Nutrient dynamics and cross shelf transport in the East China Sea

To understand the temporal and spatial variations in nutrient dynamics,as well as the potential cross-shelf transport of nutrients between the East China Sea(ECS)shelf and the northwestern Pacific Ocean,six field observations covering the ECS were conducted in spring,summer,and autumn in 2011 and 2013.Nutrient dynamics in the ECS and nutrient exchange between shelf water and the open ocean were examined.High concentrations of dissolved inorganic nutrients were detected in the nearshore surface layer and offshore bottom layer in different seasons,and the concentrations of dissolved inorganic nutrients in surface seawater were lower in summer and autumn than in spring.The concentrations of dissolved organic nutrients in Kuroshio surface water were slightly lower in summer than in spring,but the concentrations in Kuroshio subsurface water were slightly higher in summer than in spring.There were abundant nutrient reservoirs in the euphotic zone of the ECS,which explained the high primary productivity.The evaluation of cross-shelf transport indicated that nutrients from shelf water were transported out across the 200 m isobath through the surface layer with the density(σ)less than 23.0 kg/m^(3) in spring.The flux of dissolved inorganic nitrogen transported from the ECS shelf to the Northwest Pacific Ocean in spring was equivalent to 21%of the atmospheric nitrogen deposition in the Northwest Pacific Ocean.In summer,the onshore flux in the surface and bottom layers accounted for 80%of the total flux,and the transportation of nutrients along the surface layer to the continental shelf contributed to the nutrient storage and primary productivity of the euphotic zone in the ECS shelf in summer.

PHYTOPLANKTON DISTRIBUTION AND COMMUNITY STRUCTURE IN THE EAST CHINA SEA(ECS) CONTINENTAL SHELF

This paper deals with the distribution and community structure of phytoplankton revealed by data obtained in a cruise in April and one in Oct.-Nov., 1994. Among 140 species of phytoplankton (including varieties and formas) identified, 104 species belonged to Bacillariophyta and 32 species belonged to Pyrrhophyta. In April, the biomass of phytoplankton was 0.09×10 4-465×10 6 cells/m 3, and the dense area was located in the Zhejiang coastal zone and the estuary of the Changjiang River; the density of the studied area’s west part was always higher than that of the east part. In October and November, the phytoplankton biomass was 0.42×10 4-289.9×10 4 cells/m 3, and the dense area was located in the upwelling zone near the Zhejiang coast. In spring and autumn, biomass was very low in the outer part of the East China Sea continental shelf area, where phytoplankton was classifiable into two communities based on the phytoplankton’s ecological characteristics and environmental parameters such as water temperature and salinity, i.e. neritic community environment characterized by warm temperature and low salinity and pelagic community environment characterized by high temperature and high salinity.

Phytoplankton diversity in the East China Sea and Yellow Sea measured by PCR-DGGE and its relationships with environmental factors

Relationships between phytoplankton community composition and environmental variables in the East China Sea (ECS) and Yellow Sea (YS) were investigated using geochemical and molecular microbiology methods. The diversity of phytoplankton was characterized using cultivation-independent PCR-based denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). Groups resulting from unweighted pair-group method with arithmetic averages clustering of the DGGE profiles showed good consistency with the eco-environmental characteristics of the sea area they belonged to. Additionally, the clustering results based on DGGE fingerprinting and those based on morphological compositions were practically identical. The relationship of phytoplankton diversity to environmental factors was statistically analyzed. Temperature, dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN), and silicate-Si were found significantly related to the phytoplankton community composition. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) was performed to reveal the relationship between community composition and these three environmental factors. Generally, values of the ECS are clearly separated from those of the YS in the CCA biplot, due to mainly the effect of temperature and DIN.

