Abstract
Dissolved inorganic nutrient elements were analyzed from the samples collected in the South Passage of the Changjiang (Yangtze River) Estuary in March 2003, including NH4 +, NO3 −, NO2 − and PO4 3−. The water samples were collected with a Niskin sampler hourly at the near-surface, middle and near-bottom depths at the three stations—A1, A2 and A3—during two complete tidal cycles of neap tide and spring tide. Results showed that 1) the concentrations of NH4 +, NO3 − and NO2 − were a little higher respectively during the neap tide than those during the spring tide, while PO4 3− showed an opposite trend, and each was higher in the ebb tide than in the flood tide, either for the neap tidal cycle or the spring tidal cycle; 2) higher stratification of the nutrients existed obviously in this area, with the concentrations of which increased from the bottom to the surface, especially for NH4 + and NO3 −; 3) the coefficient of variation (C.V.) values of all dissolved inorganic nutrients varied from 4.06% to 36.8% beyond different influences of the tidal current and Changjiang runoff; 4) with increasing suspended matter in the water column, the concentrations of PO4 3− became lower in the filtered water; and 5) the total transport of each tidal cycle was much more in the spring tide than in the neap tide, and the positive values indicated that the nutrients had been exported to the East China Sea. Studies on the variations and net transport of dissolved inorganic nutrients in the South Passage of the Changjiang Estuary will provide the scientific basis for the study of the mechanism of red tide in the East China Sea.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Beukema J.J. (1991) Changes in composition of bottom fauna of a tidal-flat area during a period of eutrophication [J]. Marine Biology. 111, 293–301.
Cederwall H. and Elmgren R. (1980) Biomass increase of benthic macrofauna demonstrates eutrophication of the Baltic Sea [J]. Ophelia (suppl. 1), 287–304.
Chen Jiyu and Chen Shenliang (2002) Estuarine and coastal challenges in China [J]. Chinese Journal of Oceanology and Limnology. 20, 1–5.
Cowan J.L.W. (1996) Sediment-water oxygen and nutrient exchanges along the longitudinal axis of Chesapeake Bay: Seasonal patterns, controlling factors and ecological significance [J]. Estuaries. 19, 562–580.
Fisher T.R., Carlson P.R., and Barber R.T. (1982) Sediment nutrient regeneration in three North Carolina Estuaries [J]. Estua.Coast.Mar.Sci. 14, 101–116.
Gao Sulan (1997) Correlation of nutrient salts and microelements to Huanghua red tide [J]. Journal of Oceanography of Huanghai & Bohai Seas. 15, 59–63 (in Chinese with English abstract).
Gu Hongkan, Ma Xinian, and Shen Wanren (1982) The geochemistry of nitrogen in Changjiang Estuary [J]. Journal of Shandong Oceanal University. 12, 31–38 (in Chinese with English abstract).
Han Xiurong, Wang Xiulin, Sun Xia, Shi Xiaoyong, Zhu Chenjian, Zhang Chuansong, and Lu Rong (2003) Nutrient distribution and its relationship with occurrence of red tide in coastal area of East China Sea [J]. Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology. 14, 1097–1101 (in Chinese with English abstract).
Hu Minghui, Yang Yiping, and Xu Chunlin (1989) Phosphate limitation of phytoplankton growth in the Changjiang Estuary [J]. Acta Oceanologia Sinica. 11, 439–443 (in Chinese with English abstract).
Huang Changjiang, Du Hong, Chen Shanwen, He Xin, Dong Xiaoxiang, and Huang Wenkui (2004) The temporal and spatial distribution of the nitrogen, phosphate and silicate in Zhelin Bay: 2001–2002 [J]. Oceanologia et Limnologia Sinica. 35, 21–29 (in Chinese with English abstract).
Li Jiufa, Wang Xinning, and Ying Ming (2005) Field observations on bed sediments and sandwaves in Changjiang Estuary [J]. International Journal of Sediment Research. 20, 129–135.
Lin Yi’an, Tang Renyou, Pan Jianming, and Jin Mingming (2001) Variations of nutrient elements and its effect on ecological environment off the Changjiang estuarine waters [J]. Acta Oceanologica Sinica. 20, 197–207 (in Chinese with English abstract).
Liu Yuan, Cao Zhenrui, Huang Bangqin, and Lin Yi’an (2004) Phytoplankton growth response to nutrients addition in typical sea area in Yellow Sea and East China Sea [J]. Journal of Xiamen University (Natural Science). 43, 147–152 (in Chinese with English abstract).
Mao Zhichang, Shen Huangting, and Chen Jingshan (2004) Measurement and calculation of net salt fluxes from the north branch into south branch in the Changjiang River Estuary [J]. Oceanologia et Limnologia Sinica. 35, 30–34 (in Chinese with English abstract).
Nixon S.W. and Ammerman J.W. (1996) The fate of nitrogen and phosphorus at the land-sea margin of the North Atlantic Ocean [J]. Biogeochemistry. 35, 141–180.
Nixon S.W. (1992) Quantifying the relationship between nitrogen input and the productivity of marine ecosystems [J]. Proceedings of the Advanced Marine Technical Conference. 5, 57–83.
