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Retention of nitrogen and phosphorus in Lake Chaohu, China: implications for eutrophication management

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Abstract

Nutrient retention is an important process in lake nutrient cycling of lakes and can mitigate lake eutrophication. However, little is known about temporal lake nutrient retention efficiency and it varies due to changes in hydrological, ecological, and nutrient inputs to lake waters. Quantitative information about seasonal lake N and P retention is critical for developing strategies to reduce eutrophication in lake systems. This study investigated TN and TP retention efficiencies and retention masses using water and mass balance calculations, and statistically analyzed the seasonal variability of nutrient retention in Lake Chaohu, China, from 2014 to 2018. Lake Chaohu experienced large amounts of external loads inputs (23.2 g N m−2 year−1 and 1.3 g P m−2 year−1), and approximately 58% TN and 48% TP were retained annually. The lake acted more as a sink for N than for P. The mean annual TP retention efficiency decreased (P < 0.05) over the study period, indicating that TP retention capacity was gradually exceeded. Seasonal variability of TN and TP retention efficiency was high and ranged from − 18.7 to 144.1% and from − 58.8 to 170.7%, respectively, over the five study years. The internal P loads over the study period were equivalent to roughly 9% of the total external loads. The annual nutrient retention efficiency of TN and TP increased with hydraulic residence time, while water temperature was an essential factor for the contrasting seasonal variation patterns of TN and TP retention efficiencies.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Dr. Karsten Rinke and Dr. Martin Schultze from the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research for their manuscript supervision.

Funding

This research was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 41701567) and the Major Science and Technology Program for Water Pollution Control and Treatment of China (No. 2017ZX07603001). Dr. Xiangzhen Kong is supported by a postdoctoral fellowship from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation in Germany.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Lake Science and Environment, Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 73 East Beijing Road, Nanjing, 210008, China

    Yanping Wang, Zhaoliang Peng & Weiping Hu

  2. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China

    Yanping Wang

  3. School of Geographical Science, Nantong University, 9 Seyuan Road, Nantong, 226019, China

    Yanping Wang

  4. Department of Lake Research, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), Brückstr. 3a, 39114, Magdeburg, Germany

    Xiangzhen Kong

  5. Environmental Monitoring Station, Authority Bureau of Lake Chaohu, Intersection of Bantang Road and Laoshan Road, Hefei, 238000, China

    Hui Zhang & Gang Liu

  6. Department of Aquatic Ecosystems Analysis and Management, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), Brückstr. 3a, 39114, Magdeburg, Germany

    Xiangqian Zhou

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  1. Yanping Wang
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Wang, Y., Kong, X., Peng, Z. et al. Retention of nitrogen and phosphorus in Lake Chaohu, China: implications for eutrophication management. Environ Sci Pollut Res 27, 41488–41502 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-10024-7

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