–312, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-5-303-2009.
Article Google Scholar
Metcalf W W, Griffin B M, Cicchillo R M, Gao J T, Janga S C, Cooke H A, Circello B T, Evans B S, Martens-Habbena W, Stahl D A, van der Donk W A. 2012. Synthesis of methylphosphonic acid by marine microbes: a source for methane in the aerobic ocean. Science, 337(6098): 1104–1107, https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1219875.
Article Google Scholar
Nowak J B, Davis D D, Chen G, Eisele F L, Mauldin R L, Tanner D J, Cantrell C, Kosciuch E, Bandy A, Thornton D, Clarke A. 2001. Airborne observations of DMSO, DMS, and OH at marine tropical latitudes. Geophysical Research Letters, 28(11): 2201–2204, https://doi.org/10.1029/2000GL012297.
Article Google Scholar
Osudar R, Matoušů A, Alawi M, Wagner D, Bussmann I. 2015. Environmental factors affecting methane distribution and bacterial methane oxidation in the German Bight (North Sea). Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 160: 10–21, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecss.2015.03.028.
Article Google Scholar
Qi J F, Yin B S, Zhang Q L, Yang D Z, Xu Z H. 2014. Analysis of seasonal variation of water masses in East China Sea. Chinese Journal of Oceanology and Limnology, 32(4): 958–971, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00343-014-3269-1.
Article Google Scholar
Rao G D, Sarma V V S S. 2016. Variability in concentrations and fluxes of methane in the Indian estuaries. Estuaries and Coasts, 39(6): 1639–1650, https://doi.org/10.1007/s12237-016-0112-2.
Article Google Scholar
Reisch C R, Moran M A, Whitman W B. 2011. Bacterial catabolism of dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP). Frontiers in Microbiology, 2: 172, https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2011.00172.
Article Google Scholar
Repeta D J, Ferrón S, Sosa O A, Johnson C G, Repeta L D, Acker M, DeLong E F, Karl D M. 2016. Marine methane paradox explained by bacterial degradation of dissolved organic matter. Nature Geoscience, 9(12): 884–887, https://doi.org/10.1038/ngeo2837.
Article Google Scholar
Rogener M K, Bracco A, Hunter K S, Saxton M A, Joye S B. 2018. Long-term impact of the Deepwater Horizon oil well blowout on methane oxidation dynamics in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Elementa: Science of the Anthropocene, 6: 73, https://doi.org/10.1525/elementa.332.
Google Scholar
Rogener M K, Sipler R E, Hunter K S, Bronk D A, Joye S B. 2019. Pelagic methane oxidation in the northern Chukchi Sea. Limnology and Oceanography, 65(1): 96–110, https://doi.org/10.1002/lno.11254.
Article Google Scholar
Sakai H, Gamo T, Kim E S, Tsutsumi M, Tanaka T, Ishibashi J, Wakita H, Yamano M, Oomori T. 1990. Venting of carbon dioxide-rich fluid and hydrate formation in Mid-Okinawa trough Backarc basin. Science, 248(4959): 1093–1096, https://doi.org/10.1126/science.248.4959.1093.
Article Google Scholar
Saunois M, Stavert A R, Poulter B, Bousquet P, Bousquet P, Canadell J G, Jackson R B, Raymond P A, Dlugokencky E J, Houweling S, Patra P K, Ciais P, Arora V K, Bastviken D, Bergamaschi P, Blake D R, Brailsford G, Bruhwiler L, Carlson K M, Carrol M, Castaldi S, Chandra N, Crevoisier C, Crill P M, Covey K, Curry C L, Etiope G, Frankenberg C, Gedney N, Hegglin M I, Höglund-Isaksson L, Hugelius G, Ishizawa M, Ito A, Janssens-Maenhout G, Jensen K M, Joos F, Kleinen T, Krummel P B, Langenfelds R L, Laruelle G G, Liu L, Machida T, Maksyutov S, McDonald K C, McNorton J, Miller P A, Melton J R, Morino I, Müller J, Murguia-Flores F, Naik V, Niwa Y, Noce S, O’Doherty S, Parker R J, Peng C H, Peng S S, Peters G P, Prigent C, Prinn R, Ramonet M, Regnier P, Riley W J, Rosentreter J A, Segers A, Simpson I J, Shi H, Smith S J, Steele L P, Thornton B F, Tian H, Tohjima Y, Tubiello F N, Tsuruta A, Viovy N, Voulgarakis A, Weber T S, van Weele M, van der Werf G R, Weiss R F, Worthy D, Wunch D, Yin Y, Yoshida Y, Zhang W X, Zhang Z, Zhao Y H, Zheng B, Zhu Q, Zhu Q, Zhuang Q L. 2020. The global methane budget 2000–2017. Earth System Science Data, 12(3): 1561–1623, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-12-1561-2020.
Article Google Scholar
Sawicka J E, Brüchert V. 2017. Annual variability and regulation of methane and sulfate fluxes in Baltic Sea estuarine sediments. Biogeosciences, 14(2): 325–339, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-14-325-2017.
Article Google Scholar
Schmale O, Wäge J, Mohrholz V, Wasmund N, Gräwe U, Rehder G, Labrenz M, Loick-Wilde N. 2018. The contribution of zooplankton to methane supersaturation in the oxygenated upper waters of the central Baltic Sea. Limnology and Oceanography, 63(1): 412–430, https://doi.org/10.1002/lno.10640.
Article Google Scholar
Shakhova N, Semiletov I, Leifer I, Sergienko V, Salyuk A, Kosmach D, Chernykh D, Stubbs C, Nicolsky D, Tumskoy V, Gustafsson Ö. 2014. Ebullition and storm-induced methane release from the East Siberian Arctic Shelf. Nature Geoscience, 7(1): 64–70, https://doi.org/10.1038/ngeo2007.
