Trophic Relationships of Aquatic Species Offer Valuable Insights Into Shallow Lake Ecosystem Recovery.

ABSTRACT: Shallow freshwater lakes are vital for ecological and climate regulation, but many are degrading. Although restoration efforts are underway to improve water quality, research on their trophic structures is still limited. Baiyangdian Lake (BYD), a typical shallow lake in northern China, has seen improvements in water quality, biodiversity, and aquatic plant biomass after restoration. However, it remains unclear whether its food web's trophic structure has fully recovered. This study collected various field samples from BYD in 2023 and reconstructed BYD's current trophic structure using δ¹⁵N and δ¹³C stable isotopic analysis. Results indicate that plankton constituted the predominant food source for fish and invertebrates, contributing over 70%. Aquatic plants and macro

SUBMITTER: Qiao Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12579968 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature