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Zhu R, Zhang Z, Zhang N, Zhong H, Zhou F, Zhang X, Liu C, Huang Y, Yuan Y, Wang Y, Li C, Shi H, Rillig MC, Dang F, Ren H, Zhang Y, Xing B. A global estimate of multiecosystem photosynthesis losses under microplastic pollution. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2025; 122:e2423957122. [PMID: 40063820 PMCID: PMC11929485 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2423957122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2024] [Accepted: 02/09/2025] [Indexed: 03/25/2025] Open
Abstract
Understanding how ecosystems respond to ubiquitous microplastic (MP) pollution is crucial for ensuring global food security. Here, we conduct a multiecosystem meta-analysis of 3,286 data points and reveal that MP exposure leads to a global reduction in photosynthesis of 7.05 to 12.12% in terrestrial plants, marine algae, and freshwater algae. These reductions align with those estimated by a constructed machine learning model using current MP pollution levels, showing that MP exposure reduces the chlorophyll content of photoautotrophs by 10.96 to 12.84%. Model estimates based on the identified MP-photosynthesis nexus indicate annual global losses of 4.11 to 13.52% (109.73 to 360.87 MT·y-1) for main crops and 0.31 to 7.24% (147.52 to 3415.11 MT C·y-1) for global aquatic net primary productivity induced by MPs. Under scenarios of efficient plastic mitigation, e.g., a ~13% global reduction in environmental MP levels, the MP-induced photosynthesis losses are estimated to decrease by ~30%, avoiding a global loss of 22.15 to 115.73 MT·y-1 in main crop production and 0.32 to 7.39 MT·y-1 in seafood production. These findings underscore the urgency of integrating plastic mitigation into global hunger and sustainability initiatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruijie Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing210023, China
| | - Zhaoying Zhang
- International Institute for Earth System Sciences, Jiangsu Center for Collaborative Innovation in Geographical Information Resource Development and Application, Nanjing University, Nanjing210023, China
- Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Geographic Information Science and Technology, Key Laboratory for Land Satellite Remote Sensing Applications of Ministry of Natural Resources, School of Geography and Ocean Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing210023, China
- International Joint Carbon Neutrality Laboratory, Nanjing University, Nanjing210023, China
| | - Naichi Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing211135, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing100049, China
| | - Huan Zhong
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing210023, China
| | - Fanqi Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing210023, China
| | - Xiao Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing210023, China
| | - Cun Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing211135, China
| | - Yingnan Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing211135, China
| | - Yuan Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing211135, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing100049, China
| | - Yujun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing211135, China
| | - Chengjun Li
- Institute of Environmental Research at Greater Bay Area, Key Laboratory for Water Quality and Conservation of the Pearl River Delta, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou510006, China
| | - Huahong Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University Shanghai, Shanghai200241, China
| | - Matthias C. Rillig
- Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin14195, Germany
- Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research, Berlin14195, Germany
| | - Fei Dang
- State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing211135, China
| | - Hongqiang Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing210023, China
| | - Yongguang Zhang
- International Institute for Earth System Sciences, Jiangsu Center for Collaborative Innovation in Geographical Information Resource Development and Application, Nanjing University, Nanjing210023, China
- Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Geographic Information Science and Technology, Key Laboratory for Land Satellite Remote Sensing Applications of Ministry of Natural Resources, School of Geography and Ocean Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing210023, China
- International Joint Carbon Neutrality Laboratory, Nanjing University, Nanjing210023, China
| | - Baoshan Xing
- Stockbridge School of Agriculture, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA01003
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Zhang W, Pan S, Yu L, Zhang H, Chen F, Song G, Hu J, Wei Q, Zhao H, Chen J, Zhou F. Dissolved oxygen depletion in Chinese coastal waters. WATER RESEARCH 2025; 272:123004. [PMID: 39729912 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.123004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2024] [Revised: 12/13/2024] [Accepted: 12/16/2024] [Indexed: 12/29/2024]
Abstract
Estuarine and coastal environments have experienced dissolved oxygen (DO hereafter) depression and hypoxia due to increasingly intensified anthropogenic eutrophication and climate warming. This review compared diverse systems in Chinese coastal waters that experience DO depletion or hypoxia, aiming to identify essential aspects in advancing the abilities in comprehensively understanding DO dynamics across systems that span wide ranges of physical and biogeochemical environments. The coastal DO depression and relevant ecological consequences around the world are generally overviewed. DO depression in specific systems around Chinese coastal waters, ranging from large estuarine-coastal system to small embayment, are selected to synthetically understand the environment, the controlling processes, the evolution of eutrophication level, and the potential environmental changes under warming trend. Stressed ecosystems would be put at higher risks with high confidence due to increased complexity and uncertainty caused by future socioeconomic transformation and climate warming. This review proposes key aspects to advancing the abilities in predicting, managing, and mitigating DO stress for marine ecosystems in Chinese coastal waters, potentially providing a framework to discuss future DO changes in the coastal waters worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenxia Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Satellite Ocean Environment Dynamics, Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou, China.
