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Distribution of green algae micro-propagules and their function in the formation of the green tides in the coast of Qinhuangdao, the Bohai Sea, China

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Abstract

Since 2015, a novel green tide has been recurring in the coastal areas of Qinhuangdao at the western coast of the Bohai Sea in China, threatening the environment and ecosystem of the Beidaihe seaside holiday resort along the coast. Micro-propagules of the green algae including gametes, spores, micro-germlings and micro-vegetative fragments play an important role in the formation of green tides. They serve as a “seed source” of green macroalgae, and their distributions could reflect and influence the “algae source” of green tides. In this study, monthly surveys in the inshore and offshore areas of the Qinhuangdao coast were conducted from April to September 2016 and in January 2017 to investigate the tempo-spatial distribution patterns and the biomass variations of the green algae micro-propagules. The obtained results show that micro-propagules were mainly distributed in the inshore areas with a significantly decreasing abundance towards offshore areas. Their biomass was highest in July and August, and lowest in winter. The areas that were affected by the green tides showed a remarkably higher abundance of micro-propagules compared to other areas. These micro-propagules could serve as the “seed” source of green tides. Their distribution patterns indicate that the green tide in the coastal areas of Qinhuangdao originated locally.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266100, China

    Hongbin Han, Zongling Wang & Dewen Ding

  2. Key Laboratory of Science and Engineering for Marine Ecology and Environment, First Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Qingdao, 266061, China

    Hongbin Han, Wei Song, Zongling Wang, Dewen Ding, Chao Yuan, Xuelei Zhang & Yan Li

  3. Laboratory of Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology (Qingdao), Qingdao, 266235, China

    Hongbin Han, Wei Song, Zongling Wang, Chao Yuan, Xuelei Zhang & Yan Li

Authors
  1. Hongbin Han
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  2. Wei Song
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  3. Zongling Wang
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  4. Dewen Ding
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  5. Chao Yuan
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  6. Xuelei Zhang
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  7. Yan Li
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Zongling Wang.

Additional information

Foundation item: The National Key Research and Development Program of China under contract Nos 2016YFC1402104 and 2016YFC1402106; the National Natural Science Foundation of China under contract No. 41606190; the Shandong Natural Science Foundation under contract No. ZR2016DB22; the Foundation of Key Laboratory of Integrated Monitoring and Applied Technologies for Marine Harmful Algal Blooms, SOA under contract No. MATHAB201806; the Creative Team Project of the Laboratory for Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology under contract No. LMEES-CTSP-2018-3.

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Han, H., Song, W., Wang, Z. et al. Distribution of green algae micro-propagules and their function in the formation of the green tides in the coast of Qinhuangdao, the Bohai Sea, China. Acta Oceanol. Sin. 38, 72–77 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13131-018-1278-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13131-018-1278-1

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