Distribution and controlling factors of phytoplankton assemblages associated with mariculture in an eutrophic enclosed bay in the East China Sea

The distribution of phytoplankton and its correlation with environmental factors were studied monthly during August 2012 to July 2013 in the Yantian Bay. A total of 147 taxa of phytoplankton were identified, and the average abundance was in the range of 0.57×10~4 to 7.73×10~4 cell/L. A total of 19 species dominated the phytoplankton assemblages, and several species that are widely reported to be responsible for microalgae blooms were the absolutely dominant species, such as Skeletonema costatum, Navicula sp., Thalassionema nitzschioides,Pleurosigma sp., and Licmophora abbreviata. The monthly variabilities in phytoplankton abundance could be explained by water temperature, dissolved oxygen, salinity, dissolved inorganic nitrogen（DIN）, and suspended solids. The results of a redundancy analysis showed that p H and nutrients, including DIN and silicate（SiO_4）, were the most important environmental factors controlling phytoplankton assemblages in specific months. It was found that nutrients and pH levels that were mainly influenced by mariculture played a vital role in influencing the variation of phytoplankton assemblages in the Yantian Bay. Thus, a reduction of mariculture activities would be an effective way to control microalgae blooms in an enclosed and intensively eutrophic bay.

Distribution of phytoplankton in the East China Sea and the southern Yellow Sea in spring in relation to environmental variables and dimethylsulfide compounds

The coastal ecosystems are highly sensitive to climate change and are usually influenced by variations in phytoplankton communities and water physiochemical factors.In the present study,the phytoplankton community,chlorophyll a(Chl a)and their relationships with environmental variables and dimethylsulfide(DMS)and dimethylsulfoniopropionate(DMSP)were investigated in spring 2017(March 24 to April 16)in the East China Sea(26.0°-33.0°N,120.0°-128.0°E)and southern Yellow Sea(31.0°-36.0°N,120.0°-125.0°E).The spatial distributions of phytoplankton species composition and cell density were investigated by qualitative and quantitative methods and were compared with historical data to study phytoplankton species succession in the survey area.The results showed that there were 275 phytoplankton species belonging to 90 genera and 6 phyla in the survey area,of which 208 species belonged to 62 genera of Bacillariophyta and 56 species belonged to 20 genera of Pyrrophyta.The dominant phytoplankton species were Skeletonema dohrnii,Chaetoceros vanheurckii and Prorocentrum donghaiense.The phytoplankton cell densities ranged from 0.06×10^(4)cells/L to 418.73×10^(4)cells/L,with an average value of 21.46×10^(4)cells/L.In spring,the average ratio of Bacillariophyta/Pyrrophyta was41.13 for the entire study area.The areas with high phytoplankton cell density were mainly distributed in the northern South Yellow Sea and offshore waters of the East China Sea.According to a canonical correspondence analysis among phytoplankton and environmental parameters,the water Chl a concentrations were notably consistent with phytoplankton cell density(P<0.001),and both showed significant negative correlations with salinity and nitrite(P<0.05)and significant positive correlations with dissolved oxygen and pH(P<0.001).There was a significant positive correlation between diatom(both in cell density and in dominant species)and DMS(P<0.05),which indicated that diatoms play a greater role in DMS production in this investigated area.

Interannual variation of nutrients along a transect across the Kuroshio and shelf area in the East China Sea over 40 years

Long-term datasets of water temperature,salinity,dissolved oxygen,phosphate and nitrate from 1973 to 2013 were used to study interannual variations of these parameters along a transect(section PN)across the Kuroshio and shelf area in the East China Sea.Water temperature and salinity at depths of 0–200 m showed a low-high-low-high pattern over the 40-year period.Water temperature and salinity at 500 m were relatively high from 1985 to 1990 and decreased continuously thereafter.Salinity at 800 m was lowest around 1993 and increased thereafter.Nutrients were highest between 1980 and 1985.After 1985,nutrients at 500 m were increasing.The range of variation in nutrients was large before 1985 and the magnitude increased with greater depths.Apparent oxygen utilization at 500 m depth was decreasing before 1990 and started to increase after 1992.Significant changes after 1990 at 500 m depth may be due to the upward trend of the upper boundary of Kuroshio intermediate water.Interannual variation of water temperature,salinity,dissolved oxygen,phosphate and nitrate along section PN has a significant correlation with the Pacific Decadal Oscillation index.

