Spatial and Temporal Variations of Chlorophyll <i>a</i> and Primary Productivity in the Hangzhou Bay

The Hangzhou Bay (HZB) is an important part of the Zhoushan fishing ground, the most productive region in the Eastern China Seas. Although HZB remains eutrophication all year round, its chlorophyll <i>a</i> (Chl) and primary productivity (PP) are usually significantly lower than those in...

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Main Authors: Yiheng Wang, Jianfang Chen, Feng Zhou, Wei Zhang, Qiang Hao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-03-01
Series:Journal of Marine Science and Engineering
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/10/3/356
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author Yiheng Wang
Jianfang Chen
Feng Zhou
Wei Zhang
Qiang Hao
author_facet Yiheng Wang
Jianfang Chen
Feng Zhou
Wei Zhang
Qiang Hao
author_sort Yiheng Wang
collection DOAJ
description The Hangzhou Bay (HZB) is an important part of the Zhoushan fishing ground, the most productive region in the Eastern China Seas. Although HZB remains eutrophication all year round, its chlorophyll <i>a</i> (Chl) and primary productivity (PP) are usually significantly lower than those in the adjacent waters. In the present study, we presented the Chl and PP distributions in the HZB and analyzed their correlations with environmental factors in four seasons. The field observation showed that Chl and PP had significant seasonal variations, and was highest in the summer (1.66 ± 0.61 mg·m<sup>−3</sup> and 12.11 ± 12.25 mg C·m<sup>−3</sup>·h<sup>−1</sup>, respectively). Total suspended matters (TSM) concentration was the key environmental factor that constrains PP in the study area. High concentration of TSM reduced light exposure (LE, the annual mean value was 0.92 ± 0.81 Einstein·m<sup>−2</sup>·day<sup>−1</sup>) in the mixed layer of the HZB, which was much lower than the saturated light intensity of phytoplankton growth, and thus caused a strong light limitation in the HZB. However, the seasonal variations in the photosynthesis rates (P<sup>B</sup>) and Chl did not coincide. This fact suggested that the growth rate was not the only factor controlling seasonal variations of phytoplankton biomass. In winter, the very high TSM and strong mixing might reduce the zooplankton grazing rate, and lead to a relatively high concentration of Chl during the very low LE and P<sup>B</sup> period. These results implied that, in the HZB, the extremely turbid water could affect both phytoplankton growth and loss, which was probably the major mechanism responsible for the complex phytoplankton spatial and temporal variations.
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spelling doaj.art-cbd80f15d201461b9158d74df8d90a022023-11-24T01:57:18ZengMDPI AGJournal of Marine Science and Engineering2077-13122022-03-0110335610.3390/jmse10030356Spatial and Temporal Variations of Chlorophyll <i>a</i> and Primary Productivity in the Hangzhou BayYiheng Wang0Jianfang Chen1Feng Zhou2Wei Zhang3Qiang Hao4Key Laboratory of Marine Ecosystem Dynamics, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou 310012, ChinaKey Laboratory of Marine Ecosystem Dynamics, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou 310012, ChinaOcean College, Zhejiang University, Zhoushan 316021, ChinaKey Laboratory of Marine Ecosystem Dynamics, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou 310012, ChinaKey Laboratory of Marine Ecosystem Dynamics, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou 310012, ChinaThe Hangzhou Bay (HZB) is an important part of the Zhoushan fishing ground, the most productive region in the Eastern China Seas. Although HZB remains eutrophication all year round, its chlorophyll <i>a</i> (Chl) and primary productivity (PP) are usually significantly lower than those in the adjacent waters. In the present study, we presented the Chl and PP distributions in the HZB and analyzed their correlations with environmental factors in four seasons. The field observation showed that Chl and PP had significant seasonal variations, and was highest in the summer (1.66 ± 0.61 mg·m<sup>−3</sup> and 12.11 ± 12.25 mg C·m<sup>−3</sup>·h<sup>−1</sup>, respectively). Total suspended matters (TSM) concentration was the key environmental factor that constrains PP in the study area. High concentration of TSM reduced light exposure (LE, the annual mean value was 0.92 ± 0.81 Einstein·m<sup>−2</sup>·day<sup>−1</sup>) in the mixed layer of the HZB, which was much lower than the saturated light intensity of phytoplankton growth, and thus caused a strong light limitation in the HZB. However, the seasonal variations in the photosynthesis rates (P<sup>B</sup>) and Chl did not coincide. This fact suggested that the growth rate was not the only factor controlling seasonal variations of phytoplankton biomass. In winter, the very high TSM and strong mixing might reduce the zooplankton grazing rate, and lead to a relatively high concentration of Chl during the very low LE and P<sup>B</sup> period. These results implied that, in the HZB, the extremely turbid water could affect both phytoplankton growth and loss, which was probably the major mechanism responsible for the complex phytoplankton spatial and temporal variations.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/10/3/356Hangzhou Baychlorophyll <i>a</i>primary productivitylight exposuretotal suspended matters
spellingShingle Yiheng Wang
Jianfang Chen
Feng Zhou
Wei Zhang
Qiang Hao
Spatial and Temporal Variations of Chlorophyll <i>a</i> and Primary Productivity in the Hangzhou Bay
Journal of Marine Science and Engineering
Hangzhou Bay
chlorophyll <i>a</i>
primary productivity
light exposure
total suspended matters
title Spatial and Temporal Variations of Chlorophyll <i>a</i> and Primary Productivity in the Hangzhou Bay
title_full Spatial and Temporal Variations of Chlorophyll <i>a</i> and Primary Productivity in the Hangzhou Bay
title_fullStr Spatial and Temporal Variations of Chlorophyll <i>a</i> and Primary Productivity in the Hangzhou Bay
title_full_unstemmed Spatial and Temporal Variations of Chlorophyll <i>a</i> and Primary Productivity in the Hangzhou Bay
title_short Spatial and Temporal Variations of Chlorophyll <i>a</i> and Primary Productivity in the Hangzhou Bay
title_sort spatial and temporal variations of chlorophyll i a i and primary productivity in the hangzhou bay
topic Hangzhou Bay
chlorophyll <i>a</i>
primary productivity
light exposure
total suspended matters
url https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/10/3/356
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