Planktonic carbon metabolism of an underwater coral atoll in the oligotrophic sea: a case study of Zhongsha Atoll, Central South China Sea
Coral atolls are widely recognized as oases of remarkable biodiversity and productivity within the oligotrophic open ocean. However, considerable debate surrounds the net carbon metabolism of planktonic communities in oceanic coral atolls and their contribution to the overall carbon budget of the oc...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-12-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Marine Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2023.1296052/full |
| _version_ | 1797427157139456000 |
|---|---|
| author | Chenhui Xiang Chenhui Xiang Chenhui Xiang Chenhui Xiang Chenhui Xiang Yu Zhong Yu Zhong Gang Li Gang Li Gang Li Xingyu Song Xingyu Song Xingyu Song Xingyu Song Xingyu Song Yadong Huang Yadong Huang Yadong Huang Zhen Wang Zhen Wang Zhen Wang Chuanyang Zheng Chuanyang Zheng Chuanyang Zheng Liangmin Huang Liangmin Huang |
| author_facet | Chenhui Xiang Chenhui Xiang Chenhui Xiang Chenhui Xiang Chenhui Xiang Yu Zhong Yu Zhong Gang Li Gang Li Gang Li Xingyu Song Xingyu Song Xingyu Song Xingyu Song Xingyu Song Yadong Huang Yadong Huang Yadong Huang Zhen Wang Zhen Wang Zhen Wang Chuanyang Zheng Chuanyang Zheng Chuanyang Zheng Liangmin Huang Liangmin Huang |
| author_sort | Chenhui Xiang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Coral atolls are widely recognized as oases of remarkable biodiversity and productivity within the oligotrophic open ocean. However, considerable debate surrounds the net carbon metabolism of planktonic communities in oceanic coral atolls and their contribution to the overall carbon budget of the ocean. Zhongsha Atoll, situated in the central South China Sea, represents one of the largest submerged reef atolls globally. Despite its significance, the ecological environment and characteristics of community production and metabolism at Zhongsha Atoll have been scarcely studied, and it remains uncertain whether these features differ from those observed in barrier-type reefs. In this study, we examined the gross primary production (GPP), community respiration (CR), and net community production (NCP) of the planktonic community in Zhongsha Atoll and its surrounding waters from 22 June to 6 July 2020. We also analyzed the potential influences of their distribution patterns. Our findings revealed that CR did not vary significantly with depth and it was considerably higher than GPP. As a result, the waters at the euphotic depth of Zhongsha Atoll were found to be heterotrophic, with negative NCP. Additionally, the correlation analysis demonstrated a negative relationship between NCP and CR. The NCP values were -35.28 ± 26.73 and -53.18 ± 31.77 mg C m-3 d-1 for the surface and chlorophyll maximum (DCM) layers, respectively. The NCP for the upper water column was -3023 mg C m-2 d-1. The waters above the reef flat (FL) exhibited higher primary productivity, with GPP in the surface and DCM layer being 1.61 and 2.71 times greater, respectively, than in the surrounding oceanic regions. However, the FL displayed a greater level of heterotrophy due to its stronger CR. In conclusion, the carbon metabolism of the planktonic community in submerged Zhongsha Atoll acts as a source of atmospheric CO2, and the distribution of coral reefs considerably contributes to the efficiency of carbon cycling within the atoll. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T08:40:59Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7efa89b2a7bd44ed8ab75b430ebaa3d4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-7745 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T08:40:59Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Marine Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-7efa89b2a7bd44ed8ab75b430ebaa3d42023-12-02T17:00:52ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Marine Science2296-77452023-12-011010.3389/fmars.2023.12960521296052Planktonic carbon metabolism of an underwater coral atoll in the oligotrophic sea: a case study of Zhongsha Atoll, Central South China SeaChenhui Xiang0Chenhui Xiang1Chenhui Xiang2Chenhui Xiang3Chenhui Xiang4Yu Zhong5Yu Zhong6Gang Li7Gang Li8Gang Li9Xingyu Song10Xingyu Song11Xingyu Song12Xingyu Song13Xingyu Song14Yadong Huang15Yadong Huang16Yadong Huang17Zhen Wang18Zhen Wang19Zhen Wang20Chuanyang Zheng21Chuanyang Zheng22Chuanyang Zheng23Liangmin Huang24Liangmin Huang25Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, ChinaSouthern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou, ChinaSanya Institute of Ocean