The impact of water-level regulation on littoral macroinvertebrate assemblages in boreal lakes

Regulation of lake water level for power production and flood control is among the major anthropogenic disturbances in boreal aquatic ecosystems. In Finland, over 300 lakes, representing one third of the total inland water area of the country, are artificially regulated. To study the effects of regulation on lake littoral macroinvertebrate communities, samples were taken from upper stony littoral and from lower soft bottom littoral habitats of 11 lakes with different regulation amplitudes (wintertime fall in water level 1.19–6.75 m). Twelve unregulated (wintertime fall in water level 0.11–0.55 m) lakes with otherwise similar characteristics were used as a reference. Non-metric Multidimensional Scaling ordinations showed that the composition of macroinvertebrate assemblages was strongly associated with the amplitude of water level regulation. Taxon richness also decreased with increasing intensity of regulation. Freezing and flushing of sediments in late winter are probably the most important factors leading to the impoverished littoral macroinvertebrate fauna. Invertebrates with long life cycle seem to be particularly vulnerable to unnatural water level fluctuation. Our results show that regulation of water level has a major impact on functionally significant lake littoral macroinvertebrates.     

Effects of water-level regulation on the nearshore fish community in boreal lakes

The fish community in the littoral areas of eight regulated lakes and five reference lakes in Finland was sampled by electrofishing. No significant effect of winter drawdown on species richness was recorded across lakes. Total fish density for stony bottoms of the regulated and reference lakes averaged 19.3 and 32.7 individuals per 100 m², respectively, but this difference was not statistically significant. The combined proportion of littoral fish species, including minnow (Phoxinus phoxinus), bullhead (Cottus gobio), alpine bullhead (Cottus poecilopus), nine-spined stickleback (Pungitius pungitius), and stone loach (Barbatula barbatula), supplemented with zoobenthos feeders ruffe (Gymnocephalus cernuus) and young burbot (Lota lota), was much lower in the regulated lakes than in the reference lakes. Besides winter drawdown, other variables, such as nutrient level and lake size, affected the fish community. Guest editors: K. M. Wantzen, K.-O. Rothhaupt, M. M?rtl, M. Cantonati, L. G.-Tóth & P. Fischer Ecological Effects of Water-Level Fluctuations in Lakes     

The importance of water-level fluctuation for the conservation of shallow water benthic macroinvertebrates: an example in the Andean zone of Chile

Many researchers have shown the importance of water chemistry and benthic habitat characteristics for the conservation of the freshwater macroinvertebrate biodiversity. However, few authors have examined the physical effect of extreme water-level fluctuations in lakes. The present study set out to determine, through a comparative study between a regulated lake (Laja Lake, LL) and an unregulated lake (Icalma Lake, IL) of the Andean zone of southern Chile, how man-made disturbances of the natural hydrological regime affect the structure of the benthic macroinvertebrate community. The results showed LL had very low values for species richness, density and biomass in comparison with IL, and the community was composed mainly of few individuals belonging to opportunistic taxa such as Chironomidae and Naididae. We suggest that the low values in the regulated lake are potentially explained by littoral zone factors driven by the water-level fluctuations such as: desiccation, freezing of the biota, removal of organic particles from the sediment and absence of aquatic macrophytes.     

Natural lake level fluctuation and associated concordance with water quality and aquatic communities within small lakes of the Laurentian Great Lakes region

Long-term (~20 year) data on water level, water quality and aquatic biota from four remote research areas in the Laurentian Great Lakes region were compiled to reveal patterns of natural water-level fluctuation (WLF) and associated effects on water quality and aquatic communities. Of the 16 natural lakes (no dam impoundment and lowest possible anthropogenic disturbance) yearly amplitude in water level did not exceed 1.27 m (\( \overline {\text{x}} \) = 0.26 ± 0.15 m) and yearly average water levels did not deviate greater than 0.75 m (\( \overline {\text{x}} \) = 0.10 ± 0.11 m) from the long-term mean. Linear and waveform regression analyses revealed a significant (P ≤ 0.05) decreasing trend in water levels and a 10-year oscillation in WLFs. Similarly, linear regression analysis demonstrated a significant reduction in yearly amplitude WLF over time. Correlation analyses revealed significant correlations with water quality parameters (DOC, Ca²⁺, Conductivity, pH, SO₄ ^2?) and WLFs in Boreal Shield research areas. Of the long-term biotic information available (periphyton, macrophytes, macroinvertebrates and fish) only macroinvertebrates demonstrated a significant relationship with natural WLFs. Species richness followed a unimodal response (P = 0.002, r ² = 0.66) with richness decreasing in years when water levels were either higher or lower than the long-term mean. The novel results of this study demonstrate patterns in natural WLF and associated correlations with water quality and biota across multiple lakes within the Laurentian Great Lakes region. The results are congruent with the intermediate disturbance hypothesis and have direct implications for reservoir management and climate change modeling.     

