Large scale northward expansion of warm water species Skeletonema tropicum (Bacillariophyceae) in China seas

Skeletonema tropicum is regarded as a species with an affinity to warm waters and it has never been reported in seas where temperatures drop below 11°C in winter. Previous studies in China reported that S. tropicum was restricted to subtropical and warm temperate seas (East and South China Seas), but the species was recently found during August cruises of 2009 and 2010 in Jiaozhou Bay, Yellow Sea, located several hundred kilometers to the north. Here, winter water temperatures often drop below 5°C. Identification of S. tropicum was confirmed under light and scanning electronic microscopes and maximum cell abundance in Jiaozhou Bay was estimated as 1.73×10 4 cell/L. This record of S. tropicum in Jiaozhou Bay represents a significant northward expansion in the geographic range of the species. Ship ballast water was identified as a possible carrier of S. tropicum from southern places along Chinese coastline, and in addition, thermal pollution from local power stations and seawater desalination plants may provide suitable conditions for species over-wintering.     

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

ＩＮＴＲＯＤＵＣＴＩＯＮＮａｎｄＰｉｎｐｕｔｔｅｄｉｎｔｏＪｉａｏｚｈｏｕＢａｙｂｙｒｉｖｅｒｓａｎｄｂｙｓｅｗａｇｅｅｆｆｌｕｅｎｔｓｏｆｃｉｔｉｅｓ ,ｈａｖｅｍａｄｅｔｈｅＢａｙｂｅｃｏｍｅｍｏｒｅａｎｄｍｏｒｅｅｕｔｒｏｐｈｉｃｄａｙｂｙｄａｙ .Ｓｈｅｎ ( 1994)ｔｈｏｕｇｈｔｔｈａｔｐｈｙｔｏｐｌａｎｋｔｏｎｇｒｏｗｔｈｗａｓｌｉｍｉｔｅｄｂｙｔｈｅｃｈａｎｇｅｆｒｏｍｎｉｔｒｏｇｅｎｔｏｐｈｏｓｐｈｏｒｏｕｓ ;ａｎｄｔｈａｔｔｈｅｓｉｌｉｃａｔｅｃｏｎｃｅｎｔｒａｔｉｏｎｉｎＪｉａｏｚｈ…     

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

Analysis and comparison of Jiaozhou Bay data collected from May 1991 to February 1994 (12 seasonal investigations) provided by the Ecological Station of Jiaozhou Bay revealed the characteristic spatiotemporal variation of the ambient concentration Si∶DIN and Si∶16P ratios and the seasonal variation of Jiaozhou Bay Si∶DIN and Si∶16P ratios showing that the Si∶DIN ratios were <1 throughout the year in Jiaozhou Bay; and that the Si∶16P ratios were <1 throughout Jiaozhou Bay in spring, autumn and winter. The results proved that silicate limited phytoplankton growth in spring, autumn and winter in Jiaozhou Bay. Analysis of the Si∶DIN and Si∶P ratios showed that the nutrient Si has been limiting the growth of phytoplankton throughout the year in some Jiaozhou Bay waters; and that the silicate deficiency changed the phytoplankton assemblage structure. Analysis of discontinuous 1962 to 1998 nutrient data showed that there was no N or P limitation of phytoplankton growth in that period. The authors consider that the annual cyclic change of silicate limits phytoplankton growth in spring, autumn and winter every year in Jiaozhou Bay; and that in many Jiaozhou Bay waters where the phytoplankton as the predominant species need a great amount of silicate, analysis of the nutrients N or P limitation of phytoplankton growth relying only on the N and P nutrients and DIN∶P ratio could yield inaccurate conclusions. The results obtained by applying the rules of absolute and relative limitation fully support this view. The authors consider that the main function of nutrient silicon is to regulate and control the mechanism of the phytoplankton growth process in the ecological system in estuaries, bays and the sea. The authors consider that according to the evolution theory of Darwin, continuous environmental pressure gradually changes the phytoplankton assemblage's structure and the physiology of diatoms. Diatoms requiring a great deal of silicon either constantly decrease or reduce their requirement for silicon. This will cause a series of huge changes in the ecosystem so that the whole ecosystem requires continuous renewal, change and balancing. Human beings have to reduce marine pollution and enhance the capacity of continental sources to transport silicon to sustain the continuity and stability in the marine ecosystem. This study was funded by the NSFC (No. 40036010) and subsidized by Special Funds from the National Key Basic Research Program of P. R. China (G199990437), the Postdoctoral Foundation of Ocean University of Qingdao, the Director's Foundation of the Beihai Monitoring Center of the State Oceanic Administration and the Foundation of Shanghai Fisheries University.     