Eco-Environmental Engineering, Hainan, ChinaNansha Marine Ecological and Environmental Research Station, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sansha, ChinaGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, Guangzhou, ChinaKey Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, ChinaMarine Biology Research Station at Daya Bay, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, ChinaKey Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, ChinaSanya Institute of Ocean Eco-Environmental Engineering, Hainan, ChinaGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, Guangzhou, ChinaKey Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, ChinaSouthern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou, ChinaSanya Institute of Ocean Eco-Environmental Engineering, Hainan, ChinaNansha Marine Ecological and Environmental Research Station, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sansha, ChinaGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, Guangzhou, ChinaKey Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, ChinaSanya Institute of Ocean Eco-Environmental Engineering, Hainan, ChinaNansha Marine Ecological and Environmental Research Station, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sansha, ChinaKey Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, ChinaSanya Institute of Ocean Eco-Environmental Engineering, Hainan, ChinaNansha Marine Ecological and Environmental Research Station, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sansha, ChinaKey Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, ChinaSanya Institute of Ocean Eco-Environmental Engineering, Hainan, ChinaNansha Marine Ecological and Environmental Research Station, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sansha, ChinaKey Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, ChinaSouthern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou, ChinaCoral atolls are widely recognized as oases of remarkable biodiversity and productivity within the oligotrophic open ocean. However, considerable debate surrounds the net carbon metabolism of planktonic communities in oceanic coral atolls and their contribution to the overall carbon budget of the ocean. Zhongsha Atoll, situated in the central South China Sea, represents one of the largest submerged reef atolls globally. Despite its significance, the ecological environment and characteristics of community production and metabolism at Zhongsha Atoll have been scarcely studied, and it remains uncertain whether these features differ from those observed in barrier-type reefs. In this study, we examined the gross primary production (GPP), community respiration (CR), and net community production (NCP) of the planktonic community in Zhongsha Atoll and its surrounding waters from 22 June to 6 July 2020. We also analyzed the potential influences of their distribution patterns. Our findings revealed that CR did not vary significantly with depth and it was considerably higher than GPP. As a result, the waters at the euphotic depth of Zhongsha Atoll were found to be heterotrophic, with negative NCP. Additionally, the correlation analysis demonstrated a negative relationship between NCP and CR. The NCP values were -35.28 ± 26.73 and -53.18 ± 31.77 mg C m-3 d-1 for the surface and chlorophyll maximum (DCM) layers, respectively. The NCP for the upper water column was -3023 mg C m-2 d-1. The waters above the reef flat (FL) exhibited higher primary productivity, with GPP in the surface and DCM layer being 1.61 and 2.71 times greater, respectively, than in the surrounding oceanic regions. However, the FL displayed a greater level of heterotrophy due to its stronger CR. In conclusion, the carbon metabolism of the planktonic community in submerged Zhongsha Atoll acts as a source of atmospheric CO2, and the distribution of coral reefs considerably contributes to the efficiency of carbon cycling within the atoll.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2023.1296052/fullcoral atollplanktonic carbon metabolismprimary productioncommunity respirationnet carbon production |
| spellingShingle | Chenhui Xiang Chenhui Xiang Chenhui Xiang Chenhui Xiang Chenhui Xiang Yu Zhong Yu Zhong Gang Li Gang Li Gang Li Xingyu Song Xingyu Song Xingyu Song Xingyu Song Xingyu Song Yadong Huang Yadong Huang Yadong Huang Zhen Wang Zhen Wang Zhen Wang Chuanyang Zheng Chuanyang Zheng Chuanyang Zheng Liangmin Huang Liangmin Huang Planktonic carbon metabolism of an underwater coral atoll in the oligotrophic sea: a case study of Zhongsha Atoll, Central South China Sea Frontiers in Marine Science coral atoll planktonic carbon metabolism primary production community respiration net carbon production |
