Characterization of Nutrients,Heavy Metals,Petroleum and Their Impact on Phytoplankton in Laizhou Bay:Implications for Environmental Management and Monitoring

The Laizhou Bay(LB)represents a substantial ecological area that is vulnerable to human activities and confronts diverse environmental challenges.This study provides a comprehensive characterization of nutrients,petroleum,heavy metals,and phytoplankton community structure across seven distinct areas in LB.The results indicate relatively high concentrations of NO_(2)-N,SiO_(4)-Si,and NO_(3)-N in the Southwest Laizhou Bay(SWLB)and Huanghe River Estuary(HRE).In contrast,the East Laizhou bay(ELB)and the North of Huanghe River Estuary(NHRE)exhibit the highest concentrations of heavy metals(As,Cr and Hg).The areas with high phytoplankton density and community diversity are mainly located in the SWLB.After adjusting for basic environmental factors,phytoplankton density and Margalef richness index D are significantly associated with nutrients(NO_(3)-N,NO_(2)-N,NH_(4)-N,SiO_(4)-Si),and heavy metal(Cr)concentrations.We highlight that,in addition to Xiaoqinghe River,nutrients brought by the Mihe River in the SWLB and heavy metal(Cr)pollution in the ELB resulting from industrial and mining activities along the coast significantly influence phytoplankton growth and community structure.Therefore,it is recommended that more monitoring and management efforts be focused on these regions in the future.

Impacts of Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture on Phytoplankton in Sanggou Bay

Integrated multi-trophic aquaculture(IMTA)has been considered as an ecofriendly culture system providing a potential solution to environmental risks caused by intensive monoculture system.However,the impact of IMTA on phytoplankton remains unclear.In this study,the spatial and temporal variations of phytoplankton in Sanggou Bay were investigated seasonally based on 21 sampling sites covering three cultivation zones(bivalve zone,IMTA zone,and kelp zone)and one control zone(without aquatic cultivation).In total,128 phytoplankton species,with diatoms and dinoflagellates as the dominant groups,were obtained across the whole year,and the mean Shannon diversity index(H')and species richness(SR)were determined as 1.39 and 9.39,respectively.The maximum chlorophyll a(Chl-a)(6.32μg L^(-1))and plankton diversity(H'of 1.97)occurred in summer and autumn,respectively.Compared to other zones,the bivalve zone displayed significantly higher Chl-a and lower H'in majority of time.Pairwise PERMANOVA analysis indicated that the phytoplankton assemblage in the bivalve zone was significantly different with the control and kelp zones,while the IMTA zone maintained close to other three zones.Based on generalized additive models,temperature,NO_(2)^(-)-N,N/P ratio,SiO_(3)^(2-)-Si,and salinity were determined as the key factors underlying Chl-a and phytoplankton diversity.Addi-tionally,the results of redundancy analysis further indicated that the phytoplankton assemblage in the bivalve zone is positively re-lated with nutrients such as NO_(3)^(-)-N and NH_(4)^(+)-N as well as water depth,while the phytoplankton assemblages in the kelp,control,and IMTA zones are associated with NO_(2)^(-)-N,SiO_(3)^(2-)-Si,and salinity.Taken all observations into consideration together,it can be inferred that IMTA can effectively reduce Chl-a level compared to bivalve monoculture by reducing the nutrients.However,the SR,H’,and species composition of phytoplankton are primarily determined by local environment factors such as temperature,water depth,salinity and SiO_(3)^(2-)-Si.