Experimental clearance rates of Aurelia coerulea ephyrae and medusae,and the predation impact on zooplankton in Jiaozhou Bay

The population explosion of jellyfish Aurelia coerulea occurred in Jiaozhou Bay,China in 2009.The potential predation impact of A.coerulea on zooplankton was investigated.Population clearance potential and residence time(t_(1/2)) for copepods were calculated from laboratory clearance rates and measurements of jellyfish size and abundance from May to August 2009 in Jiaozhou Bay.Clearance rates varied widely with prey organisms,but they were not significantly different among various prey concentrations.Medusae captured rotifers,fish larvae and hydromedusae more efficiently than fish eggs,copepods and chaetognaths.Ephyrae captured rotifers and hydromedusae more efficiently than fish larvae and copepods.Clearance rate linearly increased with the cro s s sectional area of A.coerulea(size from 0.3 to7.1 cm).Water temperature also had a marked effect on clearance rate and this was related to the increased beat freque ncy as water temperature increased.In early May 2009,A.coerulea potentially cleared the volume of water in the Bay less than 0.001 times a day,but this value was estimated to be more than 0.3 times a day in July.The t_(1/2) for copepods was less than 6 d in June and July.Abundances of copepods,hydromedusae and chaetognaths were extremely low in 2009 compared to 2008 and 2010(jellyfish non-bloom years).Large predation pressure by the A.coerulea population occurred to control zooplankton communities in Jiaozhou Bay.A.coerulea,when present at a high population level,can be a keystone species in Jiaozhou Bay and control the trophic structure here.     

Benthic harpacticoid copepods of Jiaozhou Bay,Qingdao

The species richness of benthic harpacticoid copepod fauna in Jiaozhou Bay,Qingdao,on the southern coast of Shandong Peninsula,has not been comprehensively studied.We present a preliminary inventory of species for this region based on material found in nine sediment samples collected from 2011to 2012.Our list includes 15 species belonging to 15 genera in 9 families,the most speciose family was the Miraciidae Dana,1846(seven species);all other families were represented by single species only.Sediment characteristics and depth are determined to be important environmental determinants of harpacticoid distribution in this region.We briefl y detail the known distributions of species and provide a key to facilitate their identifi cation.Both harpacticoid species richness and the species/genus ratio in Jiaozhou Bay are lower than in Bohai Gulf and Gwangyang Bay.The poor knowledge of the distribution of benthic harpacticoids,in addition to low sampling ef fort in Jiaozhou Bay,likely contribute to low species richness.     

EXAMINATION OF SILICATE LIMITATION OF PRIMARY PRODUCTION IN JIAOZHOU BAY, CHINA I. SILICATE BEING A LIMITING FACTOR OF PHYTOPLANKTON PRIMARY PRODUCTION

