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Total Phosphorus (total + phosphorus)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Life Sciences	38%
Earth and Environmental Science	36%
Engineering	17%
Chemistry	5%

Selected Abstracts

The Ratios of Carbon, Nitrogen, and Phosphorus in a Wetland Coastal Ecosystem of Southern India

INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF HYDROBIOLOGY, Issue 2 2003
Lizen Mathews
Abstract The fertility of the coastal and estuarine waters is of great concern because of its influence on the productivity of these waters. Seasonal variations in the distribution of organic carbon, total nitrogen and total phosphorus in the sediments of Kuttanad Waters, a part of the tropical Cochin Estuary on the south west coast of India, are examined to identify the contribution of sediments to the fertility of the aquatic systems. The adjoining region has considerable agricultural activity. The fresh water zones had higher quantities of silt and clay whereas the estuarine zone was more sandy. Organic carbon, total phosphorus and total nitrogen were higher in the fresh water zones and lower in the estuarine zones. Total phosphorus and organic carbon showed the lowest values during monsoon periods. No significant trends were observed in the seasonal distributions of total nitrogen. Ratios of C/N, C/P and N/P, and the phosphorus and nitrogen content indicate significant modification in the character of the organic matter. Substantial amounts of the organic matter can contribute to reducing conditions and modify diagenetic processes. [source]

The identification, characterization and conservation value of isoetid lakes in Ireland

AQUATIC CONSERVATION: MARINE AND FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS, Issue 3 2009
Gary Free
Abstract 1.Soft-water, oligotrophic isoetid lakes are vulnerable to eutrophication, acidification and alkalinization. As a result of these pressures a large proportion have undergone substantial deterioration in several European countries. The understanding of these systems has been limited by either a lack of lakes close to natural conditions or through receiving less focus in broader scale macrophyte surveys. This has resulted in a dearth of information on specific lake types in their natural condition. Sixty-eight soft-water lakes in Ireland were studied in order to achieve a better understanding of the biological and environmental conditions defining such lakes. 2.Eight groups of lakes were identified using cluster analysis and indicator species analysis. Three groups were representative of isoetid-rich lakes displaying a high frequency of occurrence of Isoetes lacustris, Lobelia dortmanna or Eriocaulon aquaticum together with the almost ubiquitous Littorella uniflora. Canonical variates analysis indicated that alkalinity, total phosphorus (TP), catchment area, altitude, moors and heathlands, mean transect depth, colour and lake area were significant variables discriminating among the eight groups. Soft-water lakes with high amounts of isoetids tended to be less exposed, have broad shallow littoral zones with a high transparency and be situated in smaller catchments. Total phosphorus and alkalinity were typically low, although one group of isoetid-rich lakes had higher mean TP and alkalinity values. This group may contain lakes under threat from nutrient enrichment and alkalinization and also lakes that have higher TP and alkalinity naturally. 3.Lakes with a prevalence of isoetids supported a greater diversity of macrophytes and chironomids indicating that such lakes may represent suitable conservation targets as they act as surrogates for soft-water lakes of high biodiversity. Other factors favouring a focus on isoetids in conservation strategies are their importance as a functional component in soft-water lakes and their sensitivity to lake and catchment environmental change. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

