Phytoplankton community composition, carbon sequestration, and associated regulatory mechanisms in a floodplain lake system

Phytoplankton contribute approximately 50% to the global photosynthetic carbon (C) fixation. However, our understanding of the corresponding C sequestration capacity and driving mechanisms associated with each individual phytoplankton taxonomic group is limited. Particularly in the hydrologically dynamic system with highly complex surface hydrological processes (floodplain lake systems). Through investigating seasonal monitoring data in a typical floodplain lake system and estimation of primary productivity of each phytoplankton taxonomic group individually using novel equations, this study proposed a phytoplankton C fixation model. Results showed that dominant phytoplankton communities had a higher gross carbon sequestration potential (CSP) (9.50 ± 5.06 Gg C each stage) and gross primary productivity (GPP) (65.46 ± 25.32 mg C m⁻² d⁻¹), but a lower net CSP (−1.04 ± 0.79 Gg C each stage) and net primary productivity (NPP) (−5.62 ± 4.93 mg C m⁻³ d⁻¹) than rare phytoplankton communities in a floodplain lake system. Phytoplanktonic GPP was high (317.94 ± 73.28 mg C m⁻² d⁻¹) during the rainy season and low (63.02 ± 9.65 mg C m⁻² d⁻¹) during the dry season. However, their NPP reached the highest during the rising-water stage and the lowest during the receding-water stage. Findings also revealed that during the rainy season, high water levels (p = 0.56**) and temperatures (p = 0.37*) as well as strong solar radiation (p = 0.36*) will increase photosynthesis and accelerate metabolism and respiration of dominant phytoplankton communities, then affect primary productivity and CSP. Additionally, water level fluctuations drive changes in nutrients (p = −0.57*) and metals (p = −0.68*) concentrations, resulting in excessive nutrients and metals slowing down phytoplankton growth and reducing GPP. Compared with the static water lake system, the floodplain lake system with a lower net CSP became a heterotrophic C source.