Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 1, 2026

Author Spotlight: Understanding Riverine Nitrogen Impacts and Primary Productivity for Effective Nutrient Management
Published on: July 14, 2023
Response of phytoplankton assemblages to nitrogen reduction in the Laizhou Bay, China
Huichao Jiang1, Dongyan Liu2, Xiukai Song3
1Key Laboratory of Coastal Zone Environmental Processes and Ecological Remediation, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai 264003, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Shandong Marine Resources and Environment Research Institute, Yantai 264006, China.
Abstract:
The response of phytoplankton assemblages to decreases in nitrogen loading is an essential index to assess the recovery of aquatic ecosystems from eutrophic status. However, a positive signal is hard to observe from short-term operations considering ecosystem complexity. Here, we used decadal data from the Laizhou Bay, China to track the seasonal and annual variations in phytoplankton assemblages after ammonia reduction in the Xiaoqing and Yellow Rivers. Annual trends show reduced phytoplankton abundance and a decline in harmful algal blooms, indicating the positive recovery of phytoplankton assemblages. Phytoplankton assemblage in the sea region adjacent to the Xiaoqing River shows a lower H' index, higher cell abundance, and higher seasonal variability than the sea region neighbouring the Yellow River. The spatial variability might result from the differences of nitrogen species, runoff and sediment contents between the two rivers; this finding indicates a demand for more aggressive decreases in nitrogen loads.
More Related Videos
08:15Author Spotlight: Unveiling Plankton Response to Climate Change Through Time-Series Data and Artistic Expression
Published on: July 28, 2023
10:28Investigating the Relationship between Sea Surface Chlorophyll and Major Features of the South China Sea with Satellite Information
Published on: June 13, 2020
Related Concept Videos
The Nitrogen Cycle
Overview of Nitrogen Metabolism
The largest pool of nitrogen available in the terrestrial ecosystem is gaseous nitrogen (N2) from the air, but this...
Oxidation-Reduction Reactions
Inorganic Nitrogen Assimilation
Chirality at Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Sulfur
A consequence of chirality is the need for enantiomeric resolution. While this is theoretically possible for all...
Oxymercuration-Reduction of Alkenes