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The chronic effects of oil pollution on marine phytoplankton in a subtropical bay, China

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Abstract

To evaluate the effects of crude oil water accommodated fraction (WAF) on marine phytoplankton community, natural phytoplankton collected seasonally from the Yueqing bay were exposed to eight groups of crude oil WAF for 15 days under laboratory conditions. Chlorophyll a and cell density were measured, and species of phytoplankton were identified every 24 h to reflect the change of phytoplankton community. The results showed that (1) High concentrations (≥2.28 mg l − 1) of oil pollution would greatly restrain phytoplankton growth (p < 0.001), decrease chlorophyll a content and cell density, whereas low concentrations (≤1.21 mg l − 1) did not restrain its growth but rather promoted the phytoplankton growth. (2) The biodiversity, evenness, and species number of phytoplankton were all significantly influenced by crude oil WAF in all seasons (p < 0.001). (3) The dominant species changes were different under different pollutant concentrations in different seasons. Different species had different tolerances to the oil pollution, thus leading to abnormal succession.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Marine Ecosystem and Biogeochemistry, Second Institute of Oceanography, State Oceanic Administration, No. 36 Northern Baochu Road, Hangzhou, 310012, People’s Republic of China

    Yi-Jun Huang, Zhi-Bing Jiang, Jiang-Ning Zeng, Quan-Zhen Chen, Yong-qiang Zhao, Yi-bo Liao, Lu Shou & Xiao-qun Xu

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  1. Yi-Jun Huang
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  2. Zhi-Bing Jiang
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  3. Jiang-Ning Zeng
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Correspondence to Quan-Zhen Chen.

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Huang, YJ., Jiang, ZB., Zeng, JN. et al. The chronic effects of oil pollution on marine phytoplankton in a subtropical bay, China. Environ Monit Assess 176, 517–530 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-010-1601-6

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