Hydrological regulation drives regime shifts: evidence from paleolimnology and ecosystem modeling of a large shallow Chinese lake

Quantitative evidence of sudden shifts in ecological structure and function in large shallow lakes is rare, even though they provide essential benefits to society. Such ‘regime shifts’ can be driven by human activities which degrade ecological stability including water level control (WLC) and nutrient loading. Interactions between WLC and nutrient loading on the long‐term dynamics of shallow lake ecosystems are, however, often overlooked and largely underestimated, which has hampered the effectiveness of lake management. Here, we focus on a large shallow lake (Lake Chaohu) located in one of the most densely populated areas in China, the lower Yangtze River floodplain, which has undergone both WLC and increasing nutrient loading over the last several decades. We applied a novel methodology that combines consistent evidence from both paleolimnological records and ecosystem modeling to overcome the hurdle of data insufficiency and to unravel the drivers and underlying mechanisms in ecosystem dynamics. We identified the occurrence of two regime shifts: one in 1963, characterized by the abrupt disappearance of submerged vegetation, and another around 1980, with strong algal blooms being observed thereafter. Using model scenarios, we further disentangled the roles of WLC and nutrient loading, showing that the 1963 shift was predominantly triggered by WLC, whereas the shift ca. 1980 was attributed to aggravated nutrient loading. Our analysis also shows interactions between these two stressors. Compared to the dynamics driven by nutrient loading alone, WLC reduced the critical P loading and resulted in earlier disappearance of submerged vegetation and emergence of algal blooms by approximately 26 and 10 years, respectively. Overall, our study reveals the significant role of hydrological regulation in driving shallow lake ecosystem dynamics, and it highlights the urgency of using multi‐objective management criteria that includes ecological sustainability perspectives when implementing hydrological regulation for aquatic ecosystems around the globe.     

Alternation between clear,high-vegetation and turbid,low-vegetation states in a shallow lake: the role of birds

External phosphorus load to a wetland with two shallow lakes in the Botshol Nature Reserve, the Netherlands, was reduced since 1989, resulting in a rapid reduction of phosphorus levels, phytoplankton biomass and turbidity, and after 4 years, explosive growth of Characeae. The clear water state was unstable, however, and the ecosystem subsequently alternated between clear, high-vegetation and turbid, low-vegetation states. The switch from clear to turbid states occurred at a higher phosphorus level than the switch from turbid to clear states and area covered by macrophytes was significantly correlated to Secchi disc depth (r = 0.86, p < 0.001). Beginning in 1997, phosphorus input from droppings of greylag geese and black-headed gulls increased. The hypothesis that grazing prevented the return of Characeae populations was tested during 1996–1997 using large-scale exclosure experiments. The biomass and cover of Characeae were monitored in 17 exclosures for 2 years. The experiments showed no significant increase in Characeae in the absence of grazers compared with the controls. During the course of the experiments, the entire lake switched from turbid water to clear water and high Chara biomass. These ecosystem developments suggest that light limitation was the main factor controlling the collapse and return of Characeae in Botshol.     

用浮游动物评价巢湖东湖区的水质和营养类型

于2005年6月至2006年6月对巢湖东湖区的浮游动物进行了采样调查,初步研究了巢湖东湖区的浮游动物的种类组成、群落结构特征以及浮游动物物种的多样性,并对巢湖东湖区的水质状况和营养类型作出了评价。研究结果显示浮游动物153种,其中原生动物43属59种,占总种数的38.56%;轮虫类20属48种,占总种数的31.37%;枝角类14属26种,占总种数的16.99%;桡足类20种,占总种数的13.07%。浮游动物的物种多样性随着季节的变化而变化;污生指数法评价结果表明巢湖东湖区的水质状况从2005年6月至2006年6月均处于β-中污带级;用浮游动物数量(ind·L^-1)作为湖泊水体营养程度的生物量指标,其结果显示巢湖东湖区水体从2005年6-9月和2006年3-6月巢湖东湖区水体的营养状况处于富营养状态。     

洞庭湖区不同土地利用方式下的土壤动物群落结构

2004年4月和7月,对洞庭湖区5种不同土地利用方式下土壤动物群落结构进行调查,以了解洞庭湖区湿地土壤动物多样性的基本情况,以及不同土地利用方式对土壤动物群落结构的影响。实验采得土壤样本270个,经分离后获土壤动物6282头,分属于5门、10纲、29类。通过对物种丰富度(S)、多样性指数(H)、均匀度指数(j)、相似度指数(q)和密度-类群指数(DG)几个多样性指标进行分析,结果表明农林间作的黑杨-苔草-菜地的物种丰富度、均匀度和密度-类群指数均显著高于其它生境,土壤动物多样性随土地利用方式和人为干扰程度的不同而存在很大差异。不同类型区的大、中、小型土壤动物的数量和组成有季节性变化,大型动物的类群组成在每个样地4、7月间均有很大差别,黑杨-苔草-菜地、黑杨-苔草地和稻田3个样地4月份蜱螨目数量均显著高于7月份;而弹尾目的数量仅在稻田4月份显著高于7月份,油菜-棉花 水稻地却是7月份显著高于4月份,其它样地无显著性差异;线虫数量仅在黑杨-苔草地和油菜-棉花 水稻地7月份的数量显著高于4月份。人类的农业生产活动导致土壤动物物种多样性降低,优势集中度提高,优势种突出,均匀性降低,形成了只利于少数几个种群栖息和生存的环境,土壤动物生物多样性受到影响,但适度干扰能提高土壤动物生物多样性。     

