Typhoon-induced stormwater drives nutrient dynamics and triggers phytoplankton blooms in Laizhou Bay, China

Hongguan Li; Shanshan Li; Mingzheng Zhang; Xiuren Li; Zehao Xu; Haoyang Ma; Shengkang Liang; Dehai Song; Junlong Li; Yuanqing Ma; Huawei Qin; Diansheng Ji

doi:10.1016/j.marenvres.2024.106473

Typhoon-induced stormwater drives nutrient dynamics and triggers phytoplankton blooms in Laizhou Bay, China

Mar Environ Res. 2024 Mar 23:198:106473. doi: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2024.106473. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Hongguan Li¹, Shanshan Li¹, Mingzheng Zhang¹, Xiuren Li², Zehao Xu¹, Haoyang Ma³, Shengkang Liang⁴, Dehai Song⁵, Junlong Li⁶, Yuanqing Ma⁷, Huawei Qin⁷, Diansheng Ji⁸

Affiliations

¹ Frontiers Science Center for Deep Ocean Multispheres and Earth System, and Key Laboratory of Marine Chemistry Theory and Technology, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266100, China; College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266100, China.
² College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266100, China.
³ College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266100, China.
⁴ Frontiers Science Center for Deep Ocean Multispheres and Earth System, and Key Laboratory of Marine Chemistry Theory and Technology, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266100, China; Laboratory for Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266237, China. Electronic address: liangsk@ouc.edu.cn.
⁵ Key Laboratory of Physical Oceanography (Ocean University of China), Ministry of Education, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, China.
⁶ State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Quality Control in Environmental Monitoring, China National Environmental Monitoring Center, Beijing, 100012, China.
⁷ Shandong Marine Resources and Environment Research Institute, Yantai, 264000, China.
⁸ Yantai Marine Environmental Monitoring Central Station, State Oceanic Administration (SOA), Yantai, 264000, China.

PMID: 38676969
DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2024.106473

Abstract

In this study, we investigated the hydrological and ecological impacts of heavy rainfall caused by the storm Rumbia and Typhoon Lekima on Laizhou Bay (LZB) through land‒sea synchronous field surveys, online remote sensors, and simulated enclosure experiments. Within two weeks of Rumbia, approximately 9% and 16% of the annual riverine total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) fluxes, respectively, were transported to the LZB and the proportions were 17% and 35%, respectively, for Lekima. The land use on the watersheds increased the rates of land-derived nutrient loading and altered their biogeochemical forms. Consequently, the average concentrations of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) and phosphorus (DIP) in the LZB increased by 2.6 and 1.0 times post-Rumbia and by 3.5 and 1.3 times post-Lekima, respectively. Relatively lower salinity and temperature, sudden increases in DIN, and strengthened coastal currents stimulated the growth of highly adaptable and small diatoms, resulting in the first diatom blooms. Subsequently, a bloom of Noctiluca scintillans formed.

Keywords: Bohai sea; Heavy rainfall; Nutrient; Phytoplankton community; Riverine input.