Seasonal dynamics of the phytoplankton community in Sendai Bay,northern Japan

Sendai Bay is located on the Pacific coast of northern Japan and suffered serious damage following the 2011 off the Pacific coast of Tohoku earthquake and tsunami in March 2011. To assess the impact on the marine ecosystem, information was needed on the phytoplankton communities and their seasonal variation. However, such information was limited. Therefore, an intensive monitoring of the phytoplankton was carried out from March 2012 to April 2014. Seasonal variation of the phytoplankton community was similar at coastal and offshore stations. Total phytoplankton biomass, based on Chl a concentration, peaked in spring and then decreased to a minimum in summer, before gradually increasing during early winter and peaking again in the following spring. This seasonal pattern was consistent with previous studies conducted before the earthquake and tsunami. Also, size structure of the phytoplankton community and its four main groups was estimated from the size-fractioned samples of Chl a. Our results also showed that the spring bloom consisted of large diatoms, with their growth ceasing due to nitrogen depletion. The bloom was followed by a summer period where cyanobacteria and picoeukaryote became dominant, with high cell densities in spite of low nutrient concentrations. In addition, sporadic environmental changes, such as those following typhoons, were observed. These resulted in large increases/decreases in individual phytoplankton groups.     

Seasonal succession in the diatom community of Sendai Bay,northern Japan,following the 2011 off the Pacific coast of Tohoku earthquake

Sendai Bay in northern Japan suffered serious damage from massive tsunamis generated by the 2011 off the Pacific coast of Tohoku earthquake. The physical disturbance caused by a tsunami may affect the coastal ecosystem, including the planktonic diatom community. We investigated seasonal changes in the diatom community structure at a coastal and an offshore station in Sendai Bay, from June 2011 (3 months after the tsunami) to April 2014. Diatom abundance increased at both stations during the spring. Sporadic increases were also recorded at the coastal station during the summer because of silicate input from river discharge. Seasonal succession of the diatom communities was similar at both the coastal and offshore stations. The onset of the spring bloom consisted mainly of Chaetoceros spp. when water temperatures were low. Subsequently, species such as Skeletonema costatum s.l. became dominant as salinity and nutrient concentrations decreased. Cell density decreased from summer into early winter. Leptocylindrus danicus became dominant in the summer, but was replaced by Thalassiosira cf. mala from autumn into winter. Redundancy analysis (RDA) showed that most of the variation in the diatom community could be explained by temperature, salinity, NO₃ ^?, NO₂ ^?, PO₄ ^3?, and SiO₂. In addition, the occurrence of diatom species before the tsunami showed a similar pattern to that after the tsunami, suggesting that the tsunami did not have a serious impact on the diatom community in Sendai Bay.     

Numerical simulation of Pacific water intrusions into Otsuchi Bay,northeast of Japan,with a nested-grid OGCM

A numerical simulation of Otsuchi Bay located on the northeast coast of the Honshu, the largest island of Japan, is conducted, using an ocean general circulation model (OGCM) with a nested-grid system in order to illustrate seasonal variability of the circulation in the bay. Through a year, an anticlockwise circulation is dominant in the bay, as observational studies have implied, although it is modified in the bay-mouth-half of the bay in winter. In addition, there is an intense outflow at the surface layer during spring to autumn, influenced by river water discharge. Intrusion of the Pacific water into the bay is influened by mean circulations, but it is also influenced by baroclinic tides from spring to autumn. Pacific water intrusions affected by baroclinic tides may have an impact on the environment in Otsuchi Bay.     

