VERTICAL PATTERN OF CHLOROPHYLL A IN THE YANGTZE RIVER ESTUARY AND ITS ADJACENT WATERS

doi:10.3773/j.issn.1005-264x.2009.02.015

Abstract

Abstract:

Aims The Yangtze River Estuary (YRE) is a complex aquatic system, and large environmental gradients and complicated hydrological conditions make the vertical pattern of chlorophyll a perplexing. Our aims are to 1) describe the vertical profile of chlorophyll a and 2) analyze the environmental factors impacting the vertical pattern.

Methods Four seasonal, multidisciplinary cruises were carried out from September 2005 to May 2006 in YRE and its adjacent waters. Chlorophyll a concentration was determined fluorometrically (Parsons et al., 1984) by means of Turner Fluorometry Model 10 (Turner Designs Inc.). Seawater temperature and salinity were measured in situ by YSI 6100 probes (Y. S. I., Inc.). Nitrate, phosphate and silicate were analyzed spectrophotometricly (Valderrama, 1981).

Important findings Chlorophyll a concentration was the highest in spring and lowest in winter. High chlorophyll a occurred in the low-salinity area or the salinity front. In upper estuary and adjacent sea, chlorophyll a concentration showed slight vertical fluctuations, due to sufficient vertical water exchange. In the plume zone characteristic of water stratification, chlorophyll a was much more concentrated in the upper water column. Skeletonema costatum determined the vertical profile of phytoplankton cell abundance, which correlated well with that of chlorophyll a. Ample nutrients from the water of the Yangtze River stimulated the growth of phytoplankton; nevertheless, low nutrients and weak solar radiation in high-salinity seawater restrained the accumulation of phytoplankton biomass.

Key words: chlorophyll a, vertical profile, Yangtze River Estuary, dilution water

SONG Shu-Qun, SUN Jun, YU Zhi-Ming. VERTICAL PATTERN OF CHLOROPHYLL A IN THE YANGTZE RIVER ESTUARY AND ITS ADJACENT WATERS[J]. Chin J Plant Ecol, 2009, 33(2): 369-379.

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URL: https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/10.3773/j.issn.1005-264x.2009.02.015

https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/Y2009/V33/I2/369

Figures/Tables 9

Fig. 1 Survey area and study stations

Fig. 2 Distribution of surface salinity in the survey area

Fig. 3 Section profiles of salinity in four seasons

Fig. 4 Horizontal distribution of mean integrated chlorophyll a in four seasons (mg·m-3)

Fig. 5 Box-whisker graphs of chlorophyll a at different layers in the upper estuary, plume zone, and adjacent sea

Fig. 6 Section profile of chlorophyll a in four seasons (mg·m-3)

Fig. 7 Section profile of cell abundance of Skeletonema costatum for four seasons (cells·ml-1)

Fig. 8 Vertical profiles of chlorophyll a and environmental factors at presentative stations

Table 1 Pearson Correlation between chlorophyll a and environmental factors (I: Plume Zone, II: Adjacent Sea)

		深度 Depth	盐度 Salinity	温度 Temperature	磷酸盐 Phosphate	硅酸盐 Silicate	硝酸盐 Nitrate
夏季 Summer	I	-0.934**	-0.990**	0.926**	0.926**	0.977**	0.993**
夏季 Summer	II	-0.933**	-0.982**	0.741	-0.713	-0.789	-0.696
秋季 Autumn	I	-0.898*	-0.918*	-0.958	0.891*	0.969**	0.967**
秋季 Autumn	II	-0.871*	-0.778	-0.825*	0.548	0.827*	0.901*
冬季 Winter	I	-0.802	-0.597	-0.787	-0.436	0.322	0.184
冬季 Winter	II	-0.570	-0.559	-0.567	0.153	-0.491	0.298
春季 Spring	I	-0.901*	-0.981**	0.854*	0.166	0.904*	0.940**
春季 Spring	II	-0.067	-0.067	-0.337	0.486	-0.284	-0.436

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