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Horizontal distribution of particulate matter and its characterization using phosphorus as an indicator in surface coastal water, Harima-Nada, the Seto Inland Sea, Japan

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Abstract

To study the horizontal distribution and characterization of suspended particulate matter (SPM) in the coastal environment, the distribution and seasonal variation of particulate phosphorus (PP), divided as organic (POP) and inorganic (PIP) fractions with POC, PON, and Chl.a, in 4 seasons throughout Harima-Nada of the Seto Inland Sea, Japan, were investigated. A high concentration of PIP was observed not only in the northern coastal area, which received much freshwater discharge, but also in the channel parts. In winter, when Δσt was low, the difference between surface and bottom σt, resuspension of sinking particles or/and surface sediment which has a high PIP/PP ratio seems to have occurred, and then a high concentration of PIP in surface water was observed. In spring and summer, PIP/PP ratios (0.24) of surface waters were close to those of phytoplankton (0.1–0.2). On the other hand, PIP/PP ratios in autumn and winter, when Δσt was low, were similar to those of surface sediment in Harima-Nada (0.32–0.39). SPM in Harima-Nada showed higher PP contents than other coastal environments, and its mean value of 9.10 mg P/g was close to the phytoplankton P content of 9.75 mg P/g. This suggests that SPM in Harima-Nada was strongly affected by phytoplankton. The C/N ratio in Harima-Nada in spring was high (11), although high Chl.a and low PIP/PP were observed, possibly resulting from preferential decomposition of nitrogen in comparison with carbon. We consider that the PIP/PP ratio is a good indicator to characterize SPM and to predict its origin as well as the C/N.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Mr. K. Kishimoto, the captain of the R. V. Calanus III, for his kind assistance with field observations. We are also indebted to the members of the Laboratory of Biological and Chemical Oceanography, Faculty of Agriculture, Kagawa University, for their generous cooperation. Finally, we are also grateful to two anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments. This study was partly supported by a JSPS, Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B), 2331007.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Agriculture, Kagawa University, Miki, Kagawa, 761-0795, Japan

    Toshimasa Asahi, Hitomi Yamaguchi & Kuninao Tada

  2. The United Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences, Ehime University, Tarumi, Matsuyama, Ehime, 790-8566, Japan

    Toshimasa Asahi

  3. Seto Inland Sea Regional Research Center, Kagawa University, Aji, Takamatsu, Kagawa, 761-0130, Japan

    Kazuhiko Ichimi

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  1. Toshimasa Asahi
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  4. Kuninao Tada
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Correspondence to Kuninao Tada.

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Asahi, T., Ichimi, K., Yamaguchi, H. et al. Horizontal distribution of particulate matter and its characterization using phosphorus as an indicator in surface coastal water, Harima-Nada, the Seto Inland Sea, Japan. J Oceanogr 70, 277–287 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10872-014-0230-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10872-014-0230-z

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