A algal bloom process had been simulated via field mesocosm experiment, and the change of phytoplankton assemblage of different sizes in different growing phases had been studied. Nutrients addition could promote the growth of phytoplankton In the mesocosm of Prorocentrum donghaiense （M1） and the mesocosm of natural waters （M2）, and the peaks of chlorophyll a were 112.79 mg/m and 235.60 mg/m, respectively. The restraining effect of nano-phytoplankton on pico-phytoplankton growth was stronger in M2 than in M1. When nutrients were abundant, the relative growth rate of diatom was higher than that of P. donghaiense, and they reached the peak quickly and then came to die out very fast. The decreasing of Si promoted diatom bloom to die out.
A compilation of data on biomass and growth allowed an examination of the intraspecific plasticity in Tha/assia hemprichii which played key roles to develop site-specific growth strategies for this species in Xincun Bay. The results showed the difference in rhizome elongation rates which explained most of the variation of biomass and growth within species. The seagrass T. hempdchii in Xincun Bay adjusted its vertical and horizontal rhizome elongation rates alternatively in response to light level and temperature changes, resulting in the variation of shoot densities and above biomass in return. The vertical and horizontal rhizomes elongated at rates of 2.38 and 24.4 cm yr1 in summer while 1.87 and 29.2 cm yr^-1 in winter respectively. The shoot density ranged from 822 to 941 shoots m^2 with a peak in summer and a trough in winter which was similar to that of biomass. The growth strategy enabled T. hempdchii to minimize the negative effects of desiccation in summer as well as light reduction in winter.
Microzoopiankton community composition in the north of South China Sea was investigated during autumn （between September and October）, 2004. Dilution technique using chlorophyll a （Chl a） was employed to estimate grazing rates and grazing pressure. The results showed that Polymenophorea Oligotrichida was the dominant group with 16 species, and there were 4 species in Oligotrichina and 11 species in Tintinnina. The ciliates abundance ranged from 9 to 102 ind/m^3, instantaneous growth rates of phytoplankton （k） varied from 0.03 / d to 2.13 / d. Grazing rates of microzooplankton（g） ranged between 0.01 / d and 1.06 / d. The grazing pressure on initial phytoplankton stock （Pi） and primary production （Pp） was 0.089 % - 65.23 % and 33.63 % - 86.04 %, respectively. The grazing of microzooplankton was mainly limited by ciliates abundance. Results of grazing pressure on primary production indicated that microzooplankton played an improtant role in transmitting primary production in the north of South China Sea.
To gain a better understanding of water quality and eutrophication, we investigated the seasonal and spatial distribution of water quality at 17 stations in the Guangzhou Sea Zone （GZSZ）. Nutrients, chlorophyll-a （Chl-a）, salinity, chemical parameters were determined in February, May, oxygen demand, and other physical and chemical August and October from 2005 to 2007. The concentrations showed ranges of 93.2-530.4 μmol/L for dissolved inorganic nitrogen （DIN）, 0.62-3.16 μmol/L for phosphate （PO4-P） and 50-127 μmol/L for silicate （SiO3-Si）, The results indicated that DIN was strongly influenced by domestic sewage coming from Guangzhou City and NO3-N was the main form of DIN in most areas, while concentrations of phosphate and silicate were generally controlled by Pearl River runoff, land-based sources along the land or islands, and algae assimilation. N/P ratios were very high in both dry season and wet season, and varied from 57 to 667, suggesting that P was potentially the most limiting nutrient in the GZSZ. The concentrations of Chl-a were 3-96 μg/L, and were highly correlated with the distribution characteristics of COD, The concentrations of nutrients have increased over the past two decades （1982-2007）. This means it is necessary to control the input of nutrients to the GZSZ, especially that of phosphate.