| | - Song Pan
- National Marine Data and Information Service, Ministry of Natural Resources, Tianjin, China
| | - Liuqian Yu
- Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences Thrust, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou), Guangzhou, China
| | - Haiyan Zhang
- Tianjin Key Laboratory for Marine Environmental Research and Service, School of Marine Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Fajin Chen
- College of Ocean and Meteorology, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, China
| | - Guisheng Song
- Tianjin Key Laboratory for Marine Environmental Research and Service, School of Marine Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Jiatang Hu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qinsheng Wei
- First Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Qingdao, China
| | - Huade Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in South China Sea, Hainan University, Haikou, China
| | - Jianfang Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Satellite Ocean Environment Dynamics, Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou, China
| | - Feng Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Satellite Ocean Environment Dynamics, Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou, China.
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Chen X, Chen J, Chen S, Wang C, Sun Y, Jiang G, Wu M, Li J. Spatial‒temporal pattern of primary productivity in the South China Sea under the monsoon regulation: Insights from observations of 2003-2022. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2025; 205:107015. [PMID: 39987771 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2025.107015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2024] [Revised: 12/22/2024] [Accepted: 02/12/2025] [Indexed: 02/25/2025]
Abstract
Spatiotemporal analysis of Ocean Primary Production (OPP) is highly important for monitoring, conserving, and sustainable development of marine environment and ecosystems. Because of the influence of several factors such as temperature increasing, nutrients, wind and ocean dynamics, the analysis and prediction of the seasonal evolution and interannual trend of OPP have become more difficult and challenging. Taking the South China Sea (SCS) as the study area, this research conducted the comparative analysis of three widely used models in the SCS and identified the Vertical Generalized Production Model (VGPM) as the optimal model (R2 = 0.64, uRMSD = 0.25). We constructed a long-term data analysis framework for OPP, focusing on the typical spatial distribution characteristics in different month and the interannual trends. The framework is based on OPP, wind speed (WS), and sea surface height (SSH) data from 2003 to 2022 and utilizes empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis, the seasonal Kendall (SK) test, harmonic analysis, and the monsoon index. The results revealed that the first and second modes drive the patterns of January and August in winter and summer, respectively. Additionally, the fourth mode had dipole pattern in the SCS, capturing the main spatial distribution characteristics of the OPP in the northern SCS and southeastern Vietnam. The results from the SK test and harmonic analysis demonstrated that the most pronounced interannual decreases in OPP are in the northern SCS (lowest to -0.028897 mg∙C∙m-2∙d-1∙a-1), northwestern Luzon Island (lowest to -0.0115123 mg∙C∙m-2∙d-1∙a-1) and southeastern Vietnam (lowest to -0.0121879 mg∙C∙m-2∙d-1∙a-1). Furthermore, we quantified the impact of monsoons on OPP in the SCS, and positive correlations in southeastern Vietnam and dipole patterns in the northern SCS to northwestern SCS were identified. Finally, we evaluated the impacts of the El Niño‒Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) on OPP via their intensity indices. These findings provide insight into the biogeochemical cycling mechanisms in the SCS, with profound implications for local fisheries, the environment, and climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingda Chen
- Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, China; Key Laboratory of Guangdong for Utilization of Remote Sensing and Geographical Information System, Guangdong Open Laboratory of Geospatial Information Technology and Application, Guangdong Engineering Technology Research Center of Remote Sensing Big Data Application, Guangzhou Institute of Geography, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510070, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Jinyue Chen
- Shenzhen Research Institute of Shandong University, Shenzhen, 518057, China; Academician Workstation for Big Data in Ecology and Environment, Environment Research Institute, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, China
| | - Shuisen Chen
- Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, China; Key Laboratory of Guangdong for Utilization of Remote Sensing and Geographical Information System, Guangdong Open Laboratory of Geospatial Information Technology and Application, Guangdong Engineering Technology Research Center of Remote Sensing Big Data Application, Guangzhou Institute of Geography, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510070, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
| | - Chongyang Wang
- Key Laboratory of Guangdong for Utilization of Remote Sensing and Geographical Information System, Guangdong Open Laboratory of Geospatial Information Technology and Application, Guangdong Engineering Technology Research Center of Remote Sensing Big Data Application, Guangzhou Institute of Geography, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510070, China
| | - Yishan Sun
- Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, China; Key Laboratory of Guangdong for Utilization of Remote Sensing and Geographical Information System, Guangdong Open Laboratory of Geospatial Information Technology and Application, Guangdong Engineering Technology Research Center of Remote Sensing Big Data Application, Guangzhou Institute of Geography, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510070, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Guangjia Jiang
- South China Sea Environment Monitoring Center, State Oceanic Administration, Guangzhou, 510300, China
| | - Man Wu
- Research Center for Carbon Sink and Low-Carbon Engineering in the Beibu Gulf of Guangxi, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Guangxi Academy of Sciences, Nanning, 530007, China
| | - Jian Li
- Key Laboratory of Guangdong for Utilization of Remote Sensing and Geographical Information System, Guangdong Open Laboratory of Geospatial Information Technology and Application, Guangdong Engineering Technology Research Center of Remote Sensing Big Data Application, Guangzhou Institute of Geography, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510070, China
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4
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Gerace SD, Yu J, Moore JK, Martiny AC. Observed declines in upper ocean phosphate-to-nitrate availability. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2025; 122:e2411835122. [PMID: 39903118 PMCID: PMC11831131 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2411835122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2024] [Accepted: 12/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/06/2025] Open
Abstract
Climate warming is increasing ocean stratification, which in turn should decrease the nutrient flux to the upper ocean. This may slow marine primary productivity, causing cascading effects throughout food webs. However, observing changes in upper ocean nutrients is challenging because surface concentrations are often below detection limits. We show that the nutricline depth, where nutrient concentrations reach well-detected levels, is tied to productivity and upper ocean nutrient availability. Next, we quantify nutricline depths from a global database of observed vertical nitrate and phosphate profiles to assess contemporary trends in global nutrient availability (1972-2022). We find strong evidence that the P-nutricline (phosphacline) is mostly deepening, especially throughout the southern hemisphere, but the N-nutricline (nitracline) remains mostly stable. Earth System Model (ESM) simulations support the hypothesis that reduced iron stress and increased nitrogen fixation buffer the nitracline, but not phosphacline, against increasing stratification. These contemporary trends are expected to continue in the coming decades, leading to increasing phosphorus but not nitrogen stress for marine phytoplankton, with important ramifications for ocean biogeochemistry and food web dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Skylar D. Gerace
- Department of Earth System Science, University of California, Irvine92697
| | - Jun Yu
- Department of Earth System Science, University of California, Irvine92697
| | - J. Keith Moore
- Department of Earth System Science, University of California, Irvine92697
| | - Adam C. Martiny
- Department of Earth System Science, University of California, Irvine92697
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Irvine92697
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5
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Li Z, Luk HC, Arromrak BS, Gaitan-Espitia JD. Nitrogen source and availability regulate plastic population dynamics in the marine diatom Thalassiosira weissflogii. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 202:106733. [PMID: 39255628 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2024.106733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2024] [Revised: 08/30/2024] [Accepted: 09/02/2024] [Indexed: 09/12/2024]
Abstract