An extension of the floodpulse concept (FPC) for lakes

This paper delivers a conceptual framework for the ecological functioning and biodiversity patterns of lakes that is based on the floodpulse concept (FPC). The specific characteristics of rivers and lakes considering water-level fluctuations are compared, with respect to catchment linkages, temporal patterns, and hydraulic forces of flooding and drawdown. The influences of floodpulses on element cycles, biodiversity, and adaptations of lake biota are analyzed, and the importance of multi-annual flooding cycles is highlighted. The degree by which these water-level fluctuations influence lake ecosystems strongly depends on lake morphology, where shallow lakes or those with large shallow margins are the most sensitive. Although floodpulses play a major role for ecosystem services such as lake management and climate change mitigation schemes, this issue is only scarcely dealt with. Tenets of the extended FPC for lakes are formulated in order to overcome this problem.     

Changes of phytoplankton communities in Lakes Naivasha and Oloidien, examples of degradation and salinization of lakes in the Kenyan Rift Valley

Increasing degradation of the water quality, caused by overuse and salinization, leads to considerable changes of the phytoplankton composition in Kenyan Rift Valley lakes. Exemplarily, the phytoplankton communities and biomasses of deteriorating freshwater Lake Naivasha and salinizing Lake Oloidien were studied between 2001 and 2005, accompanied by physico-chemical measurements (pH, total phosphorus and nitrogen, alkalinity, conductivity). Over the last three decades, the ecology of these two water basins has been subjected to dramatic changes, caused by excessive use of water and catchment area by man. In L. Naivasha a shift in the dominance of coccoid cyanobacteria towards dominance of Chlorophyceae (Botryococcus terribilis) was observed. Lake Oloidien exhibited a shift in the dominance of coccoid Chlorophyceae towards dominance of cyanobacteria (Arthrospira fusiformis, Anabaenopsis elenkinii). Phytoplankton findings and chemical data demonstrate that L. Naivasha has developed towards a eutrophic freshwater lake while L. Oloidien has progressed towards a hypereutrophic alkaline-saline lake. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users. Handling editor: J. Padisak     

Diatom assemblages in sediments of Lake Juusa, Southern Estonia with an assessment of their habitat

Diatom analysis of surface sediments and two sediment cores from different sedimentation areas of a small closed lake was undertaken with the aim of acquiring knowledge on the dependence of the distribution of diatom assemblages on lake bathymetry. Lake Juusa was selected for the study because we have for this lake a large data set about the lithological composition of sediments and macrofossil and cladoceran records for the Holocene. A high carbonate content (20–60%) in the sediment sequence indicates high carbonacity and relatively stable pH values during the Holocene. On the basis of comprehensive analysis, abrupt water-level fluctuations and changes in the trophic status were established. Results of this study showed that the fluctuations of the water-level were the leading factor determining the habitats of diatom assemblages in the lake. In the surface sediment samples planktonic species such as Cyclotella spp., Stephanodiscus spp. and Aulacoseira spp. had a depth optimum at 3–4 m and the most abundant periphytic taxa were distributed mostly at depths shallower than 3.5 m. The same regularity was established in sediment cores where a good correlation between planktonic species and lake water depth was found in sediments accumulated at water depths >4 m. Lake Juusa appears to be a proper site for detailed environmental reconstructions over the Holocene, and the results will give us a good opportunity to analyse the history of water-level fluctuations in other small Estonian lakes. Electronic Supplementary Material The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users. Handling editor: K. Martens     

中国湖泊水量调节能力及其动态变化

湖泊水量调节是指湖泊生态系统通过洪水蓄积和径流补给实现水资源的再分配,进而减轻洪旱灾害。在围湖造田、退田还湖和气候变化影响下,科学评估我国湖泊水量调节能力现状及变化情况,是实现湖泊洪水调蓄功能和水资源调节功能评价的重要基础。基于全国湖泊调查数据,将全国划分为5个评价区,探讨了面向全国尺度的湖泊水量调节能力评价方法,在此基础上对全国湖泊的水量调节能力及其动态变化进行了分析评价。结果表明:(1)我国湖泊(面积1 km2)水量调节总量为1500.02亿m3,其中东部平原区和青藏高原区的调节量最高,分别占全国总量的44.46%和43.63%;(2)湖泊调节水量的效能以东部平原区最高(310.19万m3/km2),其次是东北平原与山区(191.19万m3/km2),围湖造田/退田还湖将导致该区湖泊水量调节能力明显削弱/增强;(3)近几十年来,我国湖泊水量调节能力呈小幅增长(增长量9.76亿m3,增幅0.65%),5个评价区仅蒙新高原区湖泊水量调节能力明显削弱,其余区域均呈不同程度增强,且以东部平原区增加最多,东北平原与山区增幅最大。研究可以为评估我国湖泊生态系统水量调节能力、分析土地利用变化对流域洪水调蓄和水资源调节功能的影响提供参考。     

