Characteristics of zooplankton distribution and response to stress
factors in Lake Dianchi estuary
Abstract
This study investigated zooplankton distribution in Lake Dianchi,
focusing on river mouths and their ecological conditions, using
environmental DNA (eDNA) technology. It analyzed zooplankton diversity
during the dry and wet seasons, employing alpha and beta diversity
indices to assess community differences. A total of 24 species from 22
genera and 17 families across two phyla were identified, with Arthropoda
(54%) and Rotifera (46%) dominating. Daphniaceae made up 20.8% of
arthropods. β-diversity analysis showed a 37% difference between
seasons and significant differences between estuaries: 61.4% in the dry
season and 42.1% in the wet season. Eucyclops macruroides dominated
peri-urban estuaries, while Arctodiaptomus altissimus pectinatus
prevailed in urban, agricultural, and central lake areas. Redundancy
analysis identified total nitrogen (TN) as the main factor affecting
zooplankton diversity, with the highest TN levels in suburban estuaries.
The findings provide insights for ecological restoration efforts in Lake
Dianchi estuaries.