Hepatotoxic cyanobacterial blooms in the lakes of northern Poland

ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY, Issue 5 2005
Joanna Mankiewicz
Abstract The lakes of northern Poland are among the recreational sites most valued by Polish and German holiday makers. Given the socioeconomic importance of these lakes, water quality should be maintained at high levels for such intensive recreational purposes. In 2002 studies of species composition, biomass, and toxin production by phytoplankton and the attendant physicochemical variables were performed in order to assess the risk of cyanobacterial blooms in selected northern lakes: Lakes Jeziorak, Jagodne, Szymoneckie, Szymon, Taltowisko, Siecino, and Trzesiecko. The research showed that total phosphorus (0.1 mg P/L) and total nitrogen (1.5 mg N/L) in the studied lakes almost exceeded the permissible limits for eutrophication of water bodies. Most phytoplankton samples were taken in late summer, when cyanobacteria were expected to reach their highest biomass. At the time of sampling most of the lakes were dominated by oscillatorialean and nostocalean species. Average chlorophyll-a concentration was higher than 10 ,g/L in almost all the lakes studied, which corresponded with an average microcystin concentration in the range of 4,5 ,g/L. The main microcystins in the analyzed samples were dmMC-RR, MC-RR, MC-YR, and MC-LR. The results demonstrated a potential for intensive cyanobacterial blooms to appear during the summer in northern Polish lakes. The levels of cyanobacteria found in the lakes investigated indicated that toxicity had reached the first-alert level according to World Health Organization recommendations. If microcystin-producing cyanobacteria dominate, with a microcystin concentration of 2,4 ,g/L, symptoms of toxicity can appear in the swimmers most sensitive to exposure. Analysis of cyanobacterial assemblages in northern Polish lakes also indicated a significant presence of Aphanizomenon species including a Scandinavian species, A. skujae (Skuja) Kom.-Legn. & Cronb. Future investigations of Polish lakes also should assess neurotoxins and study the biology of their producers. This study was the first attempt to evaluate the potential danger of toxic cyanobacterial blooms in the lakes of northern Poland. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 20: 499,506, 2005. [source]

Vegetation,environment relationships along El-Salam Canal, Egypt

ENVIRONMETRICS, Issue 3 2001
Mamdouh S. Serag
Abstract The bank and open water vegetation along El-Salam Canal in north-eastern Egypt were studied in relation to the prevailing environmental factors. The hypothesis that terresterial and aquatic species would show different downstream patterns of species richness was tested by sampling species composition and environmental variables along 80,km of the canal. Species richness was highest in the first 30,km of the canal. The downstream decrease in species richness exhibits interpretable downstream patterns. Total species richness increased with increasing organic matter in the soil and decreased with both increasing soil and water salinity along the gradient. The indicator species of TWINSPAN analysis are: Azolla filiculoides, Echinochloa stagnina, Eichhornia crassipes and Saccharum spontaneum (cluster I); Ceratophyllum demersum, Ludwigia stolonifera and Typha domingensis (cluster II); Potamogeton pectinatus and Phragmites australis (cluster III); Tamarix nilotica and Suaeda vera (cluster IV). The environmental factors influencing the vegetation clusters were analysed using canonical correspondence analysis ordination (CCA). The water salinity, total nitrogen and total phosphorus appeared to be the most important factors controlling the abundance of aquatic plant distribution along the canal. The shoreline vegetation is mainly controlled by salinity, K+ and organic carbon of the soil. Water analysis indicated that the salinity of the water increases southwards and the minimum salinity of the water (0.78,mS/cm) was recorded at the intake of the canal. The maximum value (7.5,mS/cm) of water salinity was recorded near the Suez Canal. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

Characterization of bacterial communities in four freshwater lakes differing in nutrient load and food web structure

FEMS MICROBIOLOGY ECOLOGY, Issue 2 2005
Katleen van der Gucht
Abstract The phylogenetic composition of bacterioplankton communities in the water column of four shallow eutrophic lakes was analyzed by partially sequencing cloned 16S rRNA genes and by PCR-DGGE analysis. The four lakes differed in nutrient load and food web structure: two were in a clearwater state and had dense stands of submerged macrophytes, while two others were in a turbid state characterized by the occurrence of phytoplankton blooms. One turbid and one clearwater lake had very high nutrient levels (total phosphorus > 100 ,g/l), while the other lakes were less nutrient rich (total phosphorus < 100,g/l). Cluster analysis, multidimensional scaling and ANOSIM (analysis of similarity) were used to investigate differences among the bacterial community composition in the four lakes. Our results show that each lake has its own distinct bacterioplankton community. The samples of lake Blankaart differed substantially from those of the other lakes; this pattern was consistent throughout the year of study. The bacterioplankton community composition in lake Blankaart seems to be less diverse and less stable than in the other three lakes. Clone library results reveal that Actinobacteria strongly dominated the bacterial community in lake Blankaart. The relative abundance of Betaproteobacteria was low, whereas this group was dominant in the other three lakes. Turbid lakes had a higher representation of Cyanobacteria, while clearwater lakes were characterized by more representatives of the Bacteroidetes. Correlating our DGGE data with environmental parameters, using the BIOENV procedure, suggests that differences are partly related to the equilibrium state of the lake. [source]

