Effect of decreased suspended sediment content on chlorophyll-a in Dongting Lake, China

Global damming of rivers strongly impacts the transport and characteristic of sediment, resulting in a significant reduction in the suspended sediment content (SSC) flowing into the downstream. The reduction in SSC may influence chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) concentrations in water, thereby further affectin...

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Main Authors: Le Zhang, Yu Lou, Jinhua Mei, Haipeng Wu, Le Xia, Juan Dai, Yuping Dai, Guxiang Xu, Yuantao Yu, Jiehui Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-08-01
Series:Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2025.1645248/full
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author Le Zhang
Le Zhang
Yu Lou
Jinhua Mei
Haipeng Wu
Haipeng Wu
Le Xia
Juan Dai
Yuping Dai
Yuping Dai
Guxiang Xu
Guxiang Xu
Yuantao Yu
Yuantao Yu
Jiehui Wang
Jiehui Wang
author_facet Le Zhang
Le Zhang
Yu Lou
Jinhua Mei
Haipeng Wu
Haipeng Wu
Le Xia
Juan Dai
Yuping Dai
Yuping Dai
Guxiang Xu
Guxiang Xu
Yuantao Yu
Yuantao Yu
Jiehui Wang
Jiehui Wang
author_sort Le Zhang
collection DOAJ
description Global damming of rivers strongly impacts the transport and characteristic of sediment, resulting in a significant reduction in the suspended sediment content (SSC) flowing into the downstream. The reduction in SSC may influence chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) concentrations in water, thereby further affecting the aquatic ecological environment. However, the effect of reduced SSC on Chl-a is poorly studied. Here, we compared and analyzed the distribution conditions of Chl-a in 6 representative years for both before the implementation of Three Gorges Dam (TGD) (BIT) and after the implementation of TGD (AIT), using the TM/OLI data and NIR-red inversion model. The findings showed that, from BIT to AIT, the area proportion of ultraoligotrophic state significantly decreased, while the area proportion of oligotrophic, mesotrophic, and eutrophic states significantly increased, with eutrophic state observed for the first time in 2017. Additionally, a significant correlation between Chl-a concentration and SSC was found. The area proportion of ultraoligotrophic state was positively correlated with SSC, while oligotrophic and mesotrophic states were negatively correlated with SSC. The reduction in SSC enhanced water promoting phytoplankton growth and consequently increasing Chl-a concentrations. This study highlights the spatiotemporal variations of Chl-a dynamics in DL before and after the operation of the TGD and discusses the impacts of SSC on water trophic states and the ecosystem. The findings provide valuable scientific insights for large-scale lake water quality monitoring and offer critical reference points for future water quality management strategies.
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series Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution
spelling doaj-art-558bfc180f514cbcb635eb48fbc3dcfb2025-08-20T04:02:31ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution2296-701X2025-08-011310.3389/fevo.2025.16452481645248Effect of decreased suspended sediment content on chlorophyll-a in Dongting Lake, ChinaLe Zhang0Le Zhang1Yu Lou2Jinhua Mei3Haipeng Wu4Haipeng Wu5Le Xia6Juan Dai7Yuping Dai8Yuping Dai9Guxiang Xu10Guxiang Xu11Yuantao Yu12Yuantao Yu13Jiehui Wang14Jiehui Wang15School of Hydraulic and Ocean Engineering, Changsha University of Science & Technology, Changsha, ChinaKey Laboratory of Dongting Lake Aquatic Eco-Environmental Control and Restoration of Hunan Province, Changsha, ChinaScience and Technology Promotion Center Ministry of Water Resources P.R.C., Beijing, ChinaHunan Center of Natural Resources Affairs, Changsha, ChinaSchool of Hydraulic and Ocean Engineering, Changsha University of Science & Technology, Changsha, ChinaKey Laboratory of Dongting Lake Aquatic Eco-Environmental Control and Restoration of Hunan Province, Changsha, ChinaHunan Center of Natural Resources