Variations of dominant free-floating Ulva species in the source area for the world's largest macroalgal blooms, China: Differences of ecological tolerance

Shiying Wang; Yuanzi Huo; Jianheng Zhang; Jianjun Cui; Yi Wang; Lili Yang; Qiaoyun Zhou; Yuwei Lu; Kefeng Yu; Peimin He

doi:10.1016/j.hal.2018.03.007

Variations of dominant free-floating Ulva species in the source area for the world's largest macroalgal blooms, China: Differences of ecological tolerance

Harmful Algae. 2018 Apr:74:58-66. doi: 10.1016/j.hal.2018.03.007. Epub 2018 Apr 13.

Authors

Shiying Wang¹, Yuanzi Huo¹, Jianheng Zhang², Jianjun Cui³, Yi Wang¹, Lili Yang¹, Qiaoyun Zhou⁴, Yuwei Lu⁴, Kefeng Yu¹, Peimin He⁵

Affiliations

¹ College of Marine Ecology and Environment, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, PR China; Marine Scientific Research Institute, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, PR China; Water Environment & Ecology Engineering Research Center of Shanghai Institution of Higher Education, Shanghai 201306, PR China.
² College of Marine Ecology and Environment, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, PR China; Marine Scientific Research Institute, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, PR China; Water Environment & Ecology Engineering Research Center of Shanghai Institution of Higher Education, Shanghai 201306, PR China. Electronic address: jh-zhang@shou.edu.cn.
³ Usa Marine Biological Institute, Kochi University, Usa, Tosa, Kochi 781-1164, Japan.
⁴ College of Marine Ecology and Environment, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, PR China.
⁵ College of Marine Ecology and Environment, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, PR China; Marine Scientific Research Institute, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, PR China; Water Environment & Ecology Engineering Research Center of Shanghai Institution of Higher Education, Shanghai 201306, PR China. Electronic address: pmhe@shou.edu.cn.

PMID: 29724343
DOI: 10.1016/j.hal.2018.03.007

Abstract

Species composition and seasonal variations of free-floating Ulva species were investigated in the source area of the world's largest macroalgal blooms during 2009-2015. Based on a combination of a morphological analysis and sequences of nuclear-encoded ITS and 5S rDNA spacer regions, the dominant species in the free-floating Ulva community at the early stage of green tides were Ulva compressa, Ulva flexuosa, and Ulva linza. The first appearance of Ulva prolifera on the sea surface was in mid-May and it dominated the floating Ulva community in June from 2009 to 2011. From 2012-2015, U. prolifera was not only the first species to appear on the sea surface but also the dominant species during the whole early stage of green tides. To explain the successional mechanism, the effects of environmental factors on the growth of four Ulva species were examined in the laboratory under different combinations of light intensity and temperature. It was found that the highest growth rate of U. prolifera was 44.9%/d, which was much higher than the other three Ulva species. The strong tolerance of U. prolifera to extreme conditions also helps it survive and bloom in the Yellow Sea.

Keywords: Ecological tolerance; Eutrophication; Macroalgal blooms; Pyropia aquaculture; Ulva prolifera; Yellow Sea.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

China
Environmental Monitoring*
Harmful Algal Bloom / physiology*
Harmful Algal Bloom / radiation effects
Seasons
Seawater / chemistry
Seaweed / growth & development*
Seaweed / radiation effects
Species Specificity
Temperature
Ulva / growth & development*
Ulva / radiation effects