Pore-water distribution and quantification of diffusive benthic fluxes of nutrients in the Huanghai and East China Seas sediments

The distribution of nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, phosphate and silicate in pore-water and their exchange between sediments and overlying waters （benthic flux） were determined at nine locations on the shelve of Huanghai and East China Seas. On the basis of the redox potential of sediments and nutrients distributions in the pore-waters, it is found that the benthic sediments are being in a suboxic to anoxic environment in the Huanghai and East China Seas. The nutrients distribution in the pore-waters is mainly controlled by the sediment environment, and ammonia is the major inorganic nitrogen in the pore-waters. On the basis of benthic fluxes of nutrients calculated us- ing Fick＇s first law, there is remarkable efflux of ammonia, dissolved inorganic nitrogen（DIN）, phosphate and silicate from the sediments to the overlying waters in the study area, and their benthic fluxes are 299.3-2 214.8, 404.4-2 159.5 , 5.5-18.8 and 541.3-1 781.6 μmol/（m^2·d） respectively, and perhaps they are the major source of dissolved inorganic nitrogen, phosphate and silicate for the overlying water. At most stations, the nitrate flux was from the overlying waters to the sediments, which suggests that suboxic organic matter decomposition via denitrification is dominated in the most area of Huanghai and East China Seas. High benthic fluxes appearing in the coastal area and relatively low benthic fluxes occurring in the shelf area are found and are consistent with pri- mary productivity zoning in the study area. On the other hand, the ammonia flux displays an exponential decrease with water depth increase and an exponential increase with the bottom water temperature. However, others do not display this trend.

Spatial-Temporal Change of Phytoplankton Biomass in the East China Sea with MODIS Data

A ten-year chlorophyll-a concentration dataset from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectro-radiometer(MODIS) were used to analyze the variation of phytoplankton biomass and its potential relation with climate in the East China Sea. The result indicated that the phytoplankton biomass generally had a regular pattern every year, and phytoplankton bloom mainly occurred between May and July. The highest phytoplankton biomass appeared near the Yangtze River Estuary. The lowest phytoplankton biomass located near the Taiwan Strait. In general, the starting bloom time was earlier in the south than in the north, and the span time of the former was also longer. During the recent ten years, the phytoplankton biomass around the Yangtze River Estuary decreased obviously. The change of phytoplankton biomass was found to be related with the Ni?o3.4 Index. The correlation between the intensity of phytoplankton bloom with the number and square of red tide were 0.63 and 0.74, respectively.

Distribution of heavy metals and nutrients in rainwater in coastal regions between the southern Yellow Sea and East China Sea

Rainwater samples were collected in series in Qianliyan Island (southern Yellow Sea) and Shengsi Archipelago (East China Sea) between May 2000 and May 2002, chemical analysis for pH values, concentrations of heavy metals (Cu, Pb, Zn and Cd) and nutrients (NH4+, NO3-, PO43-, SiO32-) were performed. Results indicate that concentrations of most of the heavy metals and nutrients in rainwater show clear seasonal variation, i.e. high level in winter and low level in summer. Regionally, concentrations are higher in the southern Yellow Sea than in the East China Sea, but the annual input of heavy metals into oceans by wet deposition is similar in both stations. However, the input of nutrients by wet deposition in the East China Sea is 2–3 times higher than that in the southern Yellow Sea. In individual, Pb and PO43- are input to the sea mainly by dry deposition; whereas Cu, Zn, Cd and N compounds are input dominantly by wet deposition, the N/P ratios in the rainwater from two stations are much higher than those in seawater, showing a significant impact of atmospheric wet deposition on marine production and biogeochemical circulation of nutrients in these sea regions.

