Abstract
The seasonal variations in phytoplankton community structure were investigated for the Sanggou Bay (SGB) and the adjacent Ailian Bay (ALB) and Lidao Bay (LDB) in Shandong Peninsula, eastern China. The species composition and cell abundance of phytoplankton in the bay waters in spring (April 2011), summer (August 2011), autumn (October 2011), and winter (January 2012) were examined using the Utermöhl method. A total of 80 taxa of phytoplankton that belong to 39 genera of 3 phyla were identified. These included 64 species of 30 genera in the Phylum Bacillariophyta, 13 species of 8 genera in the Phylum Dinophyta, and 3 species of 1 genus in the Phylum Chrysophyta. During the four seasons, the number of phytoplankton species (43) was the highest in spring, followed by summer and autumn (40), and the lowest number of phytoplankton species (35) was found in winter. Diatoms, especially Paralia sulcata (Ehrenberg) Cleve and Coscinodiscus oculus-iridis Ehrenberg, were predominant in the phytoplankton community throughout the study period, whereas the dominance of dinoflagellate appeared in summer only. The maximum cell abundance of phytoplankton was detected in summer (average 8.08 × 103 cells L−1) whereas their minimum abundance was found in autumn (average 2.60 × 103 cells L−1). The phytoplankton abundance was generally higher in the outer bay than in the inner bay in spring and autumn. In summer, the phytoplankton cells were mainly concentrated in the south of inner SGB, with peak abundance observed along the western coast. In winter, the distribution of phytoplankton cells showed 3 patches, with peak abundance along the western coast as well. On seasonal average, the Shannon-Wiener diversity indices of phytoplankton community ranged from 1.17 to 1.78 (autumn > summer > spring > winter), and the Pielou’s evenness indices of phytoplankton ranged from 0.45 to 0.65 (autumn > spring > summer > winter). According to the results of canonical correspondence analysis, phosphate level was the major factor that limited the occurrence of P. sulcata and C. oculus-iridis, whereas optimal temperature and low salinity were responsible for Prorocentrum blooms in summer. The detailed description of seasonal variations in phytoplankton community structure in the three bays provide reference data for future studies on marine ecosystems and mariculture in adjacent areas.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Chen, B. Z., Wang, Z. L., Zhu, M. Y., and Li, R. X., 2005. Effects of temperature and salinity on growth of Prorocentrum dentatum and comparisons between growths of Prorocentrum dentatum and Skeletonema costatum. Advances in Marine Science, 23(1): 60–64.
Chen, H. L., Lv, S. H., Zhang, C. L., and Zhu, D. D., 2006. A Survey on the red tide of Prorocentrum doghaiense in East China Sea, 2004. Ecologic Science, 25(3): 226–230.
Cheng, J. S., 2004. The Ecological Environment and Biological Community in Inshore Waters of Huanghai and Bohai Seas. Press of Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 127–162.
Fang, J. G., Kuang, S. H., Sun, H. L., Sun, Y., Zhou, S. L., Song, Y. L., Cui, Y., Zhao, J., Yang, Q. F., Li, F., Zhang, A. J., Wang, X. Z., and Tang, T. Y., 1996. Study on the carrying capacity of Sanggou Bay for the culture of scallop chlamys. Marine Fisheries Reseach, 17(2): 18–31.
Grassholf, K., Ehrhardt, M., and Kremling, K., 1983. Methods of Seawater Analysis. 2nd edition, Chemie Weinheim, 1–419.
Huang, X. H., Shi, D. M., and Zhang, J. P., 1997. Study on nitrogen meiabolism of Prorocentrum micans with special referece to the occurrence of red tide. Oceanologia et Limnologia Sinica, 289(1): 33–38.
Isamu, Y., 1991. Illustrations of the Marine Plankton of Japan. 3rd edition. Hoikushapublishing, Tokyo, 1–158.
Jaccard, P., 1908. Nouvelles recherches sur la distribution florale. Bulletin de la Société Vaudense des Sciences Naturelles, 44: 223–270.
Jin, D. X., 1965. The introduction of nanoplankton. Journal of Fishery of Fujian, 1–8.
Jin, D. X., Chen, J. H., and Huang, K. G., 1965. Chinese Marine Planktonic Diatoms. Shanghai Science Press, Shanghai, 1–230.
Kang, Y. D., 1986. The ecological characteristics of phytoplankton and the relationship with the fishery in Yellow sea. Marine Fisheries Research, 7: 103–107.
Liu, H., Fang, J. G., Dong, S. L., Liang, X. M., Jiang, W. W., Wang, L. C., and Lian, Y., 2003. Study on phytoplankton in raft-culture areas of Laizhou Bay and Sangou Bay II. Marine Fisheries Research, 24(3): 20–28.
Ma, J. X., Zheng, Z., Li, Y. P., Xing, H. Y., and Liu, Y. H., 2002. The distribution characteristics of phytoplankton in Laizhou Bay. Transaction of Oceanology and Limnology, 4: 64–67.