Variation in nitrogen (N) availability significantly influences population dynamics and the productivity of marine phytoplankton. As N availability in the ocean is conditioned by the N source, it is important to understand the capacity of phytoplankton organisms to adjust their physiology and dynamics under different N conditions. We investigated the growth dynamics of Thalassiosira weissflogii, a coastal diatom, in response to different N sources (Nitrate, NO3-; Ammonium, NH4+; urea, CH4N2O) and availabilities (45 and 5 μM). Our findings demonstrate that T. weissflogii can display plastic adjustments in population dynamics to different N sources. These responses evidenced a greater preference for NH4+ and urea than NO3-, particularly under high N availability. The relative growth rate (μ) is higher (1.18 ± 0.01) under NH4+-high treatment compared to NO3--high (1.01 ± 0.01). The carrying capacity (K) varied only among concentrations, indicating equal N utilization efficiency for biomass production. No effects of N source were detected under the low concentration, suggesting that the preference for NH₄⁺ and urea was diminished by limited nitrogen supply due to potential interactions. These results provide valuable insights into the physiological flexibility of T. weissflogii to varying N conditions, shedding light on the ecological success and resilience of this species in highly variable coastal environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenzhen Li
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Marine Bioresources and Environment and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang, China; The Swire Institute of Marine Science and School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
| | - Hau Ching Luk
- The Division of Life Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong SAR, China.
| | - Bovern Suchart Arromrak
- The Swire Institute of Marine Science and School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
| | - Juan Diego Gaitan-Espitia
- The Swire Institute of Marine Science and School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Institute for Climate and Carbon Neutrality, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
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6
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James CC, Allen AE, Lampe RH, Rabines A, Barton AD. Endemic, cosmopolitan, and generalist taxa and their habitat affinities within a coastal marine microbiome. Sci Rep 2024; 14:22408. [PMID: 39333653 PMCID: PMC11437011 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-69991-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 08/12/2024] [Indexed: 09/29/2024] Open
Abstract
The relative prevalence of endemic and cosmopolitan biogeographic ranges in marine microbes, and the factors that shape these patterns, are not well known. Using prokaryotic and eukaryotic amplicon sequence data spanning 445 near-surface samples in the Southern California Current region from 2014 to 2020, we quantified the proportion of taxa exhibiting endemic, cosmopolitan, and generalist distributions in this region. Using in-situ data on temperature, salinity, and nitrogen, we categorized oceanic habitats that were internally consistent but whose location varied over time. In this context, we defined cosmopolitan taxa as those that appeared in all regional habitats and endemics as taxa that only appeared in one habitat. Generalists were defined as taxa occupying more than one but not all habitats. We also quantified each taxon's habitat affinity, defined as habitats where taxa were significantly more abundant than expected. Approximately 20% of taxa exhibited endemic ranges, while around 30% exhibited cosmopolitan ranges. Most microbial taxa (50.3%) were generalists. Many of these taxa had no habitat affinity (> 70%) and were relatively rare. Our results for this region show that, like terrestrial systems and for metazoans, cosmopolitan and endemic biogeographies are common, but with the addition of a large number of taxa that are rare and randomly distributed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chase C James
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
- University of Southern California, 3620 S Vermont Ave, Los Angeles, CA, 90007, USA
| | - Andrew E Allen
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.
- J. Craig Venter Institute, 4120 Capricorn Lane, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA.
| | - Robert H Lampe
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
- J. Craig Venter Institute, 4120 Capricorn Lane, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Ariel Rabines
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
- J. Craig Venter Institute, 4120 Capricorn Lane, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Andrew D Barton
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.
- Department of Ecology, Behavior and Evolution, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.
