Multivariate statistical analysis of water quality and phytoplankton characteristics in Daya Bay, China, from 1999 to 2002

This study analyzed seasonal physicochemical and phytoplankton data collected at 12 marine monitoring stations in Daya Bay from 1999 to 2002. Cluster analysis based on water quality and phytoplankton parameters measured at the 12 stations could be grouped into three clusters: cluster I – stations S1,S2 , S7 and S11 in the southern part and the north-eastern part of Daya Bay; cluster II – stations S5, S6,S9 ,S1 0 and S12 in the central and north-eastern parts of Daya Bay; cluster III – stations S3,S 4 and S8 in the cage culture areas in the south-western part of Daya Bay and in the north-western part of the Bay near Aotou harbor. Bivariate correlations between phytoplankton density and the major physical and nutrient factors were calculated for all stations. Factor analysis shows that there were high positive loadings of pH,T IN and the ratio of TIN to PO4-P in the three clusters, which indicates that all the stations in the three clusters were primarily grouped according to their respective nutrient conditions.