Impacts of anthropogenic activities on the Changjiang (Yangtze) estuarine ecosystem (1998–2012)

Estuarine ecosystem has greatly changed in the recent decades due to anthropogenic perturbations in the Changjiang Estuary. Change patterns and impact factors were analyzed based on the continuous data in relation to the Changjiang estuarine ecosystem from 1998 to 2012. The results showed significant decreases in plankton species and annual output of Coilia nasus, Coilia mystus. Furthermore, species and biomass of benthos showed abrupt change in 2003, downward before that and upward after that. It was noted that, Eriocheir sinensis, a high value commercial fish, had an annual production increase of 97%. Reduction of riverine nutrients, especially dissolved silicate (DSI) loads into the estuary could contribute to the decline in Bacillariophyta species. Dredging and dumping works of the North Passage led to the decreases in regional plankton species. However, the species reproduction and releasing projects could restore the estuarine ecosystem through increasing the output of E. sinensis, as well as species and biomass of benthos.