Influence of the Oyashio Current and Tsugaru Warm Current on the circulation and water properties of Otsuchi Bay,Japan

Mooring and hydrographic observations were conducted from September 2012 to May 2014 at the mouth of Otsuchi Bay, a ria along the Pacific coast of Japan. Our observations quantitatively demonstrated that the circulation and the water properties of Otsuchi Bay are strongly influenced by the Tsugaru Warm Current (TWC) and Oyashio Current (OY) at seasonal and subseasonal time scales. Two bottom-mounted velocity profilers and temperature and salinity measurements beneath the near-surface halocline showed a counterclockwise lateral circulation pattern related to the TWC, which was enhanced from summer to autumn. From winter to early spring, the lateral circulation patterns related to the TWC weakened and the influence of the OY occasionally increased. When the OY was weak, surface flows became an overturning structure, with outflows in the upper layer and inflows in the lower layer. When the OY was strong and passed close to the Sanriku coast, the circulation became highly variable and intermittent. Intrusions of the markedly low-salinity OY water were observed on two occasions and persisted for periods of several weeks to several months. Salinity was sometimes less than 33.7, the lower limit of the typical TWC from late summer to autumn even when the TWC dominates. We suggested that this is the seasonal fluctuations of the TWC itself, as the upstream current of the Tsushima Warm Current is freshened in summer as a result of the influence of the Changjiang River. The surface water was generally fresher in the south of the bay than in the north, suggesting the Coriolis deflection of the river plume.     

Seasonal variations of the deep-sea macrobenthos communities in the coastal and bathyal zones off sanriku,northeastern Japan

Seasonal variations of macrobenthos communities were analyzed over six years at two fixed stations at the depths of 500 m and 1,000 m in the bathyal zone off Sanriku, northeastern Japan, and were compared with those of the 80 m station established at the mouth of Otsuchi Bay, northeastern Japan. Significant seasonal variations of macrobenthos density were detected at the 80 m and 500 m stations. While the density increased in late spring and decreased until July at the 80 m station, it increased between May and August, and decreased in September at the 500 m station. At the 1,000 m station, no seasonal variation of macrobenthos abundance could be detected. The seasonal variations of the density observed at the 80 m and 500 m stations are probably related to that of the supply of organic materials derived from surface phytoplankton. Differences in the patterns of seasonal variations among the three stations may reflect the different periods of food supply to the sea floor. Significant seasonal variation in the feeding structure of the polychaete communities could be detected at the 80 m and 1,000 m stations.     

大亚湾生态监控区的浮游植物年际变化

依据国家海洋局、国家海洋局第三海洋研究所等权威机构2004~2007年所获的数据和资料,对大亚湾生态监控区近4a长时间尺度的浮游植物群落年际变化进行分析,通过物种组成、丰度变化、优势类群演替、群落结构及赤潮灾害事件来反映生境的退化,探讨其变化的主要原因及趋势。结果表明,浮游植物群落由暖水种占绝对优势转变为广温广布种占主导地位。种类与丰度呈逐年下降的态势,浮游植物丰度的分布保持西高东低,近岸高于远岸的特征,浮游植物的高丰度与营养盐丰富及温排水有关。终年以硅藻为优势种群,优势种演替具有明显的季节与年际变化,细长翼根管藻(Rhizosolenia alataf.gracillima)是春季稳定的优势种,柔弱拟菱形藻(Pseudo-nitzschia delicatissma)是夏季稳定的优势种,春末甲藻的优势度增加明显。浮游植物群落多样性指数呈逐年下降趋势,均匀度呈逐年上升态势。浮游植物的异常增殖及过度集中导致多样性较低,种间比例不均匀,群落结构单一。赤潮季节性发生频繁,发生频率及引发种类呈上升趋势,海洋环境脆弱。     

Seasonal and Between-Substrate Variation in Mobile Epifaunal Community in a Multispecific Seagrass Bed of Otsuchi Bay, Japan