The connection of phytoplankton biomass in the Marguerite Bay polynya of the western Antarctic Peninsula to the Southern Annular Mode

Antarctic coastal polynyas are biological hotspots in the Southern Ocean that support the abundance of hightrophic-level predators and are important for carbon cycling in the high-latitude oceans.In this study,we examined the interannual variation of summertime phytoplankton biomass in the Marguerite Bay polynya(MBP)in the western Antarctic Peninsula area,and linked such variability to the Southern Annular Mode(SAM)that dominated the southern hemisphere extratropical climate variability.Combining satellite data,atmosphere reanalysis products and numerical simulations,we found that the interannual variation of summer chlorophyll-a(Chl-a)concentration in the MBP is significantly and negatively correlated with the spring SAM index,and weakly correlated with the summer SAM index.The negative relation between summer Chl-a and spring SAM is due to weaker spring vertical mixing under a more positive SAM condition,which would inhibit the supply of iron from deep layers into the surface euphotic layer.The negative relation between spring mixing and spring SAM results from greater precipitation rate over the MBP region in positive SAM phase,which leads to lower salinity in the ocean surface layer.The coupled physical-biological mechanisms between SAM and phytoplankton biomass revealed in this study is important for us to predict the future variations of phytoplankton biomasses in Antarctic polynyas under climate change.

New Insights in the Biodegradability and the Ecotoxicological Effects of Solar Products Containing Mineral and Chemical UV-Filters on Marine Zoo- and Phytoplanktons: An in silico and in vitro Study

Background: Cosmetic formulations, and particularly solar products which contain mineral and chemical UV-filters, are often suspected of causing harmful effects on marine fauna and flora. After the publication of our work in 2019 concerning the ecotoxicological effects of such formulations on corals (Seriatopora hystrix), we here provide some new information about the biodegradability and the ecotoxicological effects of these products on marine zoo- and phytoplankton. Therefore, we choose to realize in silico and in vitro studies of the biodegradability of several solar products but also to evaluate the ecotoxicological effects of these products on one phytoplankton, i.e. Phaeodactylum tricornutum, and one zooplankton, i.e. Acartia tonsa, of a great importance for sea species survival (notably as sources of food). Materials and methods: Two different approaches were used to study the biodegradability of the tested products: One in silico method and an in vitro one. 2 solar products were involved in the in silico study which consisted in the determination of the degradation factor (DF) of each ingredient of the tested formulas in order to finally obtain their estimated biodegradability percentage. Already available data concerning each ingredient coupled to a computer model developed with one of our partners were used to achieve this study. The in vitro study involved 8 formulas containing UV-filters and was led by following the OECD 301 F guidelines. Ecotoxicological studies of 7 of the formulas containing UV-filters were for their part realized by following the ISO 10253 guidelines for the experiments led with Phaeodactylum tricornutum, and the ISO 14669 guidelines for the experiments led with Acartia tonsa. In these studies, the effect of each tested product on crustaceans’ mortality and algal growth inhibition was assessed. Results: The in silico study predicted that formulas containing chemical UV-filters display a high biodegradability (superior to the threshold value of 60% given by the OECD 301 F guidelines). In the in vitro part of our work, the 8 tested formulas showed a biodegradability slightly inferior to the one predicted in the in silico experiments. Therefore, in order to evaluate if these calculated biodegradability value could have significant harmful effects on zoo- or phytoplankton, we studied the effect of our products regarding the growth inhibition on Phaeodactylum tricornutum and the mortality on Acartia tonsa. In this last part of the study, all the tested products were classified as “non ecotoxic” following an internal classification based on Part 4 entitled “Environmental Hazards” of Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS), 9th edition (2021). Conclusions: These results are notably in line with those published by our teams in 2019 on the effects of solar cosmetic products on corals and seem to confirm that formulas containing mineral and chemical UV-filters can be daily used without displaying significant noxious effects on marine fauna and flora. .