Submerged macrophytes as indicators of the ecological quality of lakes

FRESHWATER BIOLOGY, Issue 4 2010
MARTIN SØNDERGAARD
Summary 1. We analysed submerged macrophyte communities from 300 Danish lakes to determine the efficacy of different species, maximum colonisation depth (Cmax) of plants as well as coverage and plant volume inhabited (PVI) as indicators of eutrophication. 2. Most species occurred at a wide range of phosphorus and chlorophyll a (Chla) concentrations, but some species of isoetids (Lobelia, Isoëtes) and Potamogeton (Potamogeton gramineus, Potamogeton alpinus and Potamogeton filiformis) were mainly found at low nutrient concentrations and hence may be considered as indicators of nutrient poor conditions. However, species typically found in nutrient-rich conditions, such as Elodea canadensis and Potamogeton pectinatus, were also found at total phosphorus (TP) <0.02 mg P L,1 and Chla <5 ,g L,1 and therefore cannot be considered as reliable indicators of eutrophic conditions. 3. Submerged macrophyte coverage, PVI and the Cmax were negatively correlated with TP and Chla. However, variability among lakes was high and no clear thresholds were observed. At TP between 0.03 and 0.07 mg P L,1 plant coverage in shallow lakes ranged from nearly 0 to 100%, whilst at concentrations between 0.10 and 0.20 mg P L,1 only 29% of the lakes had coverage >10%. Cmax was found to be a useful indicator only in deep lakes with unvegetated areas in the deeper part, whereas the use of coverage was restricted to shallow lakes or shallow areas of deep lakes. 4. Overall, submerged macrophytes responded clearly to eutrophication, but the metrics investigated here showed no well-defined thresholds. We developed a simple index based on species richness, presence of indicator species, coverage and Cmax, which might be used to track major changes in macrophyte communities and for lake classification. [source]

Impact of the fish Garra on the ecology of reservoirs and the occurrence of Microcystis blooms in semi-arid tropical highlands: an experimental assessment using enclosures

FRESHWATER BIOLOGY, Issue 8 2009
TADESSE DEJENIE
Summary 1.,Many man-made reservoirs in the semi-arid highlands of Northern Ethiopia (Tigray) are characterised by the occurrence of intensive blooms of cyanobacteria and a dominance of small riverine fishes belonging to the genus Garra. 2.,We carried out enclosure experiments to test for the effect of these small fish on abiotic characteristics, phytoplankton biomass and zooplankton community structure in the pelagic of two reservoirs (Gereb Awso and Tsinkanet). Two experiments were carried out in each of the reservoirs, one at the end of the rainy season (highest water level) and one at the end of the dry season (lowest water level). 3.,The presence of Garra in general increased the amount of suspended matter, nutrient concentrations (total nitrogen and total phosphorus), phytoplankton and Microcystis biomass (including the proportion of Microcystis in the phytoplankton community), and reduced water transparency. The positive effect of the presence of Garra on nutrient concentrations and phytoplankton productivity indicate that Garra has the potential to affect food web functioning indirectly through bottom-up effects, by enhancing nutrient concentrations through sediment resuspension and excretion of nutrients. Indeed, population densities of the cladoceran zooplankton taxa Ceriodaphnia and Diaphanosoma also showed an overall increase in enclosures with Garra. 4.,However, our data also provide some evidence for a potential of Garra to exert top-down control on large bodied daphnids (Daphnia carinata, D. barbata), although such effect varied among experiments. The limited capability of Garra to control zooplankton communities mainly reflects the low efficiency of these small, riverine and benthos-oriented fish in foraging on zooplankton and suggests the existence of an unoccupied niche for zooplanktivorous fish in the majority of the reservoirs. 5.,Although the main effects of Garra on the pelagic food web seemed to be mediated by bottom-up mechanisms, our results also indicate that one of the key variables, the relative abundance of Microcystis, was impacted by Daphnia -mediated trophic cascade effects. [source]