Abstract. A seagrass bed in Otsuchi Bay, northeastern Japan, consists of three seagrass species ( Zostera marina, Z. caulescens and Z. caespitosa ) that differ in morphology and phenology. We studied the mobile epifaunal community in the seagrass bed to examine (1) whether seasonal and between-substrate variation in the epifaunal community agrees with variation in seagrass abundance and morphological complexity, and (2) whether patterns of seasonal and between-substrate variation vary among epifaunal species. We collected mobile epifauna from each of Z. marina and Z. caulescens on 11 occasions between October 1995 and November 1996 (at 1 – 1.5 month intervals) using a hand-closing net. A total of 9 842 individuals of mobile epiphytic animals were collected and they were classified into 80 taxa. Abundance and species richness of the epifaunal community were high in summer to autumn and low in winter to spring, and diversity index and evenness were higher in Z. marina than Z. caulescens . However, patterns of seasonal and between-substrate variation in these parameters did not parallel those in seagrass abundance and complexity. Most of the dominant epifaunal species showed significant seasonal and between-substrate variation in abundance, although their patterns varied greatly among individual species. A cluster analysis recognized several distinct groups of animals showing similar seasonal and between-substrate variation. Our findings suggest that the observed variation in the epifaunal community is not determined by a single or some strong external factors but by complex interactions of multiple factors operating differently for each component species.     

2009—2011年东海陆架海域网采浮游植物群落的季节变化

根据2009年7、8月(夏季)、12月到翌年1月(冬季)、2010年11月(秋季)和2011年4、5月(春季)共4个航次在东海陆架区进行的现场多学科综合调查,报道了4个季节在整个东海海域的浮游植物的空间分布及群落结构特征,并探讨了影响其分布格局的环境因子效应。结果表明,东海浮游植物群落主要由硅藻、甲藻组成。共检出浮游植物5门88属299种(含未定种)。调查区夏季细胞丰度达最高,平均为(8 659.572±28 937.27)cell/L,其次是秋、冬季,春季最低,分别为(4 413.726±12 534.573)cell/L、(421.773±647.532)cell/L和(218.479±265.897)cell/L。硅藻细胞丰度在夏、秋、冬3个季节占总平均丰度的95%以上,甲藻细胞丰度在春季最高,占总浮游植物细胞丰度的69%。调查海区浮游植物丰度高值区主要集中在长江口海域,并向外海呈递减趋势。不同群落间存在季节更替和演替现象。物种丰富度自春夏秋冬逐渐升高。香农指数(Shannon-Wiener index)和均匀度指数(Pielou index)分布较为一致,物种丰富度指数(Margalef index)呈现时空分布差异。Pearson相关分析结果表明:不同季节的物种间更迭与海区特定的物理化学参数显著相关。     

Wind- and density-driven circulation in a bay on the Sanriku ria coast,Japan: study of Shizugawa Bay facing the Pacific Ocean

Flow fields in Shizugawa Bay on the Sanriku ria coast, which faces the Pacific Ocean, were investigated using hydrographic observations for the purpose of understanding oceanographic conditions and the process of water exchanges in the bay after the 2011 earthquake off the Pacific coast of Tohoku. In spring to summer, density-driven surface outflow is part of estuarine circulation and is induced by a pressure gradient force under larger longitudinal gradients in density along with lower salinity water in the innermost part of the bay, regardless of wind forcing. In winter to summer, another density-driven current with a thermal structure is induced by a pressure gradient force under the smaller longitudinal density gradients in calm wind conditions. Particularly in winter, Tsugaru Warm Current water can be transported in the surface layer inside the bay. Wind-driven bay-scale circulation with downwind and upwind currents in the surface and deeper layers, respectively, is induced by strong longitudinal wind forcing under the smaller longitudinal density gradients, irrespective of season. Particularly in fall to spring, this circulation can cause the intrusions of oceanic water associated with Oyashio water and Tsugaru Warm Current water in the deeper layer. These results suggest that wind- and density-driven currents can produce the active exchange of water from inside and outside the bay throughout the year.     

