Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Salinity-oriented environmental flows for keystone species in the Modaomen Estuary, China

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Frontiers of Earth Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Rapid development and urbanization in recent years have contributed to a reduction in freshwater discharge and intensified saltwater intrusion in the Pearl River Delta. This comprises a significant threat to potable water supplies and overall estuary ecosystem health. In this study, the environmental flows of the Modaomen Estuary, one of the estuaries of the Pearl River Delta in China, were determined based on the salinity demand of keystone species and the linear relationship between river discharge and estuarine salinity. The estimated minimum and optimal annual environmental flows in the Modaomen Estuary were 116.8 × 109 m3 and 273.8 × 109 m3, respectively, representing 59.3% and 139.0% of the natural runoff. Water quality assessments in recent years indicate that the environmental flows have not been satisfied most of the time, particularly the optimal environmental flow, despite implementation of various water regulations since 2005. Therefore, water regulations and wetland network recoveries based on rational environmental flows should be implemented to alleviate saltwater intrusion and for the creation of an ideal estuarine habitat.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adams J B, Knoop W T, Bate G C (1992). The distribution of estuarine macrophytes in relation to freshwater. Bot Mar, 35(3): 215–226

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ahel M, Barlow R G, Mantoura R F C (1996). Effect of salinity gradients on the distribution of phytoplankton pigments in a stratified estuary. Mar Ecol Prog Ser, 143(1): 289–295

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Arthington A H, Bunn S E, Poff N L R, Naiman R J (2006). The challenge of providing environmental flow rules to sustain river ecosystems. Ecol Appl, 16(4): 1311–1318

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bagajewicz MJ, Savelski MJ (2001). On the use of linear models for the design of water utilization systems in process plants with a single contaminant. Chem Eng Res Des, 79: 600–610

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Becker M L, Luettich R A, Mallin M A (2010). Hydrodynamic behavior of the Cape Fear River and estuarine system: a synthesis and observational investigation of discharge–salinity intrusion relationships. Estuar Coast Shelf Sci, 88(3): 407–418

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bruce A, Alison C, Tess L (2013). Keystone species. In: Simon A L, ed. Encyclopedia of Biodiversity (2nd Edition). Waltham: Academic Press, 442–457

    Google Scholar 

  • Cui B, Tang N, Zhao X, Bai J (2009). A management-oriented valuation method to determine ecological water requirement for wetlands in the Yellow River Delta of China. J Nat Conserv, 17: 129–141

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cui B, Zhang Z, Lei X (2012). Implementation of diversified ecological networks to strengthen wetland conservation. CLEAN–Soil, Air, Water, 40(10): 1015–1026

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Doering P H, Chamberlain R H, Haunert D E (2002). Using submerged aquatic vegetation to establish minimum and maximum freshwater inflows to the Caloosahatchee Estuary, Florida. Estuaries, 25(6): 1343–1354

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Duan L J, Li S Y, Liu Y, Jiang T, Failler P (2009b). A trophic model of the Pearl River Delta coastal ecosystem. Ocean Coast Manage, 52(7): 359–367

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Duan L J, Li S Y, Liu Y, Moreau J, Christensen V (2009a). Modeling changes in the coastal ecosystem of the Pearl River Estuary from 1981 to 1998. Ecol Modell, 220(20): 2802–2818

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Feng X, Li Y, Shen R (2009). A new approach to design energy efficient water allocation networks. Appl Therm Eng, 29: 2302–2307

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Froeschke J, Stunz G W, Wildhaber M L (2010). Environmental influences on the occurrence of coastal sharks in estuarine waters. Mar Ecol Prog Ser, 407: 279–292

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Geyer W R (2010). Estuarine salinity structure and circulation. Contemporary issues in estuarine physics, transport and water quality. New York: Cambridge University Press, 12–26

    Google Scholar 

  • Gong W, Shen J (2011). The response of salt intrusion to changes in river discharge and tidal mixing during the dry season in the Modaomen Estuary, China. Cont Shelf Res, 31(7): 769–788

