Concurrent effects of flooding regimes and floodwater quality on sediment properties in a Yangtze River-connected floodplain wetland: Insights from field investigations during 2011-2020

Changes in flood regimes, floodwater quality, and macrophyte types may affect sediment characteristics post-flooding. However, few studies have attempted to unravel their complex influences in floodplain wetlands. From 2011 to 2020, the physical and chemical properties of surface layer sediment pre- and post-flooding was investigated through field surveys in the Dongting Lake wetland. Results indicated that the pre-flooding soil total phosphorus (TP) and total nitrogen (TN) exhibited an increasing trend during 2011-2020. Soil TP increased post-flooding relative to that preflooding. The changes in TN, sediment organic matter (SOM), sediment moisture content (SMC), and sediment bulk density (SBD) fluctuated over the years. The best-fitting multi-regression model demonstrated that the changes in sediment variables post-flooding showed a parabolic trajectory along the inundation duration (ID), except for SMC. Changes in soil properties post-flooding were negatively correlated with ID for sediment with a low IDs (<148 days). Meanwhile, changes in soil properties post flooding were positively correlated with ID for sediment with a high IDs (>193 days). Changes in SBD and SOM post-flooding were positively influenced by the TP content in the floodwater. These findings indicate that changes in the flooding regime, and water quality generated by anthropogenic disturbances such as the Three Gorges Dam significantly affect sediment properties, and subsequently influence the ecological functions of the Dongting Lake wetland.

Automated summary

Changes in flood regimes, floodwater quality, and macrophyte types may affect sediment characteristics post-flooding in the Dongting Lake wetland. The study found that the soil total phosphorus and total nitrogen increased during the study period. Changes in sediment variables post-flooding showed a parabolic trajectory along the inundation duration, with negative correlation for sediment with low inundation duration and positive correlation for sediment with high inundation duration. Changes in sediment bulk density and sediment organic matter post-flooding were positively influenced by the total phosphorus content in the floodwater. These findings highlight the significant influence of flooding regime and water quality on sediment properties in the wetland.