莱州湾游泳动物群落结构研究

本文根据2010和2011年春季（5月）、夏季（8月）、秋季（10月）和冬季（12月）进行的8航次调查数据，研究了莱州湾游泳动物群落格局及其与环境因子关系。结果显示，调查共捕获游泳动物85种，2011年生物量略高于2010年；生物量季节间差别较大，各季节生物量排序为夏季、秋季、冬季和春季；不同年间相同季节生物量差异多不显著（秋季除外）；除2010年春季外，其余季节均为鱼类生物量最高，甲壳类次之，头足类最低；从全年调查平均值来看，莱州湾西侧游泳动物生物量（60.2 kg/h）明显高于东侧（33.4 kg/h）。根据8航次31个主要种类生物量聚类分析，莱州湾20调查站位可划分为4组：组I由位于调查海域东南的3个站位组成，组II由位于调查海域东部及中部的8个站位组成，组III由调查海域西北部（黄河口南侧）的3个站位组成，组IV由西部6个站位组成。组I浮游植物丰度、浮游动物生物量、游泳动物生物量和游泳动物多样性指数在各组中均最低，而底栖动物生物量最高；组III和组IV的浮游植物丰度、浮游动物生物量以及游泳动物生物量高于组I和组II。ANOSIM分析表明，各聚类组间群落结构虽有不同，但差异并不显著。DCCA分析表明，温度、盐度、底栖动物生物量以及浮游植物丰度是影响游泳动物群落的重要因子。研究表明，目前莱州湾游泳动物群落总生物量处于较低水平，特别是春季生物量下降尤为严重；生物量的季节分布发生了较大的改变，春季生物量极低，夏季生物量相对较高；底层鱼类比例下降的趋势有所逆转，头足类比例明显增加。莱州湾游泳动物群落格局异质性较低，可能与莱州湾生境异质性低以及人类剧烈干扰密切相关。     

Spatial-temporal variation of phytoplankton community structure in Jiaozhou Bay,China

To better understand the spatial-temporal variation in phytoplankton community structure and its controlling factors in Jiaozhou Bay, Qingdao, North China, four seasonal sampling were carried out in 2017. The phytoplankton community structure and various environmental parameters were examined. The phytoplankton community in the bay was composed of mainly diatoms and dinofl agellates, and several other species of Chrysophyta were also observed. Diatoms were the most dominant phytoplankton group throughout the year, except in spring and winter, when Noctiluca scintillans was co-dominant. High Si/N ratios in summer and fall refl ect the high dominance of diatoms in the two seasons. Temporally, the phytoplankton cell abundance peaked in summer, due mainly to the high temperatures and nutrient concentrations in summer. Spatially, the phytoplankton cell abundance was higher in the northern part of the bay than in the other parts of the bay in four seasons. The diatom cell abundances show signifi cant positive correlations with the nutrient concentrations, while the dinofl agellate cell abundances show no correlation or a negative correlation with the nutrient concentrations but a signifi cant positive correlation with the stratifi cation index. This discrepancy was mainly due to the diff erent survival strategies between diatoms and dinofl agellates. The Shannon-Wiener diversity index ( H′) values in the bay ranged from 0.08 to 4.18, which fell in the range reported in historical studies. The distribution pattern of H′ values was quite diff erent from that of chlorophyll a , indicating that the phytoplankton community structure might have high biomass with a low diversity index. Compared with historical studies, we believe that the dominant phytoplankton species have been changed in recent years due mainly to the changing environment in the Jiaozhou Bay in recent 30 years.     

Temporal and Spatial Variability of Phytoplankton Pigment Concentrations in the Japan Sea Derived from CZCS Images

Temporal and spatial variability of phytoplankton pigment concentrations in the Japan Sea are described, using monthly mean composite images of the Coastal Zone Color Scanner (CZCS). In order to describe the seasonal changes of pigment concentration from the results of the empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis, we selected four areas in the south Japan Sea. The pigment concentrations in these areas show remarkable seasonal variations. Two annual blooms appear in spring and fall. The spring bloom starts in the Japan Sea in February and March, when critical depth (CRD) becomes equal to mixed layer depth (MLD). The spring bloom in the southern areas (April) occurs one month in advance of that in the northern areas (May). This indicates that the pigment concentrations in the southern areas may increase rapidly in comparison with the northern areas since the water temperature increases faster in spring in the southern than in the northern areas. The fall bloom appears first in the southwest region, then in the southeast and northeast regions, finally appearing in the northwest region. Fall bloom appears in November and December when MLD becomes equal to CRD. The fall bloom can be explained by deepening of MLD in the Japan Sea. The pigment concentrations in winter are higher than those in summer. The low pigment concentrations dominate in summer.     

