Climate warming and nutrient enrichment destabilize plankton network stability over the past century

Abstract Global warming and anthropogenic activities have profoundly altered biodiversity and the stability of aquatic ecosystems. However, the underlying driving mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here, we analyzed the temporal patterns of biodiversity and community stability over the past centur...

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Main Authors: Siwei Yu, Xiaofeng Cao, Pengfei Chen, Yaping Liu, Gaoqi Duan, Weixiao Qi, Jianfeng Peng, Huijuan Liu, Jiuhui Qu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-03-01
Series:Communications Earth & Environment
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02206-3
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author Siwei Yu
Xiaofeng Cao
Pengfei Chen
Yaping Liu
Gaoqi Duan
Weixiao Qi
Jianfeng Peng
Huijuan Liu
Jiuhui Qu
author_facet Siwei Yu
Xiaofeng Cao
Pengfei Chen
Yaping Liu
Gaoqi Duan
Weixiao Qi
Jianfeng Peng
Huijuan Liu
Jiuhui Qu
author_sort Siwei Yu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Global warming and anthropogenic activities have profoundly altered biodiversity and the stability of aquatic ecosystems. However, the underlying driving mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here, we analyzed the temporal patterns of biodiversity and community stability over the past century by constructing 29 temporal planktonic network models. These models were based on the sedimentary DNA (sedDNA) extracted from downcore sediments of Lake Chagan, a seasonally frozen lake in Northeastern China, using high-throughput sequencing techniques. Our findings identified the mid-1990s as a critical tipping point, marked by substantial shifts in nutrient levels and annual average temperatures. We demonstrated that the temporal network stability of plankton communities was predominantly compromised by climate warming, followed by nutrient enrichment. This study highlights the intricate interplay between biotic and abiotic factors that determine the stability of aquatic ecological networks, which has important implications for the management and conservation of freshwater ecosystems facing ongoing climate warming.
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id doaj-art-5a6ab30b70da44ac9ca22b4ed60cb5af
institution Kabale University
issn 2662-4435
language English
publishDate 2025-03-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
record_format Article
series Communications Earth & Environment
spelling doaj-art-5a6ab30b70da44ac9ca22b4ed60cb5af2025-08-20T03:40:47ZengNature PortfolioCommunications Earth & Environment2662-44352025-03-016111210.1038/s43247-025-02206-3Climate warming and nutrient enrichment destabilize plankton network stability over the past centurySiwei Yu0Xiaofeng Cao1Pengfei Chen2Yaping Liu3Gaoqi Duan4Weixiao Qi5Jianfeng Peng6Huijuan Liu7Jiuhui Qu8Center for Water and Ecology, State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua UniversityCenter for Water and Ecology, State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua UniversityKey Laboratory of Cryospheric Sciences and Frozen Soil Engineering, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of SciencesKey Laboratory of Cryospheric Sciences and Frozen Soil Engineering, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of SciencesCenter for Water and Ecology, State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua UniversityCenter for Water and Ecology, State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua UniversityCenter for Water and Ecology, State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua UniversityCenter for Water and Ecology, State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua UniversityCenter for Water and Ecology, State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua UniversityAbstract Global warming and anthropogenic activities have profoundly altered biodiversity and the stability of aquatic ecosystems. However, the underlying driving mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here, we analyzed the temporal patterns of biodiversity and community stability over the past century by constructing 29 temporal planktonic network models. These models were based on the sedimentary DNA (sedDNA) extracted from downcore sediments of Lake Chagan, a seasonally frozen lake in Northeastern China, using high-throughput sequencing techniques. Our findings identified the mid-1990s as a critical tipping point, marked by substantial shifts in nutrient levels and annual average temperatures. We demonstrated that the temporal network stability of plankton communities was predominantly compromised by climate warming, followed by nutrient enrichment. This study highlights the intricate interplay between biotic and abiotic factors that determine the stability of aquatic ecological networks, which has important implications for the management and conservation of freshwater ecosystems facing ongoing climate warming.https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02206-3
spellingShingle Siwei Yu
Xiaofeng Cao
Pengfei Chen
Yaping Liu
Gaoqi Duan
Weixiao Qi
Jianfeng Peng
Huijuan Liu
Jiuhui Qu
Climate warming and nutrient enrichment destabilize plankton network stability over the past century
Communications Earth & Environment
title Climate warming and nutrient enrichment destabilize plankton network stability over the past century
title_full Climate warming and nutrient enrichment destabilize plankton network stability over the past century
title_fullStr Climate warming and nutrient enrichment destabilize plankton network stability over the past century
title_full_unstemmed Climate warming and nutrient enrichment destabilize plankton network stability over the past century
title_short Climate warming and nutrient enrichment destabilize plankton network stability over the past century
title_sort climate warming and nutrient enrichment destabilize plankton network stability over the past century
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02206-3
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