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gong W, Shen J, Jia L (2013). Salt intrusion during the dry season in the Huangmaohai Estuary, Pearl River Delta, China. J Mar Syst, 111: 235–252

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huang H, Lin Y, Li C, Lin Q, Cai W, Gao D, Jia X (2001). Ecology study on the benthic animals of Pearl River Estuary. Acta Ecol Sin, 22 (4): 603–607

    Google Scholar 

  • Huang LM, Xie Y J, Wu Z D, Weng C H (2005). Survival experiment of Chilosoyllium plagiosum to temperature and salinity. Journal of Jimei University Natural Science, 10(1): 12–17 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Huang L, Jian W, Song X, Huang X, Liu S, Qian P, Wu M (2004). Species diversity and distribution for phytoplankton of the Pearl River Estuary during rainy and dry seasons. Mar Pollut Bull, 49(7): 588–596

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jackson A E, Ayer S W, Laycock M V (1992). The effect of salinity on growth and amino acid composition in the marine diatom Nitzschia pungens. Can J Bot, 70(11): 2198–2201

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jackson J B, Kirby M X, Berger W H, Bjorndal K A, Botsford L W, Bourque B J, Warner R R (2001). Historical overfishing and the recent collapse of coastal ecosystems. Science, 293(5530): 629–637

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jordán F (2001). Trophic fields. Community Ecol, 2(2): 181–185

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jordán F, Takács–Sánta A, Molnár I (1999). A reliability theoretical quest for keystones. Oikos, 86: 453–462

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kantoussan J, Ecoutin J M, Simier M, de Morais L T, Laë R (2012). Effects of salinity on fish assemblage structure: an evaluation based on taxonomic and functional approaches in the Casamance estuary (Senegal. West Africa). Estuar Coast Shelf Sci, 113: 152–162

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kimmerer W J (2002). Physical, biological, and management responses to variable freshwater inflow into the San Francisco Estuary. Estuaries, 25: 1275–1290

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lance J (1963). The salinity tolerance of some estuarine planktonic copepods. Limnol Oceanogr, 8(4): 440–449

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li C (2004). The Process and Evolution in the South China Estuaries. Beijing: Science Press, 20–49 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Libralato S, Christensen V, Pauly D (2006). A method for identifying keystone species in food web models. Ecol Modell, 195(3): 153–171

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lin J (1981). Studies on the natural regulative adaptability of the Hairtail (Trichiurus haumela) in the oceanic environment. Transactions of Oceanology and Limnology, 1: 58–63 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lin J (1991). Marine fishery resources of China. Mark Sci, 2: 22–27 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Mai B X, Fu J M, Sheng G Y, Kang Y H, Lin Z, Zhang G, Zeng E Y (2002). Chlorinated and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in riverine and estuarine sediments from Pearl River Delta, China. Environ Pollut, 117(3): 457–474

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marshall S, Elliott M (1998). Environmental influences on the fish assemblage of the Humber Estuary, UK. Estuar Coast Shelf Sci, 46 (2): 175–184

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Millero F J (2010). History of the equation of state of seawater. Oceanography (Wash DC), 23: 18–33

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Monismith S G, Kimmerer W, Burau J R, Stacey M T (2002). Structure and flow-induced variability of the subtidal salinity field in northern San Francisco Bay. J Phys Oceanogr, 32(11): 3003–3019

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nicolini M H, Penry D L (2000). Spawning, fertilization, and larval development of Potamocorbula amurensis (Mollusca: Bivalvia) from San Francisco Bay, California. Pac Sci, 54(4): 377–388

    Google Scholar 

  • Ortiz M, Avendaño M, Cantillañez M, Berrios F, Campos L (2010). Trophic mass balanced models and dynamic simulations of benthic communities from La Rinconada Marine Reserve off northern Chile: network properties and multispecies harvest scenario assessments. Aquatic Conservation Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, 20(1): 58–73

    Google Scholar 

  • Paine R T (1966). Food web complexity and species diversity. Am Nat, 100: 65–75

