Marked shifts of harmful algal blooms in the Bohai Sea linked with combined impacts of environmental changes

The Bohai Sea, a semi-enclosed inland sea in China and an important mariculture region, has experienced extensive harmful algal blooms (HABs) and their negative impacts for several decades. To investigate the changes of HABs and their potential drivers over time and space, a dataset of 230 HAB events (1952-2017), along with corresponding environmental data (1990-2017) was compiled. The frequency of HAB events in the Bohai Sea has increased over time but plateaued in the last decade, and our analysis showed that history of HABs in the Bohai Sea could be categorized into three periods based on their frequency, scale, and HAB-forming species. The seasonal window of HAB events has started earlier and lasted longer, and the main hotspot has moved from Bohai Bay to coastal waters of Qinhuangdao over time. There were marked shifts in the representative HAB-forming microalgae, from dinoflagellates in the first period (before 2000) to haptophytes in the second period (2000-2009), and pelagophytes in the third period (2009 onwards). These community changes are accompanied by a trend toward diversification of HAB-forming microalgae, decrease in cell-size, and increase in negative impacts. Statistical analyses indicate that long-term changes in HABs in the Bohai Sea are linked with the combined effects of climate change, eutrophication and mariculture development. The results of the present study require to refine future monitoring programs, develop adaptive management strategies and predictive models for HABs in the Bohai Sea.

Automated summary

The Bohai Sea in China, an important mariculture region, has experienced harmful algal blooms (HABs) for several decades. A dataset spanning from 1952 to 2017 was compiled to investigate changes in HABs and their potential drivers. The frequency of HAB events in the Bohai Sea has increased over time but plateaued in the last decade, and shifts in HAB-forming species and their distribution were observed. These changes are influenced by climate change, eutrophication, and mariculture development. Future monitoring programs, adaptive management strategies, and predictive models are needed to address the issue.