Climate change induced first record of Porpita porpita (Linnaeus, 1758) in the Yellow Sea, China

Yongqiang Shi; Yongjian Liu; Xiujuan Shan; Yunlong Chen; Xianshi Jin; Qingpeng Han; Evgeny A Pakhomov

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.117333

Climate change induced first record of Porpita porpita (Linnaeus, 1758) in the Yellow Sea, China

Mar Pollut Bull. 2024 Nov 25:210:117333. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.117333. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Yongqiang Shi¹, Yongjian Liu², Xiujuan Shan³, Yunlong Chen¹, Xianshi Jin¹, Qingpeng Han⁴, Evgeny A Pakhomov⁵

Affiliations

¹ State Key Laboratory of Mariculture Biobreeding and Sustainable Goods, Key Laboratory of Sustainable Development of Marine Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Qingdao 266071, PR China; Laboratory for Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Qingdao Marine Science and Technology Center, Qingdao 266237, PR China; Shandong Changdao National Observation and Research Station for Fisheries Resources, Yantai 265800, PR China.
² State Key Laboratory of Mariculture Biobreeding and Sustainable Goods, Key Laboratory of Sustainable Development of Marine Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Qingdao 266071, PR China; Shandong Changdao National Observation and Research Station for Fisheries Resources, Yantai 265800, PR China.
³ State Key Laboratory of Mariculture Biobreeding and Sustainable Goods, Key Laboratory of Sustainable Development of Marine Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Qingdao 266071, PR China; Laboratory for Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Qingdao Marine Science and Technology Center, Qingdao 266237, PR China; Shandong Changdao National Observation and Research Station for Fisheries Resources, Yantai 265800, PR China. Electronic address: shanxj@ysfri.ac.cn.
⁴ State Key Laboratory of Mariculture Biobreeding and Sustainable Goods, Key Laboratory of Sustainable Development of Marine Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Qingdao 266071, PR China.
⁵ Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T1Z4, Canada; Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T1Z4, Canada.

PMID: 39591675
DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.117333

Abstract

In August 2021, the blue button Porpita porpita, typically found in tropical and subtropical waters, was observed for the first time in the Yellow Sea. This study aimed to investigate the potential causes by analyzing the zooplankton community structure and the effects of water currents. The three stations, where P. porpita were recorded, were influenced by a warm and saline water tongue. The intruding current, which intensified during a La Niña event, also shaped the zooplankton community structure and distribution patterns. This research extends the known geographical distribution of P. porpita. The first observation of P. porpita in the Yellow Sea is likely attributable to the impacts of southeasterly winds and brought about by the intruding current, potentially suggesting ongoing region "tropicalization". Future studies will need to conduct a comprehensive analysis of additional surveys to better understand how the Yellow Sea pelagic ecosystem responds to climate change.

Keywords: Climate change; Porpita porpita; Water current; Yellow Sea; Zooplankton community.