Nutrients distribution and trophic status assessment in the northern Beibu Gulf,China

Using historical and 2010 field data, the distribution of nutrients in the northern Beibu Gulf of China is described. There was a decreasing trend in the concentration of nutrients from the north coast to offshore waters of the northern Beibu Gulf, reflecting the influence of inputs from land-based sources. High concentrations of dissolved inorganic nitrogen （DIN） and phosphate （PO4-P） occurred mainly at Fangchenggang Bay, Qinzhou Bay, and Lianzhou Bay. Four different methods were used to assess eutrophication. The trophic status of the Beibu Gulf was characterized using the single factor, Eutrophication index （El）, Trophic index （TRIX） and Assessment of Estuarine Trophic Status （ASSETS） methods. Based on nutrient concentrations, 73.9% of DIN and 26.7% of PO4-P samples exceeded the fourth grade Seawater Quality Standard of China. Eutrophication index values varied widely, but higher levels of eutrophication were generally found in bays and estuaries. TRIX values ranged from 2.61 to 7.27, with an average of 4.98, indicating a mesotrophic and moderately productive system. A positive correlation between TRIX and harmful algal species richness and abundance was observed. The ASSETS model evaluates eutrophication status based on a Pressure-State-Response approach, including three main indices： influencing factors, overall eutrophic condition, and future outlook. The Beibu Gulf was graded as moderate using ASSETS. The single factor and Chinese nutrient index methods were considered inadequate for the assessment of trophic status. TRIX can be used as an indicator of trophic state and ASSETS showed good potential to assess eutrophication. The results of TRIX and ASSETS depend on threshold values. To establish these values, further research is required within the northern Beibu Gulf.     

Nutrient and eutrophication characteristics of the Dongshan Bay,South China

We recorded NO 3-N, NO 2-N, NH 4-N, PO 4-P, SiO 3-Si, salinity, and temperature data at 10 stations in the Dongshan Bay in May, June, July, August, October, and November 2008, analyzing nutrient and eutrophication characteristics. The mean concentration of dissolved inorganic nitrogen(DIN) was 0.30–0.40 mg/dm 3; generally, NO 3-N was the main form in most areas. The mean concentrations of PO 4-P and SiO 3-Si were 0.040–0.060 mg/dm 3 and 1.00–1.50 mg/dm 3, respectively. We proved that the majority of the SiO 3-Si in the Dongshan Bay came from the Zhangjiang River, with some coming from the Bachimen Strait. DIN originated from both the Zhangjiang River and the Bachimen Strait. Most PO 4-P originated from the Bachimen Strait, and some came from the Zhangjiang River. We found that P was an overall limiting factor to the phytoplankton community in most of the Dongshan Bay, and that Si and N were in surplus. However, near the Bachimen Strait Si became a limiting factor, especially for diatoms, while P and N were in comparative surplus. We used a potential eutrophication assessment method to analyze eutrophication, and showed that the most serious eutrophication occurred near the Zhangjiang River estuary and near the Bachimen Strait. In 2008, DIN levels were four times higher than that in 1988; PO 4-P levels were threefold higher, while SiO 3-Si was approximately double. Dissolved nutrients increased between 1988 and 2008. DIN increased at the greatest rate comparing to PO 4-P and SiO 3-Si, thus the N/P and N/Si mol ratios increased. Further studies on the effects of high DIN concentrations on the phytoplankton communities and marine ecosystems of the Dongshan Bay are needed.     

Distributions of inorganic nutrients in the bohai sea of china

1　Introduction　TheBohaiSeaislocatedinthenorthernChinawithlongitudesofbetween 117°38′Eand 12 2°31′Eandlat itudesofbetween 37°0 8′Nand 4 1°0 2′N .Itisashal lowseawithanaveragewaterdepthof 18m (LiuandZhang ,2 0 0 0 ) .Severalbigrivers ,suchastheLiaoheRiver,theHaiheRiverandtheYellowRiver ,findtheirwaysintotheBohaiSeaandtransportlargeamountofnutrientsandsuspendedmattersfromthecontinentintothesea (Zhangetal.,1994 ;Zhang ,1996 ) .Duringthelasttwodecades ,marineenviron mentintheBohai…     

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

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.     

