Vertical variation in dissolved alkaline phosphatase activity in a shallow eutrophic lake determined in reverse micelles

We evaluated the feasibility of microencapsulating dissolved alkaline phosphatase of a water body into reverse micelle systems prepared by hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide as a surfactant in cyclohexane and 1-butanol as co-surfactant. The dissolved alkaline phosphatase activity within the micelle was described, including its kinetic parameters and the effects of pH and temperature on catalytic activity in surface, overlying and interstitial water of Lake Donghu. We found the similarities on the behavior of dissolved alkaline phosphatase of surface and interstitial water in reverse micelles, which was distinctly different from its behavior in the overlying water. This difference likely reflected the different origins of the dissolved alkaline phosphatase in the vertical profile of the lake. This system provides a novel tool with which to study the diversity and ecological significance of extracellular enzymes in aquatic environments.

An in situ estimate of food consumption by icefish in Lake Chaohu, China

The icefish (Neosalanx taihuensis) of Lake Chaohu, China, foraged almost exclusively on crustacean zooplankton in both spring and summer. The icefish showed diurnal feeding periodicity, with peak feeding in the morning. No food was observed in icefish guts collected at night. Our results indicate that that the icefish was a particulate feeder and light intensity greatly affected its foraging on zooplankton. Daily consumption of zooplankton by icefish varied significantly both diurnally and among seasons, which ranged from 0.22 to 2.23 g (wet weight) per 100 g wet fish weight at temperatures between 16.3 degrees C (spring) and 28.8 degrees C (summer).

Monitoring organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls in Baiyangdian Lake using microbial communities

We used polyurethane foam units (PFUs) to collect persistent organic pollutants (POPs) from four sites in Baiyangdian Lake in July 2003. Following extraction from the PFUs, relative concentrations of seven organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and ten polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were determined by gas chromatography. OCPs and PCBs were detected in the microbial communities from all the four sampling stations. In terms of the total concentration of POPs (OCPs+ PCBs), two river estuary stations had more POP (18.45 mu g/L and 9.77 mu g/L) than the two mid-lake stations (4.75 mu g/L and 5.21 mu g/L), indicating that Baiyangdian Lake was significantly impacted by inflow from the Fu River and Baigou River.

Influence of environmental variables on macroinvertebrates in a macrophyte-dominated Chinese lake, with emphasis on the relationships between macrophyte heterogeneity and macroinvertebrate patterns

The benthic community structure in Baoan Lake was examined in relation to lake water physicochemical characteristics and biological parameters. Seventy macroinvertebrate taxa were identified, and mollusks constituted the dominant group and accounted for more than 80% of the total abundance. Assemblages were composed mainly of scrapers (81.5%) and collector-gatherers (roughly 10%). Three plant variables (richness, total cover, and total biomass) were strongly correlated with the faunal gradient (p<0.05). Other predicator variables were Cl-, SiO2, and chemical oxygen demand. Because of the importance of macrophytes in structuring benthic assemblage in this lentic system, the spatial heterogeneity of macrophytes also influenced the pattern of macroinvertebrates. Seven lake regions were uniquely characterized according to primary macrophyte composition and biomass. There were significant differences for macroinvertebrate taxa richness, abundance, and biodiversity among the seven macrophyte regions.

Attenuation of photosynthetically available radiation by chlorophyll, chromophoric dissolved organic matter, and tripton in lake Donghu, China

The attenuation coefficient of photosynthetically available radiation [K-d(PAR)] and three water quality parameters [chlorophyll a (chl a)], chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) and tripton] were measured at three stations in shallow, subtropical Lake Donghu from April 2003 to March 2004. The multiple regression equation of K-d(PAR) versus chl a, CDOM, and tripton was: K-d(PAR) = 0.44 + 0.019 chl a + 1.88 CDOM + 0.016 tripton, which revealed the relative contributions of the three parameters to K-d(PAR). The effects of water and CDOM on K-d(PAR) were of minor importance (19-26%), while chl a and tripton were the two greatest contributors, accounting collectively for 74-81%.

Testate amoebae (Protozoa : Rhizopoda) from northwest Yunnan, China

A survey of the testate amoebae of northwest Yunnan in the Hengduan Mountains region of southwest China revealed 151 species belonging to 29 genera. Of these, three genera and 27 species were new to the testate amoebae fauna of China. The widely distributed and dominant species were Centropyxis aculeata aculeata, C aerophila aerophila, C. sylvatica, Difflugia elegans, D. globulosa, D. pristis, D. pulex, Phryganella hemisphaerica, Trinema enchelys, and T lineare. The most diverse genera were Difflugia (41 species), Centropyxis (31 species), Arcella (18 species), and Euglypha (11 species). The number of species in each sample varied greatly. It appears that species diversity of testate amoebae is related not only to macro-environments (e.g., geographic zonation) but also to microenvironments (e.g., microhabitats).

Changes in the Phytoplankton community of Lake Donghu since the 1980s

The phytoplankton of Lake Donghu was compared between two periods (i.e., 1982-83 and 1999-2001). During 1982-1983, Lake Donghu was characterized by cyanobacterial blooms, very high summer phytoplankton biomass, and a spring clear-water phase. However, during 1999-2001, the lake was dominated by dinophytes and diatoms and had a relatively low phytoplankton biomass and a very turbid state.. Increased stocking of silver carp and bighead carp during the interim years eliminated cyanobacterial blooms and large-bodied daphnids from the lake, creating favorable conditions for growth of the small-sized algae.