Undesirable side-effects of water hyacinth control in a shallow tropical reservoir

FRESHWATER BIOLOGY, Issue 6 2007
DENISE DE C. BICUDO
Summary 1. Based on a comprehensive data set collected monthly during 8 years (1997,2004), we evaluated the effects of mechanical removal of Eichhornia crassipes on the limnological characteristics and algal biomass of a polymictic shallow tropical reservoir. 2. Interrupted time series analyses indicated that the limnological responses to macrophyte removal can be classified as an ,abrupt permanent impact' implying that the overall mean of the time-series shifted promptly after intervention. These analyses indicated a significant increase for pH, total phosphorus, total phytoplankton and cyanobacterial biomass, and a decrease in water transparency and CO2 concentrations in the surface water; also, the increase in water stability, increase of bottom soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) and decrease in bottom oxygen levels. 3. Cyclic anoxic periods previously observed during springs and summers were replaced by a persistent period of anoxic conditions in the sediment overlying water. Anoxic conditions were suitable for SRP release from sediments. Heavy cyanobacterial blooms became more persistent, maximum biomass (4229 mm3 L,1) was 30 times larger, the blooms frequently reached 2 m and sometimes the bottom of the reservoir, contrasting to the preremoval period in which it reached at most 1 m deep. 4. The long-term P dynamics in the system, initially driven by allochthonous nutrient loadings were replaced by internal ecological processes. Water hyacinth removal markedly accelerated the process of eutrophication due to internal feedback mechanisms, leading to a switch to a more turbid state. Biological feedback mechanisms were driven by cyanobacterial blooms by enhancing water stability, oxygen anoxia at the bottom and by increasing suitable conditions for P internal loading. These data support the hypothesis of the role of cyanobacterial blooms as an important factor impairing water quality and driving the ecosystem towards a stable degraded state. 5. These findings have important implications for the restoration of shallow stratifying eutrophic lakes, as the alternative degraded state is most likely to occur when compared with their non-stratifying counterparts. Moreover, feedback mechanisms in tropical and subtropical shallow lakes seem to be stronger than in temperate ones, as stratification events are more likely to occur over the year, intensifying system resilience to restorative strategies. [source]

Do phytoplankton communities correctly track trophic changes?

FRESHWATER BIOLOGY, Issue 10 2005
An assessment using directly measured, palaeolimnological data
Summary 1. Measurements of total phosphorus (TP) concentrations since 1975 and a 50-year time series of phytoplankton biovolume and species composition from Lake Mondsee (Austria) were combined with palaeolimnological information on diatom composition and reconstructed TP-levels to describe the response of phytoplankton communities to changing nutrient conditions. 2. Four phases were identified in the long-term record. Phase I was the pre-eutrophication period characterised by TP-levels of about 6 ,g L,1 and diatom dominance. Phase II began in 1966 with an increase in TP concentration followed by the invasion of Planktothrix rubescens in 1968, characterising mesotrophic conditions. Phase III, from 1976 to 1979, had the highest annual mean TP concentrations (up to 36 ,g L,1) and phytoplankton biovolumes (3.57 mm3 L,1), although reductions in external nutrient loading started in 1974. Phases II and III saw an expansion of species characteristic of higher nutrient levels as reflected in the diatom stratigraphy. Oligotrophication (phase IV) began in 1980 when annual average TP concentration, Secchi depth and algal biovolume began to decline, accompanied by increasing concentrations of soluble reactive silica. 3. The period from 1981 to 1986 was characterised by asynchronous trends. Annual mean and maximum total phytoplankton biovolume initially continued to increase after TP concentration began to decline. Reductions in phytoplankton biovolume were delayed by about 5 years. Several phytoplankton species differed in the timing of their responses to changing nutrient conditions. For example, while P. rubescens declined concomitantly with the decline in TP concentration, other species indicative of higher phosphorus concentrations, such as Tabellaria flocculosa var. asterionelloides, tended to increase further. 4. These data therefore do not support the hypotheses that a reduction in TP concentration is accompanied by (i) an immediate decline in total phytoplankton biovolume and (ii) persistence of the species composition characterising the phytoplankton community before nutrient reduction. [source]

