Multiple interacting environmental drivers reduce the impact of solar UVR on primary productivity in Mediterranean lakes

This study investigated how the interplay between water transparency (Kd) and multiple interacting environmental drivers (solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR), nutrient concentration (Nut), CO2 partial pressure (CO2), and light regime (Mix)) affects primary productivity (P) in Mediterranean lakes. The results showed UVR as the dominant driver, its effect being significantly stronger than others. While a future scenario with increased UVR, CO2, Mix, and Nut exerted a more inhibitory effect on P, especially in darker waters, the magnitude of this synergistic effect was substantially lower than that exerted by UVR alone or double/triple interactions. This suggests that multiple interacting drivers can mitigate the impact of UVR on primary productivity, particularly as water columns darken.

Marco J. Cabrerizo, E. Walter Helbling, Virginia E. Villafañe, Juan M. Medina-Sánchez, Presentación Carrillo