

FOLLOWUS
1.Key Laboratory of Marine Ecosystem Dynamics, Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou 310012, China
2.Key Laboratory of Ocean Space Resource Management Technology, Ministry of Natural Resources, Marine Academy of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou 310012, China
3.Key Laboratory of Nearshore Engineering Environment and Ecological Security of Zhejiang Province, China, Hangzhou 310012, China
4.Observation and Research Station of Marine Ecosystem in the Yangtze River Delta, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou 310012, China
jzb@sio.org.cn
Received:27 May 2024,
Published:01 July 2025
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ZHAN Lin,ZHU Yuanli,XU Chaoxiang,et al.Standing crop and size structure of phytoplankton are strongly regulated by the turbidity maximum in the macrotidal Qiantang River estuary-Hangzhou Bay[J].Journal of Oceanology and Limnology,2025,43(04):1227-1242.
ZHAN Lin,ZHU Yuanli,XU Chaoxiang,et al.Standing crop and size structure of phytoplankton are strongly regulated by the turbidity maximum in the macrotidal Qiantang River estuary-Hangzhou Bay[J].Journal of Oceanology and Limnology,2025,43(04):1227-1242. DOI: 10.1007/s00343-024-4133-6.
The turbidity maximum zone (TMZ) is a distinctive aquatic environment marked by consistently higher turbidity compared to upstream and downstream section. In the TMZ
physicochemical properties such as intense light limitation
abundant nutrients
and rapid salinity shifts play a crucial role in shaping phytoplankton dynamics. The Qiantang River estuary-Hangzhou Bay (QRE-HZB) is a macrotidal estuary system known for its exceptionally high suspended solids concentration. To investigate the impact of TMZ on the standing crop and size structure of phytoplankton in the QRE-HZB
we conducted three cruises in dry
wet
and dry-to-wet transition seasons during 2022–2023
by assessing parameters including size-fractionated chlorophyll
a
(chl
a
)
turbidity
Secchi depth
temperature
salinity
nutrients
and mesozooplankton. Results reveal significant variations in the TMZ and associated environmental factors in different periods
which markedly influenced the phytoplankton chl-
a
concentration
size structure
and cell activity (pheophytin/chl
a
). The chl-
a
concentration was high with micro-phytoplankton predominance in wet season
while nano-phytoplankton dominated in dry season. Within the TMZ
lower chl-
a
concentrations and pico-chl-
a
contributions
alongside higher pheophytin/chl-
a
and micro-chl-
a
contributions
were observed. The Spearman’s rank correlation and generalized additive model analyses indicated strong correlations of chl-
a
concentrations wi
th turbidity
nutrients
and mesozooplankton. Redundancy analysis further revealed that salinity
nutrients
and turbidity significantly regulated variations in size structure. Phytoplankton mortality within the TMZ was primarily driven by high turbidity and salinity fluctuations
reflecting the vigorous resuspension and mixing of freshwater and seawater in the QRE-HZB. These findings highlight that the standing crop and size structure of phytoplankton were strongly regulated by the TMZ and associated physicochemical factors in the macrotidal QRE-HZB.
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