The complete mitochondrial genome of Parachiloglanis hodgarti and its phylogenetic position within Sisoridae

The complete mitogenome of Parachiloglanis hodgarti was sequenced and characterized,which is the first mitogenome of the genus Parachiloglanis within Sisoridae.The mitogenome is 16511-bp long and included 13 protein-coding genes,22 transfer RNAs,two ribosomal RNAs,and one control region.The genome composition was A+T biased(58.64%)and exhibited a positive AT-skew(0.095)and a negative GC-skew(-0.283).Compared with other Sisoridae fishes,the characteristics of nucleotide skews,codon usage,and amino acid usage of the P.hodgarti mitogenome are more similar to those of non-Glyptosternoid fishes.Furthermore,the phylogenetic trees show that Sisoridae fishes fall into four major clades and P.hodgarti(CladeⅠ)is basal to the Sisoridae family,forming a sister clade to the Glyptosternoids(CladeⅣ).The topological structures constructed in this study raised doubts over the traditional classification system.These results will help better understand the feature s of the P.hodgarti mitogenome and provide a reference for further phylogenetic research on Sisoridae species.

Peaked abundance of Calanus sinicus earlier shifted in the Changjiang River (Yangtze River) Estuary:a comparable study between 1959,2002 and 2005

The sea surface temperature （SST） of the East China Sea （ECS） increased in the past decades, which may have a great impact on the ecosystem of the ECS, including the changes in planktonpopulation structure. In this paper, the changes in peaked abundance of Calanus sinicus in the Changjiang River （Yangtze River） Estuary were compared between 1959 and 2002, based on the data collected from the seasonally oceanographic cruises and those performed in spring of 2005. It was much higher in spring compared with that in other seasons both in 1959 and 2002. Furthermore, in spring 2005, the time for occurrence and decrease of the peaked C. sinicus abundance advanced about one month, accompanying the increase in the sea surface water temperature （SST）. It peaked in June and decreased in July in 1959, however, in 2005, it peaked in May and attenuated sharply in early June. The earlier decrease of peaked C. sinicus abundance may further deteriorate the ecosystem in the Changjiang River Estuary and north nearshore of the ECS.

Carbon and nitrogen isotopes analysis and sources of organic matter in surface sediments from the Sanggou Bay and its adjacent areas, China

Naturally existing stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes are important in the study of sedimentary organic matter sources. To identify the sources of sedimentary organic matter in Sanggou Bay and its adjacent areas, which is characterized by high-density shellfish and seaweed aquaculture, the grain size, organic carbon （OC）, total nitrogen （TN）, carbon and nitrogen isotopic composition （δ13C andδ15N） of organic matter in the surface sediment were determined. The results showed that, in August, sedimentary OC and TN ranged from 0.17% to 0.76% and 0.04% to 0.14%, respectively. In November, OC and TN ranged from 0.23% to 0.87% and 0.05% to 0.14%, respectively. There was a significant positive correlation between OC and TN （R=0.98, P＆lt;0.0001）, indicating that OC and TN were homologous. In August, theδ13C andδ15N of organic matter varied from -23.06‰ to -21.59‰ and 5.10‰ to 6.31‰, respectively. In November,δ13C andδ15N ranged from -22.87‰ to -21.34‰ and 5.13‰ to 7.31‰, respectively. This study found that the major sources of sedimentary organic matter were marine shellfish biodeposition, seaweed farming, and soil organic matter. Using a three-end-member mixed model, we estimated that the dominant source of sedimentary organic matter was shellfish biodeposition, with an average contribution rate of 65.53% in August and 43.00% in November. Thus, shellfish farming had a significant influence on the coastal carbon cycle.

Analysis on the indicator species and ecological groups of pelagic ostracods in the East China Sea

