Temporal changes of the food web structure and function driven by changes in hydrological regimes and water quality in a large shallow lake

Assessing food web structural properties and energy fluxes under changing hydrological regimes water quality reveals the temporal patterns of ecosystem dynamics in shallow lakes. Here, we studied northern China’s largest lake (Lake Baiyangdian) using quantitative models for five representative years (1958, 1980, 1993, 2009, 2019). We analyzed structure function by combining a Bayesian isotope mixing model with energetics model. further examined changes unweighted weighted topological attributes. Lake Baiyangdian changed from detritus-based into phytoplankton-based based on relative contributions basal sources flux distributions. The trophic position fingerlings, large omnivorous fish, carnivorous fish decreased increasing eutrophication. highest were detritus to zooplankton mollusks 1958, phytoplankton 2019. total was followed 2019, lowest value 1958. Unweighted metrics showed similar patterns. observed more pronounced variability node- link-weighted than metrics. In addition, factors (threshold, duration, reversals between high, low levels), eutrophication, some (chemical oxygen demand, dissolved oxygen, pH) played important roles Baiyangdian. Our findings demonstrate importance integrating indicators holistically comprehend how highly aggregated webs respond quality, thereby improving management restoration ecosystems.