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Seasonal changes in phytoplankton biomass and dominant species in the Changjiang River Estuary and adjacent seas: General trends based on field survey data 1959–2009

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Abstract

The characteristics of seasonal variation in phytoplankton biomass and dominant species in the Changjiang River Estuary and adjacent seas were discussed based on field investigation data from 1959 to 2009. The field data from 1981 to 2004 showed that the Chlorophyll-a concentration in surface seawater was between 0.4 and 8.5 μg dm−3. The seasonal changes generally presented a bimodal trend, with the biomass peaks occurring in May and August, and Chlorophyll-a concentration was the lowest in winter. Seasonal biomass changes were mainly controlled by temperature and nutrient levels. From the end of autumn to the next early spring, phytoplankton biomass was mainly influenced by temperature, and in other seasons, nutrient level (including the nutrient supply from the terrestrial runoffs) was the major influence factor. Field investigation data from 1959 to 2009 demonstrated that diatoms were the main phytoplankton in this area, and Skeletonema costatum, Pseudo-nitzschia pungens, Coscinodiscus oculus-iridis, Thalassinoema nitzschioides, Paralia sulcata, Chaetoceros lorenzianus, Chaetoceros curvisetus, and Prorocentrum donghaiense Lu were common dominant species. The seasonal variations in major dominant phytoplankton species presented the following trends: 1) Skeletonema (mainly S. costatum) was dominant throughout the year; and 2) seasonal succession trends were Coscinodiscus (spring) → Chaetoceros (summer and autumn) → Coscinodiscus (winter). The annual dominance of S. costatum was attributed to its environmental eurytopicity and long standing time in surface waters. The seasonal succession of Coscinodiscus and Chaetoceros was associated with the seasonal variation in water stability and nutrient level in this area. On the other hand, long-term field data also indicated obvious interannual variation of phytoplankton biomass and community structure in the Changjiang River Estuary and adjacent seas: average annual phytoplankton biomass and dinoflagellate proportion both presented increased trends during the 1950s–2000s.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Marine Chemistry Theory and Technology, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266100, P. R. China

    Shu Yang, Xiurong Han, Chuansong Zhang, Xiulin Wang & Xiaoyong Shi

  2. Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Fisheries Science Academy, Key Laboratory of Sustainable Development of Marine Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture, Qingdao, 266071, P. R. China

    Shu Yang

  3. National Marine Hazard Mitigation Service, SOA, Beijing, 100194, P. R. China

    Xiaoyong Shi

  4. Agricultural Engineering College, Weifang Vocational College, Weifang, 261061, P. R. China

    Baiye Sun

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  1. Shu Yang
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  2. Xiurong Han
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  3. Chuansong Zhang
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  5. Xiulin Wang
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Yang, S., Han, X., Zhang, C. et al. Seasonal changes in phytoplankton biomass and dominant species in the Changjiang River Estuary and adjacent seas: General trends based on field survey data 1959–2009. J. Ocean Univ. China 13, 926–934 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11802-014-2515-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11802-014-2515-7

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