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.