Phytoplankton dynamics driven by vertical nutrient fluxes during the spring inter-monsoon period in the northeastern South China Sea.

A field survey from the coastal upwelling zones to the offshore pelagic zones of the northeastern South China Sea (SCS) was conducted during the inter-monsoon period of May 2014 when the region was characterized by prevailing low-nutrient conditions. Comprehensive field measurements were made for not only hydrographic and bio-geochemical properties but also phytoplankton growth and microzooplankton grazing rates. We also performed estimations of the vertical turbulent diffusivity and diffusive nutrient fluxes using a Thorpe-scale method and the upwelling nutrient fluxes by Ek-man pumping using satellite-derived wind stress curl. Our results suggest that phytoplankton patchiness in the northeastern SCS during the study period could be largely controlled by vertical nutrient fluxes with combined contributions from both turbulent diffusion and curl-driven upwelling. Our results also reveal the generally increasing role of turbulent diffusion but decreasing role of curl-driven upwelling on vertical transport of nutrients from the coastal upwelling zones to the offshore pelagic zones in the northeastern SCS. Elevated nutrient fluxes observed near Dongsha Island were found to support high new production leading to net growth of a diatom-rich phytoplankton community, whereas the low nutrient fluxes near southwest Taiwan resulted in a negative net community growth leading to a decline of a picoplankton-dominant phytoplankton bloom. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]