Journal of Tropical Oceanography ›› 2021, Vol. 40 ›› Issue (5): 147-152.doi: 10.11978/2020112CSTR: 32234.14.2020112

• Review • Previous Articles    

A review on ecological characteristics of Creseis acicula and preliminary analysis on its outbreak triggers in Daya Bay

QI Zhanhui1,2(), SHI Rongjun1, DAI Ming1, HAN Tingting1, HUANG Honghui1,2()   

  1. 1. Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Fishery Ecology and Environment, Key Laboratory of Open-Sea Fishery Development, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China, South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou 510300, China
    2. Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou 511458, China
  • Received:2020-09-22 Revised:2020-12-01 Online:2021-09-10 Published:2020-12-15
  • Contact: HUANG Honghui E-mail:qizhanhui@scsfri.ac.cn;Huanghh@scsfri.ac.cn
  • Supported by:
    National Key Research and Development Program of China(2018YFC1407501);National Natural Science Foundation(41976149);National Natural Science Foundation(31900094);Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation(2021A1515011377);Central Public-interest Scientific Institution Basal Research Fund, South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences(2020YJ02);Central Public-interest Scientific Institution Basal Research Fund, South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences(2021SD03);Central Public-interest Scientific Institution Basal Research Fund, CAFS(2020TD15);Financial Fund of the Ministry of Agriculture, China(NFZX2021);Key Special Project for Introduced Talents Team of Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory(Guangzhou)(GML2019ZD0402)

Abstract:

Creseis acicula, also known as sea butterfly, is marine gastropod adapted to pelagic life. C. acicula is a warm-water marine species and widespread in the world. C. acicula blooms have been found in many waters of the world, particularly in the Indian Ocean. Its bloom was never recorded in the seas of China until 2020. From June to July 2020, an unprecedented outbreak of C. acicula was observed the southwest coast of Daya Bay, Southern China Sea. This bloom lasted for approximately one month. The peak density was as high as approximately 5600 ind·m-3, which is the highest value ever recorded in the world. The C. acicula population was most abundant in waters adjacent to the outflow of Daya Bay nuclear power plant (NPP) located at the southwest of the bay. The outbreak puts a serious threat to the safety of the NPP operation, and therefore has attracted great attentions from the government, scientists and the public. We conducted a continuous monitoring on this event. Since there is very limited information on outbreak mechanisms, we briefly reviewed related research on bio-ecological characteristics of C. acicula; then, we introduced its development progresses in Daya Bay and preliminarily discussed the possible triggers for this outbreak. We assume that the temperature rise due to thermal discharge from the cooling water of the NPP, the fluctuation of seawater salinity caused by rainfall, and the increase in phytoplankton concentration could be the possible factors for this C. acicula bloom.

Key words: Creseis acicula, bloom, nuclear power plant, coastal bay, South China Sea

CLC Number: 

  • P735.2