Author(s): Shimin Tian
Linked Author(s):
Keywords: Freshwater restoration; Plankton communities; Yellow River Delta; Salinity gradient; Environmental drivers
Abstract: Managed freshwater replenishment is a key restoration strategy for the Yellow River Delta, but its impacts on plankton communities (critical aquatic ecosystem bioindicators) remain insufficiently quantified. This study surveyed wetlands with 5 – 22 years of freshwater restoration to analyze phytoplankton and zooplankton community dynamics and their environmental drivers. Results showed phytoplankton biomass and diversity followed a “U-shaped” trajectory (initial decline then recovery), while zooplankton biomass decreased but diversity increased with restoration duration. Salinity (Cl⁻, SO₄²⁻) and dissolved nitrate (NO₃⁻) were primary environmental controls. Cyanobacteria dominated initial phytoplankton biomass but declined over time, while rotifers replaced copepods as dominant zooplankton. Freshwater restoration restructures plankton communities via salinity-mediated constraints and altered nutrient availability, providing insights for adaptive delta management.
Year: 2026