Abstract
The article examines the detailed spatial and temporal distributions of coastal reclamation in the northwest coast of Bohai Bay experiencing rapid coastal reclamation in China from 1974 to 2010 in annual intervals. Moreover, soil elements properties and spatial distribution in reclaimed area and inform the future coastal ecosystems management was also analyzed. The results shows that 910.7 km2 of coastal wetlands have been reclaimed and conversed to industrial land during the past 36 years. It covers intertidal beach, shallow sea and island with a percentage of 76.0%, 23.5% and 0.5%, respectively. The average concentration of Mn is 686.91mg/kg and the order of concentration of heavy metal are Cr>Zn>As>Ni>Cu>Pb>Cd>Hg. We used the "space for time substitution" method to test the soil properties changes after reclamation. The potential ecological risk of heavy metal is in low level and the risk of Cd and As is relatively higher. The ecosystem-based coastal protection and management are urgent to support sustainable coastal ecosystems in Bohai bay in the future.
Highlights
Coastal wetlands are an interface of the geosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere that closely link marine and terrestrial ecosystems, and populations and economic activities are often highly concentrated in these zones [1,2]
70% of large Chinese cities are located in coastal zones and coastal development has played a leading role in the national economy, contributing 60.8% to its gross domestic product (GDP) and supporting 43.5% of the population [5,6]
This paper aims to answer the following questions: 1) What were the reclamation processes and trends in Bohai Bay from 1974 to 2010? 2) What are the potential bio-risks of metals in sediments that have resulted from large-scale reclamation? 3) How should coastal management strategies support the sustainable development of resource utilization in Bohai Bay?
Summary
Coastal wetlands are an interface of the geosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere that closely link marine and terrestrial ecosystems, and populations and economic activities are often highly concentrated in these zones [1,2]. Coastal wetlands provide a significant number of ecological services and play a fundamental role in guaranteeing ecological security and sustainable development in coastal zones in China [3]. 70% of large Chinese cities are located in coastal zones and coastal development has played a leading role in the national economy, contributing 60.8% to its gross domestic product (GDP) and supporting 43.5% of the population [5,6]. China has a long history of coastal reclamation and has continuously decreased coastal ecosystems at a large scale to transform.
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