太湖全新世沉积物有机联同位素的分布及其古气侯意义

通过太湖两个钻孔岩芯有机碳同位素（１３Ｃ／１２Ｃ）的分析,发现δ１３Ｃ的垂直分布与太湖地区１６０００ａＢ．Ｐ．以来古气候波动相关。根据δ１３Ｃ垂直分布曲线可推测,大约在１１０００—６０００ａＢ．Ｐ,太湖地区处于温暖湿润期,气温高于现在平均温度。另一方面,根据太湖两岩芯沉积物的δ１３Ｃ值的对比发现,大约在１１０００—６０００ａＢ．Ｐ,西太湖（Ｗ１Ｂ）岩芯沉积物的δ１３Ｃ平均值明显高于东太湖（Ｅ２Ｂ）。据此可认为,在这一期间西太湖很可能有过海水侵入。     

Variability in factors causing light attenuation in Lake Victoria

1. The major optical components controlling the attenuation of photosynthetic available radiation in nearshore areas of Lake Victoria (Uganda and Kenya) were examined and their impact compared. It was found that chromophoric dissolved organic matter and tripton play a dominating role in many nearshore areas, indicating that the coastal areas of Lake Victoria cannot be considered as Case I waters.
2. Concentrations of chromophoric dissolved organic matter declined with distance from the coast in an exponential manner indicating dilution and degradation of terrestrial sources of organic matter rather than in situ production. The importance of tripton was found to follow a similar pattern, while the relative importance of phytoplankton biomass in overall attenuation of photosynthetic available radiation was found to increase with distance from the coast. A specific attenuation coefficient for phytoplankton biomass was determined (0.019 m² mg Chl a ⁻¹).
3. Using a light limitation approach based on carrying capacity, it was possible to map areas that are closer to being light limited. Light limitation appears to occur throughout most bays and some coastal areas receiving catchment waters. This spatial information, geographically referenced to bathymetric and catchment conditions, was utilized to understand the importance of environmental conditions in limiting phytoplankton biomass.     

Viral metagenomics analysis of planktonic viruses in East Lake, Wuhan, China

East Lake (Lake Donghu), located in Wuhan, China, is a typical city freshwater lake that has been experiencing eutrophic conditions and algal blooming during recent years. Marine and fresh water are considered to contain a large number of viruses. However, little is known about their genetic diversity because of the limited techniques for culturing viruses. In this study, we conducted a viral metagenomic analysis using a high-throughput sequencing technique with samples collected from East Lake in Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter. The libraries from four samples each generated 234,669, 71,837, 12,820, and 34,236 contigs (> 90 bp each), respectively. The genetic structure of the viral community revealed a high genetic diversity covering 23 viral families, with the majority of contigs homologous to DNA viruses, including members of Myoviridae, Podoviridae, Siphoviridae, Phycodnaviridae, and Microviridae, which infect bacteria or algae, and members of Circoviridae, which infect invertebrates and vertebrates. The highest viral genetic diversity occurred in samples collected in August, then December and June, and the least diversity in March. Most contigs have low-sequence identities with known viruses. PCR detection targeting the conserved sequences of genes (g20, psbA, psbD, and DNApol) of cyanophages further confirmed that there are novel cyanophages in the East Lake. Our viral metagenomic data provide the first preliminary understanding of the virome in one freshwater lake in China and would be helpful for novel virus discovery and the control of algal blooming in the future.     

基于遥感和GIS的巢湖流域生态功能分区研究

生态功能分区是区域自然资源科学管理及可持续发展利用的基础。基于生态功能分区原则,考虑流域——子流域完整性进行巢湖流域生态功能分区。在综合分析巢湖流域生态环境基本特征的基础上,确定生态功能分区原则、依据、方法及命名,基于遥感与GIS在数据采集方面及多层面叠加功能的优势,通过遥感数据对研究区土地利用信息的提取以及利用DEM空间分析进行子流域划分等技术手段,探讨了遥感和GIS技术支持下的研究区子流域生态功能划分方法,形成了巢湖流域生态功能分区方案,将全流域分为5个生态功能区和12个生态功能亚区,并阐明了不同生态功能区的生态保护重点与经济社会发展约束。对于新调整行政区划的巢湖流域生态环境综合治理具有重要的现实意义,可为流域产业布局、生态防灾减灾、环境保护与建设规划等提供科学依据。     

苏南太湖流域水稻经济生态适宜施氮量研究

针对苏南太湖流域无机体,高氮量施肥方式,造成氮肥利用率下降、水环境污染日益严重这种现象,研究了不同氮肥施用水平下水稻的产量、氮肥利用率及氮肥水环境损失。并在以下研究结果的基础上,引入环境经济学的Ｃｏａｓｅ原理和主效益比较合理的水稻施肥量,相应的经济、生态２适宜产量为７３７９．５～７５４８．６ｋｇ／ｈｍ＾２。     

Ten years primary succession on a newly created landfill at a lagoon of the Mediterranean Sea (Lake Burullus RAMSAR site)

This study was carried out on the transported bed soil dredged from the outlet of Lake Burullus to the Mediterranean Sea and deposited nearby, forming by this way new land that underwent a primary plant succession. The multi-methodological approach comprised floristic inventories, vegetation sampling and soil composition analyses of the study site in order to detect the crucial parameters controlling the plant resettlement on recently deposited soil as related to time, local micro-topography and substrate characteristics. Floristic composition was assessed for the first 10 years of primary succession (2001–2010) on 18 stands of the area, distributed on basement, slope stands and plateau of the landfill, respectively. Vegetation surveys were the basis of multivariate analyses of the vegetation and soil data using TWINSPAN, DCA and CCA. Relationships between the edaphic gradients, floristic composition and species diversity were assessed.