ＩＮＴＲＯＤＵＣＴＩＯＮＴｈｅｐｒｏｄｕｃｔｉｏｎｏｆｐｈｙｔｏｐｌａｎｋｔｏｎｉｓｔｈｅｆｉｒｓｔｔａｃｈｅｉｎｔｈｅｐｒｏｄｕｃｔｉｏｎｂｙｍａｒｉｎｅｏｒｇａｎｉｓｍｓａｎｄｉｎｔｈｅｍａｒｉｎｅｆｏｏｄｃｈａｉｎ .Ｋｎｏｗｌｅｄｇｅｏｆｐｒｉｍａｒｙｐｒｏｄｕｃｔｉｏｎｉｎｍａｒｉｎｅｗａｔｅｒｓｉｓｐｒｅｒｅｑｕｉｓｉｔｅｆｏｒｅｘｐｌｏｉｔａｔｉｏｎａｎｄｍａｎａｇｅｍｅｎｔｏｆｔｈｅｏｃｅａｎ’ｓｌｉｖｉｎｇｒｅｓｏｕｒｃｅｓ.Ｔｈｅｐｒｉｍａｒｙｐｒｏｄｕｃｔｉｏｎｉｎｍａｒｉｎ…     

EXAMINATION OF SILICATE LIMITATION OF PRIMARY PRODUCTION IN JIAOZHOU BAY, CHINA Ⅰ. SILICATE BEING A LIMITING FACTOR OF PHYTOPLANKTON PRIMARY PRODUCTION

Jiaozhou Bay data collected from May 1991 to February 1994, in 12 seasonal investigations, and provided the authors by the Ecological Station of Jiaozhou B ay, were analyzed to determine the spatiotemporal variations in temperature, light, nutrients (NO-3-N, NO-2-N, NH+4-N, SiO2-3-Si, PO3-4-P), phytoplankton, and primary production in Jiaozhou Bay. The results indicated that only silicate correlated well in time and space with, and had important effects on, the characteristics, dynamic cycles and trends of, primary production in Jiaozhou Bay. The authors developed a corresponding dynamic model of primary production and silicate and water temperature. Eq.(1) of the model shows that the primary production variation is controlled by the nutrient Si and affected by water temp erature; that the main factor controlling the primary production is Si; that water temper ature affects the composition of the structure of phytoplankton assemblage; that the different populations of the phytoplankton assemblage occupy different ecologica l niches for C, the apparent ratio of conversion of silicate in seawater into phytoplankton biomas and D, the coefficient of water temperature's effect on phytoplankton biomass. The authors researched the silicon source of Jiaozhou Bay , the biogeochemical sediment process of the silicon, the phytoplankton predominan t species and the phytoplankton structure. The authors considered silicate a limit ing factor of primary production in Jiaozhou Bay, whose decreasing concentration of silicate from terrestrial source is supposedly due to dilution by current and up take by phytoplankton; quantified the silicate assimilated by phytoplankton, the intrins ic ratio of conversion of silicon into phytoplankton biomass, the proportion of silicate uptaken by phytoplankton and diluted by current; and found that the primary production of the phytoplankton is determined by the quantity of the silicate assimilated by them. The phenomenon of apparently high plant-nutrient concentrations but low phytoplankton biomass in some waters is reasonably explained in this paper.     

考洲洋底质中硫化物的含量与分布

1 999年 2月和 8月对考洲洋底质硫化物状况进行了调查。结果表明 :考洲洋底质中的硫化物含量在 1 3 7～ 2 2 8 7mg·kg- 1(干重 ,下同 )之间 ,平均值为 1 2 8 2mg·kg- 1。其含量呈养殖区 >河口入海区>近湾口区非均匀分布。丰水期间底质硫化物含量略高于枯水期的。底质硫化物含量与底质有机质含量和化学耗氧量的呈正相关关系。以全国海岸带污染调查关于底质硫化物含量标准 (3 0 0mg·kg- 1)比较 ,硫化物含量未出现超标现象 ;与其它海湾比较 ,其含量高于海南的安游湾而低于或远低于深圳湾、红海湾、衙前湾、南澳湾和雷州湾以及厦门西海域和大连湾     

Examination of Silicate Limitation of Primary Production in Jiaozhou Bay,China Ⅱ.Critical Value and Time of Silicate Limitation and Satisfaction of the Phytoplankton Growth

