Abstract
Due to rapid eutrophication, sustainable water quality management and supply are essential in drinking water sources and aquatic biota in large reservoirs. We evaluated the potentially crucial factors influencing the algal chlorophyll (CHL-a), nutrients, and the links between the rainfall and other vital elements in a large multipurpose reservoir (Yongdam Reservoir) during 2013–2019. We developed the empirical models on algal CHL-a, total phosphorus (TP), total nitrogen (TN), and TN:TP’s ambient ratios considering the maneuvering influence of Asian monsoons. The intensive rainfall during the monsoon months strongly impacted the nutrient regime and other vital factors. The seasonal patterns of algal CHL-a varied in response to the nutrient contents (TN, TP), suspended solids, and ambient N:P ratios along the longitudinal gradient. The conditional plot analysis, empirical modeling, and observations supported an overall P-limitation scenario, as was evident from the magnitude of N:P ratios (R2 = 0.36, F = 24.9, p < 0.001). Furthermore, the reservoir’s trophic status alluded to the larger particles and blue-green algae during the monsoon and postmonsoon months. The correlation analysis, Mann–Kendall trend test, and principal component analysis illustrated compelling links between CHL-a, TP, and rainfall regime. The outcomes suggested the reservoir was primarily controlled by phosphorus limitation, with an increasing CHL-a tendency along with nitrogen dilution. However, a slight decline in phosphorus was also detected. The Yongdam Reservoir is under the threat of recurrent eutrophication events that could jeopardize this vital drinking water facility due to increasing agricultural and anthropic activities.
Highlights
The nutrients, organic matters, total suspended solids (TSS), and CHL-a decreased along the longitudinal gradient from site 4 to site 1, showing significant variations, whereas total nitrogen (TN):total phosphorus (TP) ratio increased significantly (Table 1)
The seasonal variations in TSS, CHL-a, The othermainly organicindicated matter (TOC), and TP noticeably increased from site 1 to site 4 (Table 2)
TN and its associated chemical forms increased from site 1 to site 4, while it was not significant (H = 4.5, p > 0.05)
Summary
Reports abound on the human-caused disturbances at the catchment scale (e.g., by extensive industrialization, urbanization, intensive agriculture) in the lentic ecosystems, resulting in various water quality issues [4,5,6]. One of the most conspicuous and long-term issues is consistent nutrient enrichment (eutrophication), causing significant water quality degradations in the lentic ecosystems [7,8,9]. Such nutrient-related dynamics are primarily determined by the anthropogenic discharges combined with the unobserved internal processes [10,11]. The resultant impacts cause problems such as oxygen depletion, pH fluctuations, causing community-level shifts in the aquatic organisms, toxins from certain phytoplankton species [12], drinking water quality, fishery catch, and recreation [13,14]
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