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Seasonal variation of size-fractionated phytoplankton in the Pearl River estuary

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  • Special Topic: Change of Biodiversity Patterns in Coastal Zone
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  • Published: 18 July 2013
  • Volume 58, pages 2303–2314, (2013)
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Chinese Science Bulletin
Seasonal variation of size-fractionated phytoplankton in the Pearl River estuary
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  • Li Li1,
  • SongHui Lu1,
  • Tao Jiang1 &
  • …
  • Xia Li1 

  • 1353 Accesses

  • 22 Citations

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Abstract

To investigate the dynamics of phytoplankton size structure in the Pearl River estuary, concentrations of size-fractionated chlorophyll a (Chl a) were determined during four cruises carried out in 2008 and 2010. The distribution of Chl a in this geographical location showed a high degree of temporal variation. Chl a concentrations were highest in autumn, approximately three times higher than those in summer and winter. Microphytoplankton was the dominant contributor, accounting for 66.9% of the Chl a concentration in autumn 2008. In summer and spring 2008, nano-sized cells dominated the phytoplankton population throughout the study region. During the winter cruise, two different areas of water were found, characterized by (1) low salinity and high nutrient content and (2) high salinity and low nutrient content; nano- and picophytoplankton co-dominated the first area, while microphytoplankton dominated the second. It is arguable that grazing could have played a role in determining phytoplankton community size structure in winter. Nutrient concentrations were assumed not to limit phytoplankton growth during the investigation period. Size-differential capacity in competing for the resources available under different hydrodynamic conditions seemed to be the major factor in determining seasonal variation in the structure of the phytoplankton communities. High N:P ratios in the Pearl River estuary had major implications for nutrient pollution control. Our results indicated that studies of phytoplankton size structure provide greater insight into phytoplankton dynamics and are necessary to better manage water quality in the Pearl River estuary.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Center for Harmful Algae and Marine Biology, Key Laboratory of Eutrophication and Red Tide Prevention of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China

    Li Li, SongHui Lu, Tao Jiang & Xia Li

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  1. Li Li
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  2. SongHui Lu
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  3. Tao Jiang
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  4. Xia Li
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Correspondence to SongHui Lu.

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Li, L., Lu, S., Jiang, T. et al. Seasonal variation of size-fractionated phytoplankton in the Pearl River estuary. Chin. Sci. Bull. 58, 2303–2314 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11434-013-5823-1

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  • Received: 13 May 2012

  • Accepted: 29 December 2012

  • Published: 18 July 2013

  • Issue Date: July 2013

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11434-013-5823-1

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Keywords

  • phytoplankton
  • dominant species
  • size-fractionated chlorophyll a
  • Pearl River estuary
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