Assessing the impact of seawater blockade on coastal lake degradation using Chironomidae larvae
Abstract Coastal ecosystems, such as lakes and lagoons, are unique and valuable water bodies whose proper functioning depends on hydrological connectivity with the sea or ocean. Human interventions, such as the construction of storm surge barriers, that block the periodic and free influx of seawater...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-03-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-93127-w |
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| author | Natalia Mrozińska Katarzyna Glińska-Lewczuk Sylwia Lew Monika Szymańska-Walkiewicz Krystian Obolewski |
| author_facet | Natalia Mrozińska Katarzyna Glińska-Lewczuk Sylwia Lew Monika Szymańska-Walkiewicz Krystian Obolewski |
| author_sort | Natalia Mrozińska |
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| description | Abstract Coastal ecosystems, such as lakes and lagoons, are unique and valuable water bodies whose proper functioning depends on hydrological connectivity with the sea or ocean. Human interventions, such as the construction of storm surge barriers, that block the periodic and free influx of seawater into lakes induce a permanent freshwater state. This study presents such disturbances, considered as environmental stressors, initiating changes in the assemblages of Chironomidae larvae inhabiting the bottom of Lake Jamno (southern coast of the Baltic Sea). Changes in the structure of this assemblages were assessed during a long-term study (2010–20), which considered two periods: a time of free seawater intrusion (FF) and seven years of blocked influx (BF). The findings indicate that, following the activation of storm surge barriers, the α-diversity of larvae consistently decreased throughout the lake. Concurrently, the density of Chironomidae larvae decreased by over 20%, although their biomass increased. In the last year of the study with functioning gates, the diversity of the studied insects was drastically reduced and was limited to only two genus: Chironomus sp. and Procladius sp., which serve as indicators of disturbances in aquatic ecosystems undergoing changes in line with deterministic chaos theory. The information provided indicates that periodic increases in salinity significantly affect the structure of Chironomidae larvae, though it should be considered as a component of several other parameters (EC, temperature, or nutrients). |
| format | Article |
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| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-cb8dbfeb5e364efeb4cbb3bb8a989b2d2025-08-20T02:49:26ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-03-0115111310.1038/s41598-025-93127-wAssessing the impact of seawater blockade on coastal lake degradation using Chironomidae larvaeNatalia Mrozińska0Katarzyna Glińska-Lewczuk1Sylwia Lew2Monika Szymańska-Walkiewicz3Krystian Obolewski4Department of Hydrobiology, University of Kazimierz Wielki in BydgoszczDepartment of Water Resources and Climatology, University of Warmia and Mazury in OlsztynDepartment of Microbiology and Mycology, University of Warmia and Mazury in OlsztynDepartment of Revitalization of Inland Waterways, University of Kazimierz Wielki in BydgoszczDepartment of Hydrobiology, University of Kazimierz Wielki in BydgoszczAbstract Coastal ecosystems, such as lakes and lagoons, are unique and valuable water bodies whose proper functioning depends on hydrological connectivity with the sea or ocean. Human interventions, such as the construction of storm surge barriers, that block the periodic and free influx of seawater into lakes induce a permanent freshwater state. This study presents such disturbances, considered as environmental stressors, initiating changes in the assemblages of Chironomidae larvae inhabiting the bottom of Lake Jamno (southern coast of the Baltic Sea). Changes in the structure of this assemblages were assessed during a long-term study (2010–20), which considered two periods: a time of free seawater intrusion (FF) and seven years of blocked influx (BF). The findings indicate that, following the activation of storm surge barriers, the α-diversity of larvae consistently decreased throughout the lake. Concurrently, the density of Chironomidae larvae decreased by over 20%, although their biomass increased. In the last year of the study with functioning gates, the diversity of the studied insects was drastically reduced and was limited to only two genus: Chironomus sp. and Procladius sp., which serve as indicators of disturbances in aquatic ecosystems undergoing changes in line with deterministic chaos theory. The information provided indicates that periodic increases in salinity significantly affect the structure of Chironomidae larvae, though it should be considered as a component of several other parameters (EC, temperature, or nutrients).https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-93127-wChironomus sp.Anthropogenic lake degradationSaline water intrusionHydrology regimeFlood gateBaltic sea |
| spellingShingle | Natalia Mrozińska Katarzyna Glińska-Lewczuk Sylwia Lew Monika Szymańska-Walkiewicz Krystian Obolewski Assessing the impact of seawater blockade on coastal lake degradation using Chironomidae larvae Scientific Reports Chironomus sp. Anthropogenic lake degradation Saline water intrusion Hydrology regime Flood gate Baltic sea |
| title | Assessing the impact of seawater blockade on coastal lake degradation using Chironomidae larvae |
| title_full | Assessing the impact of seawater blockade on coastal lake degradation using Chironomidae larvae |
| title_fullStr | Assessing the impact of seawater blockade on coastal lake degradation using Chironomidae larvae |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessing the impact of seawater blockade on coastal lake degradation using Chironomidae larvae |
| title_short | Assessing the impact of seawater blockade on coastal lake degradation using Chironomidae larvae |
| title_sort | assessing the impact of seawater blockade on coastal lake degradation using chironomidae larvae |
| topic | Chironomus sp. Anthropogenic lake degradation Saline water intrusion Hydrology regime Flood gate Baltic sea |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-93127-w |
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