[Size-fractionated biomass of phytoplankton in the Yangtze River estuary and its adjacent waters in winter and spring].

Based on the multi-discipline investigation in 28th February-10th March and 30th May-4th June, 2005, this paper studied the distribution of size-fractionated phytoplankton in the Yangtze River estuary and its adjacent waters, and the environmental factors that affected this distribution. The results showed that in winter, the average chlorophyll a concentration was 1.28 mg X m(-3), and the region with high concentration chlorophyll a was located near the river mouth. Small-sized phytoplankton (SSP, <20 microm) contributed 66.7% to the total phytoplankton biomass, but big-sized phytoplankton (BSP, >20 microm) was dominant in the plume system. In spring, the average chlorophyll a concentration in inner river and outer estuary was 0.67 and 6.03 mg x m(-3), respectively, and the maximum of chlorophyll a concentration appeared in the waters between 122.5 degrees E and 123.0 degrees E. The SSP dominated in the plume system, especially in the algal bloom frequently occurring area which located at south of survey area, contributed 83.5% to the total phytoplankton biomass. The vertical profile of size-fractionated chlorophyll a showed that with the increase of water depth, the SSP and BSP became equal in the offshores. Among the environmental factors in the Yangtze River estuary and its adjacent waters, salinity and nutrients were the main factors affecting the distribution and composition of size-fractioned phytoplankton biomass in winter and spring.

[Selective feeding of Calanus sinicus on harmful algal blooms species in East China Sea in spring].

From April 27th to June 5th 2005, the selective feeding of Calanus sinicus on harmful algal blooms (HABs) species was studied by in situ feeding experiments at six typical stations in a high frequency red tide occurring region of East China Sea. The results showed that the selective feeding behavior of C. sinicus was dependent on food density. It had an obvious food selectivity when the abundance of phytoplankton cell was low, but the selectivity changed from preference to discrimination at high phytoplankton cell abundance, with a threshold value of 329 cells ml. The selective feeding of C. sinicus was also dependent on food composition. It showed no selective feeding or discrimination on microzooplankton at most stations, but preferred to P. delicatissima and disliked Karenia mikimotoi at HABs occurring station, which induced the succession of phytoplankton community to K. mikimotoi blooming.

[Phytoplankton assemblage in Yangtze River estuary and its adjacent waters in winter time].

Water samples were collected from Yangtze River Estuary and its adjacent waters in 28th February-10th March, 2005, and the species composition of phytoplankton was analyzed by Utermöhl method. A total of 130 taxa (including 25 uncertain species) which belong to 67 genera of 5 phyla were identified. The phytoplankton community was mainly composed of Bacillariophyta, followed by Dinophyta. There were also a few species belonging to Chrysophyceae, Cyanophyceae and Chlorophyceae. The dominant species were Paralia sulcata, Skeletonema costatum, Thalassiosira rotula, Bleakeleya notata, Coscinodiscus radiatus and Thalassiosira excentrica. The cell abundance of phytoplankton ranged from 0.1 to 90.0 cells x ml(-1), with an average of 10.1 cells x ml(-1). Horizontally, the cell abundance was relatively high in inshore and low in offshore; while vertically, it was high in surface water and decreased slightly with increasing water depth. The cell abundance and chl a concentration of phytoplankton positively correlated with the concentrations of nitrate, nitrite, ammonium, phosphate and silicate in water, but negatively correlated with water salinity. The Shannon-Wiener diversity index and Pielou evenness index were higher in the center of survey area but lower in northeast part and inshore area.