Lake responses to reduced nutrient loading , an analysis of contemporary long-term data from 35 case studies

FRESHWATER BIOLOGY, Issue 10 2005
ERIK JEPPESEN
Summary 1. This synthesis examines 35 long-term (5,35 years, mean: 16 years) lake re-oligotrophication studies. It covers lakes ranging from shallow (mean depth <5 m and/or polymictic) to deep (mean depth up to 177 m), oligotrophic to hypertrophic (summer mean total phosphorus concentration from 7.5 to 3500 ,g L,1 before loading reduction), subtropical to temperate (latitude: 28,65°), and lowland to upland (altitude: 0,481 m). Shallow north-temperate lakes were most abundant. 2. Reduction of external total phosphorus (TP) loading resulted in lower in-lake TP concentration, lower chlorophyll a (chl a) concentration and higher Secchi depth in most lakes. Internal loading delayed the recovery, but in most lakes a new equilibrium for TP was reached after 10,15 years, which was only marginally influenced by the hydraulic retention time of the lakes. With decreasing TP concentration, the concentration of soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) also declined substantially. 3. Decreases (if any) in total nitrogen (TN) loading were lower than for TP in most lakes. As a result, the TN : TP ratio in lake water increased in 80% of the lakes. In lakes where the TN loading was reduced, the annual mean in-lake TN concentration responded rapidly. Concentrations largely followed predictions derived from an empirical model developed earlier for Danish lakes, which includes external TN loading, hydraulic retention time and mean depth as explanatory variables. 4. Phytoplankton clearly responded to reduced nutrient loading, mainly reflecting declining TP concentrations. Declines in phytoplankton biomass were accompanied by shifts in community structure. In deep lakes, chrysophytes and dinophytes assumed greater importance at the expense of cyanobacteria. Diatoms, cryptophytes and chrysophytes became more dominant in shallow lakes, while no significant change was seen for cyanobacteria. 5. The observed declines in phytoplankton biomass and chl a may have been further augmented by enhanced zooplankton grazing, as indicated by increases in the zooplankton : phytoplankton biomass ratio and declines in the chl a : TP ratio at a summer mean TP concentration of <100,150 ,g L,1. This effect was strongest in shallow lakes. This implies potentially higher rates of zooplankton grazing and may be ascribed to the observed large changes in fish community structure and biomass with decreasing TP contribution. In 82% of the lakes for which data on fish are available, fish biomass declined with TP. The percentage of piscivores increased in 80% of those lakes and often a shift occurred towards dominance by fish species characteristic of less eutrophic waters. 6. Data on macrophytes were available only for a small subsample of lakes. In several of those lakes, abundance, coverage, plant volume inhabited or depth distribution of submerged macrophytes increased during oligotrophication, but in others no changes were observed despite greater water clarity. 7. Recovery of lakes after nutrient loading reduction may be confounded by concomitant environmental changes such as global warming. However, effects of global change are likely to run counter to reductions in nutrient loading rather than reinforcing re-oligotrophication. [source]

Characterizing anthropic sediments in north European Neolithic settlements: An assessment from Skara Brae, Orkney

GEOARCHAEOLOGY: AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL, Issue 3 2006
Ian A. Simpson
The creation of anthropic sediments, traditionally referred to under the blanket term midden, through the utilization of settlement waste materials in domestic settlement construction was first recognized during early excavations at the Orcadian Neolithic site of Skara Brae (V.G. Childe, 1931a; 1931b). Prior to the present study there has been no systematic attempt to identify the nature of these sediments at Skara Brae, whose likely occupation dates between ,3100 and 2500 B.C., or to assess whether different materials were incorporated into construction or varied with different phases of site formation. The opportunity to begin addressing these issues arose with the location of undisturbed sediment samples held in storage since the last site excavations of 1972,1973 (D.V. Clarke, 1976). Ten thin sections were manufactured from these samples, representing earlier and later phases of Neolithic settlement at Skara Brae. Observations using thin-section micromorphology, supported by total phosphorus and particle-size distribution analyses, suggest that both earlier and later settlement phases show accumulation of household waste dominated by fuel residues. These wastes may have been used to help stabilize wind-blown sand deposits during the later settlement phases. In addition, the use of clay material tempered with household waste is associated with wall construction. Animal manures are only evident in anthropic deposits on the edge of the main settlement site where composting may have been taking place, and there is no evidence for their use in site construction. The authors conclude by drawing attention to possible diverse uses of anthropic sediments in settlement construction at other Neolithic settlements in Orkney. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source]