An estimation of nutrient fluxes to the East China Sea continental shelf from the Taiwan Strait and Kuroshio subsurface waters in summer

According to historical mean ocean current data through the field observations of the Taiwan Ocean Research Institute during 1991–2005 and survey data of nutrients on the continental shelf of the East China Sea（ECS） in the summer of 2006, nutrient fluxes from the Taiwan Strait and Kuroshio subsurface waters are estimated using a grid interpolation method, which both are the sources of the Taiwan Warm Current. The nutrient fluxes of the two water masses are also compared. The results show that phosphate（PO4-P）, silicate（SiO3-Si） and nitrate（NO3-N） fluxes to the ECS continental shelf from the Kuroshio upwelling water are slightly higher than those from the Taiwan Strait water in the summer of 2006. In contrast, owing to its lower velocity, the nutrient flux density（i.e., nutrient fluxes divided by the area of the specific section） of the Kuroshio subsurface water is lower than that of the Taiwan Strait water. In addition, the Taiwan Warm Current deep water, which is mainly constituted by the Kuroshio subsurface water, might directly reach the areas of high-frequency harmful alga blooms in the ECS.

Potential impacts of Three Gorges Dam in China on the ecosystem of East China Sea

The Changjiang River in China was dammed in 2003. The possible changes in matters fluxes from the river downstream after the completion of Three Gorges Dam and their potential impacts on the ecosystem of the East China Sea are discussed . The estuarine and coastal waters in the East China Sea were heavily fertilized by the inflow of nutrient-rich freshwater from the Changjiang River, which has led to severe eutrophication and frequent harmful algal blooms ,thus worsening the ecosystem health in this area. Analy- sis showed that the nutrient loadings are very likely to be reduced in the lower Changjiang River due to the construction of Three Gorges Dam. Especially for the total phosphorus, the discharges to the East China Sea will be reduced by one-third, which would relieve the severe eutrophication in this area. However, the expected decrease in the riverine silicate discharge would lead the ratio of silicon to nitrogen to be much less than 1 in the estuarine and coastal waters and thus may cause an elevation of flagellate growth. The changes in the annual water discharges and their seasonal distributions below the dam will be minor. Reduction of suspended particulate matter loading, due to the sedimentation behind the dam, will reduce the nutrient loadings of the particulate form especially for phosphorus, and decrease the turbidity of estuarine and coastal waters. On the other hand, this may enhance the erosion of the delta and the coasts as well as modifythe benthic ecosystem.

Role of Kuroshio frontal eddy in exchange between shelf water and Kuroshio water in East China Sea

Basic patterns of the reversal of the Kuroshio water toward the shelf, intrusion of the shelf mixed water into the Kuroshio and uplifting of the near-bottom nutrient-rich water into the upper layer by the pumping of the frontal eddy are analyzed on the basis of satellite infrared images and hydrologic, chemical and biological observations. Results show that the Kuroshio frontal eddies play a very important role in the exchange between the shelf water and the Kuroshio water. The estimation of the average volume transports for three frontal eddy events indicates that the shelf mixed water entrained by an eddy into Kuroshio is 0.44×10~6 m3/s and the reversal Kuroshio water onto the shelf region only 0.04×10~6 m3/s. Along the whole shelf edge, the volume transport of the shelf mixed water entrained by the eddies into the Kuroshio is 1.8×10~6 m3/s. The nutrient (NO3-N) flux pumped to the euphotic zone and input to the continental shelf through a column with 1 m wide is 974 μmol/(s·m) when there is frontal eddy and only 79 μmol/(s·m) in the case of no frontal eddy. Yearly nutrient (NO3-N) flux input to the shelf area caused by the frontal eddy is 1.7×10~5 t/a.

Chemical hydrography of coastal upwelling in the East China Sea

Based on the field data obtained during cruises on the shelf of the East China Sea from 1997 to 1999, seasonal variations of coastal upwelling on the inner shelf are discussed by using cross-shelf transect profiles and horizontal distributions of chemical and hydrographic variables. Results show that the coastal upwelling was year-round, but the areas and intensities of the upwelling were quite different in season. The coastal upwelling occurred in all of the coastal areas of the region in spring and summer, but in autumn only in the area off Zhejiang Province, and in winter in the area off Fujian Prov- ince. It was the strongest in summer and the weakest in winter. Geographically, it was the strongest in the area off Zhejiang Province and the weakest in the southmost or northmost parts of the East China Sea. The estimated nutrient fluxes upward into euphotic zone through coastal upwelling were quite large, es- pecially for phosphate, which contributed significantly to primary production and improved the nutrient structure of the coastal ecosystem in the East China Sea.

