Analysis Of Spatial And Temporal Distributions Of Harmful Algal Blooms In Relation With Coastal Environments For The Chinese Marginal Seas

Harmful algal bloom (HAB) is a naturally-occurring, higher-than-normal concentration of the phytoplankton and sometimes even kills fish and other aquatic life or threatens people's life. To understand the occurrence characteristics and regularity of HABs in Chinese coastal seas, according to the historical HAB records from published paper, meeting collection and state website, HAB occurrences were analyzed in view of spatial and temporal distribution, seasonality and causative species and their variations combined with related local environments of the Chinese coastal water.The HAB occurrences were comparatively serious in the East China Sea. One area off the Yangtze River estuary and another two areas southern of the estuary were found as frequent occurrence areas. The upwelling has great influence on the frequent areas. The time of HAB occurrence shifted and advanced from July and August in the 1980s to May and June during 2000 and 2004. This change was related with the dominant causative species in East China Sea which changed from Noctiluca scientillans and Skeletonema costatum in the 1980s and 1990s to Prorocentrum donghaiense Lu during 2000 and 2004. For the Bohai Sea, Dalian Bay and Bohai Bay were two high HAB frequent areas. June to August was the frequent period for HAB occurrence. The dominant causative species changed from Skeletonema costatum to Noctiluca scientillans from 1992, which was affected by the nutrient changes in the Bohai Sea. The HABs can occur throughout the year in north part of South China Sea. The frequent period from January to May had close relation with the monsoon. The dominant causative species was Noctiluca scientillans. The aquaculture had activated the HAB appearance. The spatial HAB distributions were concentrated near Pear River estuary area.Summarily, the affected area and occurrence frequency of HABs in whole...