Journal of Tropical Oceanography

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Monthly variability of nutrient concentrations and the influencing factors in surface seawater of Qinzhou Bay

SUN Kangwei1, LIAO Riquan1,2,3,*, LI Han1, WENG Peiyao4, TANG Jianhui1,2,5   

  1. 1. College of Marine Sciences, Beibu Gulf University, Qinzhou 535011, China;
    2. Pinglu Canal and Beibu Gulf Coastal Ecosystem Observation and Research Station of Guangxi, College of Marine Sciences, Beibu GulfUniversity, Qinzhou 535011, China;
    3. Guangxi Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Disaster Processes and Ecological Protection Technology, College of Marine Sciences,Beibu Gulf University, Qinzhou 535011, China;
    4. Qinzhou Marine Environment Monitoring and Forecasting Center, Qinzhou 535011, China;
    5. Key Laboratory of Coastal Environmental Processes and Ecological Remediation, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academyof Sciences, Yantai 264003, China
  • Contact: LIAO Riquan. email: liaorq@bbgu.edu.cn
  • Supported by:
    Project for Enhancing Young and Middle-aged Teacher's Research Basis Ability in Colleges of Guangxi (2021KY0440); The National Natural Science Foundation of China (42476043); The Scientific Research and Technology Development project of Qinzhou (202116623); China College Students' Innovation and Entrepreneurship Training Program Project (S202411607021)

Abstract: Estuaries and bays are crucial links between land and sea, and nutrient biogeochemical cycles in the Qinzhou Bay, the core Pinglu Canal sea-entry bay, underpin the structure and function of the regional coastal ecosystem. This study systematically investigated monthly variations of nutrients in surface seawater of Qinzhou Bay from June 2024 to May 2025. The key influencing factors of nutrient were identified using a random forest regression model and the eutrophication status was assessed. The monthly average concentrations of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) ranged from 0.23 to 1.29 mg∙L-1 in Qinzhou Bay, of which met the Class Ⅳ seawater quality standard. The pollution level of dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP) was relatively low, with a monthly average concentration range of 0.006 to 0.043 mg∙L-1, of which met the Class Ⅱ and Ⅲ seawater quality standards. The highest monthly DIN concentrations were all detected in the estuary of Qin River, while the high DIP levels were found around the estuary and the aquaculture area. Qinzhou Bay sufferings eutrophication for decades. Using the eutrophication index (EI) and nutrient quality index (NQI) methods, it was found that the two methods matched consistently in high eutrophication periods (June to August 2024, February and May 2025), but were significantly differences in medium and low eutrophication periods. EI and NQI were significantly positively correlated with DIN concentration and significantly negatively correlated with salinity (S), indicating that land-based freshwater input is the key contributors to eutrophication in Qinzhou Bay. Apart from freshwater input being the main source of DIP, chemical oxygen demand is also an important influencing factor for the spatial variation of DIP, accounting for 32.70% of the total importance. Long-term trend analysis showed that the concentrations of DIN and DIP in Qinzhou Bay have been rapidly increasing from 1983 to 2024. Although there have been some phased achievements in nitrogen and phosphorus control in recent years, the population concentration during urbanization, industrial expansion, and fluctuations in agricultural fertilizer application remain the main reasons for the severe pollution of nitrogen and phosphorus in the sea areas.This study provides a scientific basis for a deeper understanding of the monthly variations and transformation of nutrients, the dynamics of eutrophication and the interannual changes of nutrients in the Qinzhou Bay, and also provides theoretical support for the precise prevention and control of eutrophication in this sea area.

Key words: Pinglu Canal, Qinzhou Bay, nutrients, DIN, DIP