Comparison of β-dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) levels in two mediterranean ecosystems with different trophic levels

β-dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) and dimethylsulfide (DMS) concentrations were recorded from September 1999 to September 2000 in two geographically close ecosystems, differently affected by eutrophication: the Little Bay of Toulon and the Niel Bay (N.W. Mediterranean Sea, France). Little Bay had higher nutrient levels ([NO3−]max. = 30.3 μM; [PO43−]max. = 0.46 μM) and higher chlorophyll a concentrations ([chl a]mean = 2.4 μg/L) compared to Niel Bay ([NO3−]max. = 19.7 μM; [PO43−]max. = 0.17 μM; [chl a]mean = 0.4 μg/L). In the two sites, we measured dissolved (DMSPd < 0.2 μm) and particulate DMSP (DMSPp > 0.2 μm) concentrations. The DMSPp was particularly analysed in the 0.2-5, 5-90 and > 90 μm fractions. In the eutrophicated Little Bay, DMSPd concentrations showed a clear seasonality with high values from January to March (124-148 nM). The temporal profile of the DMSPp concentrations was similar, peaking in February-March (38-59 nM). In the less eutrophic Niel Bay, DMSPp concentrations were much lower (6-9 nM in March-April), whereas DMSPd concentrations were relatively high (110-92 nM in February-March). DMS concentrations were elevated from the end of the winter to the spring in Little Bay, ranging from 3 nM in October to 134 nM in March. In the less eutrophic Niel Bay, lower DMS levels were observed, generally not exceeding 20 nM. Each particulate fraction (0.2-5; 5-90; > 90 μm) contained less DMSP in Niel Bay than in Little Bay. At both sites, the 5-90 μm fraction made up most of the DMSPp. This 5-90 μm fraction consisted of microphytoplankton, principally Dinophyceae and Bacillariophyceae. The 5-90 μm biomass calculated from cell biovolumes, was more abundant in Little Bay where the bloom at the end of the winter (165 μg/L in March) occurred at the same time as the DMSP peaks. The estimated DMSPp to biomass ratio for the 5-90 μm fraction was always higher in Little Bay than in Niel Bay. This suggests that the high DMSP levels recorded in Little Bay were not only due to a large Dinophyceae presence in this ecosystem. Indeed, the peak of DMSPp to biomass ratio obtained from cell biovolumes (0.23 nmol/μg in March) was consistent with the proliferation of Alexandrium minutum. This Dinophyceae species may account for between 50% (2894 cells/L) and 63% (4914 cells/L) of the total phytoplankton abundance in the Little Bay of Toulon.