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Paine R T (1995). A conversation on refining the concept of keystone species. Conserv Biol, 9: 962–964

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pauly D, Christensen V, Dalsgaard J, Froese R, Torres F (1998). Fishing down marine food webs. Science, 279(5352): 860–863

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pearl River Water Resources Commission (2005). Material achievements of synchronous hydrological and water quality monitor of west and east river delta during the 2005 dry season. Guangzhou: Pearl River Water Resources Commission (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Peirson W L, Bishop K, Van Senden D, Horton P R, Adamantidis C A (2002). Environmental water requirements to maintain estuarine processes. WRL technical report number 3, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of New South Wales

    Google Scholar 

  • Poff N L, Richter B D, Arthington A H, Bunn S E, Naiman R J, Kendy E, Acreman M, Apse C, Bledsoe B P, Freeman M C, Henriksen J, Jacobson R B, Kennen J G, Merritt D M, O’Keeffe J H, Olden J D, Rogers K, Tharme R E, Warner A (2010). The ecological limits of hydrologic alteration (ELOHA): a new framework for developing regional environmental flow standards. Freshw Biol, 55(1): 147–170

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Power M E, Tilman D, Estes J A, Menge B A, Bond W J, Mills L S (1996). Challenges in the quest for keystones. Bioscience, 46: 609–620

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pritchard DW (1967). What is an estuary: physical viewpoint. Estuaries, 83: 3–5

    Google Scholar 

  • Rijstenbil J W, Mur L R, Wijnholds J J, Sinke J J (1989). Impact of a temporal salinity decrease on growth and nitrogen metabolism of the marine diatom Skeletonema costatum in continuous cultures. Mar Biol, 101(1): 121–129

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Savenije H H (2005). Salinity and Tides in Alluvial Estuaries. Amsterdam: Elsevier

    Google Scholar 

  • Shao K T (2013). Taiwan Fish Database. World Wide Web Electronic Publication. Available from http://fishdb.sinica.edu.tw, Accessed Dec, 2013

    Google Scholar 

  • Simpfendorfer C A, Freitas G G, Wiley T R, Heupel M R (2005). Distribution and habitat partitioning of immature bull sharks (Carcharhinus leucas) in a southwest Florida Estuary. Estuaries, 28 (1): 78–85

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sklar F H, Browder J A (1998). Coastal environmental impacts brought about by alterations to freshwater flow in the Gulf of Mexico. Environ Manage, 22(4): 547–562

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith R (1980). Buoyancy effects upon longitudinal dispersion in wide well-mixed estuaries. Philos Trans R Soc Lond A, 296(1421): 467–496

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sun T, Xu J, Yang Z F (2012). Objective–based method for environmental flow assessment in estuaries and its application to the Yellow River Estuary, China. Estuaries Coasts, 35(3): 892–903

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sun T, Yang Z F, Shen Z Y, Zhao R (2009). Environmental flows for the Yangtze Estuary based on salinity objectives. Commun Nonlinear Sci Numer Simul, 14(3): 959–971

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Takama N, Kuriyama T, Shiroko K, Umeda T (1980). Optimal water allocation in a petroleum refinery. Comput Chem Eng, 4: 251–258

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tharme R E (2003). A global perspective on environmental flow assessment: emerging trends in the development and application of environmental flow methodologies for rivers. River Res Appl, 19(5–6): 397–441

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thessen A E, Dortch Q, Parsons M L, Morrison W (2005). Effect of salinity on pseudo nitzschia species (bacillariophyceae) growth and distribution. J Phycol, 41(1): 21–29

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thieltges D W, Dolch T, Krakau M, Poulin R (2010). Salinity gradient shapes distance decay of similarity among parasite communities in three marine fishes. J Fish Biol, 76(7): 1806–1814

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Trigueros J M, Orive E (2001). Seasonal variations of diatoms and dinoflagellates in a shallow, temperate estuary, with emphasis on neritic assemblages. Hydrobiologia, 444(1–3): 119–133