Benthic nutrient recycling in shallow coastal waters of the Bohai Sea

Sediment-water fluxes of N and P species in the Bohai Sea were investigated in September-October 1998 and April-May 1999. The benthic fluxes of nutrient species were determined by incubating sediment core samples with bottom seawater bubbled with air or nitrogen. NO^-2,NH4, dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) and phosphorus (DOP), total dissolved nitrogen (TDN) and phosphorus (TDP), and PO4^3- showed a net exchange flux from seawater to sediment, while NO^-3, dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) and SiO3^2- were released from sediment to seawater in the Bohai Sea. Sediment-water nutrient exchange increases DIN and reduces the phosphorus load in the Bohai Sea. The release of silicate from sediment to overlying seawater reduces potential silicate limitation of primary production resulted from decrease of riverine discharge.The exchange flux of nutrients showed no obvious seasonal variation. The present study showed that the concentrations and composition of nutrients in the water column were affected by suspended sediment, and that not all the exchangeable phosphate in sediment could be released via sediment resuspension.     

Interannual Variability and Scenarios Projection of Sea Ice in Bohai Sea Part I: Variation Characteristics and Interannual Hindcast

The Bohai Sea is one of the southernmost areas for sea ice formation in the northern hemisphere.Sea ice disasters in this body of water severely affect marine activities and the safety of coastal residents.In this study,we analyze the variation characteristics of the sea ice in the Bohai Sea and establish an annual regression model based on predictable mode analysis method.The results show the following:1)From 1970 to 2018,the average ice grade is(2.6±0.8),with a maximum of 4.5 and a minimum of 1.0.Liaodong Bay(LDB)has the heaviest ice conditions in the Bohai Sea,followed by Bohai Bay(BHB)and Laizhou Bay(LZB).Interannual variation is obvious in all three bays,but the linear decreasing trend is significant only in BHB.2)Three modes are obtained from empirical orthogonal function analysis,namely,single polarity mode with the same sign of anomaly in all of the three bays and strong interannual variability(82.0%),the north–south dipole mode with BHB and LZB showing an opposite sign of anomalies to that in LDB and strong decadal variations(14.5%),and a linear trend mode(3.5%).Critical factors are analyzed and regression equations are established for all the principal components,and then an annual hindcast model is established by synthesizing the results of the three modes.This model provides an annual spatial prediction of the sea ice in the Bohai Sea for the first time,and meets the demand of operational sea ice forecasting.     

Modelling nitrogen and phosphorus dynamics in a mesocosm pelagic ecosystem in Laizhou Bay in China

A model of nitrogen and phosphorus dynamics in mesocosm experiments was established on the basis of a summary and synthesis of the existing models. The established model comprised seven state variables(DIN,PO4-P,DON,DOP,phytoplankton,zooplankton and detritus) and five modules - phytoplankton,zooplankton,dissolved inorganic nutrients,dissolved organic nutrients and detritus. Comparison with the in situ experimental data in Laizhou Bay at the end of August 2002 showed that this model could properly simulate t...     

Water quality and eutrophication in the Guangzhou Sea Zone of the Pearl River estuary

To gain a better understanding of water quality and eutrophication, we investigated the seasonal and spatial distribution of water quality at 17 stations in the Guangzhou Sea Zone (GZSZ). Nutrients, chlorophyll-a (Chl-a), salinity, chemical oxygen demand, and other physical and chemical parameters were determined in February, May, August and October from 2005 to 2007. The concentrations showed ranges of 93.2–530.4 μmol/L for dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN), 0.62–3.16 μmol/L for phosphate (PO₄-P) and 50–127 μmol/L for silicate (SiO₃-Si). The results indicated that DIN was strongly influenced by domestic sewage coming from Guangzhou City and NO₃-N was the main form of DIN in most areas, while concentrations of phosphate and silicate were generally controlled by Pearl River runoff, land-based sources along the land or islands, and algae assimilation. N/P ratios were very high in both dry season and wet season, and varied from 57 to 667, suggesting that P was potentially the most limiting nutrient in the GZSZ. The concentrations of Chl-a were 3–96 μg/L, and were highly correlated with the distribution characteristics of COD. The concentrations of nutrients have increased over the past two decades (1982–2007). This means it is necessary to control the input of nutrients to the GZSZ, especially that of phosphate.     

