Spatial-temporal distribution of a <I>Noctiluca scintillans</I> population and its adaption to environmental conditions in northern South China Sea

Long‐term changes in Noctiluca scintillans blooms along the Chinese coast from 1933 to 2020

“…N. scintillans could survive in the temperature range of 3–30°C, but most of N. scintillans blooms were recorded in the temperature range of 18–25°C (Figure 8) which was close to the sea surface temperature in spring in southern China and early summer in northern China (Ji et al, 2018; Wang, Mao, et al, 2020). Previous studies had shown that N. scintillans lost growth in incubation experiment and rarely found in field environments when the temperature exceeded 28°C (Ara et al, 2013; Cao et al, 2021; Huang & Qi, 1997; Tada et al, 2004; Wang et al, 2012). Moreover, the spatial distribution of N. scintillans blooms also changed with the transition of seasons.…”

“…Since temperature is an essential factor affecting the growth of microalgae (Eppley, 1972) and the period from May to October was the peak period of N. scintillans blooms in a year (Figure 4), a reasonable inference is that abnormal water temperature might greatly inhibit the growth of N. scintillans cells or change the distribution of N. scintillans cells in coastal waters. In fact, some previous studies found that N. scintillans cells disappeared from the surface water in summer and fall when the water temperature warmed to the level of 28°C but existed in the bottom water or open waters with a lower temperature than the coastal surface water (Ara et al, 2013;Tada et al, 2004;Wang et al, 2012).…”

“…Generally, the sampling methods remained constant, the surface water (0.5 m) was collected for the identification and counting of N. scintillans under a microscope (SOAC, 2005). Furthermore, data on environmental factors were collected from Bulletin of Environmental Quality of Chinese Coastal Waters (2001)(2002)(2003)(2004)(2005)(2006)(2007)(2008)(2009)(2010)(2011)(2012)(2013)(2014)(2015)(2016)(2017) and some published papers Dong et al, 2000;Huang & Qi, 1993, 1997Li, 2016;Liao et al, 2012;Lin & Cao, 1994;Lin & Lian, 1989;Lu et al, 1994;Qian et al, 2000;Tian et al, 2017;Wan, 2020;Wang et al, 2012;Wu et al, 2007;Xie et al, 1993;Xu, 2009;Yan & Li, 1993;Yin et al, 2013;Zheng et al, 2014;Zhou et al, 2002), using Engauge Digitizer 11.1 software when data were presented in the form of figure in references (Mitchell et al, 1991).…”

“…Since the first N. scintillans blooms outbroke in Zhejiang coastal waters in 1933 (Liang et al, 2000), it has frequently occurred in the Bohai Sea (BS), the Yellow Sea (YS), the East China Sea (ECS), and the South China Sea (SCS), covering almost all the coastal waters of China (Hu et al, 2015; Song et al, 2016). Many researches on N. scintillans have been carried out since the 1990s, including its modes of proliferation (Qi & Li, 1994; Song et al, 2016; Zhou & Wu, 1994), sources of food (Chen & Qi, 1991), seasonal changes in abundance, and geographical distribution (Huang et al, 1996; Wang et al, 2012). In addition, some researchers analyzed the changes in environmental factors before and after N. scintillans blooms and hoped to predict its occurrence based on these results (Huang & Qi, 1993; Qi et al, 2022; Song et al, 2020; Sun et al, 2010; Wang et al, 1994; Xie et al, 1993; Zhang, Dong, et al, 2020).…”

“…Since the first N. scintillans blooms outbroke in Zhejiang coastal waters in 1933 (Liang et al, 2000), it has frequently occurred in the Bohai Sea (BS), the Yellow Sea (YS), the East China Sea (ECS), and the South China Sea (SCS), covering almost all the coastal waters of China (Hu et al, 2015;Song et al, 2016). Many researches on N. scintillans have been carried out since the 1990s, including its modes of proliferation (Qi & Li, 1994;Song et al, 2016;Zhou & Wu, 1994), sources of food (Chen & Qi, 1991), seasonal changes in abundance, and geographical distribution (Huang et al, 1996;Wang et al, 2012).…”