Dynamics of algal blooms in typical low-latitude plateau lakes: Spatiotemporal patterns and driving factors

Jiabin Peng; Junxu Chen; Shiyin Liu; Tie Liu; Min Cao; Nergui Nanding; Liangyu Zhuang; Anming Bao; Philippe De Maeyer

doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123453

Dynamics of algal blooms in typical low-latitude plateau lakes: Spatiotemporal patterns and driving factors

Environ Pollut. 2024 Mar 15:345:123453. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123453. Epub 2024 Jan 27.

Authors

Jiabin Peng¹, Junxu Chen², Shiyin Liu³, Tie Liu⁴, Min Cao⁵, Nergui Nanding¹, Liangyu Zhuang³, Anming Bao⁴, Philippe De Maeyer⁶

Affiliations

¹ School of Earth Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650500, China.
² School of Earth Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650500, China; International Joint Research Center for Karstology, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, China. Electronic address: chenjunxu@ynu.edu.cn.
³ Institute of International Rivers and Eco-security, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650500, China.
⁴ State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, 830011, China.
⁵ School of Earth Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650500, China; International Joint Research Center for Karstology, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, China.
⁶ Department of Geography, Ghent University, Ghent, 9000, Belgium.

PMID: 38286264
DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123453

Abstract

The alpine lakes distributed on the plateau are crucial for the hydrological, and biogeochemical cycle, and also serve as a guarantee for regional economic development and human survival. However, under the influence of human interference and climate fluctuations, lakes are facing problems of eutrophication and subsequent algal blooms (ABs) with acceleration, and the development and driving factors of this phenomenon need to be considered as a whole. In this study, ten lakes located on the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau were selected as the study area to analyze the spatiotemporal distribution of ABs and possible controlling forces. The FAI (Floating Algae Index) derived from multiple MODIS products and water quality data under high-frequency monitoring were selected as the data sources for characterizing ABs. Three nutrient parameters and five meteorological variables were used to explore the driving factors affecting ABs. Various methods of trend detection and correlation analysis have been applied. The main results are as follows: (1) Dianchi Lake (in lake area) and Xingyun Lake (in area proportion) are the two lakes with the most serious ABs in the historical period; (2) ABs are mainly distributed on the shoreline and northern edge of lakes, and tend to stay away from the lake center during high-temperature periods of the day; (3) Six lakes show a decreasing trend in ABs, especially after 2018, while other lakes (including Fuxian, Chenghai, Yangzong, and Erhai) are increasing, not only in peak value but also in duration; (4) Lakes with severe ABs are all P-restricted lakes, the minimum temperature is the most sensitive meteorological factor, while the impact of precipitation against ABs has a time lag; (5) Establishing a warning system of temperature and nutrient concentration is critical in ABs adaptive strategy. This study is expected to provide scientific references for regional water management and the restoration of the eutrophic aquatic ecosystem.

Keywords: Algal blooms; Driving factors; Lake eutrophication; Yunnan-Guizhou plateau.

MeSH terms

China
Ecosystem*
Environmental Monitoring
Eutrophication*
Humans
Temperature
Water Quality