Alkaline phosphatase activity in the western English Channel: Elevations induced by high summertime rainfall |
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| Authors: | Andrew P Rees Sam B Hope Claire E Widdicombe Joanna L Dixon E Malcolm S Woodward Mark F Fitzsimons |
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| Institution: | aPlymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, The Hoe, Plymouth PL1 3DH, UK;bCentre for Chemical Sciences, SEOES, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, Devon PL4 8AA, UK |
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| Abstract: | Alkaline phosphatase activity (APA) was determined in bulk particulate material and in a single-cell (ELF) assay at station L4 in the western English Channel during the summer of 2007. Throughout this period, the UK experienced its heaviest summertime rainfall since records began in 1914; with the result that riverine run-off into coastal waters was also elevated relative to long-term averages. Between May and August 2007, three distinct periods of elevated river run-off were observed which resulted in salinity minima at L4 on days 141, 190 and 232. An extended period of high river run-off between days 170 and 210 was responsible for decreases in near-surface salinity at L4 from 35.2068 to a minimum on day 190 of 34.7422. This contributed to the development of haline stratification which supported the development of an intense bloom of the centric diatom Chaetoceros debelis, with maximum observed chlorophyll a concentration of 8.69 μg l−1. Minima in salinity, and maxima in chlorophyll concentration on day 190 were coincident with a peak in river-derived dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) of 1.9 μmol l−1 which was >5 times greater than the summertime mean and 24 times the concentrations experienced at L4 on weeks immediately before and after. There was no accompanying increase in dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP), and the DIN:DIP ratio increased to 49. With the inherent phosphorus stress that this caused, rates of APA increased from <4 to 42.4 nmolP l−1 h−1. ELF analysis on day 197 identified two taxa actively expressing alkaline phosphatase: the dinoflagellate Prorocentrum micans and ciliate Tiarana sp. |
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| Keywords: | alkaline phosphatase phytoplankton phosphorus nitrogen western English Channel L4 River Tamar |
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