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Stukel MR, Décima M, Fender CK, Gutierrez-Rodriguez A, Selph KE. Gelatinous filter feeders increase ecosystem efficiency. Commun Biol 2024; 7:1039. [PMID: 39179787 PMCID: PMC11343865 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-06717-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 08/12/2024] [Indexed: 08/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Gelatinous filter feeders (e.g., salps, doliolids, and pyrosomes) have high filtration rates and can feed at predator:prey size ratios exceeding 10,000:1, yet are seldom included in ecosystem or climate models. We investigated foodweb and trophic dynamics in the presence and absence of salp blooms using traditional productivity and grazing measurements combined with compound-specific isotopic analysis of amino acids estimation of trophic position during Lagrangian framework experiments in the Southern Ocean. Trophic positions of salps ranging 10-132 mm in size were 2.2 ± 0.3 (mean ± std) compared to 2.6 ± 0.4 for smaller (mostly crustacean) mesozooplankton. The mostly herbivorous salp trophic position was maintained despite biomass dominance of ~10-µm-sized primary producers. We show that potential energy flux to >10-cm organisms increases by approximately an order of magnitude when salps are abundant, even without substantial alteration to primary production. Comparison to a wider dataset from other marine regions shows that alterations to herbivore communities are a better predictor of ecosystem transfer efficiency than primary-producer dynamics. These results suggest that diverse consumer communities and intraguild predation complicate climate change predictions (e.g., trophic amplification) based on linear food chains. These compensatory foodweb dynamics should be included in models that forecast marine ecosystem responses to warming and reduced nutrient supply.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael R Stukel
- Department of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA.
- Center for Ocean-Atmospheric Prediction Studies, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA.
| | - Moira Décima
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Christian K Fender
- Department of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA
| | | | - Karen E Selph
- Department of Oceanography, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI, USA
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Selden CR, LaBrie R, Ganley LC, Crocker DR, Peleg O, Perry DC, Reich HG, Sasaki M, Thibodeau PS, Isanta-Navarro J. Is our understanding of aquatic ecosystems sufficient to quantify ecologically driven climate feedbacks? GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2024; 30:e17351. [PMID: 38837306 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.17351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2024] [Revised: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
The Earth functions as an integrated system-its current habitability to complex life is an emergent property dependent on interactions among biological, chemical, and physical components. As global warming affects ecosystem structure and function, so too will the biosphere affect climate by altering atmospheric gas composition and planetary albedo. Constraining these ecosystem-climate feedbacks is essential to accurately predict future change and develop mitigation strategies; however, the interplay among ecosystem processes complicates the assessment of their impact. Here, we explore the state-of-knowledge on how ecological and biological processes (e.g., competition, trophic interactions, metabolism, and adaptation) affect the directionality and magnitude of feedbacks between ecosystems and climate, using illustrative examples from the aquatic sphere. We argue that, despite ample evidence for the likely significance of many, our present understanding of the combinatorial effects of ecosystem dynamics precludes the robust quantification of most ecologically driven climate feedbacks. Constraining these effects must be prioritized within the ecological sciences for only by studying the biosphere as both subject and arbiter of global climate can we develop a sufficiently holistic view of the Earth system to accurately predict Earth's future and unravel its past.
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Affiliation(s)
- Corday R Selden
- Department of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey, USA
| | - Richard LaBrie
- Interdisciplinary Environmental Research Centre, TU Bergakademie Freiberg, Freiberg, Germany
| | - Laura C Ganley
- Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life, New England Aquarium, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Daniel R Crocker
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Ohad Peleg
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Danielle C Perry
- Department of Natural Resources Science, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Hannah G Reich
- Department of Biological Sciences, Biological Sciences, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire, USA
| | - Matthew Sasaki
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of Connecticut, Mansfield, Connecticut, USA
| | - Patricia S Thibodeau
- School of Marine and Environmental Programs, University of New England, Biddeford, Maine, USA
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9