Ecological adaptation and ecological groups of pelagic ostracods were examined in the East China Sea （23°30′-33°00′N, 118°30′ -128°00′E）, in relation to temperature and salinity. The data were collected in four surveys conducted from 1997 to 2000. The density, yield density, or negative exponent models were used to determine the optimal temperature and salinity of water for the thriving growth of pelagic ostracods. Thereafter, ecological groups and potential distribution patterns of pelagic ostracods were determined based on the predicted parameters such as optimal temperature and salinity, consulting the geographic distribution. The analytical results indicate that, among the numerical dominant pelagic ostracods in the East China Sea （ECS）, Euconchoecia aculeata, E. elongata, E. chierchiae, E. maimai, and Cypridina dentata, etc. are offshore subtropical water species. These species are widely distributed in the area, and they can be brought by the warm current to north offshore during spring and winter. The predicated optimal temperature （OT） and optimal salinity （OS） for Paraconchoecia decipiens, P. echinata, P. spini- fera, P. oblonga, Conchoecia magna and Porroeciaporrecta are all greater than 25℃ and 34 separately. These species are mainly distributed in the waters of the Kuroshio, the Taiwan Warm Current, and the Taiwan Strait, and therefore are designated as ocean- ic tropical water species. On the other hand, Pseudoconchoecia concerttrica is considered as offshore subtropical water species based on its geographical distribution although its OT is 19℃. The other species, though their OSs are approximately 34 and with OTs ranging from 20° to 25℃, are considered as offshore subtropical water species because they were found to be widely distributed from the South China Sea to the East China Sea.

Species composition and diversity of Euphausiacea in the East China Sea

Based on the data of four seasonal oceanographic censuses in the East China Sea （23°30＇-33°00＇N, 118°30＇-128°00＇E） in 1997-2000, the species composition and the diversity of Euphausiacea were discussed as well as their relations with environmental variables. Results showed that there were totally 23 different species of Euphausiacea, in which 16 occurred in spring and autumn respectively; 15 were present in summer and only 10 were observed in winter. According to the calculated alternation fraction （R）, the species composition showed a clear seasonal alternation with the changes of seasons. Moreover, the environmental variables had different impacts on the distribution of Euphausiacea in different seasons. The distribution in summer was not significantly related to water temperature and salinity. However, the surface salinity was a major determinant of the distribution in spring. In autumn, both surface and bottom temperatures were influencing factors. The distribution in winter depended on salinity at the surface and 10 m depth as well as the temperature at 10 m depth. Regarding to the seasonal variation of species composition, the variations in spring, summer and autumn were not so significant as those in winter. Except in summer, the species number changed with synchronous water temperature and salinity, as a result of the presence of warm currents in the East China Sea and the habitability of the dominant species. Since Euphausiacea tend to agglomerate, the distribution of different species was uneven, which was the major reason for the low diversity of Euphausiacea in the East China Sea.

The relation between distribution of zooplankton and salinity in the Changjiang Estuary

Seasonal netzplankton samples from stations in the Changjiang (Yangtze River) Estuary were collected from May, 2004 to February, 2005. The dominant species and their contribution to the total zooplankton abundance were determined. Moreover, the relationship between the salinity and abundance was studied with stepwise linear regression. During the whole year, the salinity was positively correlated with the abundance, while the temperature, negatively. Linear regression analysis showed also a high positive correlation with salinity for total abundance in August and November, while in February and May, no obvious relations were found. The most abundant community was composed of neritic and brackish-water species. The North Passage (NP) (salinity <5) was greatly diluted by freshwater while the North Branch (NB) was brackish water with salinity range of 12–28. Consequently, clear decline in abundance of zooplankton was along the estuarine haloclines from the maximum in the area of high salinity to the minimum in the limnetic zone. Total zooplankton abundance and biomass were lower in NP than the NB in all seasons. In short, the salinity influenced the abundance of each species of zooplankton, and ultimately determined the total abundance of zooplankton. Furthermore, a winter peak in the abundance existed, which might be caused by the flourishing of Sinocalanus sinensis, a widely distributed species in the Changjiang Estuary.

Seasonal distribution of Calanus sinicus (Copepoda,Crustacea) in the East China Sea

On the basis of the four-season investigation in 23°30′ ~ 33°N and 118°30′ ~ 128°E of the East China Sea from 1997 to 2000, the seasonal distribution of Calanus sinicus was studied with aggregation intensity, regression contribution and other statistical methods. It was inferred that C. sinicus＇ s predominance presented from winter to summer, especially in spring and summer, because its dominance amounted to 0.62 and 0.29 respectively. The percent of its abundance in copepod abundance was 76.71% in summer, greater than 66.60% in spring, greater than 19.02% in winter, greater than 4.02% in autumn. The occurrence frequency in winter and spring was 83.08% and 93.89% , higher than that in summer and autumn, 76.71% and 73.87%. Compared with other dominant species of copepods, C. sinicus＇ s contribution to the copepod abundance was obviously greater than that of the other species in winter, summer and spring, but smaller in autumn. C. sinicus tended to have an aggregated distribution. The clumping index peaked in summer （50.19） , followed in spring （19.60） , declined in autumn （13.18） and was the lowest in winter （3.04）. The abundance changed in different seasons and areas, relating to temperature but not salinity in spring and autumn, to salinity but not temperature in summer; to neither temperature nor salinity in winter. In spring and summer, its high abundance area was often located in the mixed water mass formed by the Taiwan Warm Current, the Huanghai Sea Cold Water Mass, the coastal water masses and the Changjiang Dilute Water. In spring and autumn, its abundance was affected by the warm current, as well as the runoff from continental rivers affected it in summer. It can be inferred that C. sinicus was adapted to wide salinity and temperature, as a euryhalinous and eurythermous species in the East China Sea.

