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Abstract Based on net collection and analyzing of plankton samples over all consecutive seasons during 2012~2014, we investigated the characteristics of plankton population size and structure in northern and southern region of Liaodong Bay by microscope micrometer and biomass size spectrum theory. A stability assessment model of the plankton communities was also established. The results showed that energy transfer efficiencies of plankton in different trophic levels were approximately equal, but the conversion efficiency decreased with increasing trophic level. The stability factor of southern Liaodong Bay was 0.53, while it was 0.47 in northern region. Plankton communities in southern area of the Bay were more stable than those of northern areas and it was more apparent in summer season, which indicated that environmental stress was less for southern area. The average of eutropher coefficient (E) was 1.69 in northern area, suggesting that it was at a high eutropher level, while southern area was at a light eutropher level with the average of E 0.42. The seawater nutritional status analysis contributed that eutrophication was a potential cause of the deviation from steady state in these communities. The stability assessment model developed in this study would also be useful for comparing the health of plankton communities in different bays.
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Received: 13 February 2015
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