Macroinvertebrate Response to Internal Nutrient Loading Increases in Shallow Eutrophic Lakes

Simple Summary Internal loading can significantly delay the improvement of eutrophication in lakes. When external nutrient inputs are controlled and internal loading intensifies, the dissolved oxygen condition at the water-sediment interface improves during non-algal bloom seasons, but more anaerobic conditions occur during algal bloom seasons. Macroinvertebrates, living at the water-sediment interface, are particularly sensitive to such changes. Our results indicate that, in large shallow Lake Taihu, the changes in dissolved oxygen conditions at the water-sediment interface, caused by intensified internal loading, significantly affect the community structure, diversity, and response to eutrophication of macroinvertebrates.Abstract In eutrophic lakes, even if external loading is controlled, internal nutrient loading delays the recovery of lake eutrophication. When the input of external pollutants is reduced, the dissolved oxygen environment at the sediment interface improves in a season without algal blooms. As an important part of lake ecosystems, macroinvertebrates are sensitive to hypoxia caused by eutrophication; however, how this change affects macroinvertebrates is still unknown. In this study, we analysed the monitoring data of northern Lake Taihu from 2007 to 2019. After 2007, the external loading of Lake Taihu was relatively stable, but eutrophication began to intensify after 2013, and the nutrients in the sediments also began to decline, which was related to the efficient use of nutrients by algal blooms. The community structure and population density of macroinvertebrates showed different responses in different stages. In particular, the density of oligochaetes and the Shannon-Wiener index showed significant differences in their response to different stages, and their sensitivity to eutrophication was significantly reduced. Under eutrophication conditions dominated by internal loading, frequent hypoxia occurs at the sediment interface only when an algal bloom erupts. When there is no bloom, the probability of sediment hypoxia is significantly reduced under the disturbance of wind. Our results indicate that the current method for evaluating lake eutrophication based on oligochaetes and the Shannon-Wiener diversity index may lose its sensitivity.

Automated summary

Internal nutrient loading can delay the recovery of eutrophication in lakes, even when external loading is controlled. The dissolved oxygen conditions at the water-sediment interface improve in seasons without algal blooms, but become more anaerobic during bloom seasons. Macroinvertebrates, particularly those living at the water-sediment interface, show sensitivity to these changes. The study suggests that the changes in dissolved oxygen conditions caused by intensified internal loading significantly affect the community structure, diversity, and response of macroinvertebrates to eutrophication.