Dissolved oxygen dynamics in drainage ditches along a eutrophication gradient

The impact of eutrophication on the functioning of drainage ditch ecosystems is understudied. Therefore, we performed a field study to quantify the dissolved oxygen dynamics of ditches at different depths and seasons along a eutrophication gradient. During summer, a clear distinction in daily variation in dissolved oxygen saturation of the top water layer was observed between the trophic states. We recommend including dissolved oxygen dynamics as a functional parameter in drainage ditch monitoring programmes.