The observed currents in summer in the Bohai Sea

A harmonic method was used to analyze the tidal currents observed in summer at 11 stations made from 1996 to 2001 in the Bohai Sea, China. Data was compared among different instruments and intervals. Elliptic elements were calculated based on harmonic constants, of which vertical distributions of the maximum speed and rotation direction were discussed for understanding the characteristics of diurnal and semi-diurnal tidal current components. The results indicate that the maximum speed of M2 tidal current component is much larger than that of K1; the rotation direction of M2 tidal current constituent is clockwise in the central part of the Bohai Sea and in the Laizhou Bay, but anticlockwise in the Liaodong Bay and Bohai Bay. For K1 tidal current constituent, it is clockwise in the central Bohai Sea but anti-clockwise in the Laizhou Bay and Liaodong Bay. The tidal currents in most stations in the Bohai Sea were regular semidiurnal except for those in the central Bohai Sea, being irregular semidiurnal.     

Characteristics of nutrients in the Jiulong River and its impact on Xiamen Water, China

Water samples were collected at 20 sites on 4 occasions in 2009(twice in May,and once in both August and November) along the Jiulong River,South China to examine how nutrient inputs from the Jiulong River could affect the nutrient status of the Xiamen Water.Samples were analyzed for nitrite(NO2-N),nitrate(NO3-N),ammonium(NH4-N),phosphate(PO4-P),silicate(SiO3-Si),salinity,and temperature,to determine the nutrient and trophic status of the river.The results indicate that nutrients are derived mainly from river runoff.NO3-N was the main form of DIN in most parts of the river.In addition,NO3-N,DIN,and SiO3-Si behave conservatively.There is a surplus of DIN and SiO3-Si in the river,and PO4-P is a limitation on phytoplankton growth.The concentration of DIN is typically above 0.60 mg/dm3,and higher than 1.00 mg/dm3in most parts of the river.The concentration of PO4-P is typically above 0.02 mg/dm3,while the concentration of SiO3-Si is higher than 1.00 mg/dm3.Between 2003 and 2008,samples were collected 3 times per year(May,August and November) at 27 sites in the Xiamen Water and analyzed for NO2-N,NO3-N,NH4-N,PO4-P,salinity,and temperature.We discovered that the Jiulong River was the key source of DIN into the Xiamen Water,but not PO4-P,indicating the reason of the N/P molar ratio imbalance in the Xiamen Water.In the future,the effects of high DIN concentrations on the phytoplankton communities and marine ecosystems of the Xiamen Water shall be studied.     

Summertime community structure of intertidal macrobenthos in Changdao Archipelago,Shandong Province,China

The community structure of intertidal macrobenthos in Changdao Archipelago(north of Shandong Peninsula,between Bohai Bay and the northern Yellow Sea) was examined based on samples collected from 14 stations in five transects in June 2007.Three stations corresponding to high,medium and low tidal areas were set up for each transect.A total of 68 macrobenthic species were found in the research region,most of which belonged to Mollusca and Crustacea.The average abundance and biomass of the macrobenthos was 1 38...     

Climatology and seasonal variability of satellite-derived chlorophyll a around the Shandong Peninsula

The chlorophyll a(Chl a) is an important indicator of marine ecosystems. The spatiotemporal variation of the Chl a greatly aff ects the mariculture and marine ranching in coastal waters of the Shandong Peninsula. In the current study, the climatology and seasonal variability of surface Chl-a concentration around the Shandong Peninsula are investigated based on 16 years(December 2002–November 2018) of satellite observations. The results indicate that the annual mean Chl-a concentration is greater in the Bohai Sea than in the Yellow Sea and decreases from coastal waters to off shore waters. The highest Chl-a concentrations are found in Laizhou Bay(4.2–8.0 mg/m 3), Haizhou Bay(4.2–5.9 mg/m 3) and the northeast coast of the Shandong Peninsula(4.4–5.0 mg/m 3), resulting from the combined eff ects of the intense riverine input and long residence time caused by the concave shape of the coastline. The seasonal Chl-a concentration shows a signifi cant spatial variation. The Chl-a concentrations in these three subregions generally exhibit an annual maximum in August/September, due to the combined eff ects of sea surface temperature, river discharge and sea surface wind. In the southeast coast region, however, the Chl-a concentration is lowest throughout the year and reaches a maximum in February with a minimum in July, forced by the seasonal evolution of the Yellow Sea Cold Water and monsoon winds. The interannual Chl-a concentration trends vary among regions and seasons. There are signifi cant increasing trends over a large area around Haizhou Bay from winter to summer, which are mainly caused by the rising sea surface temperature and eutrophication. In other coastal areas, the Chl-a concentration shows decreasing trends, which are clearest in summer and induced by the weakening land rainfall. This study highlights the diff erences in the Chl-a dynamics among regions around the Shandong Peninsula and is helpful for further studies of coupled physical-ecological-human interactions at multiple scales.     

