Abstract
The occurrences of harmful algal blooms (HABs), in terms of frequency and area in the Chinese coastal waters, have been increasing since 1980s and caused considerable economic losses. In the present study, we have analyzed spatial and seasonal characteristics of HAB events in the southern Yellow Sea and East China Sea along Chinese coast from 1933 to 2004. With a total 435 HAB records, the most frequent HAB occurrence area (FHA) is off the Yangtze River mouth and another two FHA areas are located south of the Yangtze River estuary along about isobaths of 30–60 m coastal water in the East China Sea. The time of HAB occurrence shifted during our study period: from autumn (August–October) before 1980s to July–August in 1980s, during May–July in 1990s, and May–June for the period of 2000–2004. Causative species were found to be different: Noctiluca scintillans and Skeletonema costatum were dominant causative species prior to 2000; and Prorocentrum donghaiense Lu was dominant from 2000 to 2004 and also caused large blooms in May. Trichodesmium sp. caused many HABs in autumn (August–October) prior to 1980s with only one HAB between 1980 and 2004. The changes of the dominant HAB species may have affected the timings of HAB occurrence, as well as the increasing HAB-affected areas in recent years.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Anderson D. M. (1997). Turning back the harmful red tide. Nature 388: 513–514
Cao X. Z. (1986). Preliminary study on the seasonal process of the coastal upwelling off Zhejiang in the East China Sea. Journal of Fisheries of China 10: 51–69
Fei H. (1952). The cause of red tides. Science and Art 22: 1–3
Han X. R., Wang X. L., Sun X., Shi X. Y., Zhu C. J., Zhang C. S. and Lu R. (2003). Nutrient distribution and its relationship with occurrence of red tide in coastal area of East China Sea. Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology 14: 1097–1101
Li R. X., Zhu M. Y., Wang Z. L., Shi X. Y. and Chen B. Z. (2003). Mesocosm experiment on competition between two HAB species in East China Sea. Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology 14: 1049–1054
Lu D. D., Gobel J., Qi Y. Z., Zhou Q. Z., Han X. T., Gao Y. H. and Li Y. G. (2005). Morphological and genetic study of Prorocentrum donghaiense Lu from the East China Sea and comparison with some related Prorocentrum species. Harmful Alga 4: 493–505
Pearl H. W. (1997). Coastal eutrophication and harmful algal blooms: Importance of atmospheric deposition and groundwater as “new” nitrogen and other nutrient sources. Limnology Oceanography 42: 1154–1165
SOA (State Oceanic Administration People’s republic of China), Data are available at: http://www.soa.gov.cn/chichao/index.html
Tang D. L., Kester D. R., Ni I. -H., Kawamura H. and Hong H. S. (2002). Upwelling in the Taiwan Strait during the summer monsoon detected by satellite and shipboard measurements. Remote Sensing of Environment 83: 457–471
Tang D. L., Kester D. R., Ni I. -H., Qi Y. Z. and Kawamura H. (2003). In situ and satellite observations of a harmful algal bloom and water condition at the Pearl River Estuary in late autumn 1998. Harmful Algae 2: 89–99
Tang D. L., Kawamura H., Doan-Nhu H. and Takahashi W. (2004a). Remote sensing oceanography of a harmful algal bloom off the coast of southeastern Vietnam. Journal of Geophysical Research-Oceans 109: C03014–C03014
Tang D. L., Ni I. -H., Mülle-Karger F. E. and Oh I. S. (2004b). Monthly variation of pigment concentrations and seasonal winds in China’s marginal seas. Hydrobiologia 511: 1–15
Tang D. L., Ni I. -H., Mülle-Karger F. E. and Liu Z. J. (1998). Analysis of annual and spatial patterns of CZCS-derived pigment concentration on the continental shelf of China. Continental Shelf Research 18: 1493–1515
Tang, D. L, H. Kawamura, I. S Oh & Baker J, 2005. Satellite evidence of harmful algal blooms and related oceanographic features in the Bohai Sea during autumn 1998. Advances of Space Research, doi:10.1016/j.asr.2005.04045
Wang J. H. (2002). HAB alga nearby Changjiang Estuary. Marine Environmental Science 21: 37–41
Wang J. H. and Huang X. Q. (2003). Ecological characteristics of Prorocentrum dentatum and the cause of harmful algal bloom formation in China Sea. Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology 14: 1065–1069
Wang J. H., Wang W. F. and Wu Z. N. (2000). Phytoplankton communities in special area in East China Sea: analysis of distribution in response to environmental factors. Acta Oceanologica Sinica 22(supp.): 286–291
Xu J. P. (1986). Preliminary analysis of the hydrologic structure in the coastal upwelling area off Zhejiang in winter. Donghai Marine Science 4: 18–24
Xu R., Hong J. C., Wang G. L. and Shen H. (1994). On red tide in Yangtze estuary and adjacent sea area. Marine Science Bulletin 3: 25–29
Yang Y. F., Li C. H., Nie X. P., Tang D. L. and Chung I. K. (2004). Development of mariculture and its impacts in Chinese coastal waters. Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries 14: 1–10
Yan W. J., Zhang S., Sun P. and Seitzinger S. P. (2003). How do nitrogen inputs to the Changjiang basin impact the Changjiang River nitrate: A temporal analysis for 1968–1997. Global Biogeochemical Cycles 17: E12–E12
Ye S. F. and Huang X. Q. (2003). HABs in China Sea: Surveillance and monitoring. Marine Environmental Science 22: 10–14
Zhao B. R. (1993). Upwelling outside of Changjiang estuary. Acta Oceanologic Sinica 15: 108–114
Zhou M. J., Yan T. and Zhou J. Z. (2003). Preliminary analysis of the characteristics of red tide areas in Changjiang River estuary and its adjacent sea. Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology 14: 1031–1038
Zhou M. J., Zhu M. Y. and Zhang J. (2001). Status of harmful algal blooms and related research activities in China. Chinese Bulletin of Life Science 13: 54–59
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Tang, D., Di, B., Wei, G. et al. Spatial, seasonal and species variations of harmful algal blooms in the South Yellow Sea and East China Sea. Hydrobiologia 568, 245–253 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-006-0108-1
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-006-0108-1