Impact of climate change and oligotrophication on quality and quantity of lake primary production: A case study in Lake Biwa

• Published in: The Science of the total environment Vol. 927; p. 172266
• Main Authors: Kazama, Takehiro, Hayakawa, Kazuhide, Nagata, Takamaru, Shimotori, Koichi, Imai, Akio
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.06.2024
• Subjects: Algal size; Biomass; Climate Change; CO2 fixation; Ecosystem; Environmental Monitoring; Fast repetition rate fluorometry; Global warming; Inedible algae; Lake restoration; Lakes - chemistry; Material cycles; Nutrient reduction; Phytoplankton; Seasons; Zooplankton; Fast repetition rate fluorometry; Algal size; Inedible algae; Lake restoration; Material cycles; Global warming; Nutrient reduction; CO2 fixation
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172266
• ISSN: 0048-9697

Global climate change and anthropogenic oligotrophication are expected to reshape the dynamics of primary production (PP) in aquatic ecosystems; however, few studies have explored their long-term effects. In theory, the PP of phytoplankton in Lake Biwa may decline over decades due to warming, heightened stratification, and anthropogenic oligotrophication. Furthermore, the PP of large phytoplankton, which are inedible to zooplankton, along with biomass-specific productivity (PBc), could decrease. In this study, data from 1976 to 2021 and active fluorometry measurements taken in 2020 and 2021 were evaluated. Quantitatively, the temporal dynamics of mean seasonal PP during 1971–2021 were assessed according to the carbon fixation rate to investigate relationships among environmental factors. Qualitatively, phytoplankton biomass, PP, and PBc were measured in two size fractions [edible (S) or inedible (L) for zooplankton] in 2020 and 2021, and the L:S balance for these three measures was compared between 1992 (low-temperature/high-nutrient conditions) and 2020–2021 (high-temperature/low-nutrient conditions) to assess seasonal dynamics. The results indicated that climate change and anthropogenic oligotrophication over the past 30 years have diminished Lake Biwa's PP since the 1990s, impacting the phenology of PP dynamics. However, the L:S balance in PP and PBc has exhibited minimal change between the data from 1992 and the 2020–2021 period. These findings suggest that, although climate change and oligotrophication may reduce overall PP, they may not markedly alter the inedible/edible phytoplankton balance in terms of PP and PBc. Instead, as total PP declines, the production of small edible phytoplankton may decrease proportionally, potentially affecting trophic transfer efficiency and material cycling in Lake Biwa. [Display omitted] •In theory, warming and oligotrophication alter lake primary production (PP).•Environmental and PP data in Lake Biwa for the period 1971–2021 were evaluated.•Warming and low total nitrogen have diminished PP since the 1990s.•However, the inedible/edible phytoplankton balance in PP seems to be consistent in 1992 and the 2020–2021 period.•The productivity of inedible phytoplankton may be supported by coastal environments.