Carbon distribution and fluxes of 16 rivers discharging into the Bohai Sea in summer

Riverine carbon input is closely related to the inshore aquatic environment, the marine carbon pool and climate change. Samples were synchronously obtained from 16 rivers discharging into the Bohai Sea （China） in 1-5 July 2005. The dissolved organic carbon （DOC） concentrations of the 16 rivers were mainly controlled by anthropogenic activities. The particulate organic carbon （POC） of the Haihe, Luanhe, Ziyaxinhe, Chaobaixinhe, Xiaoqinghe, Xiaolinghe, Duliujianhe, Jiyunhe, and Majiahe Rivers mainly originated from pollutants discharged by human, while that of the Huanghe River （Yellow River）, Daliaohe, Shuangtaizihe, Tuhaihe, Dalinghe, Daqinghe, and Liuguhe Rivers were generated mainly by soil erosion. Higher dissolved inorganic carbon （DIC） concentrations in the 16 rivers were detected, which were influenced by the large amounts of carbonate and industrial pollution. The estimated DOC, POC and DIC fluxes from the 16 rivers discharging into the Bohai Sea in summer, 2005 were 0.91×10^5, 1.23×10^5 and 6.31×10^5t, respectively.

Development and characterization of a cell line from the embryos of half smooth tongue sole (Cynoglossus semilaevis)

A new cell line, CSEC, has been successfully established from embryos at gastrula stage of a cultured marine fish, half smooth tongue sole （Cynoglossus sernilaevis）. CSEC cells grow actively and stably more than 50 passages for over 200 d in DMEM medium supplemented with 15% FBS （fetal bovine serum）, 2.5 ng/cm^3 bFGF （basic fibroblast growth factor）, 1 ng/cm^3 LIF （leukemia inhibitory factor） and 50 mmol/dm^3 2-ME （2-mecaptoethanol）. The cells grew well in the temperature range of 24-30 ℃ and the optimal growth temperature was 24 ℃. FBS and bFGF concentrations are the two key components for CSEC cells proliferation. Chromosome analysis reveals that CSEC cells have a normal diploid karyotype with 2n=42t. The significant fluorescent signals were observed in CSEC after transfection with the GFP reporter gene, suggesting that the CSEC cell line can be used as a useful tool for transgenic and genetic manipulation studies. CSEC cells showed the cytopathic effect （CPE） after infection with lymphosystis disease virus （LCDV） in 2 d. Moreover, the LCDV particles can be observed in the cytoplasm of virus-infected cells by electron microscopy. It suggests that CSEC could be potentially used for the study of aquatic virus.

Interaction of temperature and salinity on the expression of immunity factors in different tissues of juvenile turbot Scophthalmus maximus based on response surface methodology

Central Composite Design(CCD) and response surface methodology were used in the experiment to examine the combined effect of temperature(16-28℃) and salinity(18-42) on Hsp70 and IgM genes expression levels in turbot(Scophthalmus maximus) liver and kidney.The results showed that the coefficients of determination(R^2=0.965 2 for liver Hsp70,0.972 9 for kidney Hsp70,0.921 for liver IgM and 0.962 1 for kidney IgM) and probability values(P<0.01) were significant for the regression model.The interactive effect between temperature and salinity on liver Hsp70,kidney Hsp70 and liver IgM were not significant(P>0.05),while the interactive effect between temperature and salinity on kidney IgM was significant(P<0.01).The model equation could be used in practice for forecasting Hsp70 and IgM genes expression levels in the liver and kidney of juvenile turbot via applying statistical optimization of the response of interest,at which the maximum liver Hsp70,kidney Hsp70,liver IgM and kidney IgM of1.48,1.49,2.48,and 1.38,respectively,were reached.The present model may be valuable in assessing the feasibility of turbot farming at different geographic locations and,furthermore,could be a useful reference for scientists studying the immunity of turbot.

