Research
| Title： | Environmental and Climatic Drivers of Phytoplankton Communities in Central Asia |
|---|---|
| First author： | Zi, Fangze; Song, Tianjian; Liu, Jiaxuan; Wang, Huanhuan; Serekbol, Gulden; Yang, Liting; Hu, Linghui; Huo, Qiang; Song, Yong; Huo, Bin; Wang, Baoqiang; Chen, Shengao |
| Journal： | BIOLOGY-BASEL |
| Years： | 2024 |
| DOI： | 10.3390/biology13090717 |
| Abstract： | Simple Summary This study examines the influence of topographic barriers on phytoplankton diversity in artificial water bodies in Central Asia. By analyzing water samples from 14 locations across the Altai and Tianshan mountains, we discovered that topographic features significantly impact environmental conditions such as water temperature and nutrient levels. These ecological differences lead to variations in the phytoplankton community structure, with areas of more complex topography supporting higher diversity (valley forests, wetlands, deserts, etc.). Our findings highlight the importance of considering topographic factors in managing and conserving water resources in the region.Abstract Artificial water bodies in Central Asia offer unique environments in which to study plankton diversity influenced by topographic barriers. However, the complexity of these ecosystems and limited comprehensive studies in the region challenge our understanding. In this study, we systematically investigated the water environment parameters and phytoplankton community structure by surveying 14 artificial waters on the southern side of the Altai Mountains and the northern and southern sides of the Tianshan Mountains in the Xinjiang region. The survey covered physical and nutrient indicators, and the results showed noticeable spatial differences between waters in different regions. The temperature, dissolved oxygen, total nitrogen, and total phosphorus of artificial water in the southern Altai Mountains vary greatly. In contrast, the waters in the northern Tianshan Mountains have more consistent physical indicators. The results of phytoplankton identification showed that the phytoplankton communities in different regions are somewhat different, with diatom species being the dominant taxon. The cluster analysis and the non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) results also confirmed the variability of the phytoplankton communities in the areas. The variance partitioning analysis (VPA) results showed that climatic and environmental factors can explain some of the variability of the observed data. Nevertheless, the residual values indicated the presence of other unmeasured factors or the influence of stochasticity. This study provides a scientific basis for regional water resource management and environmental protection. |