Analysis and comparison of Jiaozhou Bay data collected from May 1991 to February 1994 revealed the spatiotemporal variations of the ambient Si(OH)₄:NO₃ (Si:N) concentration rations and the seasonal variations of (Si:N) ratios in Jiaozhou Bay and showed that the Si:N ratios were <1 throughout Jiaozhou Bay in spring, autumn, and winter. These results provide further evidence that silicate limits the growth of phytoplankton (i.e. diatoms) in spring, autumn and winter. Moreover, comparison of the spatiotemporal variations of the Si:N ratio and primary production in Jiaozhou Bay suggested their close relationship. The spatiotemporal pattern of dissolved silicate matched well that of primary production in Jiaozhou Bay. Along with the environmental change of Jiaozhou Bay in the last thirty years, the N and P concentrations tended to rise, whereas Si concentration showed cyclic seasonal variations. With the variation of nutrient Si limiting the primary production in mind, the authors found that the range of values of primary production is divided into three parts: the basic value of Si limited primary production, the extent of Si limited primary production and the critical value of Si limited primary production, which can be calculated for Jiaozhou Bay by Equations (1), (2) and (3), showing that the time of the critical value of Si limitation of phytoplankton growth in Jiaozhou Bay is around November 3 to November 13 in autumn; and that the time of the critical value of Si satisfaction of phytoplankton growth in Jiaozhou Bay is around May 22 to June 7 in spring. Moreover, the calculated critical value of Si satisfactory for phytoplankton growth is 2.15–0.76 μmol/L and the critical value of Si limitation of phytoplankton growth is 1.42–0.36 μmol/L; so that the time period of Si limitation of phytoplankton growth is around November 13 to May 22 in the next year; the time period of Si satisfactory for phytoplankton growth is around June 7 to November 3. This result also explains why critical values of nutrient silicon affect phytoplankton growth in spring and autumn are different in different waters of Jiaozhou Bay and also indicates how the silicate concentration affects the phytoplankton assemblage structure. The dilution of silicate concentration by seawater exchange affects the growth of phytoplankton so that the primary production of phytoplankton declines outside Jiaozhou Bay earlier than inside Jiaozhou Bay by one and half months. This study showed that Jiaozhou Bay phytoplankton badly need silicon and respond very sensitively and rapidly to the variation of silicon. This study was funded by NSFC (No. 40036010) and subsidized by Special Funds from National Key Basic Research Program of P. R. China (G19990437), the Postdoctoral Foundation of Ocean University of Qingdao, the Director's Foundation of the Beihai Monitoring Center of the State Oceanic Administration and the Foundation of Shanghai Fisheries University.     

Application of otolith shape analysis for stock discrimination and species identification of five goby species （Perciformes： Gobiidae） in the northern Chinese coastal waters

We tested the use of otolith shape analysis to discriminate between species and stocks of five goby species( Ctenotrypauchen chinensis, Odontamblyopus lacepedii, Amblychaeturichthys hexanema, Chaeturichthys stigmatias, and Acanthogobius hasta) found in northern Chinese coastal waters. The five species were well differentiated with high overall classification success using shape indices(83.7%), elliptic Fourier coefficients(98.6%), or the combination of both methods(94.9%). However, shape analysis alone was only moderately successful at discriminating among the four stocks(Liaodong Bay, LD; Bohai Bay, BH; Huanghe(Yellow) River estuary HRE, and Jiaozhou Bay, JZ stocks) of A. hasta(50%–54%) and C. stigmatias(65.7%–75.8%). For these two species, shape analysis was moderately successful at discriminating the HRE or JZ stocks from other stocks, but failed to effectively identify the LD and BH stocks. A large number of otoliths were misclassified between the HRE and JZ stocks, which are geographically well separated. The classification success for stock discrimination was higher using elliptic Fourier coefficients alone(70.2%) or in combination with shape indices(75.8%) than using only shape indices(65.7%) in C. stigmatias whereas there was little difference among the three methods for A. hasta. Our results supported the common belief that otolith shape analysis is generally more effective for interspecific identification than intraspecific discrimination. Moreover, compared with shape indices analysis, Fourier analysis improves classification success during inter- and intra-species discrimination by otolith shape analysis, although this did not necessarily always occur in all fish species.     