Distribution pattern of pelagic amphipods and its affecting facors in the East China Sea

On the basis of data from four seasonal cruises in the East China Sea （23°30′-33°N, 118°30′-128°E） from 1997 to 2000, horizontal distribution of amphipods, seasonal variations of abundance and their dynamic mechanisms were approached with quantitative and qualitative methods. Results showed that the average value of amphipod abundance in autumn was 115× 10^-2 ind./m^3, the highest in four seasons. The second occurred in summer with a mean value of 44×10^-2 ind./m^3and the lowest occurred in spring with a mean of 10 × 10^-2 ind./m^3. Amphipods were hardly observed in the north nearshore （ 29° 30′- 33° N and 122°30′- 125°E） in winter and spring. In all seasons, except for the north of the sea in autumn and the south in summer, the abundance in the offshore area was higher than that nearshore. The major species influencing the amphipod abundance were Lestrigonus schizogeneios in spring, L. macrophthalmus and L schizogeneios in summer,L bengalensis and Hyperioides sibaginis in autumn and Gammarus sp. in winter. The amphiped abundance showed a prominent linear correlation with the surface water temperature, but no significant correlation with both other water temperatures and salinity in spring. It was found that water temperature and salinity were not significantly correlated with the variation of amphiped abundance in summer, autumn and winter. In addition, the amphiped abundance in all four seasons can be linearly correlated with the bottom water temperature. The highest abundance area was located in the mixture waters near the side of warm water current in summer. Peak of amphiped abundance in autumn, not in summer told a temporal process for amphipeds to develop their populations. The continuance of warm current was beneficial to the development of amphipod abundance from summer to autumn. Amphipeds are kinds of very important diets for fishes in the offshore East China Sea.

Study on abundance variation of pteropods in the East China Sea

On the basis of the census in four seasons from 1997 to 2000 in the East China Sea （23°30＇-33°N, 118°0＇-128°E）, the horizontal distribution of pteropods, the seasonal variations of their abundance and dynamic mechanisms of these variations were approached with quantitative and qualitative methods. Results showed that the total abundance of pteropods varied clearly with the seasons in an order of decrease of autumn （108×10-2 ind./m^3）, summer （33×10^-2 ind./m^3）, winter（28×10^-2 ind./m^3） and spring （10×10^-2 ind./m^3）. Pteropods were not observed in the north nearshore of the East China Sea （29°30＇-33°N, 122°30＇-125°E）in winter and spring. In all seasons, the peteropod abundance was higher in the south than that in the north and higher in the offshore than that in the nearshore. The major species influencing the peteropod abundance were Creseis acicula in spring, Creseis virgula in summer, Desmopterus papilio in autumn and Limaeina trochiforrnis in winter. The variation of pteropod abundance showed a prominent linear correlation with the surface water temperature and 10 m water temperature, but no significant correlation with both the bottom water temperature and salinity. In summer, the high-abundance distribution area of pteropods was located in the place where the Taiwan Warm Current branched from the Kuroshio. Inautumn, thedistribution area with anabundance higher than 250×10^-2ind/m^3expanded northward along with the Taiwan Warm Current within the mixing area where the Changjiang freshwater, the Fujian-Zhejiang coastal water and the Huanghai Sea Cold Water met together. Water temperature and warm currents were the most important environmental factors that influenced the changes ofpteropod abundance in the East China Sea.

Latitudinal changes (6°S-20°N) of summer ciliate abundance and species compositions in surface waters from the Java Sea to the South China Sea

Ciliates play a curial role in energy transfer from pico- and nano-phytoplankton to mesozooplankton in marine ecosystems. In order to visualize their geographical distributions from the Java Sea to the South China Sea （6~S to 20~N）, the authors investigated the ciliate abundance and species composition in sur- face waters during May 18 to 27 of 2010. The ciliate abundance decreased latitudinally from 3 080 ind./L （~6~S） to 40 ind./L （-~3~N）, and then increased to 1 180 ind./L （-~ 16~N） at the end of the survey. A total of 22 ciliates belonging to 15 genera were identified with the tintinnids accounted for 50% （11 species）; and the species number showed a same spatial change as the ciliate abundance. Moreover, the Strombidium oc- cupied over 50% of total ciliate abundance in most stations and Mesodiniurn and Tintinnopsis contributed to about 18.7% and 11.4%, respectively. In particular, our results indicate that the geographical changes in ciliate abundance were positively regulated by larger nano- and micro-phytoplankton biomass, rather than smaller pico-phytoplankton in the investigated waters.

