To investigate the relative importance of the bottom-up versus top-down on phytoplankton biomass in the estuary and its adjacent waters of the Yellow River during the water and sediment regulation scheme (WSRS), the study utilized R2V software to extract historical data (2011~2020) on chlorophyll a (Chl a) concentration, environmental factors, and zooplankton abundance in the estuary and its adjacent waters of the Yellow River from the literature. The spatial distribution and interannual variation of Chl a concentration was analyzed, and regression tree models Chl a with environmental and biological factors at different stages of WSRS were developed to explore the controlling factors. The results showed that Chl a concentrations in the estuary and its adjacent waters of the Yellow River generally decreased from the estuary towards offshore areas from 2011 to 2020. As WSRS progressed, the high-value areas gradually shifted to the nearshore northwest of the estuary. Regions with significant interannual variations in Chl a concentrations largely overlapped with high-value areas at each stage. The regression tree model indicated that, with the progression of water and sediment regulation, there was a notable shift in the dominant effects on Chl a concentration. Before WSRS, the top-down effect of zooplankton grazing was the primary driver of Chl a spatial variability. During the water and sediment regulation period, Chl a concentration was mainly controlled by bottom-up effects. In the early WSRS, temperature was the primary driving factor, while in the later stage of WSRS, dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP) became the main driving factor. The changes in salinity fronts caused by freshwater flow during WSRS may be an important factor inducing changes in the dominant effects on Chl a concentration.
| 科 Family | 属数 Number of genus | 种数 Number of species | 占总种数比例 Percentage of total species (%) | 属 Genus | 种数 Number of species | 占总种数比例 Percentage of total species (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 鹅膏菌科Amanitaceae | 2 | 11 | 5.26 | 鹅膏菌属 Amanita | 10 | 4.78 |
| 小菇科 Mycenaceae | 2 | 12 | 5.74 | 丝盖伞属 Inocybe | 5 | 2.39 |
| 多孔菌科 Polyporaceae | 8 | 14 | 6.70 | 蜡蘑属 Laccaria | 5 | 2.39 |
| 红菇科 Russulaceae | 3 | 23 | 11.00 | 小皮伞属 Marasmius | 6 | 2.87 |
| 小菇属 Mycena | 11 | 5.26 | ||||
| 光柄菇属 Pluteus | 5 | 2.39 | ||||
| 红菇属 Russula | 17 | 8.13 | ||||
| 栓菌属 Trametes | 5 | 2.39 |