Atmospheric nitrogen deposition has caused nitrogen enrichment and eutrophication of lakes in the northern hemisphere

GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY, Issue 4 2006
ANN-KRISTIN BERGSTRÖM
Abstract We compiled chemical data and phytoplankton biomass (PB) data (chlorophyll a) from unproductive lakes in 42 different regions in Europe and North America, and compared these data to inorganic nitrogen (N) deposition over these regions. We demonstrate that increased deposition of inorganic N over large areas of Europe and North America has caused elevated concentrations of inorganic N in lakes. In addition, the unproductive lakes in high N deposition areas had clearly higher PB relative to the total phosphorus (P) concentrations illustrating that the elevated inorganic N concentrations has resulted in eutrophication and increased biomass of phytoplankton. The eutrophication caused by inorganic N deposition indicates that PB yield in a majority of lakes in the northern hemisphere is (was) limited by N in their natural state. We, therefore, suggest that P limitation largely concerns lakes where the balance between N and P has been changed because of increased anthropogenic input of N. [source]

Comparison of the abilities of redtop (Agrostis alba L.) and zoysiagrass (Zoysia japonica Steud.) to purify liquid animal waste

GRASSLAND SCIENCE, Issue 1 2006
Naoko Takada-Oikawa
Abstract The animal waste treatment facility of Azabu University utilizes cultivation beds where liquid animal waste is purified by filtration through soil and vegetation. The beds are presently covered with zoysiagrass (Zoysia japonica Steud.), which thrives in warm weather. However, the purification activities of this grass decrease during winter dormancy. To improve purification activity between autumn and early spring, we introduced redtop (Agrostis alba L.), which thrives in cool conditions, into an experimental bed and compared the purification efficiency with that of zoysiagrass. Drainage purified through the bed of redtop showed significantly lower values of turbidity, chemical oxygen demand, total phosphorus and ammonium-nitrogen concentrations, and significantly higher nitrate-nitrogen concentrations than that through zoysiagrass during the late vegetative stage when redtop had the highest biomass. This suggested vigorous nitrification activity of rhizosphere under aerobic conditions afforded by redtop. The high purification efficiency of redtop appeared to be associated with better essential salts absorption and improved physicochemical properties of soil supporting its growth. The results showed that the purification efficiency of redtop is higher than that of zoysiagrass under seasonal low temperatures. [source]

Catchment-scale contribution of forest roads to stream exports of sediment, phosphorus and nitrogen

HYDROLOGICAL PROCESSES, Issue 23 2007
Gary J. Sheridan
Abstract The relative contribution of forest roads to total catchment exports of suspended sediment, phosphorus, and nitrogen was estimated for a 13 451 ha forested catchment in southeastern Australia. Instrumentation was installed for 1 year to quantify total in-stream exports of suspended sediment, phosphorus, and nitrogen. In addition, a total of 101 road,stream crossings were mapped and characterized in detail within the catchment to identify the properties of the road section where the road network and the stream network intersect. Sediment and nutrient generation rates from different forest road types within the catchment were quantified using permanent instrumentation and rainfall simulation. Sediment and nutrient generation rates, mapped stream crossing information, traffic data and annual rainfall data were used to estimate annual loads of sediment, phosphorus, and nitrogen from each stream crossing in the catchment. The annual sum of these loads was compared with the measured total catchment exports to estimate the proportional contribution of loads from roads within the catchment. The results indicated that 3·15 ha of near-stream unsealed road surface with an average slope of 8·4% delivered an estimated 50 t of the 1142 t of total suspended sediment exported from the catchment, or about 4·4% of the total sediment load from the forest. Stream discharge over this period was 69 573 Ml. The unsealed road network delivered an estimated maximum of 22 kg of the 1244 kg of total phosphorus from the catchment, or less than 1·8% of the total load from the forest. The average sediment and phosphorous load per crossing was estimated at 0·5 t (standard deviation 1·0 t) and 0·22 kg (standard deviation 0·30 kg) respectively. The lower proportional contribution of total phosphorus resulted from a low ratio of total phosphorus to total suspended sediment for the road-derived sediment. The unsealed road network delivered approximately 33 kg of the 20 163 kg of total nitrogen, about 0·16% of the total load of nitrogen from the forest. The data indicate that, in this catchment, improvement of stream crossings would yield only small benefits in terms of net catchment exports of total suspended sediment and total phosphorus, and no benefit in terms of total nitrogen. These results are for a catchment with minimal road-related mass movement, and extrapolation of these findings to the broader forested estate requires further research. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