Grazing rate and feeding selectivity of small and large bodied cladocerans in waters from lakes with different salinity and phytoplankton structure

Cladocera are filter feeders abundant in freshwaters,which consume phytoplankton particles in wide size and taxonomic ranges.The ability of cladocerans to control phytoplankton abundance by grazing is determined by various factors including the characteristics of phytoplankton.Freshwater salinization may reduce the strength of top-down grazing control of phytoplankton because of the detrimental effects of salinity on the grazing intensity of zooplankters.We performed grazing experiments with two species of Cladocera of different body lengths to test their ability to graze on phytoplankton in natural waters differing in salinity and size and taxonomic composition of food particles.Grazing experiments demonstrated that the grazing rate was mostly controlled by the abundance of phytoplankton in the medium.The grazing rate was reduced at salinity ca.above 3 g/L of NaCl in the medium.The lower grazing rate was observed in the medium with larger phytoplankton particles.Both species predominantly consumed phytoplankton particles with a diameter of 6-12μm,which may shift the size distribution of phytoplankton towards a larger average diameter of particles.The taxon-specific feeding was also observed,as both species predominantly consumed diatom algae.Thus,we found that because of grazing,the size and taxonomic characteristics of phytoplankton are shifted towards a less edible community.The detrimental effect of elevated salinity on grazing rate supports growing concern about freshwater salinization negatively affecting water quality,particularly reducing top-down grazing control of phytoplankton.

Kuroshio Intrusion Combined with Coastal Currents Affects Phytoplankton in the Northern South China Sea Revealed by Lipid Biomarkers

The northern South China Sea(NSCS)is significantly influenced by the Kuroshio intrusion and the coastal currents.Our knowledge on the roles of both currents on phytoplankton spatial variations is still inadequate.Here,we investigated the concentrations of phytoplankton biomarkers and their proportions in surface suspended particles from 47 sites of the NSCS during summer of 2017 and 2019.Brassicasterol/epi-brassicasterol,dinosterol,and C37 alkenones were used as proxies of biomass for diatoms,dinoflagellates,and haptophytes,respectively,and their sum indicating total phytoplankton biomass.A three end-member mixing model was applied to quantitatively assess the influence extent of the Kuroshio intrusion and the coastal currents.Our results showed that the Kuroshio intrusion and the coastal currents contributed equally to the overall surface water masses in the study area;however,the two currents had distinct effects on the spatial distribution of phytoplankton.For phytoplankton biomass,the eutrophic coastal currents were likely to be the main controlling factors,while the impact of the Kuroshio intrusion was weak and stimulated significant increases in phytoplankton biomass only at certain boundary sites.For phytoplankton community structures,the Kuroshio and its intrusion were the main factors,resulting in an increase in the proportions of dinoflagellates and haptophytes.The proportion of diatoms slightly increased due to the influence of the coastal currents.Our study quantifies the effects of the Kuroshio and the coastal currents on phytoplankton in the NSCS in terms of hydrological parameters,providing an important basis for the understanding of ecological functions and biogeochemical cycles in marginal sea-open ocean boundary regions.

Carbon,Nitrogen,and Sulfur Contents in Marine Phytoplankton Cells and Biomass Conversion

In this study,we isolated and cultured phytoplankton along the coast of China and measured the cellular carbon,nitrogen,and sulfur contents under four temperatures.The results showed that the contents of the cellular elements varied widely among different phytoplankton.We found that temperature is one of the important factors affecting the carbon,nitrogen,and sulfur contents in phytoplankton cells;however,the degree of influence of temperature is different for different kinds of phytoplankton.By measuring the nitrogen content in cells,we found that the C:N ratio indirectly measured in the experiment fluctuated in the range of 3.50-8.97,and the average C:N ratio was 5.52.In this experiment,we accurately measured the cell elemental contents at different temperatures and transformed the cell count results into carbon,nitrogen,and sulfur contents to express the biomass.This method ensures that the contribution of species that are small in number but with a large cell volume in biomass is considered.Moreover,this method comprehensively considers the interspecific differences of species and the uneven distribution of elements in phytoplankton cells,which is of significance in the estimation of marine carbon and nitrogen budget.The distribution of nitrogen content in marine phytoplankton can well indicate the marine eutrophication caused by human activities.Climate change can affect the community structure and element composition of marine phytoplankton,meanwhile marine carbon and nitrogen element can regulate the climate to a certain extent.

