Variation characteristics and regulation mechanism of pCO2 in typical subtropical coral reefs area in spring

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1001-909X.2025.01.009

Abstract

Abstract:

Based on the field survey in May 2023 along with data obtained from indoor culture experiments, the distribution characteristics of seawater partial pressure of carbon dioxide (pCO₂) and its main control mechanisms in Daao Bay (coral reefs region) in spring were explored. The pCO₂ in Daao Bay ranged from 412.9 to 555.7 μatm in spring, and the study area acted as a source for atmospheric CO₂ with the average efflux of 0.53±0.90 mmol·m^-2·d^-1. During the survey period, the horizontal distribution of pCO₂ was generally higher in nearshore area than that in offshore zone, which was mainly controlled by biological activities (net respiration) and coastal terrestrial input. In addition, pCO₂ showed significant diurnal variation with a maximum difference of 168 μatm. Diurnal differences in biological activities (photosynthesis and respiration) were the main factors leading to changes in pCO₂, contributing 89.4% and 66.4% of pCO₂ in the reef and non-reef areas, respectively. In comparison, physical processes (temperature and tidal effects) had a weak effect on the pCO₂ dynamic, and the temperature effect contributed 12.7% and 21.5% of pCO₂, which was much lower than that of biological processes. Furthermore, the metabolic activity of corals might increase the pCO₂ in the local (reef area) of Daao Bay and enhance the CO₂ source properties of the sea area.

Key words: coral reefs, CO₂ partial pressure, air-sea CO₂ flux, source-sink, Daao Bay, calcification, respiration, photosynthesis

CLC Number:

P734.45

YANG Bo, ZHANG Zhuo, ZHOU Jin, LIN Ziyi, XIE Ziqiang, ZHENG Huina, LIAO Baolin, XIAO Baohua. Variation characteristics and regulation mechanism of pCO₂ in typical subtropical coral reefs area in spring[J]. Journal of Marine Sciences, 2025, 43(1): 90-106.

Figures/Tables 13

Fig.1 The map of survey stations in Daao Bay (The red border in figure represents the coral reef area.)

Fig.2 The horizontal distribution characteristics of temperature, salinity, DO and Chl a in the surface and bottom seawater

Fig.3 The horizontal distribution characteristics of TA, pHt and pCO2 in surface and bottom seawater

Fig.4 Diurnal variation characteristics of temperature, DO and AOU in the surface and bottom water in coral reef and non-reef areas

Fig.5 Diurnal variation characteristics of TA, pHt, pCO2 and air-sea CO2 flux in the surface and bottom water in coral reef and non-reef areas

Fig.6 Changes in pHt, TA, and DIC during indoor simulation experiments (coral metabolism)

Fig.7 Changes in pHt, TA and DIC during indoor simulation experiments (microbial metabolism in seawater and sediment)

Fig.8 The average release fluxes of DIC and TA during the seawater microbial metabolism, sediment release, and the coral metabolism

Tab.1 The release fluxes of DIC and TA during the seawater microbial metabolism, sediment release, and the coral metabolism in other offshore/estuarine areas of the world

项目	释放通量		研究区域(目标)	数据来源
项目	DIC	TA	研究区域(目标)	数据来源
海水微生物代谢 /(μmol·kg^-1·d^-1)	13.01±2.95	-1.40±0.36	胶州湾(海水)	文献[29]
	4.95±0.41		路易斯安那大陆架(海水)	文献[30]
	14.21±1.31		墨西哥湾(海水)	文献[31]
沉积物释放 /(mmol·m^-2·d^-1)	6.05±1.58		北黄海(沉积物)	文献[32]
	6.94±4.90		南黄海(沉积物)	文献[33]
	0.82±0.02		博滕海(沉积物)	文献[34]
	2.12±0.07		博恩霍尔姆岛沿岸(沉积物)	文献[34]
	9.32±3.52		英国北海(沉积物)	文献[35]
	31.14±22.01	29.06±21.39	墨西哥湾(沉积物)	文献[31]
	9.70±2.88	3.84±2.77	蒙特利湾(沉积物)	文献[36]
	17.23±1.70		路易斯安那大陆架(沉积物)	文献[37]
珊瑚代谢 /(mmol·cm^-2·d^-1)		-27.12±2.33	指形鹿角珊瑚	文献[38]
		-16.60±0.70	美丽鹿角珊瑚	文献[39]
		-54	铁星珊瑚	文献[40]
		-0.38±1.26	板叶角蜂巢珊瑚	文献[41]
	13.82		风信子鹿角珊瑚	文献[42]
	0.53		丛生盔形珊瑚	文献[42]

Tab.2 Correlation between pCO2 and environmental factors in the surface and bottom waters of Daao Bay (n=16)

层位	温度	盐度	AOU	Chl a
表层	-0.111	-0.596^*	0.476^*	0.225
底层	-0.088	0.200	0.826^**	-0.069

Fig.9 The relationship between NTA and NDIC of seawater in different survey stations (a) and 24 h fixed-point continuous observation stations (b) (The intersection of the red and blue line is the average of NTA and NDIC for seawater samples.)

Fig.10 The relationship between pCO2 and temperature (a), ptCO2 and AOU (b) in seawater in the 24 h fixed-point continuous observation stations

Fig.11 Daily contributions of CO2 air-sea exchange and biological processes to DIC, TA and pCO2 in seawater

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Variation characteristics and regulation mechanism of pCO₂ in typical subtropical coral reefs area in spring

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