The Status and Characteristics of Eutrophication in the Yangtze River (Changjiang) Estuary and the Adjacent East China Sea, China |
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Authors: | Chao Chai Zhiming Yu Xiuxian Song Xihua Cao |
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Institution: | (1) Key Laboratory of Marine Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 266071 Qingdao, China;(2) Graduate School of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100039 Beijing, China |
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Abstract: | Eutrophication has become increasingly serious and noxious algal blooms have been of more frequent occurrence in the Yangtze
River Estuary and in the adjacent East China Sea. In 2003 and 2004, four cruises were undertaken in three zones in the estuary
and in the adjacent sea to investigate nitrate (NO3–N), ammonium (NH4–N), nitrite (NO2–N), soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP), dissolved reactive silica (DRSi), dissolved oxygen (DO), phytoplankton chlorophyll
a (Chl a) and suspended particulate matter (SPM). The highest concentrations of DIN (NO3–N+NH4–N+NO2–N), SRP and DRSi were 131.6, 1.2 and 155.6 μM, respectively. The maximum Chl a concentration was 19.5 mg m−3 in spring. An analysis of historical and recent data revealed that in the last 40 years, nitrate and SRP concentrations increased
from 11 to 97 μM and from 0.4 to 0.95 μM, respectively. From 1963 to 2004, N:P ratios also increased from 30–40 up to 150. In parallel with the N and P enrichment,
a significant increase of Chl a was detected, Chl a maximum being 20 mg m−3, nearly four times higher than in the 1980s. In 2004, the mean DO concentration in bottom waters was 4.35 mg l−1, much lower than in the 1980s. In comparison with other estuaries, the Yangtze River Estuary was characterized by high DIN
and DRSi concentrations, with low SRP concentrations. Despite the higher nutrient concentrations, Chl a concentrations were lower in the inner estuary (Zones 1 and 2) than in the adjacent sea (Zone 3). Based on nutrient availability,
SPM and hydrodynamics, we assumed that in Zones 1 and 2 phytoplankton growth was suppressed by high turbidity, large tidal
amplitude and short residence time. Furthermore, in Zone 3 water stratification was also an important factor that resulted
in a greater phytoplankton biomass and lower DO concentrations. Due to hydrodynamics and turbidity, the open sea was unexpectedly
more sensitive to nutrient enrichment and related eutrophication processes. |
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Keywords: | nutrient dissolved oxygen chlorophyll a eutrophication Yangtze River Estuary |
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