Multivariate statistical analysis of water quality and phytoplankton characteristics in Daya Bay, China, from 1999 to 2002

Abstract

This study analyzed seasonal physicochemical and phytoplanktondata collected at 12 marine monitoring stations in Daya Bay from1999 to 2002. Cluster analysis based on water quality and phytoplanktonparameters measured at the 12 stations could be grouped intothree clusters: cluster I - stations S1, S2, S7 and S11 in thesouthern part and the north-eastern part of Daya Bay; clusterII - stations S5, S6, S9, S10 and S12 in the central and north-easternparts of Daya Bay; cluster III - stations S3, S4 and S8 in the cageculture areas in the south-western part of Daya Bay and in thenorth-western part of the Bay near Aotou harbor. Bivariate correlationsbetween phytoplankton density and the major physical and nutrientfactors were calculated for all stations. Factor analysis showsthat there were high positive loadings of pH, TIN and the ratioof TIN to PO4-P in the three clusters, which indicates thatall the stations in the three clusters were primarily groupedaccording to their respective nutrient conditions.

Keywords

• Water quality
• Phytoplankton
• Multivariate statistical analysis
• Daya Bay (DYB)
• South China Sea