Distribution of nutrient and its relationship with anchovy spawning ground in the southern waters of Shandong Peninsula

The distribution and effects of physical transport of nutrients on anchovy spawning ground in the southern waters of Shandong Peninsula were discussed based on the data collected in June 2000, May and June 2001. The results show that the coastal current and upwelling are the main physical processes of nutrient transport in the southern waters of Shandong Peninsula. The concentration of Chl a and the density of anchovy eggs, larva and juvenile fish increase obviously where they are greatly affected by these processes, while the content of Chl a and the density of anchovy eggs, larve and juvenile fish decreases significantly where these processes diminish or disappear. The investigation suggests that the side transport of nutrients by Lubei (North Shandong Provnce) coastal current in the northern area caused the coastal area of Chengshantou high Chl a content and dense anchovy eggs, larva and juvenile fish. In the southern area, riverine input from Subei (North Jiangsu Province) irrigation ditch with high concentration of nutrients inshore and the upwelling in the western edge of the Huanghai Sea Cold Water offshore should be responsible for high Chl a content and the dense anchovy eggs, larve and juvenile fish. It is likely that these processes of nutrients transport have controlled the anchovy spawning ground in the southern waters of Shandong Peninsula.