Cultural eutrophication in the Changjiang (Yangtze River) plume: History and perspective

The Changjiang (Yangtze River) is known to contribute significantly to the eutrophication that has caused drastic changes to the ecosystem of the East China Sea. However, evidence for historical changes in nutrient concentrations and composition and the consequent effects on the ecosystem in the coastal water is sparse. In this paper we present some long-term data for nutrient concentrations and Si:N:P ratios in the freshwater and the river plume and the long-term response of the ecosystem structure in the river plume. These data reveal increases in the dissolved inorganic nitrogen and phosphate concentrations in the Changjiang freshwater by a factor of five from the1960s to the end of the 1990s and a reduction in dissolved silicate by two thirds over the same period. Concomitantly, an increase in DIN concentration and a reduction in silicate concentration both by a factor of two were observed in the surface water of the Changjiang plume. As an ecological consequence to such nutrient changes, the chlorophyll a concentration increased by a factor of four since the 1980s and harmful algal blooms increased rapidly since 1985 in the Changjiang estuary and adjacent sea areas. The macrozoobenthic biomass decreased sharply from the mid 1980s to the present, suggesting that the Changjiang estuary has been in a high eutrophication state since that time. We predict that, due to the continuously increasing nutrient pressure, the symptoms of eutrophication associated with nutrients will worsen in the Changjiang plume in the near future.     

2019 年夏季长江口及邻近海域锋面控制下叶绿素a分布特征及其环境影响因素分析

长江口外潮汐混合和低盐度羽流形成的泥沙锋和羽状锋对浮游植物与环境因子的空间分布具有重要控制作用。本研究依据 2019 年夏季长江口及邻近海域典型断面叶绿素 a （Chl-a） 浓度和环境因子的调查结果,以锋面为边界,探讨了不同区域 Chl-a 浓度与环境因子的分布特征及相互关系,以期深入了解锋面的生态效应。结果表明,在泥沙锋以内的近岸区域,水体垂直混合均匀;受长江径流输入和泥沙锋“屏障”作用影响,总悬浮物 （TSM） 和营养盐浓度最高,其中TSM为 220.0± 275.3 mg/L,溶解无机氮 （DIN）、溶解无机磷 （DIP） 和溶解硅酸盐 （DSi） 分别可以达到 94.7±21.2 umol/L、 0.85±0.33umol/L 和 95.3±22.6 umol/L;高浓度 TSM 引起显著的光限制效应,导致 Chl-a 浓度较低 （1.7 ±0.5 ug/L）。在羽状锋以外的区域,出现垂直层化现象;表层海水的 TSM 和营养盐显著降低,其中 TSM 为 5.1 mg/L,DIN、DIP 和 DSi 分别为1.0 umol/L、0.03 umol/L 和 2.4 umol/L;Chl-a浓度受到营养盐供应不足的影响,浓度仅为 0.2ug/L。高浓度的 Chl-a （7.5±4.1±g/L） 主要出现在泥沙锋和羽状锋之间的过渡区域,该区域营养盐得到长江径流与上升流的补充;同时,由于大量 TSM在泥沙锋快速沉降,缓解了水体的光限制效应,有利于浮游植物的生长和积累。研究结果验证了泥沙锋和羽状锋对 TSM 与营养盐的重要控制作用,这对于理解长江口及邻近海域藻类灾害高发区的成因具有科学参考价值。     