Taxonomic distinctness indices for discriminating patterns in freshwater rotifer assemblages

Taxonomic distinctness indices measure the taxonomic relatedness among species and have been used for environmental assessment to detect disturbed habitats. This is the first application of the Average Taxonomic Distinctness (Δ⁺) and Variance in Taxonomic Distinctness (Λ⁺) indices to the presence/absence data of rotifer communities to examine their sensitiveness in discriminating perturbed environments. The 26 Greek lakes studied spanned a wide range of morphological and physical–chemical characteristics. Δ⁺ was significantly correlated (P < 0.05) with maximum depth, salinity and trophic state, while Λ⁺ was correlated only with salinity. The index Δ⁺ identified lakes characterized by periods of increased salinity. Communities in these lakes were less diverse, consisting of more closely related species as seen by the reduced number of families than other lakes with similar species richness. Lakes identified by Λ⁺ had a higher community distinctness than expected due to the overrepresentation of the family Brachionidae; they were also characterized by periods of water-level fluctuations. Both indices were unaffected by sampling effort in terms of number of species and sampling visits; whereas Shannon diversity index (H′) was correlated to species number. Also, based on the randomization test, the taxonomic distinctness indices differentiated lakes anthropogenically disturbed based on the expected patterns of diversity of the area.

     

Climate change and lakeshore conservation: a model and review of management techniques

Climate change is expected to cause significant changes to the hydrology of lakes, reservoirs and other wetlands. In particular, there will be an increase in the level of disturbance produced by water-level fluctuations. This may have adverse consequences for biodiversity, water quality and human uses. Strategies to cope with these climate change impacts are currently poorly developed. This article proposes the use of Grime’s CSR theory as a framework to understand the potential impacts of climate change on shoreline vegetation. It is also used to recommend a series of practical management techniques that will contribute to the adaptation capacity of shoreline ecosystems. Four key areas are highlighted: hydrological controls, substrate conditions, shoreline topography and vegetation establishment.     

三峡水库消落区植被在差异性水淹环境中的分布格局

人工水库修建引发的差异性水文节律是决定消落区植被群落格局的主要因素,高强度水淹环境中水淹胁迫是影响植被的重要因子而低强度水淹环境中物种竞争是影响植被的重要因子。为了探究差异性水淹环境中三峡水库消落区植物的水淹耐受能力及光资源竞争能力(植物株高)对植被群落分布格局的影响,对三峡水库典型消落区不同水淹强度下生长的植被进行了研究,结果表明:(1)典型消落区调查共发现有植物41种,其中高耐淹低竞争能力型植物4种,其生物量在所有物种生物量中的占比达70.99%,低耐淹高竞争能力型植物23种,其生物量占比为28.02%,低耐淹低竞争能力型植物14种,生物量占比不足1%,消落区内无高耐淹高竞争能力型植物物种分布;(2)高耐淹低竞争能力型植物在水淹强度大的消落区区域占优,低耐淹高竞争能力型植物在植物物种竞争压力大的消落区区域占据主导,低耐淹低竞争能力型植物在消落区中仅有零星分布;(3)消落区植被生物量格局随着高程增加呈现出先增加后减少的趋势。研究差异性水淹环境对三峡水库消落区植被分布的影响,可以为深入理解消落区植被分布格局的形成机制和大型水库消落区植被恢复与重建提供理论依据。     

Comparative investigation of chemical and biological characteristics in waters and trophic state of Mongolian lakes