Nutrient Structure of the Taiwan Warm Current and Estimation of Vertical Nutrient Fluxes in Upwelling Areas in the East China Sea in Summer

Based on field data for nutrients collected on the continental shelf of the East China Sea(ECS) during summer 2006, the structure and variations of nutrients in every water mass related to the Taiwan Warm Current(TWC) were analyzed. The supplementary effect of nutrient of upwelling on harmful algal blooms(HABs) in the ECS was also estimated, based on upwelling data. Then the maintenance contribution of nutrient of upwelling to HABs was assessed. The results showed that N/P ratio is fairly low in both surface and deep layers of the TWC, which possibly controls nutrient structure of the HABs-frequently-occuring areas. In upwelling areas, the rate of phosphate(PO4-P) uptake exceeds that of nitrate(NO3-N) of the TWC. The TWC may relieve PO4-P limitation during the process of HABs. Furthermore, upwelling plays an important role in providing nutrients to HABs. After estimating nutrient fluxes(NO3-N, PO4-P, Si O3-Si) in the upwelling areas along a typical section(S07), the results showed that the nutrient uptake rate is the greatest at 10-20 m below euphotic zone, sustaining the ongoing presence of HABs. The uptake rate of PO4-P is the highest among dissolved inorganic nutrients. Therefore, upwelling is most likely the main source of PO4-P supply to HABs.

Relationship between phytoplankton composition and environmental factors in the surface waters of southern South China Sea in early summer of 2009

Horizontal distributions of phytoplankton abundance,species composition as well as environmental factors were investigated in the surface waters of southern South China Sea (SCS) in early summer (May 16 to June 7) of 2009.In most areas of southern SCS,the concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus were very low and DIN/DIP ratios usually were lower than the Redfield N/P Ratio of 16∶1.Nitrogen nutrients were significant lower in the upwelling region off Vietnam.A total of 144 taxa of phytoplankton were identified in the study area.The dominant genera were Prorocentrum,Gonyaulax,Gyrodinium,Scrippsiella and Chaetoceros,respectively.Spatial patterns of early-summer phytoplankton abundance and species composition should be mainly controlled by the upwelling off Vietnam and the discharge of Mekong River in the southern SCS.Diatoms dominated in the nutritious Mekong River Estuary or upwelling region off Vietnam; while dinoflagellates dominated in the oligotrophic pelagic region.The canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) indicates that most of diatoms favor higher levels of silicate and phosphorus,as well as lower temperature; while most of dinoflagellates favor the lower silicate and phosphorous and higher temperature.Correlation and CCA results indicate that silicate,nitrate and temperature were the most relevant environmental factors to regulate the horizontal pattern of early-summer phytoplankton in the surface waters of southern SCS.

Cell Size Dependent Responses of Phytoplankton Assemblages to Nitrate and Phosphate Additions in Surface Waters of the Northern South China Sea

Bioavailability of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) is known to affect marine phytoplankton physiology, thus influencing their primary productivity;and it’s of general interest to see how the N or/and P additions affect the differently cell-sized phytoplankton assemblages. Data from the northern South China Sea showed that P addition increased up to 6 times of total chl a content within 24 h in the estuarine water;and N+P addition increased more than 20 times of chl a within 144 h in the pelagic water. The P addition powered 18.0% and 149% increase in the carbon fixation of larger (>3 μm) and smaller (

Reanalysis of the Atmospheric Flux of Nutrient Elements to the Southern Yellow Sea and the East China Sea

Based on the recent research results on dry and wet deposition of nutrient elements and sulphate, we estimate the atmospheric flux of nutrient elements and sulphate to the southern Yellow Sea and the East China Sea in each season. The results suggest that the concentrations of nutrient elements and sulphate in aerosol and precipitation show an apparent seasonal cycle with the maximum values in winter and the minimum values in summer. Depositions of nitrate and sulphate are dominated by wet deposition, while the deposition for phosphate is mainly dry deposition. Moreover, compared with the riverine inputs, the atmospheric deposition may be the main source of dissolved inorganic nutrients in the southern Yellow Sea and the East China Sea.

