Effects of Elevated Temperature on Resources Competition of Nutrient and Light Between Benthic and Planktonic Algae


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Mei X., Gao S., Liu Y., Hu J., Razlustkij V., Rudstam L. G., ...More

Frontiers in Environmental Science, vol.10, 2022 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 10
  • Publication Date: 2022
  • Doi Number: 10.3389/fenvs.2022.908088
  • Journal Name: Frontiers in Environmental Science
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, BIOSIS, Directory of Open Access Journals
  • Keywords: elevated temperature, planktonic algae, benthic algae, aquatic ecosystem, nutrient, PELAGIC COUPLING IMPLICATIONS, COMMUNITY STRUCTURE, CLIMATE-CHANGE, SHALLOW LAKES, WATER, GROWTH, PHYTOPLANKTON, PHOSPHORUS, MICROALGAE, SEDIMENT
  • Middle East Technical University Affiliated: No

Abstract

Copyright © 2022 Mei, Gao, Liu, Hu, Razlustkij, Rudstam, Jeppesen, Liu and Zhang.Climate warming, a serious environmental problem worldwide, is considered a major threat to aquatic ecosystems. A primary feature of climate warming is elevated temperatures which in shallow aquatic ecosystems might affect competition for light and nutrient between benthic algae on the sediment surface and planktonic algae in the water. The outcomes of such competition would not only affect the distribution of primary production, but also determine the fundamental character of shallow aquatic habitats as clear water or turbid water systems. We conducted a mesocosm study to evaluate the effects of elevated temperature on competition between planktonic algae and benthic algae for light and nutrients. We found that elevated temperature increased the concentrations of total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), and total suspended solids (TSS) in overlying water and enhanced the growth of planktonic algae (measured as chlorophyll a, Chl a), but decreased light intensity and benthic algal biomass (Chl a). Our results indicate that elevated temperature can increase the growth of planktonic algae and enhance their competitive advantage over the benthic algae in shallow lakes, thereby contributing to eutrophication and a decline in water quality. These findings shed further light on the effects of global warming on aquatic ecosystems.