Feature of Phytoplankton Community and Canonical Correlation Analysis with Environmental Factors in Xiaoqing River Estuary in Autumn

Abstract A multidisciplinary study was carried out in Xiaoqing River estuary in November 2008. Community feature of phytoplankton and water quality were assessed. Furthermore, the relationship was discussed between phytoplankton and environmental factors. In total, 52 species of phytoplankton were indentified (including uncertain species), of which 36 diatom species dominated in composition. The abundance of phytoplankton ranged from 0.6¥10 4 to 213.30 ¥10 4 cells m -3 . Seven species were dominant, among which Skeletonema costatum , Tribonema affine , and Chlorella sp. were mainly dominated. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) showed that salinity (S), pH, chemical oxygen demand (COD), and nitrite (NO2 - -N) were importantly environmental factors influencing the distribution of phytoplankton community. Since different species demanded different environment, CCA biplot revealed the ecological suitability of plankton.