Journal of Tropical Oceanography ›› 2011, Vol. 30 ›› Issue (1): 113-118.doi: 10.11978/j.issn.1009-5470.2011.01.113cstr: 32234.14.j.issn.1009-5470.2011.01.113

• Marine biology • Previous Articles     Next Articles

The fluxes of dinoflagellate cyst from sediment traps deployed in Dapeng-Ao area of Daya Bay from 2005 to 2006

WANG Zhao-hui, CAO Yu, ZHANG Yu-juan   

  1. Institute of Hydrobiology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
  • Received:2009-03-26 Revised:2009-04-28 Online:2011-03-17 Published:2011-03-16
  • About author:王朝晖(1968—), 女, 湖南省长沙市人, 博士, 教授, 主要从事海洋生态学的研究。E-mail: twzh@jnu.edu.cn, Tel: 020-85225100
  • Supported by:

    国家自然科学基金(40773063, 40873065); 国家自然科学基金委员会-广东省人民政府自然科学联合基金(U0633006)

Abstract:

A sediment trap study was conducted in shellfish culture area and caged fish area in Dapeng-Ao area of the Daya Bay in the South China Sea from March 2005 to April 2006. Cyst flux, water temperature, salinity and nutrient concentrations were investigated during the survey in order to understand the characteristics of cyst formation and the effects of environmental factors on encystment in subtropic sea areas. Twenty-seven cyst types were identified during one-year trap study. Cysts of autotrophic dinoflagellates dominated the cyst assemblages, and Scrippsiella trochoidea was the preponderant cyst type. The cyst composition revealed that the pollution of Dapeng-Ao was mainly caused by aquacultural and domestic pollution. Cyst fluxes showed no seasonal patterns, with the annual average of 1.07×105cysts•m?2 d?1. Both high temperature and low temperature stimulated the cyst formation. Furthermore, low nitrogen level accelerated encystment. A winter peak of cyst flux of Alexandrium was first observed in this sea region during our study, with the maximum of 4.26×105 cysts•(m2•d)?1. The results suggest that cooling water discharged by the Daya Bay Nuclear Power Station and consequential increasing of winter water temperature, might have some impacts on the nearby environment.

Key words: Dinoflagellate, cyst flux, sediment trap, Daya Bay, Alexandrium