长江口及邻近海区营养盐结构与限制

通过研究长江口及邻近海域溶解无机氮(DIN=NO₃-+NO₂-+NH₄+)、磷酸盐(PO₄3-)、硅酸盐(SiO₃2-)所表征的营养盐区域结构特征及影响因素,在分析营养盐绝对限制情况的基础上,划分了潜在相对营养限制区域。结果表明,123°E以西近岸表层区域DIN/P比值全年均高于16,而Si/DIN除秋季外基本小于1,显示出长江冲淡水影响下"过量氮"的特征。春夏季河口锋面区(31°~32.5°N,122.5°~124°E)硅藻的大量生长可使DIN/P异常升高和Si/DIN异常降低。秋季研究区域北部DIN/P西低东高且Si/DIN西高东低是由于在高DIN、低PO₄3-的长江冲淡水影响下,近岸受相对低DIN、高SiO₃2-的苏北沿岸流南下入侵影响而被分割而成。冬季长江口门东北部存在的高DIN/P和低Si/DIN区则主要由于寡营养盐的黑潮水深入陆架,向东北输送的部分长江冲淡水和增强的苏北沿岸流共同作用造成DIN升高所致。利用Redfield比值进行了不同站位表层潜在相对营养限制情况的区分。近岸123°E以西受高DIN、SiO₃2-长江冲淡水影响,四季多呈现PO₄3-潜在相对限制,而在春夏季由于浮游植物的大量吸收PO₄3-,造成局部PO₄3-绝对限制及潜在相对限制。春夏季氮限(DIN潜在相对限制)一般发生在外海部分站位,但较为零散。秋季除了东南外海大部分站位外,受苏北沿岸流影响在长江口北部近岸也存在氮限。随着低DIN/P的黑潮表层水(KSW)的入侵加强,冬季外海氮限站位增多。硅限(SiO₃2-潜在相对限制)在夏季发生在赤潮高发区,而冬季南部存在较多硅限站位表明KSW中SiO₃2-相对较为缺乏。     

长江口区浮游植物营养限制因子的研究 Ⅱ.春季的营养限制情况

1999年5月在长江口及周围海域进行了环境调查,通过对该海域的浮游植物、叶绿素、营养盐、温度、盐度等进行分析,并结合现场实验和室内模拟实验,对本海域浮游植物的营养限制状况进行了研究.调查期间受冲淡水流量、流向和水体垂直分层的影响,冲淡水影响的范围和磷限制的范围相对于1998年11月均有所扩展.现场对26号站的加富实验直接证实了磷的限制作用;室内对26,41号站位的营养加富实验也均证实了磷限制的结论.根据浮游植物的需求和营养盐的补充情况,将该海区划分为:近河口区、冲淡区、台湾暖流影响区和黄海沿岸流影响区.本次调查处在春季水华的结束阶段,因而浮游植物的数量和种类数比1998年11月偏低.     

长江口区浮游植物营养限制因子的研究 1. 秋季的营养限制情况

1998年11月在长江口及周围海域进行了一个航次的环境调查,并在室内以中肋骨条藻为实验藻种,应用营养加富生物测定法对本海域浮游植物的营养需求状况进行了研究．结果表明,可大致根据离河口的远近将此海域分为3个部分：近河口光限制区、过渡带光和磷酸盐限制区、远河口氮盐限制区．P与N分别为潜在营养限制因子的界线大致沿盐度为31的盐线．并指出,以溶解无机氮磷比的判断标准,在悬浮物浓度较高的区域会高估磷的限制作用．     

长江口及邻近海域冬夏季浮游植物营养限制及其比较

2001年7月27日至8月11日,2002年1月8~19日在长江口及邻近海域进行了浮游植物限制因子测定的现场培养实验.结果显示:在近长江口透明度低于1 m的海域,冬季和夏季浮游植物的生长均受到光的限制.调查海域范围内夏季高浮游植物生物量海区主要集中在舟山渔场和长江口以北两个区域,盐度范围在28~31.冬季高浮游植物量海区向东南方向移动.夏季浮游植物的生长按照受限情况划分为4个区域:Ⅰ.近河口光限制区;Ⅱ.磷潜在的限制区;Ⅲ.氮、磷潜在限制过渡区;Ⅳ.氮潜在限制区.冬季划分为3个区域:Ⅰ.近河口浮游植物光限制区;Ⅱ.磷潜在限制区;Ⅲ.非营养潜在限制区.     