Distribution of chromophytic phytoplankton in the Western Subarctic Gyre of Pacific Ocean revealed by morphological observation and rbc L gene sequences

Western Subarctic Gyre(WSG),which possesses distinctive differences in oceanographic and biogeochemical processes,is situated in the northwest subarctic Pacific.The WSG is characterized by high nutrient and low chlorophyll.We carried out a field investigation in this area in summer 2020 and performed microscopic observation,cytometric counting,and RuBisCO large subunit(rbc L)gene analysis to understand the community structure and spatial distribution of chromophytic phytoplankton better.Microscopic method revealed that total phytoplankton(>10μm,including Bacillariophyta,Dinoflagellata,Ochrophyta,and Chlorophyta)abundances ranged(0.6×10^(3))-(167.4×10^(3))cells/L with an increasing trend from south to north.Dinoflagellates and Pennatae diatoms dominated the phytoplankton assemblages in the southern and northern stations,respectively.Major chromophytic phytoplankton groups derived from rbc L genes included Haptophyta,Ochrophyta,Bacillariophyta,as well as rarely occurring groups,such as Xanthophyta,Cyanobacteria,Dinoflagellata,Rhodophyta,and Cryptophyta.At the phylum level,Haptophyta was the most abundant phylum,accounting for approximately 30.80%of the total obtained operational taxonomic units in all samples.Ochrophyta and Bacillariophyta were the second and third most abundant phylum,and their relative abundance was 20.26% and 19.60%,respectively.Further,redundancy analysis showed that high proportion of diatoms(e.g.,microscopic and rbc L methods)was positively correlated with nutrients(e.g.,dissolved inorganic nitrogen(DIN),dissolved inorganic phosphorous,and dissolved silicate(DSi))and negatively correlated with temperature and salinity.The proportion of Ochrophyta,Rhodophyta,and Cyanobateria identified by rbc L genes was positively correlated with salinity and temperature and showed negative correlation to nutrients.This work is the first molecular study of phytoplankton accomplished in the WSG,and our results show some discrepancies between morphological observation and rbc L gene sequences,which highlight the necessity of combining the microscopic and molecular methods to reveal the diversity of phytoplankton in marine environment.

Phytoplanktonic biogeography in the subtropical coastal waters,East China Sea along intensive anthropogenic stresses: roles of environmental versus spatial factors

Understanding the relative roles of local environmental effects and spatial effects on phytoplankton community is of essential importance to study the biogeography of them at regional scale. However, the determinants that driving the biogeography of phytoplankton communities in the coastal area of northern Zhejiang still remained unclear. We surveyed phytoplankton community compositions in water columns associated with environmental and spatial influences across five subzones that geographically covering this region over four seasons. Diatoms and dinoflagellates were recorded as the main dominant groups and Coscinodiscus oculs-iridis, Coscinodiscus jonesianus, and Skeletonema costatum, were identified as the major abundant species existing in all seasons.Spatially structured environmental conditions, rather than pure spatial or environmental factors, substantially shaped the biogeography of phytoplankton community, with the former mainly comprised of water temperature,dissolved oxygen, phosphate, pH, and salinity, and the latter referring to a non-negligible factor. This study was the first integrated research that combining environmental filtering with spatial factors in structuring phytoplankton communities at a complete tempo-spatial scale. Our results may facilitate to the further study of harmful algal blooms early-warning in this region.

Seasonal and Spatial Variations of Phytoplankton in Relation to Physico-Chemical Parameters in Adjin Lagoon, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, West Africa

Investigations were carried out on spatial and seasonal composition, distribution and abundance of phytoplankton in Adjin lagoon located in south-eastern of Côte d’Ivoire. Samples were collected at six stations during the four seasons in 2013 year. Freshwater inflow from Bété, Djibi and Mé Rivers influenced the variability of nutrients concentration in this lagoon. From a seasonal point of view, the parameters studied are significantly affected by freshwater inputs during the rainy season. This period is characterized by high values of turbidity, suspended solids and nutrients in the water. Overall, 66 taxa from six phyla were recorded. The Chlorophyta had the highest species diversity and Cyanobacteria had the highest relative abundance throughout the year. The temporal distribution of phytoplankton showed that the highest values of density were recorded in the long rainy season and the lowest values in the long dry season. Spatially, the highest abundance (297,927 × 103 cells·L-1) of phytoplankton was found in station 3 and the lowest (74,222 × 103 cells·L-1) in the station 5.

