Vol. 62, 2023

(update: 2023.12.29)

Effects of Tropical Cyclone Passage on Plankton Community Respiration in a Phosphate-Limited Freshwater Ecosystem

Erica Silk P. dela Paz¹, Chao-Chen Lai², Fuh-Kwo Shiah³, Chih-hao Hsieh^3,4,5, Chia-Ying Ko^1,5,*

¹Institute of Fisheries Science, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 106 Taiwan. *Correspondence: E-mail: cyko235@ntu.edu.tw (Ko)
E-mail: d07b45003@ntu.edu.tw (dela Paz)
²Department of Science Education, National Taipei University of Education, Taipei 106, Taiwan. E-mail: ccjosephlai@mail.ntue.edu.tw (Lai)
³Research Center for Environmental Changes, Academia Sinica, Taipei 115, Taiwan. E-mail: fkshiah@gate.sinica.edu.tw (Shiah)
⁴Institute of Oceanography, National Taiwan University, Taipei 106, Taiwan. E-mail: chsieh@ntu.edu.tw (Hsieh)
⁵Master’s Program in Biodiversity, Institute of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 106 Taiwan

(Received 22 August 2023 / Accepted 22 November 2023 / Published 29 December 2023)
Communicated by Benny K.K. Chan

Plankton community respiration (CR) in aquatic ecosystems varies with environmental factors, which could be altered during tropical cyclones (TCs). A potential increase in CR resulting from the effects of TCs is generally understudied. Here, we examined the relationship between plankton CR and environmental factors, including during TC-affected periods, in a phosphate-limited freshwater ecosystem. We conducted an intensive in situ sampling in Fei-Tsui Reservoir (FTR) from January 2010 to December 2015 during TC periods and non-TC periods. Our results showed a consistent temporal pattern that plankton CR increased between March to October and declined between November to February. These changes in plankton CR, primarily supported by bacterial biomass, were positively influenced by euphotic depth-averaged temperature. The CR also significantly increased with euphotic depth-averaged NO₂^- concentrations and decreased with euphotic depth-averaged NO₃^- concentrations. These results indicated that these factors typically influenced CR dynamics in the FTR. During TC periods, plankton CR was increased further due to a higher and ideal euphotic depth-averaged temperature (23–27°C) and increased supply of limiting nutrient resources via stream runoff. Overall, this study showed that a TC positively influences plankton CR by creating favorable water conditions. Notably, with a higher frequency of intense TCs projected for the Western North Pacific in most climate change scenarios, the impact of TCs on CR may increase in the near future.

Key words: Bacterial biomass, Total community respiration, Oligotrophic lake, Plankton, Typhoon

Citation: dela Paz ESP, Lai CC, Shiah FK, Hsieh Ch, Ko CY. 2023. Effects of tropical cyclone passage on plankton community respiration in a phosphate-limited freshwater ecosystem. Zool Stud 62:58. doi:10.6620/ZS.2023.62-58.

Supplementary Materials: Fig. S1丨Fig. S2丨Table S1丨Table S2