Controlling the main source of green tides in the Yellow Sea through the method of biological competition

Meilin Fu; Shichao Cao; Jingshi Li; Shuang Zhao; Jinlin Liu; Minmin Zhuang; Yutao Qin; Song Gao; Yuqing Sun; Jang Kyun Kim; Jianheng Zhang; Peimin He

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113561

Controlling the main source of green tides in the Yellow Sea through the method of biological competition

Mar Pollut Bull. 2022 Apr:177:113561. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113561. Epub 2022 Mar 16.

Authors

Meilin Fu¹, Shichao Cao¹, Jingshi Li², Shuang Zhao¹, Jinlin Liu¹, Minmin Zhuang¹, Yutao Qin³, Song Gao⁴, Yuqing Sun¹, Jang Kyun Kim⁵, Jianheng Zhang⁶, Peimin He⁷

Affiliations

¹ College of Marine Ecology and Environment, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China.
² College of Marine Resources & Environment, Hebei Normal University of Science & Technology, Qinhuangdao 066600, China.
³ East China Sea Environmental Monitoring Center, State Oceanic Administration, Shanghai 201306, China.
⁴ North China Sea Marine Forecasting Center, State Oceanic Administrator, Qingdao 266033, China.
⁵ Department of Marine Science, School of Natural Sciences, Incheon National University, Incheon 22012, Republic of Korea.
⁶ College of Marine Ecology and Environment, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China; Co-Innovation Center of Jiangsu Marine Bio-industry Technology, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang 222005, China; Key Laboratory of Exploration and Utilization of Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Education, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China. Electronic address: jh-zhang@shou.edu.cn.
⁷ College of Marine Ecology and Environment, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China; Co-Innovation Center of Jiangsu Marine Bio-industry Technology, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang 222005, China; Key Laboratory of Exploration and Utilization of Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Education, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China. Electronic address: pmhe@shou.edu.cn.

PMID: 35305372
DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113561

Abstract

Macroalgal blooms have become a serious threat to public health, fisheries, ecosystems, and global economies. Since 2007, in the Yellow Sea, China, Ulva green tides have occurred for 15 consecutive years. However, effective control methods are limited. Ulva prolifera attached to Neopyropia aquaculture rafts are believed to be the main source of blooms, therefore eliminating Ulva from rafts could effectively prevent and control blooms. We investigated this phenomenon and showed that macroalgae germination was significantly inhibited by dried Neopyropia yezoensis at concentrations of 1.2, 2.4, and 4.8 g DW^-1. Also, the inhibitory effects of dried N. yezoensis toward U. prolifera gametes at 2.4 and 4.8 g DW^-1 were >90% at day 21. N. yezoensis culture filtrates and thalli were also used to determine dose-dependent inhibition effects on U. prolifera gamete germination. Both were potent and significantly inhibited germination at 1.75-7 g FW^-1; the inhibitory effect 7 g FW^-1 was >90% at day 21. As N. yezoensis thalli exhibited high inhibitory effects in laboratory experiments, we also performed field studies. N. yezoensis on ropes displayed high inhibitory effects on Ulva attachment and growth. Thus N. yezoensis powder, culture filtrates, and thalli displayed strong inhibitory effects on U. prolifera gametes, suggesting N. yezoensis attachment to ropes could be used to control green tides at the source.

Keywords: Biological competition; Green tides; Neopyropia aquaculture; Ulva prolifera; Yellow Sea.

MeSH terms

Aquaculture
Ecosystem
Eutrophication
Seaweed* / physiology
Ulva*