title: Patchiness of phytoplankton and primary production in Liaodong Bay, China.
abstract: A comprehensive study of water quality, phytoplankton biomass, and photosynthetic rates in Liaodong Bay, China, during June and July of 2013 revealed two large patches of high biomass and production with dimensions on the order of 10 km. Nutrient concentrations were above growth-rate-saturating concentrations throughout the bay, with the possible exception of phosphate at some stations. The presence of the patches therefore appeared to reflect the distribution of water temperature and variation of light penetration restricted by water turbidity. There was no patch of high phytoplankton biomass or production in a third, linear patch of water with characteristics suitable for rapid phytoplankton growth; the absence of a bloom in that patch likely reflected the fact that the width of the patch was less than the critical size required to overcome losses of phytoplankton to turbulent diffusion. The bottom waters of virtually all of the eastern half of the bay were below the depth of the mixed layer, and the lowest bottom water oxygen concentrations, 3-5 mg L-1, were found in that part of the bay. The water column in much of the remainder of the bay was within the mixed layer, and oxygen concentrations in both surface and bottom waters exceeded 5 mg L-1.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Coastal Wetland Biogeosciences, China Geological Survey, Qingdao, China.|Function Laboratory for Marine Geology, National Oceanography Laboratory, Qingdao, China.
authors.forename: Shaofeng
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5420-6264
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pei
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Sciences, School of the Coast and Environment, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Los Angeles, United States of America.
authors.forename: Edward A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Laws
authors.affiliation: College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China.
authors.forename: Haibo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Coastal Wetland Biogeosciences, China Geological Survey, Qingdao, China.
authors.forename: Siyuan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Coastal Wetland Biogeosciences, China Geological Survey, Qingdao, China.
authors.forename: Hongming
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Coastal Wetland Biogeosciences, China Geological Survey, Qingdao, China.
authors.forename: Haiyue
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D061006:Bays; D002681:China; D005068:Eutrophication; D010100:Oxygen / Q000032:analysis; D010839:Phytoplankton / Q000254:growth & development*; D012621:Seasons; D012623:Seawater / Q000032:analysis; D060753:Water Quality
chemical_list: D010100:Oxygen