Assessment of Ecosystem Characteristics and Fishery Carbon Sink Potential of Qianxiahu Reservoir Based on Trophic Level and Carbon Content Methods

Optimizing biological carbon sequestration has become a primary strategy in global low-carbon-emission initiatives. Freshwater fisheries in reservoirs play an important role in aquatic biological carbon sequestration. However, a standard method for evaluating the carbon sink capacity of inland fishe...

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Main Authors: Mei Liu, Mengxia Shu, Qingping Lian, Aihuan Guo, Dan Zhou, Songbao Zou, Julin Yuan, Guangmei Chen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-10-01
Series:Fishes
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2410-3888/9/11/438
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author Mei Liu
Mengxia Shu
Qingping Lian
Aihuan Guo
Dan Zhou
Songbao Zou
Julin Yuan
Guangmei Chen
author_facet Mei Liu
Mengxia Shu
Qingping Lian
Aihuan Guo
Dan Zhou
Songbao Zou
Julin Yuan
Guangmei Chen
author_sort Mei Liu
collection DOAJ
description Optimizing biological carbon sequestration has become a primary strategy in global low-carbon-emission initiatives. Freshwater fisheries in reservoirs play an important role in aquatic biological carbon sequestration. However, a standard method for evaluating the carbon sink capacity of inland fisheries has not been developed. Therefore, this study aimed to assess and compare the carbon sequestration potential of the Qianxiahu Reservoir’s fisheries using the trophic level and mass-balance methodologies. The Ecopath model was employed to determine the trophic levels of aquatic organisms within the Qianxiahu Reservoir ecosystem, with input parameters sourced from in situ surveys and the literature on reservoirs. The model includes 21 functional groups, with trophic levels ranging from 1.000 to 3.281. The key species identified are silver carp, bighead carp, and crucian carp. The indices of Finn’s cycling index (FCI), connectivity index (CI), system omnivory index (SOI), and total primary production/total respiration (TPP/TR) for the Qianxiahu Reservoir are 11.35, 0.27, 0.196, and 1.540, respectively. These values indicate a high degree of material recycling and complex interconnections among functional groups. The fishery carbon sink potential of the Qianxiahu Reservoir, calculated using the trophic level and carbon content methods, yielded values of 261.8362 tons/km<sup>2</sup> and 66.6818 tons/km<sup>2</sup>, respectively. The trophic level method showed a notable increase of 195,1544 tons/km<sup>2</sup> compared to the carbon content method, underscoring significant differences in results between the two methods. The study concludes with recommendations for research on methods to assess the carbon sink capacity of freshwater fisheries, aiming to establish a scientific framework for this evaluation.
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spelling doaj-art-98569b17185d40899e515f2f95a65f5a2024-11-26T18:03:57ZengMDPI AGFishes2410-38882024-10-0191143810.3390/fishes9110438Assessment of Ecosystem Characteristics and Fishery Carbon Sink Potential of Qianxiahu Reservoir Based on Trophic Level and Carbon Content MethodsMei Liu0Mengxia Shu1Qingping Lian2Aihuan Guo3Dan Zhou4Songbao Zou5Julin Yuan6Guangmei Chen7Agriculture Ministry Key Laboratory of Healthy Freshwater Aquaculture, Key Laboratory of Fish Health and Nutrition of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Institute of Freshwater Fisheries, Huzhou 313000, ChinaFisheries Technology Extension Station, Aquaculture Technology Promotion Station of Qingtian County, Lishui 323900, ChinaAgriculture Ministry Key Laboratory of Healthy Freshwater Aquaculture, Key Laboratory of Fish Health and Nutrition of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Institute of Freshwater Fisheries, Huzhou 313000, ChinaAgriculture Ministry Key Laboratory of Healthy Freshwater Aquaculture, Key Laboratory of Fish Health and Nutrition of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Institute of Freshwater Fisheries, Huzhou 313000, ChinaAgriculture Ministry Key Laboratory of