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Zhu Y, Mulholland MR, Bernhardt PW, Neeley AR, Widner B, Tapia AM, Echevarria MA. Nitrogen uptake rates and phytoplankton composition across contrasting North Atlantic Ocean coastal regimes north and south of Cape Hatteras. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1380179. [PMID: 38784802 PMCID: PMC11113559 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1380179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Understanding nitrogen (N) uptake rates respect to nutrient availability and the biogeography of phytoplankton communities is crucial for untangling the complexities of marine ecosystems and the physical, biological, and chemical forces shaping them. In the summer of 2016, we conducted measurements of bulk microbial uptake rates for six 15N-labeled substrates: nitrate, nitrite, ammonium, urea, cyanate, and dissolve free amino acids across distinct marine provinces, including the continental shelf of the Mid-and South Atlantic Bights (MAB and SAB), the Slope Sea, and the Gulf Stream, marking the first instance of simultaneously measuring six different N uptake rates in this dynamic region. Total measured N uptake rates were lowest in the Gulf Stream followed by the SAB. Notably, the MAB exhibited significantly higher N uptake rates compared to the SAB, likely due to the excess levels of pre-existing phosphorus present in the MAB. Together, urea and nitrate uptake contributed approximately 50% of the total N uptake across the study region. Although cyanate uptake rates were consistently low, they accounted for up to 11% of the total measured N uptake at some Gulf Stream stations. Phytoplankton groups were identified based on specific pigment markers, revealing a dominance of diatoms in the shelf community, while Synechococcus, Prochlorococcus, and pico-eukaryotes dominated in oligotrophic Gulf Stream waters. The reported uptake rates in this study were mostly in agreement with previous studies conducted in coastal waters of the North Atlantic Ocean. This study suggests there are distinct regional patterns of N uptake in this physically dynamic region, correlating with nutrient availability and phytoplankton community composition. These findings contribute valuable insights into the intricate interplay of biological and chemical factors shaping N dynamics in disparate marine ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yifan Zhu
- Department of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, United States
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of Connecticut, Groton, CT, United States
| | - Margaret R. Mulholland
- Department of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, United States
| | - Peter W. Bernhardt
- Department of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, United States
| | | | - Brittany Widner
- Department of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, United States
| | - Alfonso Macías Tapia
- Department of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, United States
- Office of Education, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Michael A. Echevarria
- Department of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, United States
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10
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Shu H, Shen Y, Wang H, Sun X, Ma J, Lin X. Biogenic Phosphonate Utilization by Globally Distributed Diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana. Microorganisms 2024; 12:761. [PMID: 38674705 PMCID: PMC11051927 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12040761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2024] [Revised: 03/29/2024] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Phosphonates are a class of organic phosphorus (P) compounds that contribute ~25% of dissolved organic P. Recent studies reveal the important role of phosphonates mediated by prokaryotes in the marine P redox cycle. However, its bioavailability by eukaryotic phytoplankton is under debate. 2-Aminoethylphosphonic acid (2-AEP) and 2-amino-3-phosphonopropionic acid (2-AP3) are two biogenic phosphonates in the marine environment. Here, Thalassiosira pseudonana, a common diatom species in the ocean, is able to recover growth from P starvation when provided with 2-AEP and 2-AP3. Moreover, 2-AEP cultures exhibited a more similar growth rate at 12 °C than at 25 °C when compared with inorganic P cultures. The cellular stoichiometry of 2-AEP groups was further determined, the values of which are in-between the P-depleted and DIP-replete cultures. This study provides evidence that biogenic phosphonates could be adopted as alternative P sources to support diatom growth and may provide physiological adaptation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huilin Shu
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China; (H.S.); (Y.S.); (H.W.); (X.S.); (J.M.)
- College of the Environment and Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
- College of Life Sciences, Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang 330022, China
| | - Yuan Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China; (H.S.); (Y.S.); (H.W.); (X.S.); (J.M.)
- College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Hongwei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China; (H.S.); (Y.S.); (H.W.); (X.S.); (J.M.)
- College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Xueqiong Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China; (H.S.); (Y.S.); (H.W.); (X.S.); (J.M.)
- College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Jian Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China; (H.S.); (Y.S.); (H.W.); (X.S.); (J.M.)
- College of the Environment and Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Xin Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China; (H.S.); (Y.S.); (H.W.); (X.S.); (J.M.)
