Nutrient Pollution and Its Dynamic Source-Sink Pattern in the Pearl River Estuary (South China)

Tao, Wei; Niu, Lixia; Dong, Yanhong; Fu, Tao; Lou, Quansheng

doi:10.3389/fmars.2021.713907

Cited by 23 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 62 publications

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“…The geostrophic deflection force also drove the transportation of DIN and DON from the Zhujiang River and major outlets (inner stations of the TA in Figure 1) to the inner sites of the TC. This phenomenon was covered in previous reports (Tao et al., 2021; M. Wu et al., 2016).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 56%

Terrestrial and Biological Activities Shaped the Fate of Dissolved Organic Nitrogen in a Subtropical River‐Dominated Estuary and Adjacent Coastal Area

Li,

Wu,

Jiang

et al. 2023

JGR Oceans

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Estuaries are key areas for terrestrial material transport and marine biogeochemical processes, particularly those of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) and dissolved organic nitrogen (DON). However, the fate of DON in estuaries with a high runoff remains poorly understood. In this study, we explored the translocation and transformation of DON in the Pearl River Estuary (PRE) and adjacent coastal areas of southern China based on DON concentrations, optical and fluorescence characteristics, and environmental parameters. The results revealed that DIN and DON exhibited dissimilar distributions. The distribution of DIN was primarily influenced by freshwater‐seawater mixing. In contrast, biological processes and freshwater‐seawater mixing shaped the distribution of DON. High levels of DON in the terrestrial‐dominated zone were predominantly anthropogenic sources through terrestrial inputs, whereas DON in the freshwater‐seawater mixing zone and seawater‐based zone were mainly influenced by biological activities, as high concentrations of Chla were observed in these two areas. DON exhibits fast dilution in low‐salinity areas and retention in moderate‐salinity areas (freshwater‐seawater mixing area) in summer and winter, while undergoes a rapid decrease in open water areas during winter. Consequently, DON in the PRE and adjacent coastal areas exhibited nonconservative mixing despite seasonal variations. These findings provide novel insights into the role of DON in nitrogen biogeochemical processes in river‐dominated estuaries and adjacent coastal areas.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 56%

Terrestrial and Biological Activities Shaped the Fate of Dissolved Organic Nitrogen in a Subtropical River‐Dominated Estuary and Adjacent Coastal Area

Li,

Wu,

Jiang

et al. 2023

JGR Oceans

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“…In our study area, the Pearl River estuary is enriched in nutrients during the high inflows. The concentrations of dissolved inorganic nitrogen and dissolved inorganic phosphorus have gradually increased over the past two decades [69]. High levels of Cu, As, Pb, Cr, and Hg are found, and Cu and Cd pose ecological risks in the Pearl River estuaries [70].…”

Section: Stable But Low Recruitment Of Japanese Eel In the Pearl Rive...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Temporal Pattern of the Occurrence of Japanese Glass Eels (Anguilla japonica) in the Pearl River Estuary

Shuai

et al. 2023

Fishes

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Japanese eels (Anguilla japonica) are a typical migratory fish species with high commercial importance. The Pearl River estuary in southern China is an important natural growing ground for Japanese glass eels, but limited information on Japanese glass eel population characteristics is available, despite their ecological importance. In this paper, we examined the annual patterns of the occurrence of Japanese glass eels in the Pearl River estuary from 2011 to 2022. The most frequently occurring Japanese glass eel’s total length is 5.3 cm. The collecting period extended from December to February, and the collection catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE) decreased significantly from 2011 to 2022. The generalized linear model (GLM) indicated that daily changes in Japanese glass eel collection were significantly affected by tidal range, water temperature, and lunar distance. The catch peak appeared when the tidal range rose to 1.7 m, and the water temperature dropped below 8 °C on the full moon days. Overall CPUE analysis showed no significant periodic and inter-annual variability in the period 2011–2022, with the ARIMA model suggesting that the CPUE is expected to remain stable but low in the coming years (2023–2026), although recruitment ultimately depends on the overall spawning stock.

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“…The Pearl River estuary was enriched in nutrients during high inflows. The concentrations of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) and dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP) have gradually increased over the past two decades (Tao et al ., 2021). High levels of Cu, As, Pb, Cr and Hg have been found, and Cu and Cd pose ecological risks in the Pearl River estuaries (Niu et al ., 2021).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Unravelling the life‐history patterns and habitat preferences of the Japanese eel (Anguilla japonica) in the Pearl River, China

Shuai

et al. 2023

Journal of Fish Biology

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Eels have fascinated biologists for centuries due to their amazing long‐distance migrations between freshwater habitats and very distant ocean spawning areas. The migratory life histories of the Japanese eel, Anguilla japonica, in the waters of south China are not very clear despite its ecological importance, and the need for fishery regulation and management. In this study, strontium (Sr) and calcium (Ca) microchemical profiles of the otoliths of silver eels were measured by X‐ray electron probe microanalysis based on data collected from different habitats (including freshwater and brackish habitats), in the large subtropical Pearl River. The corresponding habitat preference characteristics were further analysed using redundancy analysis (RDA). A total of 195 Japanese eels were collected over 6 years. The collected individuals ranged from 180 to 771 mm in total length and from 8 to 612 g in body weight. Two‐dimensional pictures of the Sr:Ca concentrations in otoliths revealed that the A. japonica in the Pearl River are almost entirely river eels, spending the majority of their lives in fresh water without exposure to salt water, while the catadromous migration time has delayed about 1 month in the Pearl River estuary in the past 20 years. RDA analysis further indicated that juveniles and adults preferred water with high salinity and high tide levels. Youth preferred habitats with high river fractals. Our findings contribute to a growing body of evidence showing that the eels are extremely scarce currently and conservation measures against them are imminent, including the protection of brackish and freshwater areas where they live in south China.

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Nutrient Pollution and Its Dynamic Source-Sink Pattern in the Pearl River Estuary (South China)

Cited by 23 publications

References 62 publications

Terrestrial and Biological Activities Shaped the Fate of Dissolved Organic Nitrogen in a Subtropical River‐Dominated Estuary and Adjacent Coastal Area

Terrestrial and Biological Activities Shaped the Fate of Dissolved Organic Nitrogen in a Subtropical River‐Dominated Estuary and Adjacent Coastal Area

Temporal Pattern of the Occurrence of Japanese Glass Eels (Anguilla japonica) in the Pearl River Estuary

Unravelling the life‐history patterns and habitat preferences of the Japanese eel (Anguilla japonica) in the Pearl River, China

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