A comparative analysis of green tides in the North Yellow Sea and South Yellow Sea: perspectives from spatiotemporal distribution and genetic sequencing

Kan Hongyu; Wu Mengquan; Tang Yijie; Zou Min; Liu Lijuan; Liang Feng; Chen Gang; Lü Jinyi; Liu Longxing

doi:10.12284/hyxb2025140

Volume 47 Issue 11

Nov. 2025

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Kan Hongyu，Wu Mengquan，Tang Yijie, et al. A comparative analysis of green tides in the North Yellow Sea and South Yellow Sea: perspectives from spatiotemporal distribution and genetic sequencing[J]. Haiyang Xuebao，2025, 47(11)：108–120 doi: 10.12284/hyxb2025140

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A comparative analysis of green tides in the North Yellow Sea and South Yellow Sea: perspectives from spatiotemporal distribution and genetic sequencing

doi: 10.12284/hyxb2025140

1.
School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Ludong University, Yantai 264039, China
2.
Yantai Geographic Information Center, Yantai 264039, China
3.
Shandong Marine Resource and Environment Research Institute, Yantai 264006, China
4.
Yantai Municipal Bureau of Marine Development and Fisheries, Yantai 264003, China

Received Date: 2025-07-21
Rev Recd Date: 2025-10-14

Available Online: 2025-10-25

Publish Date: 2025-11-30

Abstract

Abstract

Since 2008, the South Yellow Sea has been persistently affected by green tide disasters caused by Ulva prolifera, while since 2009, the North Yellow Sea has frequently experienced large-scale macroalgal accumulations. The massive outbreaks of green tides severely damage marine ecosystems and threaten coastal ecological balance and economic structures. However, research on the differences in green tide outbreaks between the South Yellow Sea and North Yellow Sea remains limited. This study systematically compares the differences in Ulva prolifera between the two regions from two complementary dimensions—spatiotemporal distribution patterns and genetic basis—using multi-source remote sensing data, UAV monitoring, and molecular biology methods. The results indicate: (1) Significant differences in outbreak timing and scale. Ulva prolifera in the South Yellow Sea first appears in May, reaches its maximum coverage in mid-to-late June, and gradually disappears between July and August, with an entire life cycle lasting approximately 50–90 d. In contrast, Ulva prolifera in the North Yellow Sea is locally sourced, appearing in the coastal waters of Yantai from late June to early July and gradually disappearing in August. It exhibits smaller coverage areas and shorter duration compared to the South Yellow Sea. In recent years, the outbreak area in the South Yellow Sea has consistently exceeded 200 km², while that in the North Yellow Sea has remained within 2000 m², significantly smaller. (2) From 2018 to 2024, the migration paths of Ulva prolifera in the South Yellow Sea can be categorized into two types: northward drifting and northward-then-southward drifting. Spatially, Ulva prolifera blooms in the South Yellow Sea exhibit large-scale, continuous aggregation, whereas those in the North Yellow Sea are characterized by localized, scattered distributions. Ulva prolifera in the South Yellow Sea originates from the Subei Shoal, drifting northward with monsoon winds and ocean currents to accumulate along the southern coast of the Shandong Peninsula. In the North Yellow Sea, Ulva prolifera is mainly concentrated in areas such as the Jinshatan Beach in Yantai Development Zone and the estuary of the Guangdang River in Laishan District, with no large-scale drifting observed. (3) ITS gene sequencing reveals that Ulva prolifera in the North Yellow Sea along the Yantai coast belongs to a novel genetic strain (ITS JST3), which is distinctly different from the South Yellow Sea strain in terms of its light green, short, clustered morphology and underdeveloped air sac structures. By integrating macroscopic spatiotemporal patterns with microscopic genetic foundations, this study systematically demonstrates that the green tides in the South and North Yellow Sea are independent ecological events driven by different mechanisms, providing important insights for targeted regional prevention and control of green tides.
- Ulva prolifera,
- spatiotemporal characteristics,
- Yellow Sea,
- ITS gene sequences,
- divergence

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References

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