Responses of macrozoobenthos communities to changes in submerged macrophyte biomass in 19 temperate lakes in China

Macrozoobenthos and submerged macrophytes interact closely. However, studies in China have focused on the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, where shallow lakes are concentrated, rather than on temperate lakes. To clarify the responses of taxonomic and functional groups of macrozoobenthos in temperate lakes to changes in submerged macrophyte biomass (B-Mac) on a large scale, 19 temperate lakes within Baiyangdian Lake were investigated in this study. The B-Mac differed greatly across the 19 lakes, and Potamogeton crispus was the dominant species. According to the B-Mac, the 19 lakes were divided into 4 groups. One-way analysis of variance and Pearson correlation analysis showed that the water environmental parameters were different among the 4 groups, and the B-Mac was significant correlated with all the physical and chemical parameters of water bodies (except for water depth). Forty-one taxa of macrozoobenthos were identified in the 19 lakes, with oligochaetes, Hirudinea, gastropods, crustaceans, chironomid larvae, and aquatic insects (excluding chironomid larvae) represented by 9, 1, 4, 2, 19, and 6 species, respectively. Chironomid larvae and oligochaetes dominated by density, and gastropods and chironomid larvae dominated by biomass. Canonical correspondence analysis showed that the B-Mac was the most important factor affecting the macrozoobenthos community structure in group 1 to group 4. Macrozoobenthos with low pollution tolerance values were mainly found in areas with high B-Mac, while species with high pollution tolerance values were mainly distributed in areas with low B-Mac and high nutrient contents. Different taxonomic and functional groups of macrozoobenthos responded differently to changes in B-Mac. As B-Mac increased, density and biomass of oligochaetes and chironomid larvae tended to decrease, while those of gastropods and aquatic insects tended to first decrease and then increase. Collectors had more species than any other functional group in group 1 to group 4. As B-Mac increased, density and biomass of collectors gradually decreased, while density of predators, shredders, and scrapers tended to first decrease and then increase.

Automated summary

This study investigated the interaction between macrozoobenthos and submerged macrophytes in 19 temperate lakes within Baiyangdian Lake, China. The study found that the biomass of submerged macrophytes varied greatly among the lakes, and this biomass had significant correlations with water environmental parameters. Different taxonomic and functional groups of macrozoobenthos responded differently to changes in submerged macrophyte biomass. The findings highlight the importance of these interactions in temperate lake ecosystems.