*Hisami Honda1, Ryo Sugimoto2, Taketoshi Mishima3, Shinji Ohsawa3, Jun Shoji4, Osamu Tominaga2, Makoto Taniguchi1
(1.Research Institute for Humanity and Nature, 2.Faculty of Marine Bioscience, Fukui Prefectural University, 3.Institute for Geothermal Sciences Graduate School of Sciences, Kyoto University, 4.Hiroshima University)
Keywords:Primary productivity, 222Rn, Submarine groundwater discharge, Nearshore coast
In recent years, a number of studies have shown that submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) is an alternative nutrient pathway and can drive primary production in coastal seas. However, little is known about a relationship between input of nutrients through the groundwater and response of primary production. To clarify the relationship, we conducted in situ measurements of primary productivity (PP) using stable 13C tracer method under different strength sites of SGD at nearshore coasts in Beppu Bay and Otsuchi Bay during the summer in 2016. Considering the differences of light intensity and water temperature at each site, we have also incubated the bottles taken from each site under same conditions of light and water temperature on land. In both bays, significant positive relationships between in situ PP and ex situ PP (r > 0.91, p < 0.01) indicated that in situ PP would be controlled by nutrient availability. In Beppu Bay, in situ PP and 222Rn activity ranged from 4.4 to 23.3 µg C L-1 h-1 and 69.8 to 586.8 Bq m-3, respectively. Although there was no clear relationship between in situ PP and 222Rn activity, biomass specific PP (PB, µg C µg chl a-1 h-1) showed the positive correlation with 222Rn activity. In Otsuchi Bay, in situ PP and 222Rn activity ranged from 4.5 to 10.7 µg C L-1 h-1 and 298 to 765.8 Bq m-3, respectively. 222Rn activity did not related to in situ PP and PB. This could be due to low phosphate concentrations in terrestrial confined groundwater. Our experimental studies suggested that the mechanism by which SGD affects phytoplankton production differs from one ecosystem to another.