A HAB Mathematical Model of Competition between Two Algae Species in the Yangtze River Estuary and Its Adjacent Waters

Field observations in high frequent harmful algal bloom (HAB) occurrence area around Yangtze River Estuary show that during HAB, nutrients concentration and their distribution are the main factors leading to the population succession between two main dominant HAB species, Skeletonema costatum and Prorocentrum donghaiense. Based on such a succession mechanism, a HAB ecological mathematical model is developed by improving a 3D coupled hydrodynamic-ecological model (COHERENS). Compared with in-situ data, the numerical simulations represent the trend of dominant HAB species succession in this sea area and effects of marine nutrients and sea water temperature on competition between these two algae species.