Linking seasonal plankton succession and cellular trace metal dynamics in marine assemblages

Frank Paolo Jay B Albarico; Yee Cheng Lim; Chiu-Wen Chen; Chih-Feng Chen; Ming-Huang Wang; Cheng-Di Dong

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167805

Linking seasonal plankton succession and cellular trace metal dynamics in marine assemblages

Sci Total Environ. 2024 Jan 10:907:167805. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167805. Epub 2023 Oct 18.

Authors

Frank Paolo Jay B Albarico¹, Yee Cheng Lim², Chiu-Wen Chen², Chih-Feng Chen², Ming-Huang Wang², Cheng-Di Dong³

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung City 81157, Taiwan; Department of Marine Environmental Engineering, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung City 81157, Taiwan; College of Fisheries and Allied Sciences, Northern Negros State College of Science and Technology, Sagay City 6122, Philippines.
² Department of Marine Environmental Engineering, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung City 81157, Taiwan.
³ Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung City 81157, Taiwan; Department of Marine Environmental Engineering, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung City 81157, Taiwan. Electronic address: cddong@nkust.edu.tw.

PMID: 37858810
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167805

Abstract

Factors affecting trace metal dynamics in marine plankton still need to be fully understood. Underlying mechanisms affecting cellular metal distribution, seasonal changes, and the influence of plankton community structure are poorly explored. This study comprehensively analyzed the seasonal changes in environmental factors, plankton community structure, and their impact on plankton cellular metal dynamics. Plankton samples were isolated, and trace metals (Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, As, Cd, Hg, and Pb) were analyzed with an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS). Plankton community structure significantly changed with seasons (p < 0.05), which were mainly driven by temperature (seasonal change) and nutrients (eutrophication). Mean plankton cellular trace metals did not significantly change (p > 0.05) in the study area but were higher along estuaries likely due to differences in metal influx from rivers. However, their distribution patterns significantly differ between the wet and dry seasons, likely influenced by the changes in community structure and anthropogenic influx. Cellular trace metals, particularly in phytoplankton, strongly correlated with selected species suggesting the impacts of community structure in trace metal distribution. Hence, the influence of environmental factors in driving plankton succession may have caused a ripple effect on cellular trace metal distribution, especially in phytoplankton. However, both blooming species Skeletonema and Chaetoceros (diatoms) showed a contrasting relationship with cellular metals, suggesting the cooccurrence of bioaccumulation or biodilution mechanisms. This study shows the potential influence of community structure in cellular trace metal dynamics for marine plankton assemblages. However, more than plankton abundance and functional diversity, i.e., species diversity, might be needed to assess the community-level impacts on cellular metals.

Keywords: Biogeochemistry; Community structure; Harbors; Plankton succession; Primary trophic level; Trace metals.

MeSH terms

Diatoms*
Environmental Monitoring
Metals / toxicity
Phytoplankton
Plankton
Seasons
Trace Elements* / analysis
Water Pollutants, Chemical* / analysis
Water Pollutants, Chemical* / toxicity

Substances

Water Pollutants, Chemical
Metals
Trace Elements