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Emerging environmental risks to the largest coastal lagoon (Pinqing Lagoon) on the Chinese mainland: Assessment through a water-sediment-ecological perspective

Wang, Y; Dong, X; Xian, H; Zhang, Y; Li, Y; Wang, Y; Bennion, H; (2025) Emerging environmental risks to the largest coastal lagoon (Pinqing Lagoon) on the Chinese mainland: Assessment through a water-sediment-ecological perspective. Marine Pollution Bulletin , 212 , Article 117498. 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.117498.

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Abstract

Coastal lagoons are vital yet vulnerable marine ecosystems. This study analyzes a five-year dataset to evaluate changes in water quality and their impacts on biota in Pinqing Lagoon (PQL). Seasonal surveys conducted from 2019 to 2023 across 14 sites revealed significant variability in water and sediment quality parameters. During the wet summer season, water quality deteriorated significantly as nutrient levels peaked. In contrast, the dry winter season posed a high ecological risk from heavy metals (HMs), specifically Cu, Hg, and Cd, in sediments. Sediment core analysis indicates upward trends in HMs since the 1950s. Salinity and pH are the primary drivers shaping the benthic communities in transitional zones, while nutrients and HMs primarily affect organisms in the inner bay. Nutrient enrichment has exacerbated HM accumulation and ecological degradation, with tolerance to HMs emerging as a critical factor for benthic survival. This comprehensive assessment of PQL highlights the seasonal patterns of pollution in urban lagoons, providing valuable insights for future conservation efforts.

Type: Article
Title: Emerging environmental risks to the largest coastal lagoon (Pinqing Lagoon) on the Chinese mainland: Assessment through a water-sediment-ecological perspective
Location: England
DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.117498
Publisher version: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.117498
Language: English
Additional information: This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions.
Keywords: Biodiversity, Coastal lagoon, Eutrophication, Heavy metal, Water quality
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL SLASH
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL SLASH > Faculty of S&HS
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL SLASH > Faculty of S&HS > Dept of Geography
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10203336
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