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Application of an integrated methodology for eutrophication assessment: a case study in the Bohai Sea

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Abstract

An integrated methodology for eutrophication assessment, which integrates both water quality indicators (causative factors) and ecological response indicators (effect factors), is described. It is then applied to rank the eutrophication status of the years 2007 and 2008 in the southwest Bohai Sea. The assessment model identified that north Bohai Bay and west Laizhou Bay were the two areas with the most serious eutrophication problems in the southwest Bohai Sea. In addition, compared to that in the west Laizhou Bay, the eutrophication conditions in the north Bohai Bay was more serious in both years. Eutrophication problems such as harmful algal blooms (HABs) and low dissolved oxygen (DO) events in north Bohai Bay were frequent. The integrated method outmatched the currently used Chinese nutrient index method by definitely identifying areas with the most serious eutrophication problems, while the nutrient index method gave ambiguous results between the two years. Inclusion of both causative factors and effect factors, combining concentration, spatial coverage and frequency of indicators, as well as use of multi-season monitoring datasets in the methodology result in a more accurate, representative and useful assessment.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, 266071, China

    Zaixing Wu  (吴在兴), Zhiming Yu  (俞志明), Xiuxian Song  (宋秀贤), Yongquan Yuan  (袁涌铨) & Xihua Cao  (曹西华)

  2. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China

    Zaixing Wu  (吴在兴) & Yongquan Yuan  (袁涌铨)

  3. National Marine Environmental Monitoring Center, Dalian, 116023, China

    Yubo Liang  (梁玉波)

Authors
  1. Zaixing Wu  (吴在兴)
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  2. Zhiming Yu  (俞志明)
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  3. Xiuxian Song  (宋秀贤)
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  4. Yongquan Yuan  (袁涌铨)
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  5. Xihua Cao  (曹西华)
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  6. Yubo Liang  (梁玉波)
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Zhiming Yu  (俞志明).

Additional information

Supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (973 Program) (No. 2010CB428706), the Ocean Public Welfare Scientific Research Project, State Oceanic Administration of China (No. 201205001), the Special Funds Supporting Project for Construction of “Blue Economic Zone” in Shandong Peninsula of China, and the Fund for Creative Research Groups by NSFC (No. 41121064)

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Wu, Z., Yu, Z., Song, X. et al. Application of an integrated methodology for eutrophication assessment: a case study in the Bohai Sea. Chin. J. Ocean. Limnol. 31, 1064–1078 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00343-013-2286-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00343-013-2286-9

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