Estimates of autumntime benthic secondary production in Laizhou Bay and adjacent Bohai Sea waters

The whole metazoan community inhabiting Laizhou Bay and adjacent Bohai Sea waters were sampled in late autumn,2006.Secondary production estimates for macrofauna and meiofauna were made separately.Total benthic secondary production was as high as 8.38 ± 4.08 g ash-free dry weight(AFDW) m-2 a-1,which represented the autumn production level.In general,macrofaunal secondary production in Laizhou Bay was much lower than that in adjacent Bohai Sea areas.In contrast,meiofaunal secondary production in Laizhou Bay was higher than that in adjacent Bohai Sea areas.Macrofauna contributed 61% to benthic secondary production(5.09 ± 3.26 g AFDW m-2 a-1),lower than the value in previous studies in Bohai Sea.Sediment granulometric characteristics and bottom-water salinity could explain the substantial variability in the macrofauna biomass and production.Meiofaunal production was an important component of benthic production and exceeded macrofauna production under exceptional conditions,e.g.in Laizhou Bay,where macrofauna was restricted.Chlorophyll pigments(Chl-a) concentrations in sediment explained the general meiofaunal biomass and production distribution here.     

Assessing benthic ecological status in stressed Liaodong Bay (China) with AMBI and M-AMBI

Rapid economic development in recent decades has resulted in environmental degradation of Liaodong Bay, North China, where eutrophication is becoming more evident because of excess nutrients inputs. To assess the benthic ecological status in Liaodong Bay, AZTI’s Marine Biotic Index (AMBI) and multivariate-AMBI (M-AMBI) were applied using both benthic macroinvertebrate density and biomass data collected from Liaodong Bay in July 2007. This first application of AMBI and M-AMBI in Liaodong Bay showed that the nearshore areas of the bay, especially near river estuaries, were severely disturbed, with a clear gradient of disturbance decreasing seaward. Ecological status assessed from density and biomass data was quite similar. Significant relationships were also found between both indices and environmental variables in Liaodong Bay. Moreover, the spatial distributions of both AMBI and M-AMBI matched those of plotted eutrophication indices (EI) in the surface water layer, and significant linear correlations were found between both benthic indices and EI. In general, both AMBI and M-AMBI worked well on assessing the ecological status of Liaodong Bay under eutrophication stress due to excess nutrients inputs.     

Changes in nitrogen and phosphorus and their effects on phytoplankton in the Bohai Sea

Systematic studies of the changes in dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) and dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP) and their effects on phytoplankton over the last 30 years in the Bohai Sea are presented. The amount of sewage disposal, use of fertilizer and the Huanghe River runoff were found to have a significant influence on the DIN or DIP concentrations in the Bohai Sea over the last 30 years. Moreover, the changes in DIN and DIP resulted in changes in the limiting nutrients of phytoplankton in the Bohai Sea from nitrogen in the early 1980s to nitrogen-phosphorus in the late 1980s, and then to phosphorus after the 1990s. In addition, changes in nitrogen and phosphorus had a significant effect on the phytoplankton community structure. The half saturation constant (K _s) was used to evaluate the effect of nutrients on the phytoplankton community structure in the Bohai Sea over the last 30 years. Cell abundance percentages of dominant phytoplankton species with high K _s values for phosphorus and low K _s values for nitrogen have decreased since the 1980s, while those of dominant phytoplankton species with low K _s values for phosphorus and high K _s values for nitrogen increased during this period.     

Relationship between environmental factors and plankton in the Bayuquan Port,Liaodong Bay,China: a five-year study

To understand the relationship between the plankton community and environmental factors and water quality in the Bayuquan Port of Liaodong Bay, China, and investigations were carried out during six different periods (April 2009, April 2010, October 2011, April 2012, October 2012, and April 2013). This area was characterized by high levels of nutrient and suspended solids (SPS) during survey periods, and eutrophication led to the occurrence of red tides in April and October 2012 and April 2013. Our analyses revealed that the plankton communities of Bayuquan Port lacked stability and were affected seriously by external disturbance (e.g., oceanographic engineering and river runoff). Our data indicate that oil, dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN), SPS, and chlorophyll a (Chl-a) were key factors that regulated the phytoplankton and zooplankton communities. The partial redundancy analysis (partial RDA) suggested that oil and SPS were the most important environmental variables affecting the phytoplankton community in April 2010 and 2012, whereas DIN concentration played a governing role in zooplankton dynamics. Oil and Chl- a concentrations affected significantly the zooplankton community in October 2012. Therefore, the plankton communities could reflect both dynamic changes in coastal environmental factors and the ongoing eutrophication process caused by anthropogenic activities in this area.     

Examination of Silicate Limitation of Primary Production in Jiaozhou Bay, North ChinaⅢ.Judgment Method, Rules and Uniqueness of Nutrient Limitation Among N, P, and Si

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大亚湾网箱养殖区生物-化学特性与营养状况的周日变化

根据1998年11月对大亚湾大鹏澳网箱养殖区进行的定点24h连续水质监测资料,分析并讨论了该养殖区海水生物-化学各要素的垂直分布和周日变化规律,并用单项指标评价法和改进的营养状态质量指数(NQI)法,参照营养指数(E)对该网箱养殖区海水的营养状况进行了评价和研究.结果表明,各项要素的平均值大都是表层＞中层＞底层;周日变化主要受潮汐运动和海水中生物的节律性生理活动的综合影响;表层海水的富营养化率明显高于中层海水,其各单项指标处于中度一富营养状态,而中层和底层海水则分别处于贫一中度和贫-富营养状态;PO4-P相对较贫乏,为养殖区富营养化的最关键限制因素.     

Numerical simulation of nutrient and phytoplankton dynamics in Guangxi coastal bays,China

The increasing riverine pollutants have resulted in nutrient enrichment and deterioration of water quality in the coastal water of Guangxi Province, China. However, the quantitative relationship between nutrient loads and water quality responses, which is crucial for developing eutrophication control strategies, is not well studied. In this study, the riverine fluxes of nutrients were quantified and integrated with nutrient cycling and phytoplankton dynamics by using box models for Guangxi coastal bays. The model concepts and biogeochemical equations were the same; while most model parameters were specific for each bay. The parameters were calibrated with seasonal observations during 2006–2007, and validated with yearly averaged measurements in 2009. The general features of nutrient and phytoplankton dynamics were reproduced, and the models were proved feasible under a wide range of bay conditions. Dissolved inorganic nitrogen was depleted during the spring algal bloom in Zhenzhu Bay and Fangcheng Bay with relatively less nutrient inputs. Phosphorus concentration was high in spring, which decreased then due to continuous phytoplankton consumption. Chlorophyll-a concentration reached its annual maximum in summer, but was the minimum in winter. Eutrophication was characterized by both an increase in nutrient concentrations and phytoplankton biomass in Lianzhou Bay. Either about 80% reduction of nitrogen or 70% reduction of phosphorus was required to control the algal bloom in Lianzhou Bay. Defects of the models were discussed and suggestions to the environmental protection of Guangxi coastal bays were proposed.     

Comparison of Two Methods to Assess the Size Structure of Phytoplankton Community Assemblages,in Liaodong Bay,China

Liaodong Bay is one of the largest semi-enclosed bays located in Bohai Sea, in northeast China. It is an important feeding and spawning place, even wintering and breeding migration base for many marine organisms. The size structure of phytoplankton communities is a key feature of marine ecosystems and can be used as an indicator for algae disaster, but the methods to evalute is still challenging. Here, we compared the size-fractionated chlorophyll-a method with a high-throughout sequencing method in an evaluation of the size structure of phytoplankton assemblages in Liaodong Bay, China, in 2014. The proportion of picophytoplankton was estimated at just 19% according to the results based on size-fractionated chlorophyll-a, which likely represents a severe underestimation. The sequencing method confirmed that many kinds of phytoplankton species appeared in more than one size-fractionated filter membrane, with some even dominating where the filter membrane pore size was greater than the individual phytoplankton size. According to the sequencing method, the phytoplankton assemblages in Liaodong Bay were dominated by picophytoplankton(average proportion = 44%), followed by the nanophytoplankton(average 32%), a composition that is more consistent with other studies. The sequencing method provides a more robust way to assess the size structure and taxonomic diversity of marine phytoplankton communities.