Fluorometric discrimination technique of phytoplankton population based on wavelet analysis

The discrete excitation-emission-matrix fluorescence spectra (EEMS) at 12 excitation wavelengths (400, 430, 450, 460, 470, 490, 500, 510, 525, 550, 570, and 590 nm) and emission wavelengths ranging from 600-750 nm were determined for 43 phytoplankton species. A two-rank fluorescence spectra database was established by wavelet analysis and a fluorometric discrimination technique for determining phytoplankton population was developed. For laboratory simulatively mixed samples, the samples mixed from 43 algal species (the algae of one division accounted for 25%, 50%, 75%, 85%, and 100% of the gross biomass, respectively), the average discrimination rates at the level of division were 65.0%, 87.5%, 98.6%, 99.0%, and 99.1%, with average relative contents of 18.9%, 44.5%, 68.9%, 73.4%, and 82.9%, respectively; the samples mixed from 32 red tide algal species (the dominant species accounted for 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, and 100% of the gross biomass, respectively), the average correct discrimination rates of the dominant species at the level of genus were 63.3%, 74.2%, 78.8%, 83.4%, and 79.4%, respectively. For the 81 laboratory mixed samples with the dominant species accounting for 75% of the gross biomass (chlorophyll), the discrimination rates of the dominant species were 95.1% and 72.8% at the level of division and genus, respectively. For the 12 samples collected from the mesocosm experiment in Maidao Bay of Qingdao in August 2007, the dominant species of the 11 samples were recognized at the division level and the dominant species of four of the five samples in which the dominant species accounted for more than 80% of the gross biomass were discriminated at the genus level; for the 12 samples obtained from Jiaozhou Bay in August 2007, the dominant species of all the 12 samples were recognized at the division level. The technique can be directly applied to fluorescence spectrophotometers and to the developing of an in situ algae fluorescence auto-analyzer for phytoplankton population.     

Introduction,spat-rearing and experimental culture of bay scallop,Argopecten irradians lamarck

Bay scallops were introduced from the east coast of the U.S. into China to shorten the economic turn-over from 2 to 1 year. Parent scallops were carried to Qingdao on Dec. 20, 1982 and stocked in indoor tanks at controlled temperature and fed with a mixture ofPhaeodictylum tricornutum, Pyramimonas sp. andChlorella sp. They spawned on Jan. 26 of the next year. The larvae were reared at a temperature of 18–21°C and fed withIsochrysis galbana, Pyramimonas sp. andChorella sp. In 4 weeks’ growing, the spats averaged 827 μm. They attained a height of 6.9 mm on May 9. In the middle of May, the seed scallops were transferred to Luoyuan Bay in Fujian Province, and Jiaozhou Bay, as well as the area off Taiping Jiao Cape, Qingdao, Shandong Province for experimental culture in plastic netcages suspended on a single line raft. Bay scallops cultured in Luoyuan Bay grew to an averaged shell height of 10.4 mm. In Jiaozhou Bay and the Taiping Jiao Cape culture area, they grew to 50 mm in average shell height (marketable size) and 26 g in average weight by late September; and attained 59 mm in average shell height (R. 39–75 mm) and 46 g in average weight in late December. The ovary and testis could be distinguished by color in August. In early September, eggs and sperms were collected for our laboratory where the second generation of seed scallops was successfully reared to suitable size for growing outdoor and breeding. This species can be harvested within a year after fertilization of the eggs, so we consider it suitable for culture in the Yellow Sea and East China Sea. This is the first reported successful introduction of Atlantic mollusks to the China Seas. This paper was published in Chinese inOceanologia et Limnologia Sinica 17 (5): 367–374, 1986.     

