东印度洋微微型浮游植物的分子生态学研究

Picophytoplankton, as the important primary producer in the ocean, is the key contributor of phytoplankton biomass and primary productivity in the oligotrophic waters of the tropical and subtropical oceans. Picophytoplankton plays a vital role in energy flow and nutrient cycling of marine ecosystem, and regulates climate processes and biogeochemical cycles. The climate change in China can be affected by the monsoon and sea surface temperature in the eastern Indian Ocean. The picophytoplankton community and diversity in the eastern Indian Ocean has remained elusive, although there are many studies were conducted on hydrographic and circulation characteristics. In this project, the horizontal and vertical variation of picophytoplankton community, diversity and abundance in the eastern Indian Ocean is investigated by the method of molecular biology. We establish the relationship between the picophytoplankton community structure and the environmental factors, and clarify the picophytoplankton response to the surrounding environment. Molecular ecology characteristics of picophytoplankton in the eastern Indian Ocean are revealed. This project can not only enrich biological resources data of the eastern India Ocean, but also provide a theoretical basis of carbon cycle and primary productivity estimation.

微微型浮游植物作为海洋重要的初级生产者，是热带亚热带寡营养海域浮游植物生物量和初级生产力的主要贡献者，在海洋生态系统的物质循环和能量流动中具有十分重要的作用，调节着全球气候变化和生源要素的生物地球化学循环。东印度洋的季风和海温与我国气候变化关系密切。目前，对东印度洋的研究大多集中水文和环流等方面，尚不清楚东印度洋海域微微型浮游植物的群落结构、多样性及其影响因素。为此，本项目拟利用分子生物学方法重点研究东印度洋微微型浮游植物的群落结构、多样性和丰度的水平和垂直变化，探讨微微型浮游植物群落结构与环境因子的相互关系，阐明微微型浮游植物对环境的响应，全面系统地揭示东印度洋微微型浮游植物的分子生态学特征。本研究不仅丰富了东印度洋的生物资源资料，而且为该海域碳循环和初级生产力的估计提供理论依据。