Article Google Scholar
Sosa O A, Burrell T J, Wilson S T, Foreman R K, Karl D M, Repeta D J. 2020. Phosphonate cycling supports methane and ethylene supersaturation in the phosphate-depleted western North Atlantic Ocean. Limnology and Oceanography, 65(10): 2443–2459, https://doi.org/10.1002/lno.11463.
Article Google Scholar
Sosa O A, Repeta D J, Ferrón S, Bryant J A, Mende D R, Karl D M, DeLong E F. 2017. Isolation and characterization of bacteria that degrade phosphonates in marine dissolved organic matter. Frontiers in Microbiology, 8: 1786, https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2017.01786.
Article Google Scholar
Stawiarski B, Otto S, Thiel V, Gräwe U, Loick-Wilde N, Wittenborn A K, Schloemer S, Wäge, J, Rehder G, Labrenz M, Wasmund N, Schmale O. 2019. Controls on zooplankton methane production in the central Baltic Sea. Biogeosciences, 16(1): 1–16, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-16-1-2019.
Article Google Scholar
Su J L. 1998. Circulation Dynamics of the China Seas: North of 18°N. In: The Sea: Vol. 11. The Global Coastal Ocean: Reginal Studies and Synthesis. John Wiley & Sons Inc., New York. p.483–505.
Google Scholar
Sun M S, Zhang G L, Ma X, Cao X P, Mao X Y, Li J, Ye W W, Liu S M. 2018. Dissolved methane in the East China Sea: distribution, seasonal variation and emission. Marine Chemistry, 202: 12–26, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marchem.2018.03.001.
Article Google Scholar
Tallant T C, Krzycki J A. 1997. Methylthiol: coenzyme M methyltransferase from Methanosarcina barkeri, an enzyme of methanogenesis from dimethylsulfide and methylmercaptopropionate. Journal of Bacteriology, 179(22): 6902–6911, https://doi.org/10.1128/jb.179.22.6902-6911.1997.
Article Google Scholar
Tang Y X, Lie H J, Cho C H, Lee J H. 1997. The hydrographic condition in the northeastern East China Sea in summer. Journal of Oceanography of Huanghai & Bohai Seas, 15(1): 8–19. (in Chinese with English abstract)
Google Scholar
Teikari J E, Fewer D P, Shrestha R, Hou S W, Leikoski N, Mäkelä M, Simojoki A, Hess W R, Sivonen K. 2018. Strains of the toxic and bloom-forming Nodularia spumigena (cyanobacteria) can degrade methylphosphonate and release methane. The ISME Journal, 12(6): 1619–1630, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41396-018-0056-6.
Article Google Scholar
Treude T, Niggemann J, Kallmeyer J, Wintersteller P, Schubert C J, Boetius A, Jergensen B B. 2005. Anaerobic oxidation of methane and sulfate reduction along the Chilean continental margin. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 69(11): 2767–2779, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2005.01.002.
Article Google Scholar
Valentine D L. 2002. Biogeochemistry and microbial ecology of methane oxidation in anoxic environments: a review. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, 81(1): 271–282, https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1020587206351.
Article Google Scholar
van der Maarel M J E C, Hansen T A. 1997. Dimethylsulfoniopropionate in anoxic intertidal sediments: a precursor of methanogenesis via dimethyl sulfide, methanethiol, and methiolpropionate. Marine Geology, 137(1–2): 5–12, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0025-3227(96)00074-6.
Article Google Scholar
Visscher P T, Kiene R P, Taylor B F. 1994. Demethylation and cleavage of dimethylsulfoniopropionate in marine intertidal sediments. FEMS Microbiology Ecology, 14(2): 179–189, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1574-6941.1994.tb00104.x.
Article Google Scholar
Wäge J, Schmale O, Labrenz M. 2020. Quantification of methanogenic Archaea within Baltic Sea copepod faecal pellets. Marine Biology, 167(10): 153, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-020-03759-x.
Article Google Scholar
Wang Y C, Guo X Y, Zhao L, Zhang J. 2019. Seasonal variations in nutrients and biogenic particles in the upper and lower layers of East China Sea Shelf and their export to adjacent seas. Progress in Oceanography, 176: 102138, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pocean.2019.102138.
Article Google Scholar
Weber T, Wiseman N A, Kock A. 2019. Global ocean methane emissions dominated by shallow coastal waters. Nature Communication, 10(1): 4584, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-12541-7.
Article Google Scholar
Webster R. 2009. Statistics to support soil research and their presentation. European Journal of Soil Science, 52(2): 331–340, https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2389.2001.00383.x.
Article Google Scholar
Yamamoto H, Fujimori T, Sato H, Ishikawa G, Kami K, Ohashi Y. 2014. Statistical hypothesis testing of factor loading in principal component analysis and its application to metabolite set enrichment analysis. BMC Bioinformatics, 15(1): 1–9, https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2105-15-51.
Article Google Scholar
