Linking water environmental factors and the local watershed landscape to the chlorophyll a concentration in reservoir bays

The frequency of harmful algal blooms caused by eutrophication is increasing globally, posing serious threats to human health and economic development. Reservoir bays, affected by water environment and local watershed landscape, are more prone to eutrophication and algal blooms. The chlorophyll a (Chl a) concentration is an important indicator for the degree of eutrophication and algal bloom. Exploring the complex relationships between water environment and landscape background, and Chl a concentration in the reservoir bays are crucial for ensuring high-quality drinking water from reservoirs. In this study, we monitored Chl a concentrations of 66 bays in Danjiangkou Reservoir and the related water quality parameters (e.g., water temperature, turbidity, nutrients) in waterbodies of these reservoir bays in the storage and discharge periods from 2015 to 2018. Partial least squares-structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was used to quantify the relationship between water environmental factors and watershed landscapes, and Chl a concentrations in reservoir bays. The results showed that mean Chl a concentration was higher in storage period than that in discharge period. Two optimal PLS-SEMs explained 66.8% and 53.6% of Chl a concentration variation in the storage and discharge periods, respectively. The net effect of water chemistry on Chl a concentration was more pronounced during the discharge period (total effect = 0.61, 37% of the total effect on Chl a), while the net effect of land-use composition on Chl a concentration was more significant during the storage period (total effect = 0.57, 30% of the total effect on Chl a). The landscape pattern had significant indirect effects on Chl a concentration, especially during the discharge period (indirect effect = −0.31, 19% of the total effect on Chl a). Our results provide valuable information for managers to make rational decisions, thereby contributing to the prevention of eutrophication and algal blooms in reservoir bays.