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Temporal and spatial distribution of phytoplankton functional groups and role of environment factors in a deep subtropical reservoir

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Abstract

Phytoplankton and environment factors were investigated in 2015 and phytoplankton functional groups were used to understand their temporal and spatial distribution and their driving factors in Wanfeng Reservoir. Seventeen functional groups (B, D, E, F, G, J, Lo, MP, P, S1, T, W1, W2, X1, X2, Xph, Y) were identified based on 34 species. The dominant groups were: J/B/P/D in dry season, X1/J/Xph/G/T in normal season and J in flood season. Phytoplankton abundance ranged from 5.33×104 cells/L to 3.65×107 cells/L, with the highest value occurring in flood season and lowest in dry season. The vertical profile of dominant groups showed little differentiation except for P, which dominated surface layers over 20 m as a result of mixing water masses and higher transparency during dry season. However, the surface waters presented higher values of phytoplankton abundance than other layers, possibly because of greater irradiance. The significant explaining variables and their ability to describe the spatial distribution of the phytoplankton community in RDA differed seasonally as follows: dry season, NH4-N, NO3-N, NO2-N, TN:TP ratio and transparency (SD); normal season, temperature (WT), water depth, TN, NH4-N and NO3-N; flood season, WT, water depth, NO3-N and NO2-N. Furthermore, nitrogen, water temperature, SD and water depth were significant variables explaining the variance of phytoplankton communities when datasets included all samples. The results indicated that water physical conditions and hydrology were important in phytoplankton community dynamics, and nitrogen was more important than phosphorus in modifying phytoplankton communities. Seasonal differences in the relationship between the environment and phytoplankton community should be considered in water quality management.

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Acknowledgement

We thank professor LI for funding support. We also thank our colleagues for assisting with fieldwork and laboratory experiments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory for Information System of Mountainous Area and Protection of Ecological Environment of Guizhou Province, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, 550001, China

    Lei Li  (李磊) & Qiuhua Li  (李秋华)

  2. State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, 550002, China

    Jing’an Chen  (陈敬安) & Jingfu Wang  (王敬富)

  3. School of Geography and Environmental Science, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, 550001, China

    Shulin Jiao  (焦树林)

  4. School of Public Health, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550002, China

    Fengfeng Chen  (陈峰峰)

Authors
  1. Lei Li  (李磊)
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  2. Qiuhua Li  (李秋华)
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  3. Jing’an Chen  (陈敬安)
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  4. Jingfu Wang  (王敬富)
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  5. Shulin Jiao  (焦树林)
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  6. Fengfeng Chen  (陈峰峰)
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Qiuhua Li  (李秋华) or Jing’an Chen  (陈敬安).

Additional information

Supported by the Department of Science and Technology of Guizhou Province (Nos. [2014]7001, [2015]2001, [2015]10) and the Water Resources Department of Guizhou Province (No. KT201401)

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Li, L., Li, Q., Chen, J. et al. Temporal and spatial distribution of phytoplankton functional groups and role of environment factors in a deep subtropical reservoir. J. Ocean. Limnol. 36, 761–771 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00343-018-7051-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00343-018-7051-7

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