Seasonal Changes in Phytoplankton Biomass and Dominant Species in the Changjiang River Estuary and Adjacent Seas:General Trends Based on Field Survey Data 1959-2009

The characteristics of seasonal variation in phytoplankton biomass and dominant species in the Changjiang River Estuary and adjacent seas were discussed based on field investigation data from 1959 to 2009. The field data from 1981 to 2004 showed that the Chlorophyll-a concentration in surface seawater was between 0.4 and 8.5 ktg dm-3. The seasonal changes generally presented a bimodal trend, with the biomass peaks occurring in May and August, and Chlorophyll-a concentration was the lowest in winter. Seasonal biomass changes were mainly controlled by temperature and nutrient levels. From the end of autumn to the next early spring, phytoplankton biomass was mainly influenced by temperature, and in other seasons, nutrient level （including the nutrient supply from the terrestrial runoffs） was the major influence factor. Field investigation data from 1959 to 2009 demonstrated that dia- toms were the main phytoplankton in this area, and Skeletonerna costatum, Pseudo-nitzschia pungens, Coscinodiscus oculus-iridis, Thalassinoema nitzschioides, Paralia sulcata, Chaetoceros lorenzianus, Chaetoceros curvisetus, and Prorocentrum donghaiense Lu were common dominant species. The seasonal variations in major dominant phytoplankton species presented the following trends： 1） Skeletonema （mainly S. costatum） was dominant throughout the year; and 2） seasonal succession trends were Coscinodiscus （spring） →Chaetoceros （summer and autumn） → Coscinodiscus （winter）. The annual dominance of S. costatum was attributed to its environmental eurytopicity and long standing time in surface waters. The seasonal succession of Coscinodiscus and Chaetoceros was associated with the seasonal variation in water stability and nutrient level in this area. On the other hand, long-term field data also indicated obvious interannual variation of phytoplankton biomass and community structure in the Changjiang River Estuary and adjacent seas： average annual phytoplankton biomass and dinoflagellate proportion both presented increased trends during the 1950s - 2000s.

Comparing different spatial interpolation methods to predict the distribution of fishes:A case study of Coilia nasus in the Changjiang River Estuary

Spatial-temporal distribution of marine fishes is strongly influenced by environmental factors.To obtain a more continuous distribution of these variables usually measured by stationary sampling designs,spatial interpolation methods(SIMs)is usually used.However,different SIMs may obtain varied estimation values with significant differences,thus affecting the prediction of fish spatial distribution.In this study,different SIMs were used to obtain continuous environmental variables(water depth,water temperature,salinity,dissolved oxygen(DO),p H,chlorophyll a and chemical oxygen demand(COD))in the Changjiang River Estuary(CRE),including inverse distance weighted(IDW)interpolation,ordinary Kriging(OK)(semivariogram model:exponential(OKE),Gaussian(OKG)and spherical(OKS))and radial basis function(RBF)(regularized spline function(RS)and tension spline function(TS)).The accuracy and effect of SIMs were cross-validated,and two-stage generalized additive model(GAM)was used to predict the distribution of Coilia nasus from 2012 to 2014 in CRE.DO and COD were removed before model prediction due to their autocorrelation coefficient based on variance inflation factors analysis.Results showed that the estimated values of environmental variables obtained by the different SIMs differed(i.e.,mean values,range etc.).Cross-validation revealed that the most suitable SIMs of water depth and chlorophyll a was IDW,water temperature and salinity was RS,and p H was OKG.Further,different interpolation results affected the predicted spatial distribution of Coilia nasus in the CRE.The mean values of the predicted abundance were similar,but the differences between and among the maximum value were large.Studies showed that different SIMs can affect estimated values of the environmental variables in the CRE(especially salinity).These variations further suggest that the most applicable SIMs to each variable will also differ.Thus,it is necessary to take these potential impacts into consideration when studying the relationship between the spatial distribution of fishes and environmental changes in the CRE.

IMPACTS OF FUTURE SEA LEVEL RISE ON SALT WATER INTRUSION IN THE CHANGJIANG RIVER ESTUARY

Sea level rise could increase the salinity of an estuary by altering the balance between fresh water and salt water.The implications of sea level rise for increasing salinity have been examined in the Changjiang(Yangtze)River estuary.By correlative analysis of chlorinity,discharge and tidal level and calculation of two-dimensional chlorinity,distribution of the Changjiang River estuary,the changes of the intensity and lasting hours of salt water intrusion at Wusong Station and the changes of chlorinity distribution in the South Branch of the Changjiang River estuary have been estimated when future sea level rises 50-100 cm.The intensity of salt water intrusion in the future will be far more serious than current trend.

