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Determination of the spatial and temporal variability of phytoplankton community structure in Daya Bay via HPLC-CHEMTAX pigment analysis

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Abstract

The spatial and temporal variability of the phytoplankton community structure in Daya Bay, South China Sea, were identified by using HPLC-CHEMTAX analytical techniques. The highest chlorophyll a (Chl a) concentrations were observed during summer (with an average value of 0.84 μg/L) and lowest ones during winter (with an average value of 0.33 μg/L). CHEMTAX processing revealed the seasonal succession of phytoplankton species in Daya Bay. During winter, diatoms were the dominant phytoplankton species and contributed 41.5% to total Chl a. Based on Chl a concentration, the average ratio of dinoflagellates to total phytoplankton biomass substantially increased with increasing temperature and nitrogen to phosphorus (N/P) ratio, reaching 52.2% in spring. Nutrient limitation shifted from phosphorus to nitrogen during summer. Moreover, this period was associated with the predominance of diatoms, which accounted for 71.1% of Chl a. Prasinophytes and cryptophytes were the other two dominant groups and particularly dominated during winter. Cyanobacteria became an important group during summer and autumn. Canonical correspondence analysis suggested that chrysophytes, dinoflagellates, and cryptophytes were strongly associated with high nitrate concentration, ammonium, dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN), and N/P ratio, and were negatively associated with temperature and phosphate. Diatoms and cyanobacteria were strongly associated with temperature, phosphate, and salinity, and are negatively influenced by nitrate, ammonium, DIN, and N/P ratio. Microscopic observations and pigment HPLC information were in good agreement for diatoms and dinoflagellates in the bay. This study demonstrated the usefulness of pigment analysis in investigating the distribution of phytoplankton groups in a complex physical environment, such as Daya Bay.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Sustainable Development of Marine Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture, Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Qingdao, 266071, China

    Longhua Wang  (王龙花) & Tao Jiang  (江涛)

  2. Qingdao Engineering Research Center for Rural Environment, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, 266109, China

    Longhua Wang  (王龙花) & Chao Chai  (柴超)

  3. College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China

    Linjian Ou  (欧林坚), Kaixuan Huang  (黄凯旋), Zhaohui Wang  (王朝晖), Xiaomin Wang  (王晓敏) & Tao Jiang  (江涛)

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  1. Longhua Wang  (王龙花)
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  2. Linjian Ou  (欧林坚)
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  3. Kaixuan Huang  (黄凯旋)
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  5. Zhaohui Wang  (王朝晖)
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  6. Xiaomin Wang  (王晓敏)
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Correspondence to Tao Jiang  (江涛).

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Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 41676103), the Special Scientific Research Funds for Central Non-Profit Institutes, the Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institutes (No. 20603022015002), and the National Marine Public Welfare Research Project of China (No. 201305010)

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Wang, L., Ou, L., Huang, K. et al. Determination of the spatial and temporal variability of phytoplankton community structure in Daya Bay via HPLC-CHEMTAX pigment analysis. J. Ocean. Limnol. 36, 750–760 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00343-018-7103-z

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