The objective of this study is to describe the biogeochemical characteristics in the waters of Mongolian lakes, particularly those related to parameters limiting phytoplankton growth and the trophic state. Investigations into the distribution of chemical and biological parameters were carried out in the following 18 lakes: Har Us, Har, Hovsgol, Achit, Dalai, Bayan, Tolbo, Holboo, Bust, Sangiyn Dalai, Tunamal, Dorgon, Uureg, Telmen, Hyargas, Uvs, Erkhel and Oygon, all of which showed a wide range of salinity between 0.16 and 24.9 g l⁻¹. Lake water was classified into four types: six fresh (less than 0.5 g l⁻¹ salinity), three subsaline (0.5–3 g l⁻¹), seven hyposaline (3–20 g l⁻¹) and two mesosaline (20–50 g l⁻¹) lakes. Predominant cations and anions in the order of dominance were Ca, Mg > Na > K and HCO₃ > SO₄, Cl in freshwater lakes, Na > Mg > Ca, K and HCO₃, Cl > SO₄ in subsaline lakes, and Na > Mg > K, Ca and Cl, SO₄ > HCO₃ in hyposaline and mesosaline lakes. Nitrogenous and phosphorus nutrients in the waters were low, seemingly caused by the low loads from their watersheds, where the ground was free of vegetation with an extremely low level of human activity. The present investigations revealed some 234 taxa of phytoplankton and 38 of zooplankton. The PC:PN:PP stoichiometric ratio by weight was (22–202):(3–27):1. Phosphorus was assessed as the potential limiting parameter in eight lakes, nitrogen in six and both nutrients in four others. Twelve lakes showed an oligotrophic character, while six were mesotrophic type. The six oligotrophic lakes seemed to be subject to phosphorus limiting phytoplankton growth, four to nitrogen and two to both limitations. In the mesotrophic lakes, on the other hand, phosphorus limitation was verified in two lakes, nitrogen in two others and both in two lakes.     

Variations and controls of nitrogen stable isotopes in particulate organic matter of lakes

Nitrogen stable isotope (δ¹⁵N) data of particulate organic matter (POM) from the literature were analyzed to provide an understanding of the variations and controls of δ¹⁵N_POM in lakes at the global scale. The δ¹⁵N_POM variability characterized by seasonal mean, minimum, maximum, and amplitude (defined as δ¹⁵N_POM maximum − δ¹⁵N_POM minimum) from 36 lakes with seasonal data did not change systematically with latitude, but was significantly lower in small lakes than in large lakes. The seasonal mean δ¹⁵N_POM increased from oligotrophic lakes to eutrophic lakes despite large variations that are attributed to the occurrences of nitrogen fixation across the trophic gradient and the differences in δ¹⁵N of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) in individual lakes. Seasonal mean δ¹⁵N_POM was significantly correlated with DIN concentration and δ¹⁵N_DIN in two subsets of lakes. Seasonal minimum δ¹⁵N_POM in individual lakes is influenced by nitrogen fixation and δ¹⁵N_DIN while seasonal maximum δ¹⁵N_POM is influenced by lake trophic state and δ¹⁵N_DIN. As a result of the dominance of non-living POM in the unproductive surface waters, seasonal δ¹⁵N_POM amplitude was small (mean = 4.2‰) in oligotrophic lakes of all latitudes. On the other hand, seasonal δ¹⁵N_POM amplitude in eutrophic lakes was large (mean = 10.3‰), and increased from low to high latitudes, suggesting that the seasonal variability of δ¹⁵N in the phytoplankton-dominated POM pool was elevated by the greater spans of solar radiation and thermal regimes at high latitudes. The δ¹⁵N_POM from 42 lakes with no seasonal data revealed no consistent patterns along latitude, lake area, and trophic gradients, and a greater than 2‰ depletion compared to the lakes with seasonal data. Along with the large seasonal variability of δ¹⁵N_POM within lakes, these results provide insightful information on sampling design for the studies of food web baseline in lakes. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Spring phytoplankton of 54 small lakes in southern Finland

The abundance and species composition of phytoplankton communities were studied rapidly following the spring ice-melt in 54 small Finnish lakes that form a unique mosaic of water bodies. Phytoplankton biomass and cell density varied among the study lakes with a factor 100 between the lowest and highest values. Highest biomass and densities of phytoplankton characterized small ( < 0.05 km²) lakes with moderate or high water colour (> 80 mg Pt l^–1). In contrast, biomass was low in clear-water lakes and lakes where water throughflow was strong. Typically one species dominated most phytoplankton communities, and usually comprised up to about 45% of the total phytoplankton biomass. Two-thirds of the 103 taxa observed were Chrysophyceans and Chlorophyceans. The most common taxa wereChlamydomonas spp. (Chlorophyceae) andCryptomonas ovata (Cryptophyceae).     

