Role of hydraulic residence time in shaping phytoplankton community assembly in the upper yellow river cascade reservoirs

Introduction: Cascade hydropower development significantly alters the structure and function of river ecosystems. Phytoplankton, as primary producers, are highly sensitive to environmental changes, and their diversity and community structure reflect the state of the water environment. While there is...

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Main Authors: Qiyong Luo, Linyu Zhu, Daikui Li, Zhigang Zu, Kebin Chen, Jia Wang, Yujun Yi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-04-01
Series:Frontiers in Environmental Science
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenvs.2025.1551988/full
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author Qiyong Luo
Qiyong Luo
Linyu Zhu
Daikui Li
Zhigang Zu
Zhigang Zu
Kebin Chen
Jia Wang
Yujun Yi
Yujun Yi
Yujun Yi
author_facet Qiyong Luo
Qiyong Luo
Linyu Zhu
Daikui Li
Zhigang Zu
Zhigang Zu
Kebin Chen
Jia Wang
Yujun Yi
Yujun Yi
Yujun Yi
author_sort Qiyong Luo
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Cascade hydropower development significantly alters the structure and function of river ecosystems. Phytoplankton, as primary producers, are highly sensitive to environmental changes, and their diversity and community structure reflect the state of the water environment. While there is extensive research on how changes in river environments affect phytoplankton community structure, studies on the spatial distribution patterns and community assembly mechanisms of phytoplankton in relation to hydraulic residence time (HRT)—a key characteristic of reservoirs—are limited.Methods: Linear regression analysis was used to examine the relationship between phytoplankton communities and HRT. Additionally, the Neutral Community Model (NCM) combined with the Modified Stochasticity Ratio (MST) was employed to reveal the types of phytoplankton community assembly in these cascade reservoirs. Finally, Mantel tests and stepwise regression analysis assessed the specific impacts of environmental factors on phytoplankton communities.Results: In the ecosystem of the Yellow River cascade reservoirs, HRT is positively correlated with phytoplankton abundance and diversity across different seasons. In annual regulation hydropower stations (LJX and LYX), phytoplankton species richness, abundance, and diversity indices are higher compared to those in runoff hydropower stations.Discussion: The phytoplankton community assembly is primarily driven by deterministic processes, with annual regulation hydropower station being more influenced by these processes than runoff hydropower station. HRT, water temperature (WT), and total nitrogen (TN) are the most significant environmental factors affecting the structural differences of phytoplankton in cascade reservoirs. There is a significant positive correlation between phytoplankton and water temperature, especially in short HRT runoff hydropower station where phytoplankton abundance is more significantly impacted by water temperature.
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publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
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spelling doaj-art-dd3327f6b8a947f3aa83e38da41417202025-08-20T02:16:44ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Environmental Science2296-665X2025-04-011310.3389/fenvs.2025.15519881551988Role of hydraulic residence time in shaping phytoplankton community assembly in the upper yellow river cascade reservoirsQiyong Luo0Qiyong Luo1Linyu Zhu2Daikui Li3Zhigang Zu4Zhigang Zu5Kebin Chen6Jia Wang7Yujun Yi8Yujun Yi9Yujun Yi10State Key Laboratory of Regional Environment and Sustainability, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, ChinaSchool of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Guangxi University of Science and Technology, Liuzhou, Guangxi, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Regional Environment and Sustainability, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Regional Environment and Sustainability, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Regional Environment and Sustainability, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, ChinaSchool of Civil Engineering, Yantai University, Yantai, Shandong, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Regional Environment and Sustainability, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Regional Environment and Sustainability, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Regional Environment and Sustainability, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, ChinaSchool of Civil Engineering, Yantai University, Yantai, Shandong, ChinaMinistry of Education Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Science, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, ChinaIntroduction: Cascade hydropower development significantly alters the structure and function of river ecosystems. Phytoplankton, as primary producers, are highly sensitive to environmental changes, and their diversity and community structure reflect the state of the water environment. While there is extensive research on how changes in river environments affect phytoplankton community structure, studies on the spatial distribution patterns and community assembly mechanisms of phytoplankton in relation to hydraulic residence time (HRT)—a key characteristic of reservoirs—are limited.Methods: Linear regression analysis was used to examine the relationship between phytoplankton communities and HRT. Additionally, the Neutral Community Model (NCM) combined with the Modified Stochasticity Ratio (MST) was employed to reveal the types of phytoplankton community assembly in these cascade reservoirs. Finally, Mantel tests and stepwise regression analysis assessed the specific impacts of environmental factors on phytoplankton communities.Results: In the ecosystem of the Yellow River cascade reservoirs, HRT is positively correlated with phytoplankton abundance and diversity across different seasons. In annual regulation hydropower stations (LJX and LYX), phytoplankton species richness, abundance, and diversity indices are higher compared to those in runoff hydropower stations.Discussion: The phytoplankton community assembly is primarily driven by deterministic processes, with annual regulation hydropower station being more influenced by these processes than runoff hydropower station. HRT, water temperature (WT), and total nitrogen (TN) are the most significant environmental factors affecting the structural differences of phytoplankton in cascade reservoirs. There is a significant positive correlation between phytoplankton and water temperature, especially in short HRT runoff hydropower station where phytoplankton abundance is more significantly impacted by water temperature.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenvs.2025.1551988/fullphytoplanktoncommunity assemblyhydraulic residence timecascade reservoirthe upper yellow river
spellingShingle Qiyong Luo
Qiyong Luo
Linyu Zhu
Daikui Li
Zhigang Zu
Zhigang Zu
Kebin Chen
Jia Wang
Yujun Yi
Yujun Yi
Yujun Yi
Role of hydraulic residence time in shaping phytoplankton community assembly in the upper yellow river cascade reservoirs
Frontiers in Environmental Science
phytoplankton
community assembly
hydraulic residence time
cascade reservoir
the upper yellow river
title Role of hydraulic residence time in shaping phytoplankton community assembly in the upper yellow river cascade reservoirs
title_full Role of hydraulic residence time in shaping phytoplankton community assembly in the upper yellow river cascade reservoirs
title_fullStr Role of hydraulic residence time in shaping phytoplankton community assembly in the upper yellow river cascade reservoirs
title_full_unstemmed Role of hydraulic residence time in shaping phytoplankton community assembly in the upper yellow river cascade reservoirs
title_short Role of hydraulic residence time in shaping phytoplankton community assembly in the upper yellow river cascade reservoirs
title_sort role of hydraulic residence time in shaping phytoplankton community assembly in the upper yellow river cascade reservoirs
topic phytoplankton
community assembly
hydraulic residence time
cascade reservoir
the upper yellow river
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenvs.2025.1551988/full
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