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tsoi K H, Chiu K M, Chu K H (2005). Effects of temperature and salinity on survival and growth of the amphipod Hyale crassicornis (Gammaridea. Hyalidae). J Nat Hist, 39(4): 325–336

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vasas V, Lancelot C, Rousseau V, Jordán F (2007). Eutrophication and overfishing in temperate nearshore pelagic food webs: a network perspective. Mar Ecol Prog Ser, 336(10): 1–14

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Warren LM (1977). The ecology of Capitella capitata in British waters. J Mar Biol Assoc U K, 57(1): 151–159

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wen P, Chen X H, Liu B, Yang X L (2007). Analysis of tidal saltwater intrusion and its variation in Modaomen channel. Journal of China Hydrology, 27: 65–67 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Whitney M M (2010). A study on river discharge and salinity variability in the Middle Atlantic Bight and Long Island Sound. Cont Shelf Res, 30(3): 305–318

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wong K C (1995). On the relationship between long-term salinity variations and river discharge in the middle reach of the Delaware estuary. Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans (1978–2012), 100 (C10): 20705–20713

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wortmann J, Hearne J W, Adams J B (1998). Evaluating the effects of freshwater inflow on the distribution of estuarine macrophytes. Ecol Modell, 106(2): 213–232

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wu J (1984). Spawning characters of Trichiurus haumela (Forskal) in off-shore waters of Zhejiang Province. J Zhejiang Coll Fish, 3: 109–120 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wu Z, Chen G Q (2014). Analytical solution for scalar transport in open channel flow: slow-decaying transient effect. J Hydrol (Amst), 519: 1974–1984

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wu Z, Zeng L, Chen G Q, Li Z, Shao L, Wang P, Jiang Z (2012). Environmental dispersion in a tidal flow through a depth-dominated wetland. Commun Nonlinear Sci Numer Simul, 17(12): 5007–5025

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xing Y, Ai C, Jin S (2013). A three–dimensional hydrodynamic and salinity transport model of estuarine circulation with an application to a macrotidal estuary. Appl Ocean Res, 39: 53–71

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xu J S, Luo C P (2005). Characteristics of saline water activities in the Pearl River Delta in recent years and major studied basin. Pearl River, 2: 21–23 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ysebaert T, Meire P, Herman P M, Verbeek H (2002). Macrobenthic species response surfaces along estuarine gradients: prediction by logistic regression. Mar Ecol Prog Ser, 225: 79–95

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Z, Cui B, Fan X, Zhang K, Zhao H, Zhang H (2012a). Wetland network design for mitigation of saltwater intrusion by replenishing freshwater in an estuary. CLEAN–Soil, Air, Water, 40(10): 1036–1046

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Z, Cui B, Ou B, Fan X (2012b). Wetland network designed for mitigation of saltwater intrusion by transferring tidal discharge. CLEAN–Soil, Air, Water, 40(10): 1057–1063

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Z, Cui B, Zhao H, Fan X, Zhang H (2010). Discharge-salinity relationships in Modaomen waterway, Pearl River estuary. Procedia Environ Sci, 2: 1235–1245

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao R, Yang Z F, Sun T, Chen B, Chen G Q (2009). Freshwater inflow requirements for the protection of the critical habitat and the drinking water sources in the Yangtze River Estuary, China. Commun Nonlinear Sci Numer Simul, 14(5): 2507–251

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This research was funded by National Basic Research Program of China (No. 2013CB430406), China National Funds for Distinguished Young Scientists (No. 51125035), and National Science Foundation for Innovative Research Group (No. 51121003). The authors have declared no conflict of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China

    Menglu Zhang, Baoshan Cui, Zhiming Zhang & Xuelian Jiang

Authors
  1. Menglu Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Baoshan Cui
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Zhiming Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Xuelian Jiang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Baoshan Cui.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Zhang, M., Cui, B., Zhang, Z. et al. Salinity-oriented environmental flows for keystone species in the Modaomen Estuary, China. Front. Earth Sci. 11, 670–681 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11707-016-0609-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11707-016-0609-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation