Historical nitrogen and phosphorus loadings to the northern Gulf of Mexico

Primary productivity in many coastal systems is nitrogen (N) limited; although, phytoplankton productivity may be limited by phosphorus (P) seasonally or in portions of an estuary. Increases in loading of limiting nutrients to coastal ecosystems may lead to eutrophication (Nixon 1996). Anthropogenically enhanced eutrophication includes symptoms such as loss of seagrass beds, changes in algal community composition, increased algal (phytoplankton) blooms (Richardson et al. 2001), hypoxic or anoxic events, and fish kills (Bricker et al. 2003).

人工湿地强化净化太湖水体富营养化研究

为了进一步降低水中营养盐浓度、提高水体透明度，为湖泊生态系统的恢复创造条件，促进湖泊水体生态系统良性循环，以太湖五里湖富营养化水体为研究对象，采用中试规模的人工湿地技术来强化净化富营养化水体。重点研究了不同流态、不同基质、不同植物及植物有无条件下各人工湿地系统对富营养化水体的处理效果。此外，还对生长在人工湿地中的7种湿地植物芦苇(Phragmites communis)、香蒲(Typha angustifolia)、茭白(Zizania caduciflora)、水葱(Scirpus validus.)、菖蒲(Acorus calamus)、鸢尾(Iris pseudacorus)和千屈菜(Lythrum salicaria)的生长、生理生态特性如气体交换、叶绿素荧光、光合色素含量及氮、磷吸收能力进行了研究，旨在探索高等植物在富营养化水体净化过程中的机理和规律，为人工湿地污水净化机理奠定一定的科学和理论基础。主要研究结果如下： 通过对垂直潜流、水平潜流和自由表面流三种类型的人工湿地系统对富营养化水体净化效果的对比研究，我们发现在水力负荷0.64 m d-1，进水污染物浓度化学需氧量(COD) 7.37 mg L-1、氨氮(NH4+-N) 1.63 mg L-1、硝氮(NO3--N )1.41 mg L-1、总氮(TN) 4.82 mg L-1和总磷(TP) 0.15 mg L-1的条件下，三种不同流态的人工湿地对富营养化水体均有一定的净化功能。三种类型的人工湿地对主要污染物COD、NH4+-N、NO3--N、TN和TP的去除效果分别为：垂直潜流40.4%、45.9%、62.9%、51.6%和64.3%;水平潜流39.6%、32.0%、65.3%、52.1%和65.7%;自由表面流16.5%、22.8%、34.2%、19.8%和35.1%。相比之下，垂直潜流、水平潜流对主要的污染物的去除效果明显好于自由表面流人工湿地。除垂直潜流湿地NH4+-N的平均去除率显著大于水平潜流外，两人工湿地在其余指标的去除效果上无显著差异。考虑到土地面积的限制，就太湖五里湖富营养化水体治理而言，垂直潜流和水平潜流较自由表面流更为适合。 以沸石为基质的人工湿地较以砾石为基质的人工湿地对NH4+-N有很好的去除效果，除此之外两种基质类型的人工湿地在其余各污染指标的去除效果方面差异不显著。但随着湿地运行时间的延长，沸石对NH4+-N的吸收能力会逐渐减弱，考虑到湿地构建成本，建议就地取材，以当地较为廉价的砾石为人工湿地基质比较经济适用。 有无植物对有机污染物COD的去除效果影响差异不显著，但对TN和TP去除效果影响差异极显著，有植物的人工湿地对TN的去除率比无植物的分别高出12.5%和13.4%，对TP去除率分别高出16.9%和31.0%。不同植物对人工湿地处理效果的影响差异不显著，可见湿地流态对处理效果的影响大于植物的影响。 各湿地植物叶片的净光合速率(Pn)日变化均为双峰曲线，有光合“午休”现象。其中芦苇、茭白、鸢尾、菖蒲、水葱和千屈菜Pn的下降主要是由气孔导度(gs)的下降造成的，而香蒲则更多的受叶肉光合能力下降的影响。除千屈菜的Pn与gs之间呈显著正相关外，其余植物的Pn与gs之间均呈极显著正相关。气孔行为对湿地植物光合作用碳的固定显示了明显的主导控制作用。 各湿地植物的光补偿点(LCP)差异不显著，其均值都在10µmol m-2 s-1以上，显示了阳生植物的特性。但湿地植物的光饱和点 (LSP)差异极显著，LSP大小依次为香蒲1476.3µmol m-2 s-1>水葱1140.0µmol m-2 s-1>菖蒲753.7µmol m-2 s-1>芦苇751.7µmol m-2 s-1>茭白640.7µmol m-2 s-1>千屈菜567.3µmol m-2 s-1>鸢尾479.0µmol m-2 s-1。7种湿地植物的CO2补偿点差异极显著，CO2补偿点大小依次为水葱47.1µmol mol-1>茭白28.4µmol mol-1>香蒲23.7µmol mol-1>鸢尾16.8µmol mol-1>菖蒲16.7µmol mol-1>千屈菜15.2µmol mol-1>芦苇14.8µmol mol-1。与此相反，湿地植物的CO2饱和点差异不显著。 各湿地植物的Fv/Fm值大小差异也极显著，Fv/Fm值大小依次为千屈菜0.8168>水葱0.8348>香蒲0.8262>菖蒲0.8198>芦苇0.8168>茭白0.8040>鸢尾0.7930。由此可见千屈菜、水葱较芦苇和茭白有较高的PSⅡ效率。7种湿地植物叶片的叶绿素a、叶绿素b和类胡萝卜素含量水平差异极显著，芦苇和茭白叶片的叶绿素和类胡萝卜素含量水平都较高，这在客观上解释了他们为何拥有较强的光合能力。 不同湿地植物的生物量大小差异极显著，平均生物量(干重)变化范围在0.26-6.65 kg m-2之间。除香蒲和水葱的地下部生物量显著大于地上部外，其余植物都是地上部生物量大于地下部，这非常有利于人工湿地生态工程中通过收获植物地上部生物量来达到去除氮、磷污染目的。 不同湿地植物植株氮、磷含量差异极显著。湿地植物对氮吸收总量变化范围为6.09-93.96 g m-2，吸收氮最高是芦苇，最低是菖蒲;对磷吸收总量变化范围为0.51-8.95 g m-2，吸收磷最高是香蒲，最低是菖蒲。经测算，植物吸收的总氮量占人工湿地总氮去除量的0.6-17.1%，总磷量占人工湿地总磷去除量的1.4-40.5%。本次试验中香蒲和芦苇对氮、磷的吸收去除能力比较高，茭白、鸢尾、水葱和千屈菜的吸收去除能力中等，而菖蒲的吸收能力较弱。

National Agricultural Research Organisation. Fisheries Resources Research Institute Annual Report 1999/2000

Lake Victoria shoreline in Jinja Municipality has four urban wetlands of Kirinya West/Loco, Kirinya East/Walukuba, Masese and Budumbuli which have undergone major changes during the past fifty years due to increased human activities. Amongst these activities is the continuous inflow of agricultural run-off, industrial and municipal wastewater. A significant increase in nutrient loads of Nitrogen and Phosphorus from the catchment area continues to enhance eutrophication of Lake Victoria. Pollution from point sources (Industrial plants and NWSC Kirinya final maturation pond) into Jinja’s urban wetlands were therefore studied using a simplified material flux analysis methodology to identify the active elements and estimate the pollution loads due to Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Carbon (nutrients), Chromium, Copper, Lead, Nickel and Manganese metals.

Limnology and fishery biology of the streams at Horton Plains, Sri Lanka (Ceylon)

The present study deals with the chemical, algal and faunal characteristics of the stream system at Horton Plains, the highest plains in Ceylon (altitude 2'225 m). The cultivation of seed potatoes and subsequent use of fertilizers have caused extensive silting and severe eutrophication of the stream systems. Since there are no indigenous fish, the trout Salmo gairdnerii has been introduced and it is the only fish found in these streams. The commonest fauna in the streams are crabs (Paratelphusa sp.), shrimps (Caridimr sp.), Simulium sp. and Chironomus sp. Their increase in number is probably correlated with increase in organic and detritus matter. The most important food items of the trout are the crabs living abundantly in the stream, insect larvae and terrestrial insects were also commonly found in the guts. Records of stocking and taking of trout in the Horton plains streams have shown that now less trout are taken relatively to the numbers stocked. This decrease may be possibly due to the eutrophication of the stream and also due to the possible use of pollutants in connection with the cultivation of seed potatoes.

Feed utilization and wastage in semi-intensive pond culture of mahseer, Tor putitora. (Ham.)

Mahseer, Tor putitora with 12.75, 12.11, and 12.02g of initial weight were fou · J to attain a net weight gain of 12.0 kg, ll.5 kg, and 11.4 kg respectively in pond-1 (commercial feed), pond-2 (farm-made feed), and pond-3 (farm-made feed), respectively against 78.2 kg, 70.3 kg, and 68.1 kg feed fed. Gross energy contents in fish were 1359.3 Kcal/kg, 1281.5 Kcal/kg and 1266.6 Kcal/kg, respectively in pond-1, pond-2, and pond-3 against 3630.4, 3876.9 and 3570.5 Kcal/kg energy in the feed fed. Only 9.4%, 10.5% and 13.7% of the protein, and 8.9%, 3.4% and 3.3% of the lipid fed to fish were converted into muscle respectively in pond-1, pond-2 and pond-3. It was observed that the higher the protein content in feed, the lower the rate of conversion in muscle; the same was also true for lipid. It is supposed that feed derived wastes contribute potentially to water quality deterioration and eutrophication. Lower feed conversion, higher nitrogenous and phosphatic concentrations and higher plankton biomass in the ponds are all supportive to this observation.

Water quality of two semi-closed areas in the United Arab Emirates Coast along the Arabian Gulf:a comparative study

A comparative study was carried out between the two biggest creeks along the Arabian Gulf coast of the United Arab Emirates to evaluate impacts of sewage and industrial effluents on their hydrochemical characteristics. Surface and bottom water samples were collected from Abu Dhabi and Dubai creeks during the period from October 1994 to September 1995. The hydrochemical parameters studied were: temperature (21.10-34.00°C), salinity (37.37-47.09%), transparency (0.50-10.0 m), pH (7.97-8.83), dissolved oxygen (1.78-13.93 mg/l) and nutrients ammonia (ND- 13.12,ug-at N/1), nitrite (ND-6.66 ,ug-at N/1), nitrate (ND- 41.18 ,ug-at N/1), phosphate (ND- 13.06 ,ug-at P/1), silicate (0.68-32.50 ,ug-at Si/1), total phosphorus (0.26- 21.48 ,ug-at P/1), and total silicon (0.95- 40.32 ,ug-at Si/1). The present study indicates clearly that seawater of Abu-Dhabi Creek was warmer (28.l2°C) than Dubai (27.56°C) resulting in a higher rate of evaporation. Owing to more evaporation, salinity levels showed higher levels at Abu Dhabi (43.33%) compared to Dubai (39.03%) seawater. The study also revealed higher secchi disc readings at Abu Dhabi Creek (4.68 m) as compared to Dubai Creek (2.60 m) suggesting more transparency at Abu Dhabi Creek. Whereas, seawater of Dubai exhibited higher levels of pH (1.03 times), and dissolved oxygen (1.05 times) than Abu Dhabi seawater due to an increase in productivity. Meantime, seawater of Dubai showed higher tendency to accumulate ammonia (8.22 times), nitrite (10.93 times), nitrate (5.85 times), phosphate (10.64 times), silicate (1.60 times), total phosphorus (3.19 times), and total silicon (1.54 times) compared to Abu Dhabi seawater due to the enrichment of seawater at Dubai with domestic sewage waters which has distinctly elevated the levels of the nutrient salts particularly in inner-most parts of the creek leading to eutrophication signs. The changes occurred in the receiving creek water of Dubai as a result of waste-water disposal that have also reflected on the atomic ratios of nit: Effect of pollution rogen: phosphorus: silicon.

Ecological models and GIS maps of macroalgae, as bioindicator for ecological status of Hormozgan rocky shores

In this study a total of 75 species were identified, from which 17 species, 9 genes and 6 families; belonged to Green Algae, 18 species, 7 genes and 4 families; belonged to Brown Algae, and 40 species, 18 genes and 11 families; belonged to Red Algae. From total times spent for sampling, it was determined that at lengeh harbor with 6 species, had the lowest diversity of green algae. The species diversity of brown algae at Michael location with 10 species each; had the highest, and Tahooneh location with 5 species; had the lowest species diversity. Species diversity of red algae at Michael location with 28 species; had the highest, and Sayeh Khosh location with 13 species; had the lowest diversity. From all locations where sampling took place, the highest species diversity regarding Time and Space for all three groups of algae; were associated to Late February (20th. Feb. ), and late March(20th. March). Coverage data of macroalgae and Ecological Evaluation Index indicate a high level of eutrophication for the Saieh khosh, and Bostaneh, They are classified as zones with a bad and poor ecological status. It has been proved that concentrations of biogenic elements and phytoplankton blooming are higher in these zones. The best values of the estimated metrics at Tahooneh and Michaeil could be explained with the good ecological conditions in that zone and the absence of pollution sources close to that transect . The values of abundance of macroalgae and Ecological Evaluation Index indicate a moderate ecological conditions for the Koohin, Lengeh and Chirooieh.

Understanding nutrient loading and sources in the Bay of Bengal Large Marine Ecosystem

Inputs of nitrogen, phosphorous and dissolved silica from watersheds draining into the Bay of Bengal Large Marine Ecosystem are calculated for the present day and predictions made for 2030 and 2050 are presented. The major sources are identified and the Indicator of Coastal Eutrophication (ICEP) is calculated.

Geographic and economic setting of Lake Victoria

Lake Victoria, besides being the second largest in the world after Lake Superior, is the largest tropical lake. Its waters are shared by Kenya (6% of the surface area), Uganda (43%), and Tanzania (51%). Before dramatic structural and functional changes manifested in the lake's ecosystem especially in the 1980s, fish life flourished in the lake's entire water column at all times of the year. Currently, the situation is much more different from what it was in the past. The exponential increase in the introduced Nile perch (Lates niloticus) and Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) stocks, siltation, wetland degradation and eutrophication have characterised the lake ecosystem. The two exotic species and the small native cyprinid (Rastrineobola argentea) form the basis of the commercial fishery that was once dominated by two native tilapiines (Oreochromis esculentus and Oreochromis variabilis) and five other large-bodied endemic fishes. Severe deoxygenation observed at shallow depths (Ochumba 1990; Hecky et al., 1994) indicates that a large volume of the lake is unable to sustain fish life. The Lake Victoria catchment is one of the most densely populated areas in East Africa, encompassing a population of about 30 million people. Widespread poverty resulting from high inflation rates, lack of opportunities and general unemployment have characterised the lakeside communities over much of the last two decades. The biophysical environment in which Lake Victoria exists makes the lake particularly susceptible to changes that occur as a result of human modification to the watershed or the lake itself, thus rendering benefits from the lake unsustainable.

The diversity and abundance of zooplankton in the Lake Victoria and Kyoga basins and their relationship to fish production

Biological diversity of an ecosystem is considered a reliable measure of the state of health of the ecosystem. In Uganda's large lakes, the Victoria and Kyoga, the past three decades have been characterized by profound changes in fish species composition following the introduction of the piscivorous Nile perch (Oguto-Ohwayo 1990). Over 300 haplochromine cichlid species comprising a wide range of trophic groups were lost along with a host of non-cichlid fishes which occupied virtually all available ecological niches and in the lakes (Witte 1992). A second major ecological event has been the gradual nutrient enrichment of the water bodies (eutrophication) from diffuse and point sources, while at the same time pollutants have also gained entrance into the water systems in pace with indusfrial development and human population increases in the lake basins. Eutrophication and pollution have drastically altered the physical and-chemical character of the water medium in which different fauna and flora thrive. In Lake Victoria these alterations have resulted in changes of algal species composition from pristine community dominated by chlorophytes and diatoms (Melosira etc) to one composed largely of blue-green algae or Cyanobacteria (Microcystis, Anabaena, Planktolyngbya etc) (Mugidde 1993, Hecky 1993).

湖泊富营养化的藻类生物学评价与治理研究进展

介绍了藻类的种群结构、污染指示种、生长潜力、种类多样性指数和综合指数等生物学指标在湖泊营养型评价中的应用;详细列举了超富营养型(Hypertrophication)、富营养型(Eutrophication)、中营养型(Mesotrophication)和寡营养型(Olipotrophication)等四类水体的部分指示藻类及大致表观现象;针对湖泊富营养化中备受关注的营养过剩和藻类生长过度问题,简要报道了国内外有关湖泊富营养化治理中的藻类N、P处理和除藻研究进展,以及近期作者在相关研究领域所开展的工作和初步

Temporal Coherence of Chlorophyll a during a Spring Phytoplankton Bloom in Xiangxi Bay of Three-Gorges Reservoir, China

Algal bloom phenomenon was defined as "the rapid growth of one or more phytoplankton species which leads to a rapid increase in the biomass of phytoplankton", yet most estimates of temporal coherence are based on yearly or monthly sampling frequencies and little is known of how synchrony varies among phytoplankton or of the causes of temporal coherence during spring algal bloom. In this study, data of chlorophyll a and related environmental parameters were weekly gathered at 15 sampling sites in Xiangxi Bay of Three-Gorges Reservoir (TGR, China) to evaluate patterns of temporal coherence for phytoplankton during spring bloom and test if spatial heterogeneity of nutrient and inorganic suspended particles within a single ecosystem influences synchrony of spring phytoplankton dynamics. There is a clear spatial and temporal variation in chlorophyll a across Xiangxi Bay. The degree of temporal coherence for chlorophyll a between pairs of sites located in Xiangxi Bay ranged from -0.367 to 0.952 with mean and median values of 0.349 and 0.321, respectively. Low levels of temporal coherence were often detected among the three stretches of the bay (Down reach, middle reach and upper reach), while high levels of temporal coherence were often found within the same reach of the bay. The relative difference of DIN between pair sites was the strong predictor of temporal coherence for chlorophyll a in down and middle reach of the bay, while the relative difference in Anorganic Suspended Solids was the important factor regulating temporal coherence in middle and upper reach. Contrary to many studies, these results illustrate that, in a small geographic area (a single reservoir bay of approximately 25 km), spatial heterogeneity influence synchrony of phytoplankton dynamics during spring bloom and local processes may override the effects of regional processes or dispersal.