Yang D Z, Yin B S, Chai F, Feng X R, Xue H J, Gao G D, Yu F. 2018. The onshore intrusion of Kuroshio subsurface water from February to July and a mechanism for the intrusion variation. Progress in Oceanography, 167: 97–115, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pocean.2018.08.004.
Article Google Scholar
Yang G P, Jing W W, Kang Z Q, Zhang H H, Song G S. 2008. Spatial variations of dimethylsulfide and dimethylsulfoniopropionate in the surface microlayer and in the subsurface waters of the South China Sea during springtime. Marine Environmental Research, 65(1): 85–97, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marenvres.2007.09.002.
Article Google Scholar
Yang G P, Zhang H H, Zhou L M, Yang J. 2011. Temporal and spatial variations of dimethylsulfide (DMS) and dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) in the East China Sea and the Yellow Sea. Continental Shelf Research, 31(13): 1325–1335, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.csr.2011.05.001.
Article Google Scholar
Yang J, Zhang G L, Zheng L X, Zhang F, Zhao J. 2010. Seasonal variation of fluxes and distributions of dissolved methane in the North Yellow Sea. Continental Shelf Research, 30(2): 187–192, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.csr.2009.10.016.
Article Google Scholar
Ye W W, Wang X L, Zhang X H, Zhang G L. 2020. Methane production in oxic seawater of the western North Pacific and its marginal seas. Limnology and Oceanography, 65(10): 2352–2365, https://doi.org/10.1002/lno.11457.
Article Google Scholar
Ye W W, Zhang G L, Zheng W J, Zhang H H, Wu Y. 2019. Methane distributions and sea-to-air fluxes in the Pearl River Estuary and the northern South China Sea. Deep Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography, 167: 34–45, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr2.2019.06.016.
Article Google Scholar
Ye W W, Zhang G L, Zhu Z Y, Huang D J, Han Y, Wang L, Sun M S. 2016. Methane distribution and sea-to-air flux in the East China Sea during the summer of 2013: impact of hypoxia. Deep Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography, 124: 74–83, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr2.2015.01.008.
Article Google Scholar
Zhai X, Li J L, Zhang H H, Tan D D, Yang G P. 2019. Spatial distribution and biogeochemical cycling of dimethylated sulfur compounds and methane in the East China Sea during spring. Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, 124(2): 1074–1090, https://doi.org/10.1029/2018JC014488.
Article Google Scholar
Zhang G L, Zhang J, Kang Y B, Liu S M. 2004. Distributions and fluxes of methane in the East China Sea and the Yellow Sea in spring. Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, 109(C7): C07011, https://doi.org/10.1029/2004JC002268.
Article Google Scholar
Zhang G L, Zhang J, Liu S M, Ren J L, Xu J, Zhang F. 2008a. Methane in the Changjiang (Yangtze River) Estuary and its adjacent marine area: riverine input, sediment release and atmospheric fluxes. Biogeochemistry, 91(1): 71–84, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10533-008-9259-7.
Article Google Scholar
Zhang G L, Zhang J, Ren J L, Li J B, Liu S M. 2008b. Distributions and sea-to-air fluxes of methane and nitrous oxide in the North East China Sea in summer. Marine Chemistry, 110(1–2): 42–55, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marchem.2008.02.005.
Article Google Scholar
Zhang J, Liu Q, Bai L L, Matsuno T. 2018. Water mass analysis and contribution estimation using heavy rare earth elements: significance of Kuroshio intermediate water to Central East China Sea shelf water. Marine Chemistry, 204: 172–180, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marchem.2018.07.011.
Article Google Scholar
Zhang J, Liu S M, Ren J L, Wu Y, Zhang G L. 2007. Nutrient gradients from the eutrophic Changjiang (Yangtze River) Estuary to the oligotrophic Kuroshio waters and reevaluation of budgets for the East China Sea Shelf. Progress in Oceanography, 74(4): 449–478, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pocean.2007.04.019.
Article Google Scholar
Zhao B, Yao P, Bianchi T S, Arellano A R, Wang X C, Yang J B, Su R G, Wang J P, Xu Y H, Huang X Y, Chen L, Ye J, Yu Z G. 2018. The remineralization of sedimentary organic carbon in different sedimentary regimes of the Yellow and East China Seas. Chemical Geology, 495: 104–117, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemgeo.2018.08.012.
Article Google Scholar
Zhou P, Song X X, Yuan Y Q, Wang W T, Chi L B, Cao X H, Yu Z M. 2018. Intrusion of the Kuroshio Subsurface Water in the southern East China Sea and its variation in 2014 and 2015 traced by dissolved inorganic iodine species. Progress in Oceanography, 165: 287–298, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pocean.2018.06.011.
Article Google Scholar
Zindler C, Bracher A, Marandino C A, Taylor B, Torrecilla E, Kock A, Bange H W. 2013. Sulphur compounds, methane, and phytoplankton: interactions along a north-south transit in the western Pacific Ocean. Biogeosciences, 10(5): 3297–3311, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-10-3297-2013.
Article Google Scholar

