Research on the Algal Density Change Features of Water Bodies in Urban Parks and the Environmental Driving Factors

Abstract

Water bodies in urban parks are important for scenic and recreational areas, yet algal bloom problems seriously affect public use; therefore, it is important to study the features of algal density (AD) changes and environmental driving factors (EDFs) for water body management. In this study, five scenic water bodies in urban parks of Xinxiang City are taken as the objects for studying the AD and nine environmental indicators from March to October 2021, in accordance with time-series monitoring. The features of AD change in different layers of the water bodies are analyzed, and the main environmental impact factors of AD changes are screened by Pearson correlation analysis and principal components analysis (PCA), with main EDFs further extracted according to multiple linear regression analysis (MLRA), and multiple regression equation established. According to the data, ADs at different depth layers increase at first and then decrease with time, reaching the peak in August. According to the PCA, three principal components (PCs) are extracted in the 0.5 m and 1.0 m water layer, the variance contribution of which is 87.8% and 87.3%, respectively. The variance contribution of four PCs extracted in the 1.5 m water layer is 81.7%. After MLRA, it is found that the main EDFs of algal density in the 0.5 m water layer are electrical conductivity (EC), dissolved oxygen (DO), and water temperature (WT), in the 1.0 m water layer are WT and DO, and in the 1.5 m water layer are WT, DO, total nitrogen (TN), and EC. Generally speaking, WT and DO are decisive factors affecting AD. The EDFs’ leads to the AD changes in different water layers are analyzed, and it is proved that stratification occurs in scenic water bodies in urban parks. This study is expected to provide basic data and a theoretical basis for ecosystem system protection and water quality management of scenic water bodies in urban parks.