Seasonal Community Structure of Mesozooplankton in the Daya Bay,South China Sea

Mesozooplankton are key components of coastal ecosystems,linking the microbial food web to the classic food chain.In this study,species composition and abundance of mesozooplankton is studied for the Daya Bay in April(spring) and October(fall),2006.A total of 27 species of mesozooplankton were identified in spring and 58 species in fall.Dominant species were Oithona tenuis,Flaccisagitta enflata,Penilia avirostris and Centropages tenuiremis in spring,shifting to Microsetella norvegica,Oithona tenuis and Parvocalanus crassirostris in fall.Higher mesozooplankton abundance was found at Aotou Cove and Dapeng'ao Cove compared to other stations,indicating the influence of eutrophication on mesozooplankton community in the Daya Bay.The outbreak of Noctiluca scintillans bloom in spring reduced the species diversity and abundance of mesozooplankton.

Using otolith weight to predict the age of Pennahia macrocephalus in the mouth of the Beibu Gulf

The relation between otolith weight (OW) and the age of marine fish is studied. A total of 222 individuals of bighead white croaker, Pennahia macrocephalus were sampled seasonally in the mouth of the Beibu Gulf, the South China Sea, in 2007. Since there are no significant differences in sagittal OW between otolith in pairs (P≥0.05), the undamaged left sagittal otolith is used for age determination. The highest correlations among standard length, OW and fish ages are confirmed by linear, exponential and multinomial regression. Results show that sagittal OW overlaps only occasionally among age groups, and to individuals with similar standard length, the older and slower-growing fish has a heavier otolith because of the continued otolith material deposition. There are differences in sagittal OW among different age groups and significant positive linear relationship with age (P<0.05). The age readings can be verified by plotting the sagittal OW versus the standard length for age groups, and the individuals with similar standard length but in different ages can be separated by sagittal OW frequency analysis. Mostly, the predicted ages using the regression between sagittal OW and ages are closed to the observed ages by counting annulus on scale. It indicates that the sagittal OW analysis is a useful technique for validating the accuracy of age determination by annuli counts, especially for individuals of similar size. Furthermore, the technique is applied for Pennahia macrocephalus with discussion in this paper.

Genome evolution trend of common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) as revealed by the analysis of microsatellite loci in a gynogentic family

Genome evolution arises from two main ways of duplication and reduction. Fish specific genome duplication （FSGD） may have occurred before the radiation of the teleosts. Common carp （Cyprinus carpio L.） has been considered to be a tetraploid species, because of its chromosome numbers （2n=100） and its high DNA content. Using 69 microsatellite primer pairs, the variations were studied to better understand the genome evolution （genome duplication and diploidization） of common carp from a gynogenetic family. About 48% of primer pairs were estimated to amplify duplicates based on the number of PCR amplification per individual. Segregation patterns in the family suggested a partially duplicated genome structure and disomic inheritance. This indicates that the common carp is tetraploid and polyploidy occurred by allotetraploidy. Two primer pairs （HLJ021 and HLJ332） were estimated to amplify reduction based on the number of PCR amplification per individual. One allele in HLJ002 locus and HLJ332 locus was clearly lost in the gynogenetic family and the same as in six wild populations. Segregation patterns in the family suggested a partially diplodization genome structure. A hypothesis transition （dynamic） and equilibrium （static） were proposed to explain the common carp genome evolution between genome duplication and diploidization.

Species composition,diversity and density of plagic Ostracoda in the East China Sea

On the basis of seasonal investigations at 23°30′ - 33°00′N, 118°30′ - 128°00′E of the East China Sea during 1997 -2000, dynamics on the density and diversity of Ostracoda was discussed. Results showed that totally 26 species were identified. The Ostracoda diversity was opposite to the change of its density in most seasons which reflected an uneven assignment of Ostracoda density among its different species. The Ostracoda density was 0. 70 ind./m^3 in spring, 1.72 ind./m^3 in summer, 2.57 ind./m^3 in autumn and 0. 90 ind./m^3 in winter. Euconchoecia chierchiae in spring and winter, Euconchoecia maimai in summer and Cypridina dentata in autumn were main dominant species in each season. The Ostraeoda density did not show an obvious linear relationship with the hydrologic factors in summer and autumn, but was related to the surface salinity in spring and the surface temperature in winter. Its high density areas mainly distributed in the north offshore in all the seasons while in the south offshore in winter and in spring, and the south nearshore in summer and autumn, implied the zooplankton was a typical warm water animal, whose high density distribution in autumn were located in a similar position to Todarodes pacificus, Navodon Septentrionalis, Scomberjaponicus and other fishes in the sea, so as to be an important indicator for fishing ground. The main species dominating in Ostracoda now are different from the species twenty years ago probably attributes to global warming.

