The toxicity of seven major HAB （harmful algal bloom） species/strains, Prorocentrum donghaiense, Phaeocystis globosa, Prorocentrum micans, Alexandrium tamarense （AT-6, non-PSP producer）, Alexandrium lusitanicum, Alexandrum tamarense （ATHK） and Heterosigma akashiwo were studied against rotifer Brachionus plicatilis under laboratory conditions. The results show that P donghaiense, P. globosa, P. micans, A. tamarense （AT-6）, or A. lusitanicum could maintain the individual survival and reproduction, as well as the population increase of the rotifer, but the individual reproduction would decrease when exposed to these five algae at higher densities for nine days; H. akashiwo could decrease the individual survival and reproduction, as well as population increase of the rotifer, which is similar to that of the starvation group, indicating that starvation might be its one lethal factor except for the algal toxins; A. tamarense （ATHK） has strong lethal effect on the rotifer with 48h LCs0 at 800 cells/mL. The experiment on ingestion ability indicated by gut pigment change shows that P. donghaiense, P. globosa, P micans, A. tamarense （AT-6） and A. lusitanicum can be taken by the rotifers as food, but A. tamarense （ATHK） or H. akashiwo can be ingested by the rotifers. The results indicate that all the indexes of individual survival and reproduction, population increase, gut pigment change of the rotifers are good and convenient to be used to reflect the toxicities of HAB species. Therefore, rotifer is suggested as one of the toxicity testing organisms in detecting the toxicity of harmful algae.
This study documents the horizontal distribution and demography of Antarctic krill （Euphausia superba Dana）, col- lected using trawls, from the Prydz Bay region during January 2002. Euphausia superba （E. superba） was distributed primarily south of 64S. The average density and biomass were estimated as 68.85 ind.（1 000 m3） and 24.16 g wet weight-（1 000 m3）, re- spectively. Highest values were located in the open sea （depth 〉 3 000 m）. Body length ofE. superba ranged from 30 to 55 mm （N=1 758）, with a mean length of 38.45~3.68 mm （SD）. The overall sex ratio was approximately 1 ： 1, 47.6% females （41.9% sub-adults and 5.7% adults）, 46.6% males （42.7% sub-adults and 3.9% adults）, while 5.8% were juveniles. The population struc- ture of E. superba exhibited geographical variation. At stations in the western part of the survey area populations had a high pro- portion of juveniles, a lower sexual maturity stage for males and small body size, while the opposite was found at stations in the eastern part. A latitudinal difference was found at stations along 70.5°E and 73°E transects： body length was small and the sex ratio was high in regions of high latitude, while the opposite occurred in areas of low latitude.
Systematic studies on the changes in concentrations of petroleum hydrocarbons （PHs） and their effects on fishery species in the Bohai Sea during 1974–2004 are presented. Changes in PHs concentrations were closely related to Yellow River runoff. Concentrations of PHs accumulated in fish and shrimp increased by about 0.712 mg/kg dry weight when trophic level of fish and shrimps increased by 1. Attention should also be paid to the high PHs concentrations in mollusks along the coastal waters of the Bohai Sea. Average concentration of PHs in the adjacent coastal waters of Tianjin City during 1996–2005 decreased the population growth rates of fish, crustaceans and mollusks in the Bohai Sea by 2.58%, 6.59% and 2.33%, respectively. Therefore, PHs have significantly contributed to the decline in fisheries in the Bohai Sea, and they must be reduced to realize the sustainable fisheries.
