Spatial and Temporal Characteristics of Biomass and Composition of Green Tides around Fangchenggang Nuclear Power Plant

Abstract

Green tides macroalga, Ultra, has negative effects on the ecology, tourism, seawater intake, etc. No green tides were reported in Qinzhou Bay, a nuclear power plant taking seawater for cooling. In this paper, spatial and temporal characteristics of biomass of green tides macroalga in Qinzhou Bay were assessed during December 2020 to February 2022. The results showed the green tides occured from December to February next year, were similar to Xiamen in low latitudes, and different from the sea in middle latitudes. The maximum of the wet weight of green tides macroalgal occured in January. Green tides disappeared in March, with the rising of the sea surface temperature. The key factor of green tides was temperature. Green tides macroalgal was native species, including Ulva clathrate, Ulva intestinalis, and Ulva linza according to growth sequence. No drifting macroalgal from outside was found. For green tides macroalgal, nutrients were positive, human activities were negative. Green tides macroalgal were not found in beach culture area. Green tides posed risk to the water-cooling system of nuclear power plant which took water from Qinzhou Bay.

Keywords

• ulva
• biomass
• nuclear power plant
• green tide