Nutrient budgets averaged over tidal cycles off the Changjiang (Yangtze River) Estuary

During the spring tide period in November 2005, continuous observations were conducted over 25 h (approximately two M₂ tidal cycles) at 12 stations within the Changjiang (Yangtze River) Estuary; and among them nine stations formed a closed rectangle. The observation items included current, salinity, suspended particulate matter (SPM), and nutrients. By establishing a simplified model, physical and chemical hydrography data were used to calculate the net and tidal-averaged budgets of seawater, salt, SPM, and nutrients in this rectangle. The results showed that the inflows and outflows of conservative seawater and salt, as well as SPM, matched well with deficits less than 10%; whereas the outputs of the five nutrient species were only 52%–86% of the respective inputs, suggesting the study area acted as a nutrient sink. Processes that might contribute to the nutrient budgets in the study area were discussed, including phytoplankton uptakes, exchanges at sediment-water interface, atmospheric depositions, nitrogen fixation, and denitrification.     

Grain size composition and transport of sedimentary organic carbon in the Changjiang River (Yangtze River) Estuary and Hangzhou Bay and their adjacent waters

Surface sediments from the Changjiang River(Yangtze River) Estuary,Hangzhou Bay,and their adjacent waters were analyzed for their grain size distribution,organic carbon(OC) concentration,and stable carbon isotope composition(δ13C).Based on this analysis,about 36 surface sediment samples were selected from various environments and separated into sand(0.250 mm,0.125–0.250 mm,0.063–0.125 mm) and silt(0.025–0.063 mm)fractions by wet-sieving fractionation methods,and further into silt-(0.004–0.025 mm) and clay-sized(0.004mm) fractions by centrifugal fractionation.Sediments of six grain size categories were analyzed for their OC andδ13C contents to explore the grain size composition and transport paths of sedimentary OC in the study area.From fine to coarse fractions,the OC content was 1.18%,0.51%,0.46%,0.42%,0.99%,and 0.48%,respectively,while theδ13C was –21.64‰,–22.03‰,–22.52‰,–22.46‰,–22.36‰,and –22.28‰,respectively.In each size category,the OC contribution was 42.96%,26.06%,9.82%,5.75%,7.09%,and 8.33%,respectively.The OC content in clay and fine silt fractions(0.025 mm) was about 69.02%.High OC concentrations were mainly found in offshore modern sediments in the northeast of the Changjiang River Estuary,in modern sediments in the lower estuary of the Changjiang River and Hangzhou Bay,and in Cyclonic Eddy modern sediments to the southwest of the Cheju Island.Integrating the distribution of terrestrial OC content of each grain size category with the δ13C of the bulk sediment indicated that the terrestrial organic material in the Changjiang River Estuary was transported seaward and dispersed to the Cyclonic Eddy modern sediments to the southwest of the Cheju Island via two pathways:one was a result of the Changjiang River Diluted Water(CDW) northeastward extending branch driven by the North Jiangsu Coastal Current and the Yellow Sea Coastal Current,while the other one was the result of the CDW southward extending branch driven by the Taiwan Warm Current.     

Study on Nutrient Limitation of Phytoplankton in the Field Experiment of the Yangtze River Estuary in Summer

Introduction The growth of phytoplankton, which is the main primary producer in the ocean, is always limited by some nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus. This limitation has spacial variation, and even in the same area, the nitrogen and phosphorus limitation has seasonal alternation [1]. There are many ways to determine the nutrient limitation of phytoplankton growth. Among them, the enrichment bioassay is the closest to the natural condition and is accepted by many scholars [2-7]. In r…     

基于浮标观测的长江口外海流特征分析

为了揭示长江口外海域海流的特征及其季节和垂向变化规律,于2006年8月1日-2007年7月31日在长江口外海域（平均水深约46.0m）利用大型浮标进行了1年的分层海流流速流向观测。结果表明：（1）该海域海流为顺时针方向的旋转流,在垂向上流向较一致,季节变化不显著。（2）长江口外海域水平流速总体较大,夏季表层最大流速为128.5cm/s,冬季最大表层流速为105.5cm/s;垂线平均流速相近（差异<8.0 cm/s）,夏季流速最大为47.0cm/s,冬季为40.8cm/s。小潮的平均流速为26.5cm/s,大潮平均流速为小潮的2倍。（3）剖面各层流速垂向差异明显,最大流速出现在表层（春季和冬季）或次表层（夏季和秋季）,最小流速均出现在底层;各层的最大平均流速为57.9cm/s,出现在夏季的18m层。（4）垂线平均余流为7.5~11.3 cm/s,春季最强冬季最弱;春季和冬季各层余流均为东向,夏季和秋季基本为东北向或北向。（5）观测海域海流受长江冲淡水、台湾暖流、季风、潮汐等动力作用的共同制约。     

