Biological and ecological features of inland saline waters in North Hebei, China

Abstract

During May and June 1991, the biological and ecological features of sixteen aquatic localities in Zhanjiakou region, Hebei, northern China, were investigated. Their salinity ranged from 0.98 to 175.2 g L−1. Fish and benthic macroinvertebrates were depauperate. 116 samples were collected. 91 species (or genera) of phytoplankton and 94 species of zooplankton were recorded. In most of the saline lakes, Cl− and Na+ were dominant, and alkalinity and pH values were higher. For phytoplankton, major species were Chroococcus minutus, Oscillatoria tenuis [blue-green algae]; Chlamydomonas spp., Chlorococcus spp., Chlorella vulgaris, Crucigenia quadrata, Dunaliella salina, Kirchneriella contorta, Oocystis lacustris, Scenedesmus acuminatus [green algae] and Cyclotella meneghiniana, Navicula spp., Nitzschia spp. [diatoms]. Other phytoplankton taxa present included: Cryptomonas erosa, Chroomonas acuta, Chromulina pascheri, Euglena viridis. For zooplankton, major species included: Vorticella campanula, Epistylis breviramosa, Euplotes terricola [protozoa] Brachionus plicatilis, Hexarthra fennica, Keratella quadrata, Notholca acuminata quadrata [Rotifera] Daphnia magna, D.longispina [‘Cladocera’] Artemia spp. [Anostraca] Arctodiaptomus rectispinosus and Cyclops vicinus [Copepoda]. The species composition, distribution, salinity tolerance of planktonic forms in inland saline waters are discussed and their relationship with certain environmental factors.