- College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
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11
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Jin H, Zhang C, Meng S, Wang Q, Ding X, Meng L, Zhuang Y, Yao X, Gao Y, Shi F, Mock T, Gao H. Atmospheric deposition and river runoff stimulate the utilization of dissolved organic phosphorus in coastal seas. Nat Commun 2024; 15:658. [PMID: 38291022 PMCID: PMC10828365 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-44838-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/01/2024] Open
Abstract
In coastal seas, the role of atmospheric deposition and river runoff in dissolved organic phosphorus (DOP) utilization is not well understood. Here, we address this knowledge gap by combining microcosm experiments with a global approach considering the relationship between the activity of alkaline phosphatases and changes in phytoplankton biomass in relation to the concentration of dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP). Our results suggest that the addition of aerosols and riverine water stimulate the biological utilization of DOP in coastal seas primarily by depleting DIP due to increasing nitrogen concentrations, which enhances phytoplankton growth. This "Anthropogenic Nitrogen Pump" was therefore identified to make DOP an important source of phosphorus for phytoplankton in coastal seas but only when the ratio of chlorophyll a to DIP [Log10 (Chl a / DIP)] is larger than 1.20. Our study therefore suggests that anthropogenic nitrogen input might contribute to the phosphorus cycle in coastal seas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haoyu Jin
- Frontiers Science Center for Deep Ocean Multispheres and Earth System, and Key Laboratory of Marine Environment and Ecology, Ministry of Education of China, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266100, China
- Marine Ecology and Environmental Science Laboratory, Laoshan Laboratory, Qingdao, 266071, China
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK
| | - Chao Zhang
- Frontiers Science Center for Deep Ocean Multispheres and Earth System, and Key Laboratory of Marine Environment and Ecology, Ministry of Education of China, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266100, China.
- Marine Ecology and Environmental Science Laboratory, Laoshan Laboratory, Qingdao, 266071, China.
| | - Siyu Meng
- Frontiers Science Center for Deep Ocean Multispheres and Earth System, and Key Laboratory of Marine Environment and Ecology, Ministry of Education of China, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266100, China
- Marine Ecology and Environmental Science Laboratory, Laoshan Laboratory, Qingdao, 266071, China
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK
| | - Qin Wang
- Frontiers Science Center for Deep Ocean Multispheres and Earth System, and Key Laboratory of Marine Environment and Ecology, Ministry of Education of China, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266100, China
- Marine Ecology and Environmental Science Laboratory, Laoshan Laboratory, Qingdao, 266071, China
| | - Xiaokun Ding
- School of Ocean, Yantai University, Yantai, 264005, China
| | - Ling Meng
- CAS Key Laboratory of Coastal Environmental Processes and Ecological Remediation, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai, 264003, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Yunyun Zhuang
- Frontiers Science Center for Deep Ocean Multispheres and Earth System, and Key Laboratory of Marine Environment and Ecology, Ministry of Education of China, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266100, China
- Marine Ecology and Environmental Science Laboratory, Laoshan Laboratory, Qingdao, 266071, China
| | - Xiaohong Yao
- Frontiers Science Center for Deep Ocean Multispheres and Earth System, and Key Laboratory of Marine Environment and Ecology, Ministry of Education of China, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266100, China
- Marine Ecology and Environmental Science Laboratory, Laoshan Laboratory, Qingdao, 266071, China
| | - Yang Gao
- Frontiers Science Center for Deep Ocean Multispheres and Earth System, and Key Laboratory of Marine Environment and Ecology, Ministry of Education of China, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266100, China
- Marine Ecology and Environmental Science Laboratory, Laoshan Laboratory, Qingdao, 266071, China
| | - Feng Shi
- Frontiers Science Center for Deep Ocean Multispheres and Earth System, and Key Laboratory of Marine Environment and Ecology, Ministry of Education of China, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266100, China
- Marine Ecology and Environmental Science Laboratory, Laoshan Laboratory, Qingdao, 266071, China
| | - Thomas Mock
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK.
| | - Huiwang Gao
- Frontiers Science Center for Deep Ocean Multispheres and Earth System, and Key Laboratory of Marine Environment and Ecology, Ministry of Education of China, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266100, China.
- Marine Ecology and Environmental Science Laboratory, Laoshan Laboratory, Qingdao, 266071, China.
