The environmental implication of diatom fossils in the surface sediment of the Changjiang River estuary(CRE) and its adjacent area

In order to depict the distribution of diatom fossils in surface sediments and to establish a reliable reference data for further paleoenvironmental study in the Changjiang (Yangtze) River estuary and its adjacent waters, the diatom fossils from 34 surface sediment samples and their relationship with environmental variables were analyzed by principal component analysis and redundancy correspondence analysis. The diversity and abundance of diatom fossils were analyzed. Some annual average parameters of the overlying water (salinity, temperature, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, depth, dissolved inorganic nitrogen, dissolved inorganic phosphate and dissolved inorganic silicate) were measured at each sampling site. A total of 113 diatom taxa and one silicoflagellate species were identified in the investigation area. Diatom fossils were better preserved in fine sediments. The absolute abundance of diatom fossils did not significantly diff er between inshore and off shore areas, the species diversity decreased from inshore to off shore. This may be because high nutrients and low salinity promoted the growth of more brackish species in coastal waters. The diatom taxa were divided into three groups, on the basis of their response and indication to environmental changes. For example, Actinocyclus ehrenbergii and Cyclotella stylorum were dominant in coastal waters (Group 1 and Group 3) with high nutrients and low salinity;the relative abundances of Paralia sulcata and Podosira stelliger were significantly higher in off shore sites (Group 2, average 39.5%), which were characterized by high salinity and deep water. Four environmental variables (salinity, dissolved inorganic nitrogen, temperature and water depth) explained the composition and distribution of diatom taxa independently ( P< 0.05), this finding can be applied in further paleoenvironmental reconstruction research in this area.

Impact assessment of modified clay on embryo-larval stages of turbot Scophthalmus maximus L.

Using modified clay is one of the most promising methods for the mitigation of harmful algal blooms(HABs).However,the environmental impact of modified clay has become a subject of global concern.In this study,turbot(Scophthalmus maximus L.)embryos were used as a model to assess the effect of modified clay on this sensitive stage of fish development.Results show that the 24 and 48h LC 50(median lethal concentrations)of the modified clay were 1.70 and 1.65 g/L,and the safe concentration was 0.47 g/L,which is much higher than the concentration used to treat HAB.The modified clay did not affect significantly the hatchability of turbot embryos but when the concentration exceeded 0.50 g/L,the deformity rate of newly hatched larvae increased significantly.The total length,specific growth rate(SGR)and yolk sac absorption rate of larvae reached their peaks at 0.50 g/L and then gradually decreased as the concentration of modified clay increased.Therefore,a moderate amount of modified clay does not harm the survival and hatching of turbot embryos,or the growth and development of newly hatched larvae.

Environmental characteristics of annual pico/nanophytoplankton blooms along the Qinhuangdao Coast

Blooms of some pico/nanophytoplankton have occurred frequently along the Qinhuangdao coast since 2009, and it is necessary to identify the critical environmental factors inducing them. In this study, variations in the physical and nutrient characteristics of the seawater were analyzed following the development of local blooms in 2013. The local environmental characteristics were also compared with those of the Changjiang River estuary, China, and the Long Island estuaries in the USA, which are also prone to blooms of special algal species. In Qinhuangdao the local water temperature varied seasonally and rose above 15°C in 2013 early summer, coincident with the water discoloration. The salinity was more than 28 with a variation range of <3 throughout the year. Our results suggest that the physical conditions of the Qinhuangdao coastal area were suitable for the explosive proliferation of certain pico/nanophytoplankton, e.g. Aureococcus anophageff erens. The water supporting the bloom was not in a condition of serious eutrophication, but there were relatively high concentrations of reduced nitrogen(especially ammonium), which acted as an important nitrogen source for the pico/nanophytoplankton bloom. There was also a large gap between total nitrogen(TN) and dissolved inorganic nitrogen(DIN). Although the phosphate concentration was relatively low, there was no evidence of phosphorus limitation to the growth of pico/nanophytoplankton during bloom events.

Application and comparison of two symptom-based eutrophication-assessment methods in Jiaozhou Bay, China

Increasing numbers of approaches to assess eutrophication, such as estuarine trophic status, the Oslo-Paris Commission Common Procedure, and the Water Framework Directive, focus on the symptoms of eutrophication. In China, however, nutrient index methods dominate the assessment of coastal waters. In this study, an integrated method that includes both water quality and ecological response was compared with the Northwest Pacifi c Action Plan (NOWPAP) Common Procedure. Observation data from Jiaozhou Bay, Shandong, China, were used in a comparison of the two methods in a trophic status study. Overall, both clearly revealed a high level of nutrient enrichment in the bay, indicated by high nutrient concentrations. Though the two methods diff ered in their methodological design in the assessment of the ecological eff ects of nutrient enrichment, they have acquired similar results: the integrated method suggested that the status was good, and the NOWPAP Common Procedure suggested that the status was low (indicating that the bay had no serious eutrophication problem). The introduction of fi lter feeders (shellfi sh aquaculture) into the bay on a reasonable scale may have been eff ective in mitigating eutrophic conditions, and perhaps explains the low ecological impacts there. Our results will be useful to ecosystem-based eutrophication management in the bay and in similar areas.