Affairs, Changsha, ChinaChangjiang River Scientific Research Institute, Wuhan, ChinaSchool of Hydraulic and Ocean Engineering, Changsha University of Science & Technology, Changsha, ChinaKey Laboratory of Dongting Lake Aquatic Eco-Environmental Control and Restoration of Hunan Province, Changsha, ChinaSchool of Hydraulic and Ocean Engineering, Changsha University of Science & Technology, Changsha, ChinaKey Laboratory of Dongting Lake Aquatic Eco-Environmental Control and Restoration of Hunan Province, Changsha, ChinaSchool of Hydraulic and Ocean Engineering, Changsha University of Science & Technology, Changsha, ChinaKey Laboratory of Dongting Lake Aquatic Eco-Environmental Control and Restoration of Hunan Province, Changsha, ChinaSchool of Hydraulic and Ocean Engineering, Changsha University of Science & Technology, Changsha, ChinaKey Laboratory of Dongting Lake Aquatic Eco-Environmental Control and Restoration of Hunan Province, Changsha, ChinaGlobal damming of rivers strongly impacts the transport and characteristic of sediment, resulting in a significant reduction in the suspended sediment content (SSC) flowing into the downstream. The reduction in SSC may influence chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) concentrations in water, thereby further affecting the aquatic ecological environment. However, the effect of reduced SSC on Chl-a is poorly studied. Here, we compared and analyzed the distribution conditions of Chl-a in 6 representative years for both before the implementation of Three Gorges Dam (TGD) (BIT) and after the implementation of TGD (AIT), using the TM/OLI data and NIR-red inversion model. The findings showed that, from BIT to AIT, the area proportion of ultraoligotrophic state significantly decreased, while the area proportion of oligotrophic, mesotrophic, and eutrophic states significantly increased, with eutrophic state observed for the first time in 2017. Additionally, a significant correlation between Chl-a concentration and SSC was found. The area proportion of ultraoligotrophic state was positively correlated with SSC, while oligotrophic and mesotrophic states were negatively correlated with SSC. The reduction in SSC enhanced water promoting phytoplankton growth and consequently increasing Chl-a concentrations. This study highlights the spatiotemporal variations of Chl-a dynamics in DL before and after the operation of the TGD and discusses the impacts of SSC on water trophic states and the ecosystem. The findings provide valuable scientific insights for large-scale lake water quality monitoring and offer critical reference points for future water quality management strategies.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2025.1645248/fullremote sensingchlorophyll-asuspended sediment concentrationspatiotemporal variationDongting Lake
spellingShingle Le Zhang
Le Zhang
Yu Lou
Jinhua Mei
Haipeng Wu
Haipeng Wu
Le Xia
Juan Dai
Yuping Dai
Yuping Dai
Guxiang Xu
Guxiang Xu
Yuantao Yu
Yuantao Yu
Jiehui Wang
Jiehui Wang
Effect of decreased suspended sediment content on chlorophyll-a in Dongting Lake, China
Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution
remote sensing
chlorophyll-a
suspended sediment concentration
spatiotemporal variation
Dongting Lake
title Effect of decreased suspended sediment content on chlorophyll-a in Dongting Lake, China
title_full Effect of decreased suspended sediment content on chlorophyll-a in Dongting Lake, China
title_fullStr Effect of decreased suspended sediment content on chlorophyll-a in Dongting Lake, China
title_full_unstemmed Effect of decreased suspended sediment content on chlorophyll-a in Dongting Lake, China
title_short Effect of decreased suspended sediment content on chlorophyll-a in Dongting Lake, China
title_sort effect of decreased suspended sediment content on chlorophyll a in dongting lake china
topic remote sensing
chlorophyll-a
suspended sediment concentration
spatiotemporal variation
Dongting Lake
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2025.1645248/full
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