深圳沿岸海域净初级生产力的遥感反演及其时空变化分析

以深圳沿岸海域为研究区,以MODIS/AQUA卫星遥感产品为数据源,结合实测浮标数据修正了VGPM中叶绿素a含量的估算进而分析深圳沿岸海域净初级生产力的时空分布规律.研究表明:(1)深圳沿岸海域2014年2、5、8、10月的净初级生产力在空间分布上从近海向外逐渐降低,初级生产力整体呈现出"西高东低"的局面,且未有明显的季节性波动.(2)4个海区的叶绿素a含量均表现为夏季最高秋冬季次之,但各海区主要影响因素不同,珠江口主要受季风造成的浮游植物种类与细胞密度的季节变化影响,大亚湾主要受营养盐限制,大鹏湾的主导因素为湾内余流的季节变化,深圳湾的叶绿素a含量主要与浮游植物细胞密度的季节变化有关.(3)珠江口的初级生产力春夏季高于秋冬季;大鹏湾的初级生产力夏季最高,且季节变化趋势与叶绿素a表现一致;深圳湾的初级生产力夏季最高,且季节变化趋势与海表温度表现一致;大亚湾的初级生产力波动明显,夏冬季海洋初级生产力数值总体高于春秋季.     

Particle dynamics in the deep water column of Sagami Bay, Japan. II: seasonal change in profiles of suspended phytodetritus

Vertical distributions of turbidity & phytodetritus (Chl.a and pheopigment), and their seasonal variations were measured in the deep water column of Sagami Bay, Japan, in June 1999, February 2000 and May 2000. Observations were carried out at eight stations along an east-west section of Sagami Bay using a CTD/water sampling system equipped with a memory-type infrared back-scattering meter which had been calibrated for the suspended particles collected in Sagami Bay. Turbidity increased close to the bottom in both summer and winter, indicating the existence of a benthic nepheloid layer throughout the year. But the vertical gradient of turbidity was much larger in summer than in winter. The concentration of Chl.a and pheopigment also increased in the benthic layer in summer, sometimes reaching values of more than 0.01 and 0.2 μg/l, respectively, much higher than those reported in hemipelagic regions of the ocean. In winter, on the other hand, Chl.a kept a constant low value throughout the deep water column. This indicates that the turbid water mass formed in the benthic layer in summer derives from the deposition of large amounts of phytodetritus in spring and the resuspension of these aggregates, which are subsequently decomposed in the benthic layer during the following autumn. Unlike the benthic boundary layer, the turbidity of intermediate water was lower in summer rather than in winter. Because the phytoplankton aggregates exported from the surface water during the spring bloom not only supply phytodetritus to the benthic layer but also scavenge the suspended particles in the water column, the steep vertical gradient of turbidity observed in summer may reflect the dynamic interaction between suspended and sinking particles in the deep water column.     

Underwater observations of the giant spoon worm <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ikeda taenioides</Emphasis> (Annelida: Echiura: Ikedidae) in a subtidal soft-bottom environment in northeastern Japan,which survived tsunamis of the 2011 off the Pacific Coast of Tohoku Earthquake

