Response of Phytoplankton Communities to Hydrological Pulses and Nutrient Changes Induced by Heavy Summer Rainfall in a Shallow Eutrophic Lake

TL;DR

This study shows how heavy summer rain affects phytoplankton in a shallow lake, changing water levels and nutrient conditions, and altering community structure and diversity.

Contribution

The study provides a mechanistic understanding of phytoplankton responses to heavy rainfall in a eutrophic shallow lake under climate change.

Findings

Heavy rainfall caused significant water level and nutrient changes, influencing phytoplankton community structure.

Cyanobacteria dominated in abundance, with Chlorophyta being the most species-rich group.

Rainfall, water temperature, and nutrients were key drivers of phytoplankton community succession.

Abstract

In the context of global climate change, frequent summer heavy rainfall events act as significant disturbances to the ecosystem functions of shallow lakes. This study examined the response of phytoplankton community structure and dynamics to heavy rainfall in Lake Changhu, a shallow eutrophic lake, through monthly monitoring during the summer months (June–August) of 2020–2022. The results revealed that heavy rainfall induced substantial water level fluctuations and shifts in key environmental parameters. Marked interannual variations were observed in the phytoplankton community, with the highest species richness in summer 2021 and lowest in 2022. While Chlorophyta dominated in species composition, Cyanobacteria overwhelmingly dominated in abundance, with key taxa including Dolichospermum flos-aquae L., Pseudanabaena limnetica L., Oscillatoria princeps V., Microcystis wesenbergii K., and Merismopedia minima B. Both phytoplankton abundance and biomass peaked in summer 2021. Community diversity indices were consistently lower in June compared to July–August, indicating higher environmental stress and a more simplified community structure during the initial rainfall period. A comprehensive water quality evaluation suggested that Lake Changhu was in a lightly to moderately polluted state. Correlation and redundancy analyses (RDA) identified rainfall, water temperature, and nutrient concentrations as the primary environmental drivers shaping phytoplankton community succession. These findings systematically elucidate the mechanistic responses of phytoplankton to heavy rainfall disturbances, offering a scientific foundation for ecological resilience assessment and adaptive management of shallow lakes under climate change.

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