Effect of filter-feeding fish silver carp on phytoplankton species and size distribution in surface water:A field study in water works

Silver carp were introduced into the pre-sedimentation pond to control excessive phytoplankton in raw water. The effectiveness of the filter-feeding silver carp on phytoplankton control and the effect of silver carp on phytoplankton community were investigated. The results showed that Microcystis could be effectively removed by silver carp stocked in the pre-sedimentation pond, and simultaneously, the concentration of single-cell phytoplankton increased obviously. The difference in phytoplankton species and single- cell phytoplankton size between in the water and in the gut of silver carp indicated that phytoplankton smaller than 5 μm, such as Chamydomonas and Platymonas, were almost not be filtered by silver carp, phytoplankton with the size between 5 and 20μm could be partly filtered, and large size phytoplankton, mainly colony-forming Microcystis could be filtered almost completely. These filter- feeding characteristics directly caused the phytoplankton size distribution biased toward miniaturization. Therefore, this biological treatment using silver carp could be applied only to deal with groups of Microcystis-dominated eutrophic water, and was not appropriate in water bodies where single-cell micro phytoplankton were dominant. Especially when silver carp are used in water treatment, a cautious attitude should be taken based on the evaluation of phytoplankton biomass and species structure features in raw water.

Phytoplankton community dynamics during Alexandrium blooms in 2019 off the Qinhuangdao coast,Bohai Sea,China

Alexandrium blooms in the northwest area of the Bohai Sea(Qinhuangdao coastal area),China,produce large amounts of toxins that could be enriched in shellfish and consequently harm human bodies.To understand the succession of the phytoplankton community structure during Alexandrium bloom events in the northwest area of the Bohai Sea off Qinhuangdao from April 2 to May 7,2019,microscopy observations and high-performance chromatography(HPLC)-pigment analysis were performed.Sixty species of phytoplankton were identified,mainly diatoms and dinofl agellates.The abundance of Alexandrium reached the maximum on April 16(3.3×10^(3) cells/L).HPLC-pigment CHEMTAX analysis showed that the phytoplankton community was composed mainly of diatoms,dinofl agellates,prasinophytes,and cryptophytes.Diatoms were the main contributor to the total Chl-a pool.There was a downward trend for the proportion of diatom biomass to the total Chl-a pool,followed by an upward trend.The proportion of dinoflagellate biomass showed the opposite trend,whereas that of the prasinophyte biomass presented an obvious increasing trend.Temperature,nutrients,and nutrient structures were the main factors on the distribution of different phytoplankton groups in the study area as shown in the redundancy analysis.This work illustrates the succession of phytoplankton community structures during Alexandrium blooms and provided a theoretical basis for studies on the mechanism underlying the outbreak of harmful algal blooms in sea areas.

Environmental drivers of phytoplankton crops and taxonomic composition in northeastern Antarctic Peninsula adjacent sea area