Diatom community succession in the recent history of a eutrophic Yunnan Plateau lake, Lake Dianchi, in subtropical China

Fish introduction, eutrophication and disappearance of aquatic vegetation are important disturbances of aquatic ecosystems, especially in plateau lakes, which are generally considered to be very vulnerable. Fish were introduced to Lake Dianchi, a eutrophic plateau lake in southwest China, in the late 1950s and 1970s. After the introduction, invasive fish became the dominant species, and the total fish yield increased. Meanwhile, the trophic level of Lake Dianchi had a tendency to increase in the past decades because of the increases in human activities in the watershed area. In addition, the area of aquatic vegetation decreased from more than 90 to 1.8% of the lake area from the 1950s to 2000. This study investigated the effects of fish introduction, eutrophication and aquatic vegetation on the diatom community of Lake Dianchi by examining the changes of microfossil diatom assemblage and abundance. Results showed that the absolute abundance and diatom assemblages changed after fish were introduced. The endemic species, Cyclotella rohomboideo-elliptica, disappeared with the introduction of fish and increasing trophic levels after 1958. Fragilaria crotonensis entered into the lake with the introduction of fish and gradually thrived in the lake after 1958. Diatom species numbers also decreased gradually from 21 to 9 from the past to present. Epiphytic diatoms disappeared with the decrease of aquatic vegetation after 1985. Our study indicated that eutrophication was the most important process determining diatom abundance, and fish introduction was a secondary process determining diatom abundance, while aquatic vegetation had a more important role in structuring the diatom community in this eutrophic plateau lake.

The effect of organic matter accumulation on phosphorus release in sediment of Chinese shallow lakes

The effects of organic matter in sediment on phosphorus release were studied by field investigations in eight Chinese shallow freshwater lakes with different trophic status and a laboratory experiment. The sediment organic matter content paralleled the trophic status, ranging from 6.1 to 173.0 g kg(-1) (dry weight), with the mean value of 63.1 g kg(-1) (dry weight). It was positively proportional to Soluble reactive phosphorus concentration in the interstitial water in a form of exponential function, but inversely related to the sediment Fe/P ratio. The sediment alkaline phosphatase activity was significantly related not only to the organic matter content (r = 0.829, P < 0.01, n = 120), but also to the soluble reactive phosphorus concentration in interstitial water (r = 0.454, P < 0.01, n = 42). In the laboratory experiment, the addition of organic matter (dry materials of an aquatic macrophyte) into the sediment significantly enhanced alkaline phosphatase activity and soluble reactive phosphorus release. However, in the treatment with organic matter added and aeration, this release was generally prevented in spite of an increase in APA. Hence, sediment organic matter can effectively accelerate phosphorus release by enzymatic hydrolysis and anaerobic desorption. The latter mechanism seems to be more important.

Seasonal Variations in Chlorophyll a Concentrations in Relation to Potentials of Sediment Phosphate Release by Different Mechanisms in a Large Chinese Shallow Eutrophic Lake (Lake Taihu)

The relationship between chlorophyll a and fractionation of sediment phosphorus, inorganic phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (IPB), and organic phosphate-mineralizing bacteria (OPB) was evaluated in a large Chinese shallow eutrophic lake (Lake Taihu) and its embayment (Wuli Bay). At the three study sites, the increase of chlorophyll a concentrations in April paralleled those of the iron bound phosphate accounting for major portion of sediment inorganic phosphate, and in June significantly higher OPB and IPB numbers (especially OPB) in sediment were main contributors to the peaks of chlorophyll a concentration. Even though IPB peaked from February to June, it should serve as an unimportant P source due to the irrelevancy with chlorophyll a and soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP). By contrast, at the other site in the embayment, the calcium-bound phosphate was predominant and solid, which was difficult to be released, and neither IPB nor OPB were detectable in the sediment, indicating weak potential for phosphorus release from the sediment, which was reflected in the small seasonal variation in SRP concentration in water column. Hence, the extents to which the three general mechanisms behind phosphate release from sediment (desorption of iron bound phosphate, solubilization by IPB and enzymatic hydrolysis by OPB) operated were different depending on seasons and sites in Lake Taihu, they may jointly drive phosphate release and accelerate the eutrophication processes.