Drivers of Spatiotemporal Eukaryote Plankton Distribution in a Trans-Basin Water Transfer Canal in China

Planktonic eukaryotes are important components of aquatic ecosystems, and analyses the whole eukaryotic planktonic community composition function have far-reaching significance for water resource management. We aimed to understand spatiotemporal variation drivers plankton distribution in Middle Route Project South-to-North Water Diversion Henan Province, China. Specifically, we examined assemblages quality at five stations along canal another one located before dam March, June, September, December 2019. High-throughput sequencing revealed that was primarily composed 53 phyla, 200 genera, 277 species, with Cryptophyta, Ciliophora, norank_k_Cryptophyta being dominant phyla. Redundancy analysis environmental factors showed vital affecting were oxidation-reduction potential, nitrate nitrogen, pH, total phosphorus, flow velocity. Furthermore, geographical communities consistent distance decay model. Importantly, selection dominantly shaped community. In summary, our study elucidates ecological response by identifying diversity trans-basin diversion channels.