Distribution, partitioning and sources of dissolved and particulate nitrogen and phosphorus in the north Yellow Sea

• Dissolved organic N and P were predominant forms.
• Spatial variation of nutrients was related to rivers and biological activities.
• The major source of particulate N and P was phytoplankton production.

Little is known about characteristics of dissolved and particulate N and P forms in the north Yellow Sea (NYS). In this study, water and particulate samples were collected from the NYS to understand the biogeochemical behaviors, interactions and sources of dissolved and particulate N and P. Among the various N and P forms, dissolved organic N (DON) and P (DOP) were the predominant forms, accounting for 64% and 65% of total N (TN) and P (TP). Dissolved and particulate inorganic N and P displayed a decreasing trend from northwest region to the middle region, which was mainly influenced by riverine input along the Liaodong Peninsula coast. However, dissolved and particulate organic N and P showed higher values at northwest region and southern region, which were dominantly affected by biological activities and the Bohai Sea input. Vertical distribution patterns of dissolved and particulate N and P generally displayed the higher values at surface and bottom waters, which was the combined result of the influences by thermocline, the Yellow Sea Cold Water Mass (YC), biological activities and sediment resuspension. There were significant correlations between dissolved and particulate pools and between inorganic and organic forms, indicating their transformations through phytoplankton and bacteria activities and adsorption/desorption processes. Budgets suggested that net sink of dissolved inorganic N and P in the NYS could be mainly removed from water column. Particulate N and P were mainly from phytoplankton productivity, contributing to 84% and 74% of total particulate N (TPN) and P (TPP) influx.