Open AccessSeasonal and spatial variability of zooplankton diversity in the Poyang Lake Basin using DNA metabarcoding
Author(s) -
Qiu Xuemei,
Liu Xiongjun,
Lu Quanfeng,
Chen Jinping,
Liang Tao,
Wang Weikai,
Ouyang Shan,
Zhou Chunhua,
Wu Xiaoping
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
ecology and evolution
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.17
H-Index - 63
ISSN - 2045-7758
DOI - 10.1002/ece3.8972
Subject(s) - zooplankton , biodiversity , ecology , ecosystem , environmental science , habitat , aquatic ecosystem , community structure , geography , biology
Freshwater ecosystems face multiple threats to their stability globally. Poyang Lake is the largest lake in China, but its habitat has been seriously degraded because of human activities and natural factors (e.g. climate change), resulting in a decline in freshwater biodiversity. Zooplankton are useful indicators of environmental stressors because they are sensitive to external perturbations. DNA metabarcoding is an approach that has gained significant traction by aiding ecosystem conservation and management. Here, the seasonal and spatial variability in the zooplankton diversity were analyzed in the Poyang Lake Basin using DNA metabarcoding. The results showed that the community structure of zooplankton exhibited significant seasonal and spatial variability using DNA metabarcoding, where the community structure was correlated with turbidity, water temperature, pH, total phosphorus, and chlorophyll‐a. These results indicated habitat variations affected by human activities and seasonal change could be the main driving factors for the variations of zooplankton community. This study also provides an important reference for the management of aquatic ecosystem health and conservation of aquatic biodiversity.