Multiple excitation wavelength fluorescence emission spectra technique for discrimination of phytoplankton

In vivo fluorescence methods are efficient tools for studying the distribution of phytoplankton in nature.Different algae species usually have different pigments with different ratios,which results in different fluorescence emission spectra.Based on multiple excitation wavelength fluorescence emission spectra,a discrimination technique is established in this study.The discrimination method,established by multivariate linear regression and weighted least-squares,was used to differentiate the samples cultured in the laboratory and collected from Jiaozhou Bay near Qingdao at the division level.The correctly discriminated samples were ≥ 86% for single algae samples,≥ 88% for simulatively mixed ones,≥ 91% for physically mixed ones and 100% for samples collected from Jiaozhou Bay.The result in this research is more definite for the physically mixed samples in the laboratory.The method described here can be employed to monitor the phytoplankton population in the marine environment.     

EXAMINATION OF SILICATE LIMITATION OF PRIMARY PRODUCTION IN JIAOZHOU BAY, CHINA——I. SILICATE BEING A LIMITING FACTOR OF PHYTOPLANKTON PRIMARY PRODUCTION

Jiaozhou Bay data collected from May 1991 to February 1994, in 12 seasonal investigations, and provided the authors by the Ecological Station of Jiaozhou Bay, were analyzed to determine the spatiotemporal variations in temperature, light, nutrients (NO3^--N, NO2^--N, NH4^ -N, SIO3^2--Si, PO4^3--P), phytoplankton, and primary production in Jiaozhou Bay. The results indicated that only silicate correlated well in time and space with, and had important effects on, the characteristics, dynamic cycles and trends of, primary production in Jiaozhou Bay. The authors developed a corresponding dynamic model of primary production and silicate and water temperature. Eq. ( 1 ) of the model shows that the primary production variation is controlled by the nutrient Si and affected by water temperature; that the main factor controlling the primary production is Si; that water temperature affects the composition of the structure of phytoplankton assemblage; that the different populations of the phytoplankton assemblage occupy different ecological niches for C, the apparent ratio of conversion of silicate in seawater into phytoplankton biomas and D, the coefficient of water temperature‘s effect on phytoplankton biomass. The authors researched the silicon source of Jiaozhou Bay, the biogeochemical sediment process of the silicon, the phytoplankton predominant species and the phytoplankton structure. The authors considered silicate a limiting factor of primary production in Jiaozhou Bay, whose decreasing concentration of silicate from terrestrial source is supposedly due to dilution by current and uptake by phytoplankton; quantified the silicate assimilated by phytoplankton, the intrinsic ratio of conversion of silicon into phytoplankton biomass, the proportion of silicate uptaken by phytoplankton and diluted by current; and found that the primary production of the phytoplankton is determined by the quantity of the silicate assimilated by them. The phenomenon of apparently high plant-nutrient concentTations but low phytoplankton biomass in some waters is reasonably explained in this paper.     

Taxonomic description of a new marine ciliate,Euplotes qingdaoensis n. sp. (Ciliophora: Euplotida)

The characteristics and infraciliature of a new euplotid ciliate,Euplotes qingdaoensis n.sp.,discovered from the coastal waters of Jiaozhou Bay,northern China,were studied using live observation and silver impregnation.The new marine species is characterized by a slightly fl attened body(90–110 μm×70–80 μm,in vivo),an adoral zone of 26–29 membranelles,10 strong frontoventral and fi ve transverse cirri,two caudal cirri,a single left marginal cirrus,seven dorsal kineties,a middle kinety with about 15 pairs of basal bodies,a silverline system of the double-eurystomus type,and a C-shaped macronucleus.     

