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Temporal and spatial variations in the distribution of macroalgal communities along the Yantai coast, China

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Abstract

To explore the impact of environmental variables on macroalgal their temporal and spatial distributions were examined along the Yantai coast, China between April 2010 and March 2011. Macroalgae sampling was conducted monthly at four sites along the coast: Jiahe River estuary, Zhifu Island, Fisherman’s Wharf, and Yangma Island. The species composition and abundance, and their relationship with environmental variables were assessed. Along the Yantai coast, 35 macroalgae species were identified, including 24 Rhodophyta spp., 7 Chlorophyta, and 4 Phaeophyta spp. Highest species numbers were recorded in the summer at all sampling sites, except in the Jiahe River estuary. Macroalgae biomass was the greatest in the summer. Year-round, the highest species number and dry biomass recorded at Fisherman’s Wharf and Yangma Island was attributed to the substrate type. In summer, Ulva pertusa Kjellman was the dominant species identified along the Yantai coast, which indicates a risk of macroalgae blooms. Our results show that seawater temperature and nutrients appear to significantly affect the temporal and spatial patterns of macroalgal abundance along the Yantai coast. The effects of environmental variables on the macroalgae on the Yantai coast need further study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Coastal Zone Environmental Processes, CAS; Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Coastal Zone Environmental Processes; CAS Experimental Station of Integrated Coastal Environment in Muping; Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai, 264003, China

    Qiuying Han  (韩秋影) & Dongyan Liu  (刘东艳)

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  1. Qiuying Han  (韩秋影)
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  2. Dongyan Liu  (刘东艳)
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Correspondence to Qiuying Han  (韩秋影).

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Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 41106099), the Yantai Science and Technology Bureau (No. 2011061), CAS Scientific Project of Innovation and Interdisciplinary, the Key Research Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences (No. KZZD-EW-14), and the Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province (No. ZR2009EQ006)

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Han, Q., Liu, D. Temporal and spatial variations in the distribution of macroalgal communities along the Yantai coast, China. Chin. J. Ocean. Limnol. 32, 595–607 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00343-014-3236-x

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