Sisi XuJinming SongHuamao YuanXuegang LiNing LiLiqin DuanYu Yu
This study explores the potential existence of local stocks of Synechogobius ommaturus using otolith chemical signatures. The concentrations of 10 elements （K, Ca, Na, Mg, St, Pb, Ba, Mn, Co, Zn） in the otoliths from eight stocks （Dandong, Dalian, Tianjin, Dongying, Weihai, Qingdao, Ganyu and Xiamen） ofS. ommaturus were measured by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry and regressed against otolith weight. No significant correlation between otolith weight and concentrations of Na, Mg, Ca, Sr, Co, Ba, Zn and Pb were observed. Concentrations of K and Mn were correlated with otolith weight. Consequently, the residuals of the regressions were used instead of the original concentrations in subsequent analyses. Analysis of variance （ANOVA） showed no significant difference between males and females in otolith chemical signatures. Differences were found among the locations for K, Sr, Mn, Co, Ba, Pb, but not for Ca, Na, Mg and Zn. Residuals of the regressions of elemental concentrations against otolith weight that fitted the normal distribution and homogeneity were studied by discriminant analysis. The success of the discriminant function to predict the location of S. ommaturus capture ranged from 100% for Weihai and Xiamen stocks, to only 44.4% and 62.5% for Qingdao and Dandong stocks, respectively. The average prediction success was 80.3%.
A Lagrangian model is used to evaluate source regions of particles collected in the sediment traps at the DYFAMED （Dy namique des Flux Atmospheriques en Mediterranee） station by tracking particles backwards from March 1 to August 31, 2001. The analysis suggests that source regions depend on the flow fields, the settling speed of the particles, and the deployment depths of the traps. Monthly variation is observed in the distribution patterns of source regions, which is caused by the currents The source regions are located around the traps and up to hundreds of kilometers away. As the settling speed increases with the particle diameters, the distance to the source regions decreases. The vertical flux can be approximately estimated in 1D for the particles with diameters larger than 500 lain. Furthermore, traps moored at various depths at the DYFAMED can collect parti- cles that originated from different regions in the Ligurian Sea.
The fatty acid compositions of seston and Calanus sinicus were investigated to study trophic relationships in Jiaozhou Bay. Principal component analysis was carried out to ordinate the fatty acid patterns of seston in stations and months. The results showed that diatoms were most abundant in the phytoplankton at station A5 （located in the northwest of the bay： 36~9＇N, 120~20＇E） and least abundant at station D7 （located outside of the bay： 35~59＇N, 120~26＇E）. By contrast, dinoflagellates were most abundant at station D7 and least abundant at station A5. According to the annual variations of 16：1 （o7 and 18：4（o3/ 16：1（o7, diatoms flourished mainly in spring and summer, while dinoflagellates bloomed exclusively in summer. A distinctive feature of the fatty acid composition of C. sinicus was the prevalence of 20：5o3 and 22：6（o3. The higher content of 16：1（o7 over 18：4（o3 in females indicated that diatoms contributed more than dinoflagellates to the diet of C. sinicus. The feeding intensity of C. sinicus on diatoms was higher in spring and autumn than in other seasons. The herbivorous indicators 20：1 and 22：1 were comparatively low, suggesting that besides phytoplankton, C. sinicus might feed on a wider range of particles including organic detritus, bacteria and small copepods.
Eutrophication has emerged as a key environmental problem in Chinese coastal waters, especially in the Changjiang (Yangtze) River estuary. In this area, large nutrient inputs result in frequent harmful algal blooms and serious hypoxia in bottom waters. Four cruises were made in the estuary in 2006 to assess the concentration and distribution of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) and phosphorus (DIP). The concentration of DIN decreased gradually in a linear relationship with salinity from the river mouth to outer waters, while DIP was relatively more dispersed. A modified box budget method was used to estimate nutrient fluxes in the estuary and its adjacent waters. Water and nutrient budgets as well as primary production and denitrification rates were estimated from the box budget model. Estimated water residence time in the estuary was about 11 d. The turbid mixing zone released 33% of DIN and 49% of DIP, while in the adjacent outer sea 17.9 mmol DIN/m2·d and 0.36 mmol DIP/m2·d were fixed. Dissolved inorganic phosphorus was imported from the deep open sea waters, supporting primary production and population growth in this zone. Net ecosystem production (NEP) was calculated at 38.2 mmol/m2·d in the outer estuary and the estimated rate (N-fixation minus denitrification) was negative (1.92 mmol/m2·d), implying that a large amount of input nitrogen was taken up by algae and recycled through denitrification in bottom water and sediment.
