Nutrient-driven shifts in zooplankton structural-functional dynamics across different types of freshwater systems
Qi Chen, J Zhang, Yiming Liu, Hongjingzheng Jiang, Gang Liu, Xuwang Yin
Abstract
Nutrient enrichment, predominantly due to human activities, significantly compromises the ecological integrity of aquatic ecosystems, particularly in freshwater systems. As an essential component of the trophic pyramid, zooplankton play a key role in energy transfer from primary producers (e.g., phytoplankton) to apex predators (e.g., fish communities). Therefore, our study aimed to explore potential similarities in the structure of zooplankton communities in aquatic ecosystems (lakes, wetlands, and rivers) in a highly urbanized city in China, and their functional responses to various eutrophic conditions. This study examined the negative effects of eutrophication on the miniaturization, functional diversity, and resource use efficiency of zooplankton communities (RUEzp) based on a five-year field survey conducted across these diverse urban aquatic ecosystems. Findings indicated that total phosphorous enrichment intensified zooplankton miniaturization and reduced the functional diversity of their communities. Moreover, a significant decrease in RUE zp was observed with diminished functional dispersion (FDis). Miniaturization characterized the response of zooplankton to nutrient enrichment at the community and ecosystem functional levels, suggesting it can serve as a useful indicator for future ecological studies in aquatic environments.