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Journal of Tropical Oceanography ›› 2015, Vol. 34 ›› Issue (2): 24-31.doi: 10.11978/j.issn.1009-5470.2015.02.004CSTR: 32234.14.j.issn.1009-5470.2015.02.004

• Marine Biology • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Influence of ocean warming on the community structure and photosynthetic efficiency of phytoplankton in Daya Bay

XIE Yan-hui1, 2, LI Tao1, 3, JIAN Wei-jun4, HU Si-min1, 2, TIAN Yuan1, 2, LIU Sheng1   

  1. 1. Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China;
    2. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China;
    3. Tropical Marine Biological Research Station in Hainan, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya 572000, China;
    4. Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Bioresourse and Eco-enviromental Science, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
  • Received:2014-04-16 Revised:2014-05-04 Online:2015-04-10 Published:2015-04-12

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Abstract: Since the start of operation of Daya Bay Nuclear Power Plant, a distinct temperature increase has happened in the surrounding waters, resulting in changes of phytoplankton community structure. To evaluate the warming effects on the phytoplankton community structure and photosynthetic efficiency, warming-up and recovery experiments were conducted on different granulometric classes (micro-, nano-, pico-) from the waters infall and outfall of the plant in the summer of 2013. The results are as follows. In the warming-up experiments, the dominant community changed from the diatom on the early stage to the cyanobacteria (Nostoc sp. and microcystis sp.) on the later stage in all of the three groups (35℃, 33℃ and 29℃). In the high-temperature incubation groups (35℃ and 33℃), the phytoplankton biomass increased continuously while the maximum quantum yield maintained almost at the normal state on the first two days. Then, both parameters began to decline, and the effects of 35℃ were stronger than those of 33℃. Photosynthetic efficiency of micro- and nano-phytoplankton was stronger than that of pico-phytoplankton in both groups of 35℃ and 33℃. However, the biomass and photosynthetic efficiency showed no significant differences among different granulometric classes in the control group (29℃). In the recovery experiments, photosynthetic efficiency of the micro- and nano-phytoplankton recovered quickly at normal (29℃) or lower (25℃) temperatures after experiencing the temperature stress from thermal discharge, while that of the pico-phytoplankton was relatively weak. In summary, the high temperature stress happened to phytoplankton at 35℃ and 33℃, and the threatening effects of 35℃ were more seriously. Both micro- and nano-phytoplankton showed greater capacity than pico-phytoplankton in terms of tolerance to high temperature and recovery. Our results suggested that the short-term stimulus of high temperature could promote rapid growth of phytoplankton from the outfall of the Daya Bay Nuclear Power Plant, and photosynthetic damage could be recovered after phytoplankton being carried away from the high temperature region.