| title | Planktonic carbon metabolism of an underwater coral atoll in the oligotrophic sea: a case study of Zhongsha Atoll, Central South China Sea |
| title_full | Planktonic carbon metabolism of an underwater coral atoll in the oligotrophic sea: a case study of Zhongsha Atoll, Central South China Sea |
| title_fullStr | Planktonic carbon metabolism of an underwater coral atoll in the oligotrophic sea: a case study of Zhongsha Atoll, Central South China Sea |
| title_full_unstemmed | Planktonic carbon metabolism of an underwater coral atoll in the oligotrophic sea: a case study of Zhongsha Atoll, Central South China Sea |
| title_short | Planktonic carbon metabolism of an underwater coral atoll in the oligotrophic sea: a case study of Zhongsha Atoll, Central South China Sea |
| title_sort | planktonic carbon metabolism of an underwater coral atoll in the oligotrophic sea a case study of zhongsha atoll central south china sea |
| topic | coral atoll planktonic carbon metabolism primary production community respiration net carbon production |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2023.1296052/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT chenhuixiang planktoniccarbonmetabolismofanunderwatercoralatollintheoligotrophicseaacasestudyofzhongshaatollcentralsouthchinasea AT chenhuixiang planktoniccarbonmetabolismofanunderwatercoralatollintheoligotrophicseaacasestudyofzhongshaatollcentralsouthchinasea AT chenhuixiang planktoniccarbonmetabolismofanunderwatercoralatollintheoligotrophicseaacasestudyofzhongshaatollcentralsouthchinasea AT chenhuixiang planktoniccarbonmetabolismofanunderwatercoralatollintheoligotrophicseaacasestudyofzhongshaatollcentralsouthchinasea AT chenhuixiang planktoniccarbonmetabolismofanunderwatercoralatollintheoligotrophicseaacasestudyofzhongshaatollcentralsouthchinasea AT yuzhong planktoniccarbonmetabolismofanunderwatercoralatollintheoligotrophicseaacasestudyofzhongshaatollcentralsouthchinasea AT yuzhong planktoniccarbonmetabolismofanunderwatercoralatollintheoligotrophicseaacasestudyofzhongshaatollcentralsouthchinasea AT gangli planktoniccarbonmetabolismofanunderwatercoralatollintheoligotrophicseaacasestudyofzhongshaatollcentralsouthchinasea AT gangli planktoniccarbonmetabolismofanunderwatercoralatollintheoligotrophicseaacasestudyofzhongshaatollcentralsouthchinasea AT gangli planktoniccarbonmetabolismofanunderwatercoralatollintheoligotrophicseaacasestudyofzhongshaatollcentralsouthchinasea AT xingyusong planktoniccarbonmetabolismofanunderwatercoralatollintheoligotrophicseaacasestudyofzhongshaatollcentralsouthchinasea AT xingyusong planktoniccarbonmetabolismofanunderwatercoralatollintheoligotrophicseaacasestudyofzhongshaatollcentralsouthchinasea AT xingyusong planktoniccarbonmetabolismofanunderwatercoralatollintheoligotrophicseaacasestudyofzhongshaatollcentralsouthchinasea AT xingyusong planktoniccarbonmetabolismofanunderwatercoralatollintheoligotrophicseaacasestudyofzhongshaatollcentralsouthchinasea AT xingyusong planktoniccarbonmetabolismofanunderwatercoralatollintheoligotrophicseaacasestudyofzhongshaatollcentralsouthchinasea AT yadonghuang planktoniccarbonmetabolismofanunderwatercoralatollintheoligotrophicseaacasestudyofzhongshaatollcentralsouthchinasea AT yadonghuang planktoniccarbonmetabolismofanunderwatercoralatollintheoligotrophicseaacasestudyofzhongshaatollcentralsouthchinasea AT yadonghuang planktoniccarbonmetabolismofanunderwatercoralatollintheoligotrophicseaacasestudyofzhongshaatollcentralsouthchinasea AT zhenwang planktoniccarbonmetabolismofanunderwatercoralatollintheoligotrophicseaacasestudyofzhongshaatollcentralsouthchinasea AT zhenwang planktoniccarbonmetabolismofanunderwatercoralatollintheoligotrophicseaacasestudyofzhongshaatollcentralsouthchinasea AT zhenwang planktoniccarbonmetabolismofanunderwatercoralatollintheoligotrophicseaacasestudyofzhongshaatollcentralsouthchinasea AT chuanyangzheng planktoniccarbonmetabolismofanunderwatercoralatollintheoligotrophicseaacasestudyofzhongshaatollcentralsouthchinasea AT chuanyangzheng planktoniccarbonmetabolismofanunderwatercoralatollintheoligotrophicseaacasestudyofzhongshaatollcentralsouthchinasea AT chuanyangzheng planktoniccarbonmetabolismofanunderwatercoralatollintheoligotrophicseaacasestudyofzhongshaatollcentralsouthchinasea AT liangminhuang planktoniccarbonmetabolismofanunderwatercoralatollintheoligotrophicseaacasestudyofzhongshaatollcentralsouthchinasea AT liangminhuang planktoniccarbonmetabolismofanunderwatercoralatollintheoligotrophicseaacasestudyofzhongshaatollcentralsouthchinasea |