Pennock J.R., Sharp J.H., and Shroeder W.W. (1994) What controls the expression of estuarine eutropication? Case studies of nutrient enrichment in the Delaware Bay and Mobile Bay Estuaries, USA. In Changes of Fluxes in Estuaries: Implications from Science to Management [M]. pp. 139–146. Olsen & Olsen, Fredensborg.
Pereira-Filho J., Schettini C.A.F., Rorig L., and Siegle E. (2001) Intratidal variation and net transport of dissolved inorganic nutrients, POC and chlorophyll a in the Camboriu River Estuary, Brazil [J]. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science. 53, 249–257.
Qiu Yaowen, Wang Zhaoding, and Zhu Liangsheng (2005) Variation trend of nutrient and chlorophyll contents and their effects on ecological environment in Daya Bay [J]. Journal of Oceanography in Taiwan Strait. 24, 131–139.
Redfield A.C., Ketchum B.H., and Richards F.A. (1963) The influence of organism on the composition of seawater. In The Sea (ed. M.N. Hill) [M]. pp. 26–77. John Wiley, New York.
Shen Zhiliang (1993) A study on the relationship of the nutrients near the Changjiang River Estuary with the flow of the Changjiang River water [J]. Oceanologia et Limnologia Sinica. 11, 260–267 (in Chinese with English abstract).
Shen Zhiliang (1997) Preliminary study on the Changjiang River mainstream nutrients fluxes [J]. Oceanologia et Limnologia Sinica. 28, 522–528 (in Chinese with English abstract).
Shen Zhiliang, Liu Qin, Zhang Shumei, Miao Hui, and Zhang Ping (2003) Distribution, variation and removal patterns of inorganic nitrogen in the Changjiang River [J]. Oceanologia et Limnologia Sinica. 34, 355–363 (in Chinese with English abstract).
Shi Xiaoyong, Wang Xiulin, Han xiurong, Zhu Chenjian, Sun Xia, and Zhang Chuansong (2003) Nutrient distribution and its controlling mechanism in the adjacent area of Changjiang River Estuary [J]. Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology. 14, 1086–1092 (in Chinese with English abstract).
Spencer C.P. (1975) Chemical Oceanography [M]. pp.245–300. Academic Press Inc., London.
Wang Baodong (1998) On the extension and nutrient transportation of the Changjiang River diluted water [J]. Journal of Oceanography of Huanghai & Bohai Seas. 16, 41–47 (in Chinese with English abstract).
Wang Baodong (2003) Nutrient conditions in the Yellow Sea and the East China Sea [J]. Estuarine and Coastal Shelf Science. 58, 127–136.
Wang Baodong and Tu Jianbo (2005) Biogeochemistry of nutrient elements in the Changjiang (Yangtze River) Estuary [J]. Marine Science Bulletin. 7, 72–79.
Wang Xiaoyan, Wang xiaofeng, Wang Zhengang, Wang Qinping, and Cai Xingguang (2003) Nutrient loss from various land-use areas in Shixia small watershed of Miyun county, Beijing, China [J]. Chinese Journal of Geochemistry. 22, 173–178.
Wu Yanhong, Wang Sumin, Barttarbee R.W., and Zhu Yuxin (2004) Temporal and spatial distribution of elements in a small catchment, and buffer function of wetland in Longgan Lake, China [J]. Chinese Journal of Geochemistry. 23, 37–45.
Yang Yongliang, Yin Xiaocai, Mu Xiaoyan, Li Chunyan, Li Yue, Jia Jianjun, and Xue Yunchuan (2001) Environmental geochemistry of Swan Lake Inlet, Rongcheng Bay, the Yellow Sea of China [J]. Chinese Journal of Geochemistry. 20, 152–160.
Zhang Jing (1996) Nutrient elements from some selected north China estuaries: Huanghe, Luanhe, Daliaohe and Yalujiang Rivers. In Biogeochemical Study on Major Estuary in China [M]. pp.205–217. China Ocean Press, Beijing (in Chinese).
Zhao Shujiang, Jiao Nianzhi, Shen Zhiliang, and Wu Yulin (2005a) Causes and consequences of changes in nutrient structure in the Jiaozhou Bay [J]. Journal of Integrative Plant Biology Formerly Acta Botanica Sinica. 47, 396–410.
Zhao Shujiang, Jiao Nianzhi, Wu Changwen, Liang Bing, and Zhang Shuyi (2005b) Evolution of nutrient structure and phytoplankton composition in the Jiaozhou Bay ecosystem [J]. Journal of Environmental Sciences. 17, 95–102.
Zhao Weihong, Li Jintao, and Wang Jiang tao (2004) Study on nutrient limitation of phytoplankton in field experiment of Changjiang Estuary in summer [J]. Marine Environmental Science. 23, 1–5 (in Chinese with English abstract).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Liu, Q., Li, J., Ying, M. et al. Variations and net transport of dissolved inorganic nutrients in the South Passage of the Changjiang (Yangtze River) Estuary. Chin. J. of Geochem. 26, 84–90 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11631-007-0084-9
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11631-007-0084-9