Driving Factors of Total Organic Carbon in Danjiangkou Reservoir Using Generalized Additive Model

Dynamic changes in total organic carbon (TOC) concentration in lakes and reservoirs affect the functions of aquatic ecosystems and are a key component of water quality management, especially in drinking water sources. The Danjiangkou Reservoir is the water source area of the Middle Route Project of the South-to-North Water Diversion in China. Its water quality is of critical importance to the safety of water diversion. TOC concentration and other environmental factors at 19 sampling sites in the Danjiangkou Reservoir were investigated quarterly during 2020-2021 to explore the differences at the spatio-temporal scales. A generalized additive model (GAM) was used to analyze the environmental factors correlated with the observed spatio-temporal variations of TOC concentration. The results showed that the comprehensive trophic level index (TLI) of the Danjiangkou Reservoir was under the state of intermediate nutrition, and the water quality was overall good. In terms of temporal patterns, TOC concentration was higher in both spring and summer and lower in other seasons. Spatially, TOC concentrations were found in descending order from the site of outlet, Han reservoir, entrance of reservoir, and Dan reservoir. The single-factor GAM model showed that TOC correlated with different environmental factors across spatio-temporal scales. Water temperature (WT), permanganate index (CODMn), and ammonia nitrogen (NH4+-N) were significantly correlated with TOC in autumn, but only total nitrogen (TN) and transparency (SD) were significant in winter. Spatially, WT, chemical oxygen demand (COD), NH4+-N, TN, and conductivity (Cond) correlated with TOC in the Dan reservoir, but WT, COD, NH4+-N, total phosphorus (TP), and chlorophyll a (Chl.a) were significant in the Han reservoir. The multi-factor GAM model indicated that the environmental factors correlated with TOC concentration were mainly WT, TN, Cond, CODMn, and TP, among which WT and Cond showed a significant linear relationship with TOC concentration (edf = 1, p < 0.05), while TN, CODMn, and TP had a significant nonlinear relationship with TOC concentration (edf > 1, p < 0.05). Comprehensive trophic level index (TLI) and TOC concentration revealed a highly significant correlation (R-2 = 0.414, p < 0.001). Therefore, the GAM model could well explain the environmental factors associated with the spatio-temporal dynamics of TOC concentration, providing a reference for the evaluation of water quality and research on the carbon cycle in similar inland reservoirs.