长江口邻近海域透明胞外聚合颗粒物浓度和沉降速率研究

透明胞外聚合颗粒物（Transparent exopolymer particles,TEPs）在海洋中分布广泛,其沉降被认为是海洋中生物碳沉降的途径之一。本研究于2011年春季和夏季调查了长江口邻近海域TEPs的浓度和沉降速率,并且估算了其碳沉降通量。研究发现,TEPs浓度春季介于40.00~1040.00 μg Xeq L^-1,平均值为209.70±240.93 μg Xeq L^-1;夏季介于56.67~1423.33 μg Xeq L^-1,平均值为433.33±393.02 μg Xeq L^-1。两个季节,TEPs在水华站位的浓度明显高于非水华站位。相关性分析表明,TEPs与水体叶绿素a浓度呈显著正相关性,表明在调查区浮游植物是TEPs的主要生产者。TEPs沉降速率在春季介于0.08~0.57 m d^-1,平均值为0.28±0.14 m d^-1;夏季介于0.10~1.08 m d^-1,平均值为0.34±0.31 m d^-1。经估算,TEPs碳沉降通量春季介于4.95~29.40 mg C m^-2 d^-1,平均值为14.66±8.83 mg C m^-2 d^-1;夏季介于6.80~30.45 mg C m^-2 d^-1,平均值为15.71±8.73 mg C m^-2 d^-1。TEPs的碳沉降通量可以占到浮游植物碳沉降通量的17.81%~138.27%。水华站位TEPs的碳沉降通量明显高于非水华站位,这是由于水华站位较高的TEPs浓度及沉降速率所致。本研究表明,TEPs的沉降在长江口邻近海域是碳沉降的有效途径,在相应的碳沉降相关研究中应该被考虑进来。     

2004年春季长江河口水体与沉积物表层的叶绿素a浓度分布

2004年5月7日至12日在31°~31.8°N、122.5°E以西到海水上溯至0盐度的长江河口进行14个站位叶绿素a浓度的现场观测,其中N1~N3、M1~M3、S1~S3和R6这10个观测站用3条渔船在4天内进行潮周期的涨憩、落急、落憩、涨急、涨憩5个潮时的准同步周日采样观测;对S2、S3、R2、R3、M3、N2和N3这7个位于长江入海口门站位进行表层泥样的叶绿素a浓度观测。结果表明,观测海区表层海水叶绿素a浓度为0.230~11.500μg/dm3,平均值为(1.514±1.712)μg/dm3,高值出现在观测海区东北部的长江冲淡水稀释区,表层海水叶绿素a浓度平面分布从该区的东北部向西南方向逐渐降低,离岸越近叶绿素a浓度越低,低值出现在长江口门内和测区西南部的广阔浑水区域;底层叶绿素a浓度为0.291~2.620μg/dm3,平均值为(1.186±0.531)μg/dm3,其变化幅度与平均浓度均明显低于表层。在涨憩、落急、落憩、涨急和涨憩5个潮周期中水柱平均叶绿素a浓度为1.198~1.910μg/dm3,涨憩和落急潮时,叶绿素a浓度自表层向底层逐渐下降;落憩和涨急潮时,表层的平均叶绿素a浓度略低于中层和底层。2004年春季观测海区叶绿素a浓度与往年夏季和秋季的观测结果相近,但明显高于冬季。表层沉积物叶绿素a浓度为(0.089±0.052)μg/g(湿重),仅占其上方水体平均叶绿素a浓度的极少部分,两者具有良好的相关性。     