Healthy Freshwater Aquaculture, Key Laboratory of Fish Health and Nutrition of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Institute of Freshwater Fisheries, Huzhou 313000, ChinaAgriculture Ministry Key Laboratory of Healthy Freshwater Aquaculture, Key Laboratory of Fish Health and Nutrition of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Institute of Freshwater Fisheries, Huzhou 313000, ChinaAgriculture Ministry Key Laboratory of Healthy Freshwater Aquaculture, Key Laboratory of Fish Health and Nutrition of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Institute of Freshwater Fisheries, Huzhou 313000, ChinaZhejiang Fenghe Fishery Co., Ltd., Lishui 323900, ChinaOptimizing biological carbon sequestration has become a primary strategy in global low-carbon-emission initiatives. Freshwater fisheries in reservoirs play an important role in aquatic biological carbon sequestration. However, a standard method for evaluating the carbon sink capacity of inland fisheries has not been developed. Therefore, this study aimed to assess and compare the carbon sequestration potential of the Qianxiahu Reservoir’s fisheries using the trophic level and mass-balance methodologies. The Ecopath model was employed to determine the trophic levels of aquatic organisms within the Qianxiahu Reservoir ecosystem, with input parameters sourced from in situ surveys and the literature on reservoirs. The model includes 21 functional groups, with trophic levels ranging from 1.000 to 3.281. The key species identified are silver carp, bighead carp, and crucian carp. The indices of Finn’s cycling index (FCI), connectivity index (CI), system omnivory index (SOI), and total primary production/total respiration (TPP/TR) for the Qianxiahu Reservoir are 11.35, 0.27, 0.196, and 1.540, respectively. These values indicate a high degree of material recycling and complex interconnections among functional groups. The fishery carbon sink potential of the Qianxiahu Reservoir, calculated using the trophic level and carbon content methods, yielded values of 261.8362 tons/km<sup>2</sup> and 66.6818 tons/km<sup>2</sup>, respectively. The trophic level method showed a notable increase of 195,1544 tons/km<sup>2</sup> compared to the carbon content method, underscoring significant differences in results between the two methods. The study concludes with recommendations for research on methods to assess the carbon sink capacity of freshwater fisheries, aiming to establish a scientific framework for this evaluation.https://www.mdpi.com/2410-3888/9/11/438Qianxiahu reservoirecosystem characteristicsfishery carbon sinktrophic levelcarbon content
spellingShingle Mei Liu
Mengxia Shu
Qingping Lian
Aihuan Guo
Dan Zhou
Songbao Zou
Julin Yuan
Guangmei Chen
Assessment of Ecosystem Characteristics and Fishery Carbon Sink Potential of Qianxiahu Reservoir Based on Trophic Level and Carbon Content Methods
Fishes
Qianxiahu reservoir
ecosystem characteristics
fishery carbon sink
trophic level
carbon content
title Assessment of Ecosystem Characteristics and Fishery Carbon Sink Potential of Qianxiahu Reservoir Based on Trophic Level and Carbon Content Methods
title_full Assessment of Ecosystem Characteristics and Fishery Carbon Sink Potential of Qianxiahu Reservoir Based on Trophic Level and Carbon Content Methods
title_fullStr Assessment of Ecosystem Characteristics and Fishery Carbon Sink Potential of Qianxiahu Reservoir Based on Trophic Level and Carbon Content Methods
title_full_unstemmed Assessment of Ecosystem Characteristics and Fishery Carbon Sink Potential of Qianxiahu Reservoir Based on Trophic Level and Carbon Content Methods
title_short Assessment of Ecosystem Characteristics and Fishery Carbon Sink Potential of Qianxiahu Reservoir Based on Trophic Level and Carbon Content Methods
title_sort assessment of ecosystem characteristics and fishery carbon sink potential of qianxiahu reservoir based on trophic level and carbon content methods
topic Qianxiahu reservoir
ecosystem characteristics
fishery carbon sink
trophic level
carbon content
url https://www.mdpi.com/2410-3888/9/11/438
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