Seasonal variations and hydrological management regulate nutrient transport in cascade damming: Insights from carbon and nitrogen isotopes

Abstract

Reservoirs around the world have significantly altered the natural transport of nutrients in rivers. However, the specific effects of the cascade damming on the migration, transformation, and environmental consequences of these nutrients remain unclear. To address this knowledge gap, we analyzed spatiotemporal variations in water chemistry, nutrient concentrations, stable isotope of dissolved inorganic carbon (δ¹³C_DIC) and nitrate isotope (δ¹⁵N-NO₃^-) in seven cascade reservoirs along the Wujiang River, each characterized by different regulatory regimes. Our findings reveal that the average absolute changes in concentrations of total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), and silicon dioxide (SiO₂) during the wet season (WS, spring and summer) were 2.4, 1.4, and 1.1 times higher than those observed in the dry season (DS, autumn and winter). During the WS, the average apparent retention efficiency (*RET_f) values in the Hongjiadu reservoir were 97% for TN, 98% for TP, and 95% for SiO₂, indicating substantial nutrient consumption in the cascading reservoirs. Conversely, during the DS, the *RET_f values for TN, TP, and SiO₂ were negative, suggesting notable nutrient accumulation within the reservoirs. The nutrient fluxes released downstream from the cascade reservoirs in the Wujiang River were significantly greater than the upstream inflow fluxes. These findings help demonstrate how downstream discharge across cascade reservoirs amplifies nutrient flux disparities due to dam construction. Our study enhances the understanding of how cascade dam construction impacts nutrient dynamics, supporting the optimization of reservoir operation models and advancing scientific water resource management and conservation efforts.