Distribution of the macroinvertebrate communities in the Xiangxi River system and relationships with environmental factors

Surveys of macroinvertebrates were carried out in the Xiangxi River system during July of 2001. Among the 121 taxa collected, Ephemeroptera, Trichoptera, and Diptera dominated (41.7, 26.0, and 24.5% of the total relative abundance, respectively). Two-way indictor species analysis and detrended correspondence analysis divided the 49 sites into four groups based on species composition and relative abundance. Canonical correspondence analysis indicated that elevation, SiO2, pH, conductivity, hardness, and NO2-N were significant environmental factors affecting the distribution of macroinvertebrates.

The rotifer assemblage in a shallow, eutrophic Chinese lake and its relationships with cyanobacterial blooms and crustacean zooplankton

Rotifer assemblage in the subtropical eutrophic Lake Chaohu was investigated monthly from September 2002 to August 2003. Forty-nine species belonging to 18 genera and 14 families were recorded. The highest densities of rotifer were observed during summer when there were heavy cyanobacterial blooms. There was a significant positive correlation between total rotifer density and the biomass of cyanobacteria. However, no correlations were found between the densities of rotifer and crustacean zooplankton, possibly owing to the paucity of large-bodied planktonic crustaceans. It is likely that the occurrence of cyanobacterial blooms not only caused the shift of dominant crustacean zooplankton from large species to smaller ones but also weakened the negative interaction between crustaceans and rotifers.

The toxicities of single-celled Microcystis aeruginosa PCC7820 and liberated M-aeruginosa to Daphnia carinata in the absence and presence of the green alga Scenedesmus obliquus

We evaluated the toxic effect of Microcystis aeruginosa on Daphnia carinata King using survival rate, population growth rate, and body length. When fed Microcystis aerugionsa PCC7820 and liberated colonial Microcystis spp., all D. carinata died within five days. When fed a mixture of M. aeruginosa PCC7820 and the green alga Scenedesmus obliquus, the survival rate, population growth rate, and body length of D. carinata generally increased. The survival rates were all above 80% after ten days. However, with liberated colonial M. aeruginosa, the toxic effect on D. carinata was more pronounced, and only at higher concentration of S. obliquus did that toxic effect abate. Our results indicated that green algae could greatly weaken the toxic effect of cyanobacteria.

Benthic algae of the Xiangxi River, China

From June 2000 to June 2002, four sites on the mainstem of the Xiangxi River and one site on each of its major tributaries were sampled 16 times each for benthic algae. All total, 223 taxa (most to species and variety levels) were found (193 Bacillariophyta, 20 Chlorophyta, nine Cyanophyta and one Xanthophyta). The diatoms Cocconeis placentula, Achnanthes linearis, and Diatoma vulgare dominated the system, with relative abundance of 33.3%, 18.8%, and 6.4%, respectively. The abundances of all the other taxa were under 5%, and 210 taxa collectively contributed less than 1% of the total abundance. Taxa diversity peaked in winter and reached a minimum in summer. Species richness varied considerably but was not significantly different over time. Maximum algal density occurred in later winter/spring (1.4 x 10(9) ind./m(2)) but was not significantly different from the minimum density, which occurred in August. Chlorophyll a showed similar seasonal fluctuation but also was not significantly different over time. Canonical correspondence analysis demonstrated that water hardness, depth, conductivity, and alkalinity had important influences on variation of epilithic algae in the Xiangxi River system.

Modeling of cyanobacterial blooms in hypereutrophic Lake Dianchi, China

Compared with other approaches for modeling and predicting, artificial neural networks are more effective in describing complex and non-linear systems. The occurrence of cyanobacterial blooms has been a continuous and serious problem over the past decades in hypereutrophic Lake Dianchi. Yet, the main factor(s) initiating these blooms remain(s) unclear. During 2001-2002 at 40 sampling sites in Lake Dianchi, physicochemical parameters possibly relating to the blooms were measured. Parameters directly or indirectly relating to the cyanobacterial blooms were used as driving factors in a back-propagation network to model the concentration of chlorophyll a. According to sensitivity analysis, chemical oxygen demand was identified as a very significant environmental factor for algal growth in Lake Dianchi.

Diel variation of methane fluxes in summer in a eutrophic subtropical lake in China

The summer diel variation of methane (CH4) flux was investigated in a eutrophic, subtropical lake in China. The CH4 concentration was always supersaturated, and the emission rate ranged from 0.24 to 45.51 mg m(-2) h(-1). The diel variations of CH4 flux in June and August showed a single peak in early afternoon and a minimum in the morning, while the pattern varied irregularly in May. There was a moderate relationship between water and sediment temperature and CH4 emission rate in some months.

Studies on the food web structure of Lake Donghu using stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios

Food web structure was studied by using carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios in a hypereutrophic subtropical Chinese lake, Lake Donghu. High external nutrient loading and the presence of abundant detritus from submersed macrophytes were responsible for the high sediment delta(15)N and delta(13)C, respectively. C-13 was significantly higher in submersed macrophytes than in other macrophytes. The similar delta(13)C values in phytoplankton, zooplankton, zoobenthos, and planktivorous fish indicate that phytoplankton was the major food source for the consumers. By using a delta(15)N mass balance model, we estimate that the contributions of zooplankton to the diet of silver carp and bighead carp were 54% and 74%, respectively, which is in agreement with previous microscopic observations on intestinal contents of these fishes.

Life history and production of Sphaerium lacustre (Mollusca : Sphaeriidae) in a shallow subtropical Chinese lake

A fingernail clam, Sphaerium lacustre, was studied in subtropical Lake Donghu from June 1999 to May 2000. The S. lacustre population was characterized by a single annual reproduction period starting in March and ending in October; the population comprised three size groups, of which the 1999 cohort was dominant. The annual average density and biomass were 100.2 ind./m(2) and 12.11 g/m(2), respectively The annual production was 43.02 wet weight g/m(2), and the corresponding annual production/biomass ratio was 3.55.