The ecosystem of the sea region adjacent to the Antarctic Peninsula is undergoing remarkable physical and biological changes, in the context of global warming. However, understanding of the dynamics of phytoplankton taxonomic composition in this marginal ice zone remains unclear. In this study, seawater samples collected from 36 stations in the northeastern Antarctic Peninsula were analyzed for nutrients and phytoplankton pigments.Combining with CHEMTAX analysis, remote sensing data, and physicochemical measurements, we investigated the relationships between phytoplankton crops, taxonomic composition, and marine environmental drivers.Integrated chlorophyll a(Chl a) concentrations(200 m) varied from 8.9 mg/m^(2)to 64.2 mg/m^(2), with an average of(23.2±12.0) mg/m^(2)and higher phytoplankton biomass concentrated in the coastal region of South Orkney Island and South Shetland Island. Diatoms were the dominant functional group(63%±21%). Higher proportions of diatoms were associated with higher Chl a(r=0.40, p<0.01), stable water columns(r=0.20, p<0.01), higher Si/P ratios(r=0.34, p<0.01), higher photosynthetically active radiation intensity(r=0.64, p<0.01), and higher sea ice melt water contributions(MWC, r=0.20, p<0.01). Conversely, Phaeocystis antarctica contributed a smaller overall proportion(31%±18%) and was more concentrated in the offshore water masses(e.g., Philip Ridge and South Scotia Ridge) with lower light levels(r=-0.58, p<0.01), deeper mixed layer depths(r=0.17, p<0.05), higher nutrient concentrations(e.g., N, P, and Si, r>0.35, p<0.01), and lower MWC(r=-0.20, p<0.01). In comparison, the total contribution from green flagellates(4%±5%), cryptophyta(1%±3%), dinoflagellates(1%±4%), and cyanobacteria(1% ± 5%) was only 6%. In offshore regions with well-mixed water, less varied taxonomic composition and lower crops with a higher proportion of nanophytoplankton were observed. In contrast, significantly decreasing crops below the mixed layer depth was observed in water columns with strong stratification, where the dominant phytoplankter changed from diatoms to P. antarctica. These findings have important implications for better understanding the future dynamics of marine ecosystems in the sea area adjacent to the Antarctic Peninsula.

Spatial distribution of picoand nano-phytoplankton and bacteria in the Chukchi Sea in relation to water masses

We evaluated the relationships between water masses and pico- and nano-phytoplankton and bacterial abundance in the Chukchi Sea. The abundance of picoplankton ranged from 0.01 ~ 103 cells.mL1 （100 m, station R05） to 2.21 x 103 cells.mL-1 （10 m, station R05） and that of nanoplankton ranged from 0.03 x 103 cells.mL-I （100 m, station R07） to 2.21 ~ 104 cells.mLq （10 m, station R05）. The lowest abundance of bacteria in the whole water column （0.21 x 106 cells.mLq） was at 100 m at station R17, and the highest （9.61 x 106 cells.mLL） was at 10 m at station R09. Melting sea ice affected the physical characteristics of the Chukchi Sea by reducing salinity of the surface mixed layer, resulting in greater hydrodynamic stability of the water column. These changes were accompanied by increased bacterial abundance. The warm Pacific water brought nutrients into the Chukchi Sea, resulting in greater abundance of bacteria and nano-phytoplankton in the Chukchi Sea than in other regions of the Arctic Ocean. However, the abundance of pico-phytoplankton, which was related to chlorophyll a concentration, was higher in Anadyr water than in the other two water masses. The structures ofpico- and nanoplankton communities coupled with the water masses in the Chuk- chi Sea can serve as indicators of the inflow of warm Pacific water into the Chukchi Sea.

Exploration of relationships between phytoplankton biomass and related environmental variables using multivariate statistic analysis in a eutrophic shallow lake:A 5-year study