Mao, X. H., Zhang, W. X., and Zhang, J. Z., 1988. Comprehensive Investigation of Environment for Propagation and Multiplication in Sanggou Bay. Qingdao Press, Qingdao, 8–46, 113–148.
Mu, J. D., Dong, W., and Chen, B. J., 2009. Ecological characteristics of phytoplankton in Sanggou Bay. Progress in Fishery Sciences, 30(3): 91–96.
Pielou, E. C., 1984. The Interpretation of Ecological Data. John Wiley & Sons, New York, 1–230.
Ren, Y., C., Wang, F., Dong, S., L., and Liu, F., 2010. Seasonal characteristics of primary production of sea cucumber (Apostichopus japonicus) culture ponds in Jinghai Bay, Rongcheng. Periodical of Ocean University of China, 40(3): 24–28.
Shannon, C. E., 1951. A mathematical theory of communication. Bell System Technical Journal, 27: 379–423.
Shen, G. Y., and Shi, B. Z., 2002. Marine Ecology. 2nd edition. Science Press, Beijing, 191–192.
Shi, J., Wei, H., Zhao, L., Fang, J. G., and Zhang, J. H., 2010a. Study on ecosystem model of multi-species culture in Sanggou Bay: I Estblishment of the culture ecosystem model and sensitivity analyses of the parameters. Progress in Fishery Sciences, 31(4): 26–35.
Shi, J., Wei, H., Zhao, L., Fang, J. G., and Zhang, J. H., 2010b. Study on ecosystem model of multi-species culture in Sanggou Bay: II Simulation of ecosystem and the circulation of nutrient. Progress in Fishery Sciences, 31(4): 36–42.
Song, H. J., Li, R. X., and Wang, Z. L., 2007. Interannual variations in phytoplankton diversity in the Sanggou Bay. Advances in Marine Science, 25(3): 332–339.
Song, Y. L., and Cui, Y., 1996. The analysis of nutritional status and its affecting factors in cultured areas of Sanggou Bay. Marine Fisheries Research, 17(2): 41–51.
Sun, J., 2011. Marine phytoplankton and biological carbon sink. Acta Ecologica Sinica, 31(18): 5372–5378.
Sun, J., Li, X., and Tian, W., 2011. Summer phytoplankton community in the Beibu Gulf. Transactions of Oceanology and Limnology, 3: 1–7.
Sun, J., Liu, D. Y., and Qian, S. B., 2002. A quantative research and analysis method for marine phytoplankton: An introduction to Utermöhl method and its modification. Journal of Oceanography of Huanghai & Bohai Seas, 20(2): 105–112.
Sun, J., Liu, D. Y., and Feng, S. Z., 2003a. Preliminary study on marine phytoplankton sampling and analysis strategy for ecosystem dynamic research in coastal waters. Oceanologia et Limnologia Sinica, 34(2): 140–148.
Sun, J., Liu, D. Y., Ning, X. R., and Liu, C. G., 2003b. Phytoplankton in the Prydz Bay and the adjacent Indian sector of the Southern Ocean during the austral summer 2001/2002. Oceanologia et Limnologia Sinica, 34(5): 519–532.
Sun, J., and Liu, D. Y., 2004. The application of diversity indices in marine phytoplankton studies. Acta Oceanologica Sinica, 26(1): 62–75.
Sun, Y., and Zhao, J., 1998. Water environmental characteristics in cultured areas of Sanggou Bay. Journal of Fishery Sciences of China, 5(3): 69–75.
Ter Braak, C. J. F., 1986. Canonical correspondence analysis: A new eigenvector technique for multivariate direct gradient analysis. Ecology, 67(5): 1167–1179.
Wan, L., 2012. Effect of shellfish farming on nutrient salts of seawater in Sanggou Bay in spring. Environmental Science and Management, 37(6): 62–66.
Zhang, J. H., Wang, W., Han, T. T., Liu, D. H., Fang, J. G., Jiang, Z. J., Liu, X. J., Zhang, X. J., and Lian, Y., 2012. The distributions of dissolved nutrients in spring of Sangou Bay and potential reason of outbreak of red tide. Journal of Fisheries of China, 36(1): 132–139.
Zhang, L. H., Zhang, X. L., Li, R. X., Wang, Z. L., Li, Y., Wang, L. C., Lian, L., and Liu, Y., 2005. Impact of scallop culture on dinoflagellate abundance in Sanggou Bay. Advances in Marine Science, 23(3): 342–346.
Zhang, X. F., and Liu, Y. J., 2007. Advances in the biological study of dinoflagellate Prorocentrum donghaiense Lu. Ecology and Environment, 16(3): 1053–1057.
Zhu, M. Y., Zhang, X. L., Li, R. X., and Chen, S., 2000. Impacts of shellfish culture on the coastal ecosystem. Journal of Ocean University of Qingdao, 30(2): 53–57.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Yuan, M., Zhang, C., Jiang, Z. et al. Seasonal variations in phytoplankton community structure in the Sanggou, Ailian, and Lidao Bays. J. Ocean Univ. China 13, 1012–1024 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11802-014-2305-2
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11802-014-2305-2