Journal of Tropical Oceanography ›› 2016, Vol. 35 ›› Issue (3): 79-86.doi: 10.11978/2015096CSTR: 32234.14.2015096

• Marine Biology • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Spatial pattern of the planktonic ciliate community in spring in Baisha Bay, South China Sea, and its relationship with its environment

WU Fengxia1, HUANG Honghui1, HUANG Jianrong2, LIU Huaxue1   

  1. 1. Key Laboratory of Marine Fishery Ecology Environment of Guangdong Province, Key Laboratory of South China Sea Fishery Resources Development and Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture; South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou 510300, China;
    2. School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
  • Received:2015-07-20 Online:2016-05-29 Published:2016-05-27
  • Contact: HUANG Honghui. Email: huanghh@scsfri.ac.cn
  • Supported by:
    Special Scientific Research Funds for Central Non-profit Institutes, South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences (2014YD02)

Abstract: Based on the samples collected in surface waters from three functional areas including 13 sites (cage fish culture area, oyster-algae mixed culture area and non-aquaculture area) in Baisha Bay in April 2014, species composition and abundance of planktonic ciliate were investigated. They were combined with environmental data to obtain spatial pattern of the ciliate community and its relationship with environment variables. A total of 19 species belonging to 11 genera and six orders were identified. The mean abundance of ciliate was 995.4±123.1 ind•L-1 (80~3740 ind•L-1), and Tintinnida, Stombidiida and Cyclotrichida were the most abundant in terms of both number and abundance. There were six dominant species (dominance Y≥0.02), including Mesodinium rubrum, Strombidium conicum, Tintinnopsis beroidea, Strombidium globosaneum, Tintinnopsis minuta, and Spirotontonia turbinata. Clear spatial distributions in terms of species composition and abundance were observed. Planktonic ciliate was more abundant and diverse in the oyster-algae mixed culture area and non-aquaculture area, but lowest abundance and species occurred in the cage fish culture area. Clustering analysis also indicated that the total samples could be separated based on spatial distribution. Redundancy analysis demonstrated that the nutrient level and Chlorophyll a concentration were the most important factors affecting the spatial pattern of planktonic ciliate community in Baisha Bay.

Key words: planktonic ciliate, Baisha Bay, community structure, environment variables, multivariate analysis

CLC Number: 

  • P735.532