Tsunamis associated with the 2011 off the Pacific Coast of Tohoku Earthquake seriously disrupted the shallow marine ecosystem along a 2000 km stretch of the Pacific coast of Japan. The effects of the 2011 tsunamis on the soft-bottom benthic community have been relatively well studied in the intertidal zone, whereas tsunami effects on the subtidal benthos remain poorly understood. Here, we investigated populations of the world’s largest spoon worm Ikeda taenioides (Annelida: Echiura: Ikedidae) in subtidal zone of Funakoshi Bay, Tohoku District, northeastern Japan. Subtidal scuba-diving surveys at two sites in the bay showed extremely long proboscises frequently extending from small holes in the sandy seafloor shortly before and soon after the tsunami disturbances. Based on morphological and molecular identification, the proboscises were revealed to be parts of I. taenioides. On 30 November 2011, 265 days after the tsunami event, many large-sized individuals with >1 m long proboscises were observed; these individuals were probably not derived from post-tsunami larval recruitment but more likely survived the tsunami disturbances. This is surprising because other sympatric megabenthos (e.g. spatangoid echinoids and venerid bivalves) and seagrass beds were almost completely destroyed (although they later recovered) by the tsunamis in this bay. The burrows of I. taenioides are known to be very deep (70–90 cm), which may have sheltered them from the impacts of the tsunamis. Our observations suggest that the effects of the 2011 tsunamis on benthos in soft sediments may differ depending on their burrowing depth.     

荣成湾毗邻海域浮游动物群落季节分布特征

利用2009年度4个季度月的现场调查资料研究了荣成湾毗邻海域浮游动物群落的季节分布特征。研究表明, 在荣成湾毗邻海域出现的浮游动物共59个种类, 秋季、夏季和春季浮游动物均为30种以上(依次为38种、35种和32种), 而冬季种类数相对较少(22种)。浮游动物优势种主要为强壮箭虫(Aidanosagitta crassa)、中华哲水蚤(Calanus sinicus)、小拟哲水蚤(Paracalanus parvus)和拟长腹剑水蚤(Oithona similis)等种类, 其个体丰度的空间和季节分布特征差异较大。浮游动物湿重生物量冬季最高(433.8 mg/m3), 春季(220.7 mg/m3)和秋季(162.4 mg/m3)次之, 而夏季(52.5 mg/m3)相对较低。浮游动物群落物种多样性指数H′年平均值为2.50, 均匀性指数J′年平均值为0.65, 季节比较上, 夏季浮游动物多样性和均匀度均较高, 而春季多样性和均匀性平均值为低值, 且最大值和最小值之间波动范围较大。进一步分析显示, 湾内的筏架养殖对浮游动物群落的分布有显著影响。     

莱州湾鱼卵、仔稚鱼群落结构及多样性的季节变化

为了解鱼卵、仔稚鱼的种群动态以及生物多样性的变化规律,2014?2015年利用大型浮游生物网对莱州湾海域20个站位进行表层水平拖网调查。4个航次共采获鱼卵135 275粒,仔稚鱼2 456尾,隶属于9目16科20属。鱼卵、仔稚鱼主要种类变化依次从春季的鳀(Engraulis japonicus)和鰉(Liza haematocheilus),到夏季的赤鼻棱鳀(Thryssa kammalensis)和布氏银汉鱼(Allanetta bleekeri),到秋季的大银鱼(Protosalanx hyalocranius),再到冬季的长绵鳚(Zoarces elongatus)。鱼卵、仔稚鱼的种类组成、数量分布以及群落多样性随季节变化,其中,夏季的丰富度指数(D)和多样性指数(H′)最高,秋季均匀度指数(J′)最高。鱼卵、仔稚鱼从春季到夏季的种类更替率最小。利用R语言聚类树的融合水平值定义划分水平,选择具有最大跳跃的分组水平,将鱼卵、仔稚鱼分为春组、夏秋组和冬组3个组群,春组和夏秋组、春组和冬组主要分歧种均为鳀,夏秋组和冬组主要分歧种为长绵鳚和赤鼻棱鳀。本研究补充了莱州湾海域鱼类早期补充资源的基础数据,旨在为莱州湾渔业资源评估和养护提供依据。     

Sediment organic matter composition and dynamics in San Francisco Bay, California, USA: Seasonal variation and interactions between water column chlorophyll and the benthos

