Low-active high-density Noctiluca scintillans cells in surface seawater
Kuninao Tada,
Toshimasa Asahi,
Saho Kitatsuji,
Mika Nomura,
Hitomi Yamaguchi,
Kazuhiko Ichimi
Affiliations
Kuninao Tada
Faculty of Agriculture, Kagawa University, Ikenobe, Japan; Seto Inland Sea Regional Research Center, Kagawa University, Saiwai-cho, Takamatsu, Kagawa, Japan; Corresponding author at: Faculty of Agriculture, Kagawa University, 2393 Ikenobe, Miki, Kagawa 761–0795, Japan.
Toshimasa Asahi
Faculty of Agriculture, Kagawa University, Ikenobe, Japan
Saho Kitatsuji
Faculty of Agriculture, Kagawa University, Ikenobe, Japan; National Research Institute of Fisheries and Environment of Inland Sea, Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency, Maruishi, Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima, Japan
Mika Nomura
Faculty of Agriculture, Kagawa University, Ikenobe, Japan
Hitomi Yamaguchi
Faculty of Agriculture, Kagawa University, Ikenobe, Japan
Kazuhiko Ichimi
Aji Marine Station, Seto Inland Sea Regional Research Center, Kagawa University, Kamano, Aji, Takamatsu, Kagawa, Japan
Summary: Noctiluca scintillans is an important member of the mesozooplankton in terms of biomass and production in the Seto Inland Sea, Japan. The densities and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) contents of N. scintillans cells were measured. Vertical profiles of N. scintillans cellular activity in the coastal water were determined and the ATP contents were high at middle layers, with a maximum depth of 10 m. ATP contents were low in the surface and lower layers. These results suggest that active N. scintillans cells in subsurface layers with low density play an important role in the coastal ecosystem, and high-density cells in the surface water are not active.