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Updated: Jul 26, 2026

An Ultra-clean Multilayer Apparatus for Collecting Size Fractionated Marine Plankton and Suspended Particles
Published on: April 19, 2018
Long time-series planktonic ecosystem stability assessment and obstacle factor analysis in the Changjiang River
Rui Gu1, Yang Peng1, Yifeng Shi1
1State Key Laboratory of Geomicrobiology and Environmental Changes, China University of Geosciences (Wuhan), Wuhan, 430074, PR China; Institute for Advanced Marine Research, China University of Geosciences, Guangzhou, 511462, PR China.
Abstract:
The planktonic ecosystem is fundamental to the aquatic food web, and its stability directly determines the efficiency of energy flow and the rate of material cycling. As one of the largest estuaries globally, the Changjiang River Estuary (CRE) represents a typical transition zone between freshwater and seawater. In recent years, the planktonic ecosystem stability (PES) in the CRE has been impacted by climate change and anthropogenic activities, necessitating a comprehensive assessment. In the present study, a comprehensive assessment index system of PES was constructed in the CRE using a three-level indicator method. The entropy weight method and the Criteria Importance Through Intercriteria Correlation (CRITIC) method were combined to quantify the PES in the CRE from 2008 to 2023. The obstacle degree model identified the main factors affecting the PES in the CRE. The results demonstrated that the composite index of PES in the CRE increased from 0.29 to 0.73 during 2008-2023, which indicates a shift from a critical to a stable state. Overall, while PES in the CRE has enhanced, it has not yet reached optimal conditions. Before 2012, environmental stressors predominantly influenced the PES in the CRE. Further, we observed that the PES was vulnerable in 2012, possibly related to impact of Severe Typhoon Haikui (1211) and concurrent flooding in the upper zone of the Changjiang River. After 2012, PES's dominant factors shifted from environmental stressors to phytoplankton and zooplankton species diversity. The present study could provide a reference model for the sustainable management of planktonic ecosystem in estuaries worldwide.
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