Sediment and water column data from four sites in North, Central and South San Francisco Bays were collected monthly from November 1999 through November 2001 to investigate the seasonal variation of benthic organic matter and chlorophyll in channel sediments, the composition and quality of sediment organic matter (SOM), and the relationship between seasonal patterns in benthic organic matter and patterns in water column chlorophyll. Water column chlorophyll peaked in the spring of 2000 and 2001, characteristic of other studies of San Francisco Bay phytoplankton dynamics, however an unusual chlorophyll peak occurred in fall 2000. Cross-correlation analysis revealed that water column chlorophyll at these four channel sites lead sediment parameters by an average of 2 to 3 months. Sediment organic matter levels in the San Francisco Bay channel showed seasonal cycles that followed patterns of water column production: peaks in water column chlorophyll were followed by later peaks in sediment chlorophyll and organic matter. Cyclical, seasonal variations also occurred in sediment organic matter parameters with sediment total organic carbon (TOC) and total nitrogen (TN) being highest in spring and lowest in winter, and sediment amino acids being highest in spring and summer and lowest in winter. Sediment chlorophyll, total organic carbon, and nitrogen were generally positively correlated with each other. Sediment organic matter levels were lowest in North Bay, intermediate in Central Bay, and highest in South Bay. C:N ratio and the ratio of enzyme hydrolyzable amino acids to TOC (EHAA:TOC) data suggest that SOM quality is more labile in Central and northern South Bay, and more refractory in North Bay and southern South Bay.     

Spatiotemporal heterogeneity of phytoplankton diversity and its relation to water environmental factors in the southern waters of Miaodao Archipelago, China

To study the water quality influenced by the anthropogenic activities and its impact on the phytoplankton diversity in the surface waters of Miaodao Archipelago, the spatiotemporal variations in phytoplankton communities and the environmental properties of the surface waters surrounding the Five Southern Islands of Miaodao Archipelago were investigated, based on seasonal field survey conducted from November 2012 to August 2013. During the survey, a total of 109 phytoplankton species from 3 groups were identified in the southern waters of Miaodao Archipelago, of which 77 were diatoms, 29 were dinoflagellates, and 3 were chrysophytes. Species number was higher in winter (73), moderate in autumn (70), but lower in summer (31) and spring (27). The species richness index in autumn (5.92) and winter (4.28) was higher than that in summer (2.83) and spring (1.41). The Shannon-Wiener diversity index was high in autumn (2.82), followed by winter (1.99) and summer (1.92), and low in spring (0.07). The species evenness index in autumn (0.46) and summer (0.39) was higher than that in winter (0.32) and spring (0.02). On the basis of principal component analysis (PCA) and redundancy analysis (RDA), we found that dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) in spring, COD in summer, pH in autumn, and salinity and oil pollutant in winter, respectively, showed the strongest association with the distribution of phytoplankton diversity. The spatial heterogeneity of the southern waters of Miaodao Archipelago was quite obvious, and three zones, i.e., northeastern, southwestern and inter-island water area, were identified by cluster analysis (CA) based on key environmental variables.     

Seasonal variations in the community structures of macrobenthic fauna and their health status in an estuarine bay,Gwangyang Bay in Korea

Macrobenthic fauna in an estuarine Gwangyang Bay, southern Korean coast, were investigated to uncover recent variations in their community structures. In the study area, macrobenthic faunal communities were mainly composed of polychaete worms which were the most abundant faunal group with the highest values in species number and density, while mollusks accounted for the highest proportion in total biomass. There was no clear seasonal difference in species richness during the two year period of the investigation, but the mean density and biomass increased every spring and summer due to the mass recruitment of Theora fragilis. The Shannon’s diversity index (H') was more than 2.0 during most sampling seasons and did not show any significant seasonal difference except for the data in August, 2011 when azoic conditions occurred. The community structures of macrobenthos in Gwangyang Bay did not show any remarkable change in the dominance of the two top dominant species, Scoletoma longifolia and Heteromastus filiformis, which abundantly occurred in all seasons, except for the abundance peaks associated with high occurrence of T. fragilis and Paraprionospio cordifolia, especially in spring and summer and in autumn, respectively. These fauna changes reflected the changes in the macrobenthic community health status in Gwangyang Bay, where stable conditions and a healthy status prevailed in winter, but a slightly disturbed status prevailed from spring to autumn.