Abstract: Xiangshan bay is a typical longnarrow and semienclosed bay ecosystem in China. In recent years, human activities have caused degradation of resources, environment and service function in Xiangshan bay. In this study, taking Xiangshan bay ecosystem as a case study, based on the theory of ecological carrying capacity, an integrated carrying capacity indicator system was developed from resource supply capacity, environmental carrying capacity and human supporting capacity for the assessment of Xiangshan bay ecosystem carrying capacity. The results indicated that the environmental carrying capacity decreased in Xiangshan bay during 2003 to 2011. The proportion of overloaded area increased from 17.2% in 2003 to 41.8% in 2011. Water inorganic nitrogen and active phosphate were the main reasons caused environmental carrying capacity overloaded. Resource supply capacity had gradually decreased during 2003 to 2011 and showed a declined trend from the mouth to inwards of the bay. The proportion of loaded area decreased from 87.4% in 2003 to 0.1% in 2011 Human supporting capacity were loaded and improved slightly. The integrated carrying capacity decreased yearly from the mouth to inwards of bay and overloaded area increased yearly which was mainly caused by overload of environmental carrying capacity. The results of this study could objectively reveal the integrated carrying capacity of Xiangshan bay ecosystem. The assessment methods and model of integrated carrying capacity could be flexibly applied to other bay ecosystem and provide a feasible technical approach and demonstration cases for other comparable coastal zones in China.

Key words: bay ecosystem, integrated carrying capacity, environmental carrying capacity, resource supplying capacity, human supporting capacity, Xiangshan bay