Coupling effects of environmental factors on the phytoplankton community
structure in Ebinur Lake, a brackish lake in China
Abstract
Studying the coupled effects of environmental factors on the structure
of phytoplankton communities can deepen our understanding of the
stability of aquatic ecosystems in extreme environments. This study
examined the phytoplankton community structure and environmental factors
of saline a lake during spring, summer, and autumn in 2019. A total of
95 phytoplankton species (belonging to 47 genera and 7 phyla) were
identified in Ebinur Lake, reflecting a species richness lower than
those of freshwater lakes while being greater than the levels observed
in other saltwater lakes. Bacillariophyta dominated the phytoplankton
assemblage, followed by Chlorophyta and Cyanophyta, with lesser
diversity in other algal species, suggesting that the species
composition was similar to that observed in other saltwater lakes. There
was considerable spatiotemporal variation in the structure of the
phytoplankton community, with the biomass of phytoplankton displaying
notable seasonal variation. In spring, the biomass of Bacillariophyta
was dominant; in summer, as the climate warmed, the biomass of
phytoplankton reached its peak and the biomass of Chlorophyta was
dominant; in autumn, the biomass was the lowest, and Chlorophyta and
Bacillariophyta shared dominance. The spatial distribution was
relatively consistent, as reflected in the distribution of phytoplankton
in the three seasons, with the southeastern area of the lake generally
exhibiting higher biomass than other lake areas. Bacillariophyta and
Chlorophyta were significantly correlated with water transparency (SD);
Cyanophyta was significantly correlated with water temperature (WT), and
Cryptophyta was significantly correlated with pH. The interaction
effects of various environmental factors, including pH, SD, Chl. a,
NH₄+-N, and salinity, jointly affect the dynamics of the phytoplankton
community structure in Ebinur Lake. This study investigated the effects
of physicochemical factors on the structure of the phytoplankton
community in a high-salinity lake, thereby providing a basis for
ecological protection and environmental management of aquatic ecosystems
in extreme environments.