Area reduction and trace element pollution in Nile Delta wetland ecosystems

The three main Nile Delta wetland ecosystems, Manzala, Burullus and Edku lagoons, are among the most ecologically important and productive habitats in Egypt. We studied the area degradation and the human health risks associated with trace metal accumulation in Tilapia zillii harvested from these lakes. The area of Manzala lagoon has shrunken from about 3035 km² in 1800 to about 288 km² in 2015, the area of Edku has shrunken from about 336 km² in 1824 to about 18 km² in 2014, and the area of Burullus has shrunken from about 1116 km² in 1949 to about 546 km² in 2014. This area degradation is attributed to drying for housing, land reclamation and fish farming. As a result, the concentration of pollutants and nutrients has subsequently increased, and large parts of the lakes have been overgrown with aquatic vegetation, which increased the rate of degradation and land transformation. Metal pollution was detected in water, sediment and edible fish harvested from the lakes. The hazard index, an indicator of human health risks associated with fish consumption, showed adverse health effects of zinc and lead metals for habitual fish consumers. The impact of the high dam on the lakes was discussed.     

1986—2019年新疆湖泊变化时空特征及趋势分析

干旱区湖泊是区域水资源系统的重要组成部分,不仅在维系区域生态系统平衡上发挥重要支撑作用,而且也对区域气候变化和人类活动具有重要的指示意义。基于Google Earth Engine(GEE)遥感云计算平台,以Landsat 5/7/8卫星遥感影像为主要数据源,分析了1986—2019年新疆维吾尔自治区湖泊数量以及面积变化的时空特征,并从气候要素变化、人类活动干扰等方面初步探讨了新疆湖泊变化的主要原因。结果表明：1986—2019年间,气温升高使得冰川积雪融水增加,新疆湖泊整体上呈现出扩张趋势。然而受人类活动的干扰程度以及地形海拔等因素,这种趋势存在显著的空间差异。全球变暖背景下,由于受到丰富稳定的雪冰融水的补给,受人为干扰较小的青藏高原北部地区湖泊呈现显著扩张。相反由于环天山地区强烈的人类活动以及冰川加速退缩影响,该区域湖泊面积持续高位波动状态。     

Interactive effects of potassium and sodium on root growth and expression of K/Na transporter genes in rice

Sufficient supply of potassium (K) can alleviate the adverse effects of excess sodium (Na) on plant growth. However, it remains unclear if such a beneficial function is related to regulation of root growth and/or expression of K/Na transporters. Herein we report the responses of a rice cultivar, which was pretreated with normal nutrient solution for 1 month, to three levels of Na (0, 25, and 100 mM) without or with supply of K for 9 days. High Na (100 mM) significantly decreased plant growth, root activity, and total K uptake, and increased biomass ratio of roots to shoots. Short-term removal of K supply (9 days) did not affect root morphology and biomass ratio of roots to shoots, but decreased root activity of seedlings grown in high Na solution. K deficiency increased uptake of Na and transport of K from roots to shoots. Moreover, expression of OsHAK1, a putative K transporter gene, was upregulated by low Na (25 mM) and downregulated by high Na (100 mM) in roots. In leaves, its expression was suppressed by the Na treatments when K supply was maintained. Expression of OsHKT2;1, which encodes a protein that acts mainly as a Na transporter, was downregulated by high Na, but was enhanced by K deficiency both in roots and leaves. Expression of five other putative K/Na transporter or Na⁺/H⁺ genes, OsHKT1;1, OsHKT1;2, OsHKT2;3, OsNHX1, and OsSOS1, was not affected by the treatments. The results suggest that OsHAK1 and OsHKT2;1 were involved in the interactive effects of K and Na on their uptake and distribution in rice. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

A study of the salt lakes and salt springs of Eyre Peninsula, South Australia

An 18-month-study of 40 saline wetlands, ranging from 6 to 336 g l⁻¹, on the west and southern coasts of Eyre Peninsula yielded 88 species of invertebrates, some aquatic plants and a fish. The invertebrates are taxonomically diverse and include 38 crustaceans, 28 insects, 12 molluscs and significantly an aquatic spider, a nemertean, two polychaetes, two sea anemones, a sponge and a bryzoan. Most were tolerant of wide fluctuations in salinity, there being 51 halobionts, 21 halophils and only 16 salt-tolerant freshwater species. Many invertebrates are restricted to the thalassic springs where marine molluscs dominated. Athalassic wetlands were dominated by crustaceans and were of two basic types—coastal and continental. There is evidence of the former evolving biologically into the later, and for some lakes to be still in transition. There is also evidence of increasing salinity in recent decades and already two lakes exhibit severe secondary salinity. Like other salt lakes in Australia the fauna is regionally distinctive. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users. Guest Editors: J. John & B. Timms Salt Lake Research: Biodiversity and Conservation—Selected papers from the 9th Conference of the International Society for Salt Lake Research