The Impact of Atmospheric Deposition of Cadmium on Dominant Algal Species in the East China Sea

Cadmium(Cd) mainly derived from anthropogenic emissions can be transported through atmospheric pathway to marine ecosystem,affecting the phytoplankton community and primary productivity.In this study,we identified the toxicity threshold of Cd for phytoplankton under seawater conditions of the coastal East China Sea(ECS) through both laboratory and in situ mesocosm incubation experiments.The mesocosm experiment showed that Cd in low concentration(0.003 μg per μg chl a) was conducive to the growth of natural community and increased chl a productivity.In high concentration(0.03 μg per μg chl a) Cd acted as an inhibiting factor which decreased the total chl a productivity.The diatom community was found to be more sensitive to Cd toxicity than dinoflagellate,as the low concentration Cd showed toxicity to diatom but enhanced dinoflagellate growth.We noticed that the soluble Cd estimated from atmosphere deposition to the coastal ECS was below the toxicity threshold and the Cd deposition might promote phytoplankton growth in this region.In our laboratory experiments,adding Cd,similar to aerosol deposition,stimulated the growth of both dominant algal species Prorocentrum donghaiense Lu(dinoflagellate) and Skeletonema costatum(diatom).Adding Cd on a higher level inhibited the growth of both the species,but Skeletonema costatum seemed obviously more sensitive to toxicity.This indicates the potential impact of atmospheric deposition Cd on phytoplankton community succession in the ECS.

Relationship between toxic and harmful microalgae and environmental factors in typical mariculture areas of East China Sea

Toxic and harmful algal blooms are usually more frequent in mariculture areas due to the abundant trophic conditions.To investigate the relationship between toxic and harmful microalgae and environmental factors,we set up 12 stations near three mariculture regions(Gouqi Island,Sandu Bay,and Dongshan Bay)in the East China Sea.We collected samples from all four seasons starting from May 2020 to March 2021.We identifi ed 199 species belonging to 70 genera,of which 38 species were toxic and harmful,including 24 species of Dinophyceae,13 species of Bacillariophyceae,and 1 species of Raphidophyceae.The species composition of toxic and harmful microalgae showed a predominance of diatoms in the summer(August),and dinofl agellates in the spring(May),autumn(November),and winter(March).The cell densities of toxic and harmful microalgae were higher in summer(with an average value of 15.34×10^(3) cells/L)than in other seasons,3.53×10^(3) cells/L in spring,1.82×10^(3) cells/L in winter,and 1.0×10^(3) cells/L in autumn.Pseudo-nitzschia pungens,Prorocentrum minimum,Paralia sulcata,and Prorocentrum micans were the dominant species and were available at all 12 stations in the three mariculture areas.We selected 10 toxic and harmful microalgal species with frequency>6 at the survey stations for the redundancy analysis(RDA),and the results show that NO^(-)_(3),water temperature(WT),pH,DO,and NO^(-)_(2) were the main factors on distribution of toxic and harmful microalgae.We concluded that the rich nutrient conditions in the East China Sea mariculture areas increased the potential for the risk of toxic and harmful microalgal bloom outbreaks.

Transport patterns of micro nutrient elements from the continental shelf of the East China Sea to the Kuroshio area

On the basis of the in situ data of DO2, pH, SiO2. PO4-P, NO3-N and NO2-N collected in the north of the East China Sea during 1987-1988, the following points are mainly expounded.1.The inorgonic nutrients are obviously affected by continent runoff in the north of the East China Sea. Their distributions are characteristic of its distribution of terrigenous materials.2.There are three transport paths of nutrients from the shelf to the Kuroshio area. The first is mixing-diffusing-advec-tion and upwelling process, the process of biology and biochemistry belongs to the second, and the sinking process is the last one.3.The swing of the Kuroshio axis affectes both the range of the migration of substances through mixing-diffusing-advec-tion process and the upwelling degree of the subsurface Kuroshio water to the shelf.4.Most part of the substances sink as macroparticles to the deep layer before reaching the Kuroshio area.