Biogeochemistry of Nutrient Elements in the Changjiang （Yangtze River） Estuary

Introduction The estuarine and coastal waters are nutrient-enriched and the nutrient ratios have been altered as a result of the changed riverine input due to land-use change and anthropogenic nutrient emission over the last century [1, 2]. Estuarine and coastal ecosystems respond to such changes in nutrient budgets by shifting population dynamics of phytoplankton and hence of the rest of the food web, leading to changes in top-down as well as bottom-up control of community structures [3]. Sin…     

长江口邻近海域春季藻华期间浮游植物生物量与环境要素的拟合分析

基于2005年长江口邻近海域春季现场调查资料,本文采用非线性拟合方法,构建了该海域春季硅藻藻华和甲藻藻华期间浮游植物生物量与无机营养盐、温度和盐度之间的定量关系方程,进而分析了春季硅、甲藻藻华发生的最适环境条件。结果表明,硅藻藻华出现的最适环境条件为:溶解态无机氮浓度10.1μmol/L、磷酸盐浓度0.21μmol/L、硅酸盐浓度6.39μmol/L、温度11.9℃、盐度30.5;甲藻藻华暴发的最适环境条件为:溶解态无机氮浓度3.98μmol/L、磷酸盐浓度0.18μmol/L、温度22.0℃、盐度27.2。上述硅、甲藻藻华发生的最适环境条件可作为硅、甲藻藻华形成的关键环境参数,为开展长江口邻近海域藻华形成和演替过程的数值模拟和参数优化提供参考。     

Nutrient concentrations and fluxes in the Changjiang Estuary during summer

In June 2003 and 2006 concentrations of nutrient were determined in the Changjiang Estuary. The data indicated that phosphate and nitrate did not behave conservatively in the estuary, but silicate behaved conservatively. An important mobilization of phosphate and nitrate was observed from the river up to halfway in the estuary. Both input flux (from river to estuary) and output flux (from estuary to coastal zone) of phosphate, silicate and nitrate were calculated from statistical interpretations of the salinity profiles. There was a large discrepancy between input and output fluxes of phosphate and nitrate. The river fluxes of silicate, phosphate and nitrate (f_r) are augmented 5.3%, 28.9% and 36.6% in June 2003 and 1.0%, 62.5%, 31.7% in June 2006 by internal inputs (f_i). The phosphate and nitrate fluxes are enhanced through the estuarine process, while silicate flux is unaltered. The authors present some long-term data for nutrient concentrations and the ratios of silicon to nitrogen to phosphorus in the Changjiang Estuary. Silicate level falled in the last two decades, while concentration of nitrate increased. Phosphate concentration had no significant change.     

长江口及邻近水域氮、磷的形态特征及分布研究

根据近几年大面调查的监测资料,对长江口及邻近水域氮、磷营养盐的形态组成、时空分布及氮磷比的变动规律及其影响因素进行了分析研究。结果表明,长江口及邻近水域中硝酸盐是水体无机氮存在的主要形态,其约占总无机氮的90%,无机氮含量河口高,向东南方向愈来愈低;从该水域总磷的形态组成来看,磷营养盐主要以溶解态和颗粒态共存的形式存在,TDP略高于TPP,无机磷的平面分布与无机氮十分相似,春季无机磷含量高于夏季;N/P值变动范围大和平均值较高是该水域的主要特征,N/P值与长江径流量的大小有关系,夏季N/P值比春季高,综合分析来看,磷营养盐和光照都有可能成为该水域浮游植物生长的重要限制因子。     