Understanding the process of the changing phytoplankton patterns can be particularly useful in water quality improvement and management decisions. However, it is generally not easy to illustrate the interactions between phytoplankton biomass and related environmental variables given their high spatial and temporal heterogeneity. To elucidate relationships between them, in a eutrophic shallow lake, Taihu Lake, relative long-term data set of biotic and abiotic parameters of water quality in the lake were conducted using multivariate statistical analysis within seasonal periodicity. The results indicate that water temperature and total phosphorus （TP） played governing roles in phytoplankton dynamics in most seasons （i.e. temperature in winter, spring and summer; TP in spring, summer and autumn）; COD （chemical oxygen demand） and BOD （biological oxygen demand） presented significant positive relationships with phytoplankton biomass in spring, summer and autumn. However, a complex interplay was found between phytoplankton biomass and nitrogen considering significant positive relationships occurring between them in spring and autumn, and conversely negative ones in summer. As the predatory factor, zooplankton presented significant grazing-pressure on phytoplankton biomass during summer in view of negative relationship between them in the season. Significant feedback effects of phytoplankton development were identified in summer and autumn in view that significant relationships were obser,qed between phytoplankton biomass and pH, Trans （transparency of water） and DO. The results indicate that interactions between phyto：plankton biomass and related environmental variables are highly sensitive to seasonal periodicity, which improves understanding of different roles of biotic and abiotic variables upon phytoplankton variability, and hence, advances management methods for eutrophic lakes.

Phytoplankton community structure and environmental parameters in aquaculture areas of Daya Bay,South China Sea

Environmental characteristics and phytoplankton community structure were investigated in two aquaculture areas in Dapeng Cove of Daya Bay, South China Sea, between April 2005 and June 2006. Phytoplankton abundance ranged between 5.0 and 8877.5 cells/mL, with an average of 751.8 cells/mL. The seasonal cycle of phytoplankton were demonstrated by frequent oscillations, with recurrent high abundances from late spring to autumn and a peak stage in late winter. Diatoms were the predominant phytoplankton group, accounting for 93.21% of the total abundance. The next most abundant group was the dinoflagellates, which made up only 1.24% of total abundance. High concentrations of Alexandrium tamarense （Lebour） Balech with a maximum of 603.0 cells/mL were firstly recorded in this area known for high rates of paralytic shellfish poisoning （PSP） contamination. Temperatures and salinities were within the suitable values for the growth of phytoplankton, and were important in phytoplankton seasonal fluctuations. The operation of the Daya Bay Nuclear Power Station （DNPS） exerts influences on the phytoplankton community and resulted in the high abundances of toxic dinoflagellate species during the winter months. Dissolved inorganic nitrogen （DIN） and dissolved silicate （DSi） were sufficient, and rarely limited for the growth of phytoplankton. Dissolved inorganic phosphorus （DIP） was the most necessary element for phytoplankton growth. The enriched environments accelerated the growth of small diatoms, and made for the shift in predominant species from large diatom Rhizosolenia spp. to chain-forming diatoms such as Skeletonema costatum, Pseudo-nitzschia spp. and Thalassiosira subtilis.

Effect of nutrient level on phytoplankton community structure in different water bodies

Increasing levels of pollution within water bodies can cause eutrophication and an associated rapid growth in and reproduction of phytoplankton. Although most frequently occurring in bodies of water such as lakes and dams, in recent years an increasing number of river systems in China have suffered serious algal blooms. The community structure of phytoplankton may differ, however, dependent on the hydrodynamic conditions and nutrient levels within the water body. The field investigation results obtained from a stagnant river in Suzhou City and Taihu Lake, China, showed that in water with higher concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus, Chlorophyta became the predominant species and in water with lower concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus, Cyanobacteria became the predominant species. Growth experiments with competitive species, Microcystis aeruginosa Kutz and Scenedesmus quadricauda （Turp.）, were conducted at three different nutrient levels. The biomass of algae in pure and mixed cultures was measured under conditions of different N/P ratios at oligotrophic, eutrophic and hypertrophic nutrient levels. The results indicated that the most suitable state for the growth and reproduction of M. aeruginosa and S. quadricauda were eutrophic conditions in both pure and mixed cultures. Under competition, however, the lower medium nutrient levels favoured M. aeruginosa, while the higher medium nutrient levels better suited S. quadricauda. Under similar hydrodynamic conditions, the community structure of phytoplankton in the water body was determined by the dominant species in competition for nutrients.