Download references

Acknowledgment

The authors wish to thank the crews of the R/V Dong Fang Hong 2 and colleagues from the Laboratory of Marine Biogeochemistry at the Ocean University of China for their assistance with the collection of field samples. We also thank Haibing DING from the Ocean University of China for providing CH₄ oxidation data.

Author information

Wangwang YE and Guanxiang DU contributed equally to this work and should be regarded as co-first authors.

Authors and Affiliations

Frontiers Science Center for Deep Ocean Multispheres and Earth System, and Key Laboratory of Marine Chemistry Theory and Technology, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266100, China
Wangwang Ye, Guanxiang Du, Honghai Zhang & Guiling Zhang
Key Laboratory of Global Change and Marine-Atmospheric Chemistry, Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen, 361005, China
Wangwang Ye
Laboratory for Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology (Qingdao), Qingdao, 266237, China
Wangwang Ye, Guanxiang Du, Honghai Zhang & Guiling Zhang

Authors

Wangwang Ye
View author publications
You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar
Guanxiang Du
View author publications
You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar
Honghai Zhang
View author publications
You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar
Guiling Zhang
View author publications
You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Guiling Zhang.

Additional information

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology of China (No. 2016YFA0601302), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 41776122, 42006040), the Taishan Scholars Program of Shandong Province (No. 201511014), and the Aoshan Talents Program of the Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology (No. 2015ASTP-OS08)

Supplemental Material for