Alleviating eutrophication by reducing the abundance of Cyanophyta due to dissolved inorganic carbon fertilization: Insights from Erhai Lake, China

The eutrophication of lakes is a global environmental problem. Regulating nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) on phytoplankton is considered to be the most important basis of lake eutrophication management. Therefore, the effects of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) on phytoplankton and its role in mitigating lake eutrophication have often been overlooked. In this study, the relationships between phytoplankton and DIC concentrations, carbon isotopic composition, nutrients (N and P), and hydrochemistry in the Erhai Lake (a karst lake) were investigated. The results showed that when the dissolved carbon dioxide (CO 2(4 ) concentrations in the water were higher than 15 pmoVL, the productivity of phytoplankton was controlled by the concentrations of TP and TN, especially by that of TP. When the N and P were sufficient and the CO 2(aq) concentrations were lower than 15 pmoVL, the phytoplankton productivity was controlled by the concentrations of TP and DIC, especially by that of DIC. Additionally, DIC significantly affected the composition of the phytoplankton community in the lake ( p < 0.05). When the CO 2(aq) concentrations were higher than 15 pmoVL, the relative abundance of Bacillariophyta and Chlorophyta was much higher than those of harmful Cyanophyta . Thus, high concentrations of CO 2(aq) can inhibit harmful Cyanophyta blooms. During lake eutrophication, when controlling N , P, an appropriate increase in CO2(aq) concentrations by land-use changes or pumping of industrial CO2 into water may reduce the proportion of harmful Cyanophyta and promote the growth of Chlorophyta and Bacillar-iophyta, which may provide effectively assist in mitigating water quality deterioration in surface waters.(c) 2022 The Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Automated summary

This study investigated the relationships between phytoplankton and dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) concentrations, as well as carbon isotopic composition, nutrients, and hydrochemistry in Erhai Lake. The results showed that DIC significantly affected phytoplankton productivity and community composition, particularly inhibiting harmful cyanobacteria blooms. Therefore, considering DIC could effectively assist in mitigating lake eutrophication.