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General Session 3: Biological oceanography & global change |
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Seasonal variations of phytoplankton as a response to environmental changes in the surface waters of salinity front along the Jiulong River Estuary
GS3-05
Jixin Chen* , Xiamen University
Xiuman Zhou, Xiamen University
Zhen Cao, Xiamen University
Yuewen Hu, Xiamen University
Bangqin Huang, Xiamen University
Presenter Email: brigchen@xmu.edu.cn
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| Estuarine ecosystems, recognized as transitional zone linking fresh- and marine-water, are becoming increasingly affected by near-shore human activities. One of the major characteristics of these areas is environmental gradients associated with mixing of turbid and nutrient-rich freshwater with clear and nutrient-poor seawater, especially the sharp salinity and turbidity clines that are usually used to establish apparently objective distinct zones in estuaries worldwide. Environmental data and phytoplankton species and assemblage structure along the sharp gradient of salinity in Jiulong River Estuary (bimonthly, February to December) was used to evaluate phytoplankton assemblage responses to changing environmental conditions. Ordination techniques including nonmetric multidimensional scaling were used to investigate potential environmental predictors of phytoplankton assemblage patterns under chronic eutrophication. Phytoplankton assemblages were strongly related to temperature and total nitrogen: total phosphorus ratios, with expected seasonal changes in phytoplankton composition. Abundance of dinoflagellates was positively related to dissolved organic nitrogen and suspended solids concentrations, whereas the highest abundance of diatoms occurred during summer and winter contributing to high abundance, related to high total phosphorus consumption and narrow niche among saline range. |
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