Distribution of Dominant Zooplankton Species Along a Latitudinal Gradient in China Sea During Spring

Dominant species of zooplankton community vary with latitude. Though China possesses a vast coastal area in northwestern Pacific, studies on the latitudinal dominant species gradient are rare. We collected zooplankton samples from Haizhou Bay(34.56?–35.19?N, 119.51?–120.30?E), Yueqing Bay(28.14?–28.38?N, 121.10?–121.21?E) and Dongshan Bay(23.65?–23.90?N, 117.45?–117.60?E) in May 2012 and May 2013 to preliminarily characterize the latitudinal dominant species distribution. All the samples were collected vertically using a 0.505 mm mesh plankton net with 0.8 m in mouth diameter from bottom to surface. Calanus sinicus, Aidanosagitta crassa, Labidocera euchaeta, Zonosagitta nagae, Acartia pacifica and Paracalanus parvus were found to be dominant. C. sinicus was the most dominant species and the unique one occurred in all three bays. With latitude decreasing, both the abundance and proportion of C. sinicus declined sharply. Cluster analysis showed that the 6 dominant species could be divided into 3 groups, based on their occurrences in the three bays. Our results suggested that the distribution of dominant species along the coast of China has a significant latitudinal gradient. C. sinicus which widely distributes in the coastal water of the northwestern Pacific can well adapt to the temperature at different latitudes. The high abundance in Haizhou Bay indicated that C. sinicus was an exemplary warm-temperate species, and more commonly occurs in the north of China seas. The ecological characteristics of dominant species change from warm-temperate type in high-latitudinal bays to warm water type in low-latitudinal bays.

Quantitative model of trophic interactions in Beibu Gulf ecosystem in the northern South China Sea

A mass-balanced model was constructed to determine the flow-energy in a community of fishes and invertebrates in the Beibu Gulf, northern South China Sea using Ecopath and Ecosim software. Input parameters were taken from the literature, except for the biomass of fish groups which was obtained from trawl surveys during October 1997 to May 1999 in the study area. The model consisted of 16 functional groups （boxes）, including one marine mammal and seabirds, each representing organisms with a similar role in the food web, and only covered the main trophic flow in the Beibu Gulf ecosystem. The results showed that the food web of Beibu Gulf was dominated by the detrital path and benthic invertebrates played a significant role in transferring energy from the detritus to higher trophic levels; phytoplankton was a primary producer and most utilized as a food source. Fractional trophic levels ranged from 1.0 to 4.08 with marine mammals occupying the highest trophic level. Using network analysis, the system network was mapped into a linear food chain and six discrete trophic levels were found with a mean transfer efficiency of 16.7% from the detritus, 16.2% from the primary producer within the ecosystem. The biomass density of the commercially utilized species estimated by the model is 8.46 t/km^2, only O. 48% of the net primary production.

Study on the dominant species of Pteropoda in East China Sea

Based on the data of four seasonal marine surveys in the East China Sea (23°30′–33°N, 118°30′–128°E)during 1997–2000, the author studied the ecological characters of dominant Pteropoda species in the area. Results showed that there were five dominant Pteropoda species, more in summer, less in autumn and even in other seasons. These species, though belonging warm water species, can be categorized into two dif- ferent groups in habitability. The first group was adapted in summer and autumn, including Creseis acicula, Desmopterus papilio and Creseis virgule, while the second group in winter and spring, represented by Limacina trochiformis and Agadina syimpsoni. The first group was more abundant than the second one. Besides, the first group contributed more to the Pteropoda abundance having higher occurrence frequency and aggregation intensity than the second. In horizontal distribution, the first group species reside in near- shore, and they could migrate to shallow place near estuary and aggregated in high density, while the second one was different: lower abundance, less occurred and aggregated because they were halophilic warm water species, and they were usually abundant in offshore area.