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12
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Sheward RM, Liefer JD, Irwin AJ, Finkel ZV. Elemental stoichiometry of the key calcifying marine phytoplankton Emiliania huxleyi under ocean climate change: A meta-analysis. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2023; 29:4259-4278. [PMID: 37279257 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Revised: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The elemental composition of marine microorganisms (their C:N:P ratio, or stoichiometry) is central to understanding the biotic and biogeochemical processes underlying key marine ecosystem functions. Phytoplankton C:N:P is species specific and flexible to changing environmental conditions. However, bulk or fixed phytoplankton stoichiometry is usually assumed in biogeochemical and ecological models because more realistic, environmentally responsive C:N:P ratios have yet to be defined for key functional groups. Here, a comprehensive meta-analysis of experimental laboratory data reveals the variable C:N:P stoichiometry of Emiliania huxleyi, a globally significant calcifying phytoplankton species. Mean C:N:P of E. huxleyi is 124C:16N:1P under control conditions (i.e. growth not limited by one or more environmental stressors) and shows a range of responses to changes in nutrient and light availability, temperature and pCO2 . Macronutrient limitation caused strong shifts in stoichiometry, increasing N:P and C:P under P deficiency (by 305% and 493% respectively) and doubling C:N under N deficiency. Responses to light, temperature and pCO2 were mixed but typically shifted cellular elemental content and C:N:P stoichiometry by ca. 30% or less. Besides these independent effects, the interactive effects of multiple environmental changes on E. huxleyi stoichiometry under future ocean conditions could be additive, synergistic or antagonistic. To synthesise our meta-analysis results, we explored how the cellular elemental content and C:N:P stoichiometry of E. huxleyi may respond to two hypothetical future ocean scenarios (increased temperature, irradiance and pCO2 combined with either N deficiency or P deficiency) if an additive effect is assumed. Both future scenarios indicate decreased calcification (which is predominantly sensitive to elevated pCO2 ), increased C:N, and up to fourfold shifts in C:P and N:P. Our results strongly suggest that climate change will significantly alter the role of E. huxleyi (and potentially other calcifying phytoplankton species) in marine biogeochemical processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosie M Sheward
- Institute of Geosciences, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Department of Geography and Environment, Mount Allison University, Sackville, New Brunswick, Canada
| | - Justin D Liefer
- Department of Biology/Geography and Environment, Mount Allison University, Sackville, New Brunswick, Canada
| | - Andrew J Irwin
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Zoe V Finkel
- Department of Oceanography, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
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13
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Chien CT, Pahlow M, Schartau M, Li N, Oschlies A. Effects of phytoplankton physiology on global ocean biogeochemistry and climate. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadg1725. [PMID: 37494440 PMCID: PMC10371029 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adg1725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023]
Abstract
The similarity of the average ratios of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) in marine dissolved inorganic and particulate organic matter, dN:P and pN:P, respectively, indicates tight links between those pools in the world ocean. Here, we analyze this linkage by varying phytoplankton N and P subsistence quotas in an optimality-based ecosystem model coupled to an Earth system model. The analysis of our ensemble of simulations discloses various feedbacks between changes in the N and P quotas, N2 fixation, and denitrification that weaken the often-hypothesized tight coupling between dN:P and pN:P. We demonstrate the importance of particulate N:C and P:C ratios for regulating dN:P on the global scale, with marine oxygen level being an important control. Our analysis provides further insight into the potential interdependence of phytoplankton physiology and global climate conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chia-Te Chien
- GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Düsternbrooker Weg 20, 24105 Kiel, Germany
| | - Markus Pahlow
- GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Düsternbrooker Weg 20, 24105 Kiel, Germany
| | - Markus Schartau
- GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Düsternbrooker Weg 20, 24105 Kiel, Germany
| | - Na Li
- GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Düsternbrooker Weg 20, 24105 Kiel, Germany
| | - Andreas Oschlies
- GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Düsternbrooker Weg 20, 24105 Kiel, Germany
- Kiel University, 24118 Kiel, Germany
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14
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Tang K, Liu L. Bacteria are driving the ocean's organosulfur cycle. Trends Microbiol 2023:S0966-842X(23)00156-7. [PMID: 37280134 DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2023.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2023] [Revised: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Bacteria are key players in the marine sulfur cycle, from the sunlit ocean surface to the dark abyssal depths. Here, we provide a brief overview of the interlinked metabolic processes of organosulfur compounds, an elusive sulfur cycling process that exists in the dark ocean, and the current challenges that limit our understanding of this key nutrient cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China.
| | - Le Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
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