Preliminary study on seasonal succession and development pathway of phytoplankton community in the Bohai Sea

Phytoplankton species composition and species succession were determined in 1998-1999 based on 2 nestle investigation cruises in the Bohai Sea and two monthly monitoring stations at Penglai and Changdao for 15 months. The seasonal succession and pathway of phytoplankton community in the Bohai Sea were discussed complementarily with history data. The main process of Phytoplankton community development in the Bohai Sea was controlled by temperature and nutrient replenishes. There were two cell abundance peaks in an annual variation, the main peak in April and the secondary peak in September. In winter, the cell abundance was low due to the low temperature, the phytoplankton community was mainly made up of small-celled diataoms. In spring, the phytoplankton community was developed very quickly by small-celled diatom in suitable conditions of temperature and nutrients. In summer, the cell abundance decreased and big-celled diatoms became predominated. In autumn, because of the replenish of nutrient, big-celled diatoms and dinoflagellates formed another cell abundance peak. during the annual variation of phytoplankton community in the Bohai Sea, species succession was the main process of community development, the species sequence just occur at special areas and special periods. The evolution of phytoplankton community in the Bohai Sea accords with the hypothesis of Margalef's phytoplankton community of four stages. But the size feature is contrary to the hypothesis, which may be caused by nutrient replenish in autumn in Bohai Sea and the top to down control.

The effects of spring-neap tide on the phytoplankton community development in the Jiaozhou Bay, China

The development of the phytoplankton community was studied in the Jiaozhou Bay during the spring to neap tide in August2001, through three cruises and a 15 d continuous observation. This investigation indicates that diatom cell abundance increasedsharply following the end of a spring tide, from 9 cells/cm3 to a peak of 94 cells/cm3. The dominant species composition andabundance show a quick species sequence from spring to neap tide, and the dominant species at the start phase is Skeletomenacostatum, then changes to Chaetoceros curvisetus, finally it changes to Eucampia zodiacus. Silicate concentration increasesduring spring tide, as a result of nutrient replenishment from the watersediment interface, its initial average concentration inneap tide is 1.39 mmol/dm3 and reached the peak average concentration of 8.40 mmol/dm3 in spring tide. But the nitrogenconcentration dropped due to dilution by the low nitrogen seawater from the Huanghai Sea, its initial average concentration inneap tide is 67 mmol/dm3 and decreased to the average concentration of 54 mmol/dm3 in spring tide. The degree of siliconlimitation was decreased and phytoplankton, especially diatoms, responds immediately after nutrient replenishment in thewater column. Skeletonmea costatum, as one of the dominant species in the Jiaozhou Bay, shows a quicker response tonutrient availability than Eucampia zodiacus and Chaetoceros curvisetus. It is proposed that dominant species compositionand water column stability synchronously determine the development of phytoplankton summer blooms in the Jiaozhou bay.

Long-term changes of phytoplankton community in Xiagu waters of Xiamen,China

Long-term changes of phytoplankton community by water sampling method in Xiagu Sea waters of Xiamen,China,were investigated in this study.Species composition of the phytoplankton community in these waters changed greatly since the 1950s.The numbers of Dinophyta species increased significantly,although Bacillariophyta species are generally dominant.The succession of dominant species in phytoplankton community is obvious： large-size dominant species such as Biddulphia sinensis of the 1950s were gradually replaced by small-size ones such as Cyclotella striata and Nitzschia closterium,and species that still maintain dominant such as Skeletonema costatum are also small ones,leading the whole phytoplankton community of smaller size.Cell density of phytoplankton community increased greatly,among which cell density of the most dominant species Skeletonema costatum have been increasing in exponent function.Margalef index of phytoplankton community decreased,indicating decline of biodiversity of the community,and dominant character of Skeletonema costatum increased.Generally,the structure of the entire phytoplankton community is becoming more and more singular and unstable,which makes the occurrence of red tides more frequent.The succession in the phytoplankton community is related to the long-term changes in marine environment,influenced by human activities and global climate changes,especially the increases of nutrient content.