Diurnal changes in bacterial communities in oxic surface and hypoxic middle seawater layers of the Changjiang River Estuary

The Changjiang River Estuary(CRE)in the East China Sea suffers from seasonal hypoxia in summer.The vertical distributions and seasonal changes of microbial communities in the CRE were well documented.However,little is known about the diurnal changes of bacterial communities in the hypoxic zone of the CRE.Here,16 S rRNA gene analysis was used to explore the changes of bacterial communities in the oxic surface and hypoxic middle seawater layers during 24 h in the CRE.Significant differences between the hypoxic and oxic layers were observed:the phyla Cyanobacteria,Bacteroidetes and Acidimicrobiia were enriched in the oxic layer,whereas the phylum SAR406 and the class Deltaproteobacteria were more abundant in the hypoxic layer.In addition,some subtle diurnal variations of the bacterial relative abundance were found in both two layers.The relative abundance of Synechococcus increased at night,and this change was more obvious in the hypoxic layer.The similar trend was also found in some phototrophic and several heterotrophic bacteria,such as Rhodobacteraceae,OM60 and Flavobacteriaceae.Their relative abundances peaked at 16:00 in the oxic layer,while the relative abundances peaked at around 7:00 and decreased until 13:00 in the hypoxic layer.Together,the results of the present study suggest that some photosynthetic bacteria and several heterotrophic bacteria have similar diurnal variations implying the light and physicochemical heterogeneity in the course of a day are important for bacterial diurnal changes in the CRE.

Spatial distribution and deposition history of nonylphenol and bisphenol A in sediments from the Changjiang River(Yangtze River) Estuary and its adjacent East China Sea

Nonylphenol（NP） and bisphenol A（BPA） are endocrine disruptors causing harmful effects including feminization and carcinogenesis to various organisms,and consequently,their contamination in natural environment has received wide concerns.This study reports the distribution characteristics of NP and BPA in surface sediments and their deposition history based on a dated sediment core in the Changjiang River（Yangtze River） Estuary and its adjacent East China Sea.The contents of NP and BPA in surface sediments ranged from 1.56-35.8 and 0.72-13.2 ng/g（dry mass）,respectively,with high values recorded in the two mud zones,the Changjiang River Estuarine Mud Zone and the Zhejiang Coastal Mud Zone.High values in the Zhejiang Coastal Mud Zone suggest the possibility of long distance transport of both contaminants through the Changjiang riverine plume.The contents were not correlated with the distance from the pollution source,indicating other factors including particle deposition rate and sediment grain size obviously affecting the distribution pattern.NP was also detected in a sediment core at layers deposited from the year of 1971 to 2001 with contents of up to 20.9 ng/g（dry mass）.The deposition fluxes of NP varied from 0.68 to 17.9 ng/（cm^2 · a） with peaks and valleys reflecting the traces of economic development history in China during the previous three decades.BPA was detected at sediment layers deposited from 1973 to 2001 with contents of up to 3.66 ng/g.The fluxes of BPA varied from 0.62 to 3.13 ng/（cm^2 · a） showing a similar pattern as NP.The contents of NP and BPA also indicated potential risks on benthic organisms in the study area.

Spatial distribution and diurnal variation of chemical oxygen demand at the beginning of the rainy season in the Changjiang (Yangtze) River Estuary

A field observation was carried out in the Changjiang (Yangtze) River Estuary from May 19 to 26, 2003. A total of 29 stations, including 2 anchored stations, were occupied through almost the whole salinity gradient. Based on the observation data, biogeochemistry of chemical oxygen demand (COD) was examined. Spatial distribution pattern of COD shows that it decreased downstream. The COD concentration varied generally within a narrow range of 1.24–1.60 mg/L in the zone around the river mouth, beyond which it decreased rapidly to 0.20 mg/L. In the mixed water zone, the fluctuation in COD was smaller at 2 m above the bottom layer than at the surface layer in 48 h. In the seawater zone, the 48-h fluctuation at the surface was the largest, followed by that of 5 m below the surface and 2 m above the bottom layers in a range of from 2.50 to 0.55 mg/L. Freshwater discharge was the dominant source of COD in the estuary. The average COD beyond the river mouth was 2.7 mg/L, which accorded with the Chinese seawater quality Grade I. Relationships between dissolved oxygen and biogeochemical parameters such as suspended particulate matter, dissolved organic matter and chlorophyll-a were also discussed.

Degradation of lipids in seasonal hypoxic seawater under different oxygen saturation

The hypoxic phenomena of seawater have been found in the Changjiang esturay and its adjacent area for several decades. To study organic matter degradation in seasonal hypoxic seawater, series of stimulated incubation experiments with S keletonema costatum in seawater under different oxygen saturations were conducted. By tracking variations of lipids originated from the alga, time-dependent concentrations of neutral lipids(hexadecanol, otctadecanol, cholesterol, brassicasterol and phytol) and fatty acids(12:0, 14:0, 16:0, 16:1, 18:0, 18:1(9), 20:5 and 22:6) were obtained during three month of incubation. The results indicate that residence time, oxygen saturation, bacterial community and the structure of lipids were key factors controlling preservation and degradation of lipids in seawater. The degradation rate constants calculated from multi-G model showed that under same oxygen saturation, algal fatty acid degraded faster than neutral lipids, and unsaturated fatty acids degraded faster than saturated fatty acids. Our new discovery showed that degradation rate constant had linear positive correlation with oxygen saturation of seawater, indicating the critical role of oxygen on degradation of algal lipids in hypoxic seawater. The results of this study will be helpful to understand organic carbon cycling in seawater and marine environment more deeply. Future field experiments and investigation should be conducted tracking control factors, especially the role of oxygen saturation on organic matter degradation in natural environment.