广西防城沿海鱼类初步调查

广西防城沿海鱼类初步调查有115种,隶属于14目63科91属。软骨鱼类有2目3科4属5种,占总数的4.3％。硬骨鱼类有12目60科87属110种,占总数的95.7％,其中鲈形目鱼类占优势,有68种。暧水性鱼类99种,占总数的86％;暧温性鱼类16种,占总数的14％,无冷温性鱼类。     

Bacterial diversity, composition and temporal-spatial variation in the sediment of Jiaozhou Bay, China

Studies on the diversity and distribution of bacterial populations will improve the overall understanding of the global patterns of marine bacteria and help to comprehend local biochemical processes and environments. We evaluated the composition and the dynamics of bacterial communities in the sediment of Jiaozhou Bay (China) using PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). Sediment samples were collected from 10 different sites in May, August, and November 2008 and in February 2009. There was significant temporal variation in bacterial community composition at all sites. However, the spatial variation was very small. The DGGE analyses of bacterial communities were used to divide the 10 stations into three types. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) revealed that the changes in bacterial communities were driven by sediment properties. Sequence analysis of DGGE band-derived 16S rRNA gene fragments revealed that the dominant bacterial groups in the sediment were of the classes γ-proteobacteria and δ-proteobacteria and phyla Bacteroidetes and Nitrospirae. Our results provide considerable insight into the bacterial community structure in Jiaozhou Bay, China.     

Macrobenthic community in the Xiaoqing River Estuary in Laizhou Bay, China

The macrobenthic community of the Xiaoqing River Estuary and the adjacent sea waters was investigated in May and November 2008, August 2009, and May and September 2010, respectively. A total of 95 species of macrobenthos were identified in the five cruises and most of them were polychaetes (46.39%), mollusks (28.86%) and crustaceans (20.62%). The Shannon-Wiener index of macrobenthos was lower than 2 in 67% sites. Along the stream channel, estuary and the coastal waters, the species of polychaetes reduced gradually, while the abundance increased at first and then decreased. The abundance was the biggest at regions with salinity of 5–20 in the estuary. The species and abundance of mollusks and crustaceans increased gradually. As for seasonal distribution, the species, abundance and biomass were higher in spring and lower in summer and autumn. Contemporaneously compared with Laizhou Bay and Yellow River Estuary, the species of macrobenthos appeared in the Xiaoqing River Estuary were much less, while the percentage of polychaetes was higher. Abundance and biomass were higher in Xiaoqing River estuary, then consequently followed by Laizhou Bay and Yellow River Estuary. The dominant species in Xiaoqing River Estuary was polychaete, and Layzhou Bay mollusk. The community structure characteristics of macrobenthos in the Xiaoqing River Estuary revealed a significant pollution status in this region.     

Fishery resources in arid zone mangroves in gulf of Kachchh, Gujarat, northwest coast of India

The finfish and shellfish resources were assessed quantitatively and qualitatively in regard to their abundance in creek waters at three sites within a period of two years, from January 1999 to December 2000, in the western mangrove areas of Kachchh. The catch rate varied from 0.69 to 6.99 kg h⁻¹. It was low during monsoon (July to October), which could be due to the freshwater-flow-induced salinity reduction in all the sites. Among 38 species recorded, 5 were shellfish and 33 were finfish. The spawning period of fishes was found to be during summer and early monsoon period (May to August). Surface water temperatures varied from 17 °C to 37 °C. Salinity values varied from 34 to 44 and the pH ranged between 7 and 8.9. Variation in dissolved oxygen content was from 3.42 to 5.85 mL L⁻¹. The high fishery densities in these semi arid mangrove creek areas were recorded during monsoon and early winter season.     

Biogenic silicate accumulation in sediments, Jiaozhou Bay

1 INTRODUCTION Silicate, or silicic acid (H4SiO4), is a very im- portant nutrient in the ocean. Unlike other major nu- trients such as phosphate and nitrate or ammonium, which are needed by almost all marine plankton, silicate is an essential chemical req…