Influences of external nutrient conditions on the transcript levels of a nitrate transporter gene in Skeletonema costatum

To verify the feasibility of high-affinity nitrate transporter gene （Nrt2） as an indicator of nitrogen status, changes in the transcript levels of transcripts associated with phosphate starvation and different nitrate concentrations were studied using real-time quantitative reverse-transcription PCR （QRT-PCR） technology in batch cultures of Skeletonema costatum. The results show that compared with P-replete condition, P starvation could reduce the Nrt2 transcript levels apparently. Nrt2 transcript levels had a significant negative linear correlation with nitrate concentrations below 40 pmol/L. The results of 48 h short-term incubation experiment under different nitrate concentrations confirmed this correlation, and the following regression equation is built： y = -3.305x ＋ 98.95, R2 = 0.988, where x represents nitrate concentrations （〈40 btmol/L） and y represents the Nrt2 transcript levels.

The mechanism of a new type of modified clay controlling Phaeocystis globosa growth

Phaeocystis globosa is a harmful algal bloom(HAB)species worldwide.Using modified clay(MC)to control HABs and to mitigate their adverse effects is currently a commonly used method in China.In this paper,the effects of oxidized composite modified clay(OXI-MC)on P.globosa were studied from different perspectives.The results show that the OXI-MC could effectively remove P.globosa and inhibit both the growth of residual algal cells and the formation of new colonies.The P.globosa algal biomass removal efficiencies after 3 h reached 90%at a dose of 0.1 g/L,and the number of colonies with different particle sizes was greatly reduced.Compared with those of the control,the superoxide dismutase(SOD)activity,catalase(CAT)activity,and malondialdehyde(MDA)content of the residual algae significantly increased,indicating that OXI-MC caused oxidative stress in the algal cells.In addition,we evaluated the effects of OXI-MC on the photosynthesis of residual microalgae and found that the maximal photochemical efficiency of photosystem II(PSII)under dark adaptation(F v/F m)and actual photochemical efficiency of PSII(ФPSII)decreased,severely damaging the photosynthesis efficiency,implying that OXI-MC effected the photosynthesis system of P.globosa.The results of this study clarify that OXI-MC could remove the most of algal cells and break up the colonies of P.globosa by collision,flocculation,and releasing active substances,as well as inhibit effectively the growth and colony formation of residual P.globosa by causing oxidative stress,reducing photosynthesis activity,accelerating the degradation of polysaccharides,and inhibiting the formation of colonies.

Flocculation of Ulva microscopic propagules using modified clay:a mesocosm experiment

Microscopic propagules of Ulva species(UMPs)spread on Subei Shoal are believed to play a significant role in the formation of the Yellow Sea green tide.Previous laboratory and ship-based studies indicated that modified clay(MC)can effectively remove UMPs from the water column and restrict their germination.To evaluate the effectiveness of this method under natural conditions,a mesocosm experiment was conducted on the Zhugensha sandbank on Subei Shoal.The results show that the suspended particles on the sandbank would partially disturb the flocculation process between the MC and UMPs.However,the MC at a proper dose could effectively remove UMPs from the water column and decrease the adhesion and germination of UMPs on the nylon ropes that comprised the mariculture rafts by>75%.This method was proven a potential strategy to restrict the initial biomass accumulation of green algae on Subei Shoal.However,field trials in larger time-space scales are still needed to assess the efficiency of this method when used in the open sea.

Nano-and microphytoplankton community characteristics in brown tide bloom-prone waters of the Qinhuangdao coast,Bohai Sea, China

Since 2009, the newly recorded species Aureococcus anophagefferens has successively induced brown tides in the Qinhuangdao coastal waters of the Bohai Sea. Here, we focus on the phytoplankton community structure in this region and try to point out the biological background characteristics of the outbreaks of successive brown tides. We analyzed species composition,cell abundance, diversity indices and size-fractionated chlorophyll a(Chl-a) concentration monthly from March 2013 to January2014. The phytoplankton community, as observed by microscopy, underwent succession from nano-celled chained diatoms to dinoflagellates in the spring and summer, and then to micro-celled diatoms and nano-celled chained diatoms as the most prominent groups in the subsequent autumn and winter. Canonical correspondence analysis revealed that changes in the abundance of diatoms were related to nutrient availability, especially of nitrogen, while water temperature was the crucial factor influencing the abundance of dinoflagellates and A. anophagefferens. Considering the contribution of nano-celled chained species to the micro-sized Chl-a,small phytoplankton(<20 μm) composed the majority of total Chl-a and were generally abundant during our study. Abundant and diverse small phytoplankton seemed to serve as a background or seedbank for the formation of blooms of A. anophagefferens and other small-celled algae.

Investigation on the efficiency of a silicone antifouling coating in controlling the adhesion and germination of Ulva prolifera micro-propagules on rafts

Prevention of annual"green tides"caused by blooms of the green macroalga Ulva prolifera,which have occurred in the Yellow Sea since 2007,has received much attention.Increasing evidence indicates that micro-propagules on the rafts used for Porphyra yezoensis aquaculture along the coastline of Jiangsu Province in China,were the primary source of these green tides.In this study,we investigated the effectiveness of a silicone antifouling coating for preventing the adhesion and germination of U.prolifera micro-propagules on bamboo and nylon ropes,which have been used in rafts for P.yezoensis aquaculture.Our results demonstrated that a coating of silicone(Sylgard 184)containing 1.0 wt.%sodium benzoate(NaB)could reduce the adhesion rate to<5%and completely inhibited the growth of U.prolifera propagules on the coated surfaces.Coating bamboo and nylon ropes with NaB-incorporated silicone thus proved a potentially effective method for controlling the initial biomass accumulation of U.prolifera.