Spatial–Seasonal Shifts in Phytoplankton and Zooplankton Community Structure Within a Subtropical Plateau Lake: Interplay with Environmental Drivers During Rainy and Dry Seasons
Subtropical plateau lakes, which are distinguished by their elevated altitudes and subtropical climates, display distinct ecological dynamics. Nevertheless, the spatial and seasonal variations in the plankton community structure, as well as their interactions with environmental factors, remain inade...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Fishes |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2410-3888/10/7/343 |
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| Summary: | Subtropical plateau lakes, which are distinguished by their elevated altitudes and subtropical climates, display distinct ecological dynamics. Nevertheless, the spatial and seasonal variations in the plankton community structure, as well as their interactions with environmental factors, remain inadequately understood. This study investigated the alterations in the phytoplankton and zooplankton community structure across different geographical regions (southern, central, and northern) and seasonal periods (rainy and dry) in Erhai lake, located in a subtropical plateau in China. The results indicated that the average values of total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), chlorophyll-a (Chl<i>a</i>), pH, and conductivity are significantly higher during the rainy season in comparison to the dry season. Furthermore, during the rainy season, there were significant differences in the concentrations of TN, TP, and Chl<i>a</i> among the three designated water areas. Notable differences were also observed in the distribution of <i>Microcystis</i>, the density of Cladocera and copepods, and the biomass of copepods across the three regions during this season. Conversely, in the dry season, only the biomass of Cladocera exhibited significant variation among the three water areas. The redundancy analysis (RDA) and variance partitioning analysis demonstrated that the distribution of plankton groups (Cyanophyta, Cryptophyta, and Cladocera) is significantly associated with TN, Secchi depth (SD), and Chl<i>a</i> during the rainy season, whereas it is significantly correlated with TP and SD during the dry season. These findings underscore the critical influence of environmental factors, shaped by rainfall patterns, in driving these ecological changes. In the context of the early stages of eutrophication in Lake Erhai, it is essential to ascertain the spatial distribution of water quality parameters, as well as phytoplankton and zooplankton density and biomass, during both the rainy and dry seasons. |
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| ISSN: | 2410-3888 |