Coupling effects of hydrological characteristics and nutrient load in sediments on the trophic state of reservoirs

Abstract

Currently, lakes and artificial reservoirs are increasingly threatened by eutrophication, which is the result of the combined action of many natural and anthropogenic factors. In the past, the effect of nutrient load on the trophic state of water bodies has attracted much attention, while few studies have addressed the effect of hydrological characteristics. Therefore, to reveal the coupling effects of hydrological characteristics and nutrient load in sediments on the trophic state of water bodies, this study collected relevant data from 36 lakes and reservoirs across China. Pearson correlation analysis showed that trophic level index was positively and significantly correlated with nutrient load in sediments and hydraulic retention time, while it was negatively correlated with mean depth and hydraulic load. The principal component analysis showed that the nutrient load was the first major component that influenced the trophic state of water bodies, followed by the mean depth and hydraulic retention time. Eutrophication was prone to occur in water bodies with mean depth less than 7 m and hydraulic retention time greater than 14 d, and the trophic level index regression equation with hydrological characteristics and nutrient load in sediments was derived by multiple regression analysis. This study revealed that the trophic state of water bodies influenced by both nutrient load and hydrological characteristics. It provides a new idea to reduce the occurrence of eutrophication in reservoirs by using the artificial hydrological regulation capacity of reservoirs.