Seasonal succession of macrozoobenthic communities and environmental biological assessment in Nakaumi Lake, Japan

Nakaumi Lake, located near the Sea of Japan, holds a significant ecological value.A detailed understanding of its intra-annual environmental variations under the broader context of global climate change is a fundamental basis for effective environmental management and the sustainable use of ecological resources.However, current research on this subject remains limited.In this study, the macrozoobenthic communities of Nakaumi Lake were investigated using a multi-index assessment approach, taking into account the lake's hydrological characteristics.This allowed evaluating seasonal environmental changes and identifying potential ecological risks.The obtained findings reveal that the macrozoobenthic community structure exhibits marked seasonal variation.Diversity peaks during the winter and spring, while it declines notably in the summer and autumn.Spatial differences in diversity levels across different lake regions are primarily attributed to habitat fragmentation driven by varying hydrological conditions.Overall, Nakaumi Lake is subject to significant environmental stress, and seasonal hydrological dynamics can cause abrupt shifts in community composition, thereby undermining the resilience of its aquatic ecosystem.