Studies of microorganisms associated with the Ulva prolifera

The Yellow Sea green tide is a trans-regional disaster. It usually originates in the coastal areas of the southern Yellow Sea (33 N). from mid-April to early May, initially in small patches of floating algae. Subsequently, free-floating algae move northward, driven by ocean currents and the southeast monsoon. By mid-June, floating U. prolifera grows to a huge size, covering a large area in the coastal sea of the Shandong Peninsula (36 N). In August, the green tide sinks and disappears. Two separate cruises were organized to follow floating U. prolifera at different stages of the Yellow Sea green tide. During the cruise, epiphytic and seawater bacteria were collected.