长江口及其邻近海域溶解硒的地球化学控制过程研究

Dissolved selenium in the Changjiang(Yangtze) Estuary and its adjacent waters was determined by hydride generation atomic fluorescence spectrometry to elucidate the source, behavior in estuary, adsorption-desorption process and biological role. In surface water, Se(IV) concentration ranged 0.05–1.14 nmol/L and Se(VI) concentration varied 0.01–1.20 nmol/L, with the means of 0.76 and 0.49 nmol/L, respectively. In bottom water, Se(IV) content varied 0.03–0.27 nmol/L and Se(VI) content ranged 0.04–0.85 nmol/L, with the averages of 0.10 and 0.40 nmol/L, respectively. High level of Se(IV) was observed near the shore with a significant decrease towards the open sea, suggesting the continental input from the adjacent rivers. Large value of Se(VI) was found in bottom water, reflecting the release from suspended sediment. Besides, high value appeared in the same latitude of the Changjiang Estuary and Hangzhou Bay illustrated the effect of lateral mixing and the long-distance transport of selenium. Se(VI), more soluble, occupied higher percentage in aqueous environment. The presence of Se(IV) resulted from the degradation of residue and the reduction of Se(VI) under anaerobic condition. The positive relationship to suspended particulate material(SPM) and negative correlation to depth indicated that Se(IV) tended to be released from the high density particulate matter. Instead, Se(VI) content did not significantly relate to SPM since it generally formed inner-sphere complex to iron hydroxide. Se(IV) content negatively varied to salinity and largely depended on the freshwater dilution and physical mixing. While, Se(VI) level deviated from the dilution line due to the in situ biogeochemical process such as removal via phytoplankton uptake and inputs via organic matter regeneration. As the essential element, Se(IV) was confirmed more bioavailable to phytoplankton growth than Se(VI), and moreover, seemed to be more related to phosphorus than to nitrogen.     

长江口及其邻近海域叶绿素a分布特征及其与低氧区形成的关系

于2013年3月和8月研究了长江口及其邻近海域叶绿素a的分布特征,并对环境因子和长江冲淡水对浮游植物生物量分布的影响进行了探讨。结果表明,叶绿素a浓度在丰水期较高,平均值为5.18μg/L,最高值达32.05μg/L,现场海水出现变色现象;与同期历史资料对比分析,发现该海域叶绿素a浓度呈现出波动增长趋势。丰水期与枯水期叶绿素a的相对高值区均位于冲淡水的中部,122.5°E~123°E之间;丰水期在调查海域出现溶解氧低值区与低氧区,最低值仅为0.64 mg/L;发现低氧区出现位置北移、面积扩大和溶解氧最低值下降的趋势。底层溶解氧低值区分布与表层叶绿素高值区大致吻合,表明低氧现象与表层浮游植物的生长和现存量密切相关,在跃层存在的水体中表层浮游植物的大量繁殖易造成底层低氧区的出现。     

长江口羽状锋海区浮游植物的生态研究：—昼夜分布动态

本文对长江口羽状锋海区浮游植物的昼夜变动进行了初步研究，结果表明，浮游植物数量的昼夜变化明显，潮汐作用是影响数量昼夜分布变化的主导因素，同时也与该地区浮游植物的水平分布有着密切的联系。     

丰、枯水期长江口邻近海域浮游植物群落结构特征及其环境影响初探

通过2013年3月和8月在长江口及其邻近海域进行的多学科综合调查,研究了枯水期和丰水期浮游植物的群落结构和空间分布特征,并探讨了影响其分布的环境因子效应。枯水期共发现浮游植物3门41属80种（不包括变种和变型）,以硅藻为主,主要优势种为具槽帕拉藻（Paralia sulcata）;浮游植物细胞丰度介于0.15×103~16.35×103 cells/L,平均值为（3.24±3.14）×103 cells/L;浮游植物细胞丰度在长江口外东北部海域形成高值,垂直变化较小,硅藻刻画了浮游植物的空间分布。丰水期共发现浮游植物4门67属135种（不包括变种和变型）,甲藻物种数量和细胞丰度均升高,主要优势种为东海原甲藻（Prorocentrum donghaiense）和骨条藻（Skeletonema sp.）;浮游植物细胞丰度介于0.2×103~1 925.45×103 cells/L,平均值为（41.67±186.00）×103 cells/L;浮游植物细胞丰度在长江口外形成南北两个高值区,随水深增加,细胞丰度逐渐降低。浮游植物的空间分布受长江口冲淡水影响,与盐度和浊度有显著的相关性;N/P比影响浮游植物群落结构,随着N/P比升高,甲藻的相对丰度升高,硅藻的相对丰度逐渐降低。浮游植物在层化水体的上层大量繁殖是底层低氧形成的必要条件,硅藻具有较高的沉降速率,因而以硅藻为主的群落更利于低氧的形成。