Use of turbidometry to characterize suspended sediment and phosphorus fluxes in the Lake Tahoe basin, California, USA

HYDROLOGICAL PROCESSES, Issue 3 2007
Andrew P. Stubblefield
Abstract The efficacy of in-stream nephelometric turbidometry as a surrogate for total suspended solids (TSS) and total phosphorus (TP) concentrations was evaluated for use in low turbidity (<50 NTU) subalpine watersheds at Lake Tahoe, California,Nevada, USA. Continuous turbidity records for the 1999, 2000 and 2001 snowmelt seasons and data from water quality samples (1982,2000) were examined to determine watershed sediment delivery dynamics. Strong correlations were found between turbidity and both TSS and TP concentration. The strong correlation indicates that turbidity can serve as a good surrogate for direct measurement in these watersheds. The watersheds displayed clockwise hysteresis: sediment flushing and depletion, on daily, seasonal and decadal time-scales. The hysteresis curves had strong concave shapes, indicating a sensitive response to peak flow. A pronounced seasonal trend was observed for the ratio of suspended sediment concentration (SSC)/discharge over time, indicating early season flushing of available sediment. Significant linear relationships (p < 0·05) were found for 12 of 17 years. Comparison of annual sediment rating curve coefficients indicated smaller coefficients during high sediment loading years and in the years following. The smaller coefficients are evidence of sediment depletion during high flow years. The effect of hysteresis on monitoring methods was illustrated by comparing turbidity estimates of TSS load with sediment rating curve estimates of SSC. After accounting for differences in SSC/TSS methods of analysis, daily loads calculated with turbidity methods were 58,98% of rating curve estimates for the spring snowmelt seasons of 1999,2001. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

Assessing the effects of hydromorphological degradation on macroinvertebrate indicators in rivers: examples, constraints, and outlook

INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT, Issue 1 2009
Nikolai Friberg
Abstract An extensive amount of literature on linkages between the in-stream physical environment and river benthic macroinvertebrates reports a number of relationships across multiple spatial scales. We analyzed data on different spatial scales to elucidate the linkages between different measurements of hydromorphological degradation and commonly used macroinvertebrate indices. A regression analysis of 1049 sites from 3 countries revealed that the strongest relationship between a biotic metric,average score per taxon,and physiochemical variables (R2 = 0.61) was obtained with a multiple regression model that included concentration of total phosphorus and percent arable land in the catchment, as well as hydromorphological quality variables. Analyses of 3 data sets from streams primarily affected by hydromorphological degradation showed an overall weak relationship (max R2 = 0.25) with the River Habitat Survey data of 28 Swedish streams, whereas moderate (R2 , 0.43) relationships with more detailed measurements of morphology were found in 2 Danish studies (39 and 6 streams, respectively). Although evidence exists in the literature on the importance of physical features for in-stream biota in general and macroinvertebrates specifically, we found only relatively weak relationships between various measures of hydromorphological stress and commonly used macroinvertebrate assessment tools. We attribute this to a combination of factors, including 1) the mixed nature of pressures acting on the majority of river reaches, 2) scaling issues (spatial and temporal) when relating habitat surveys to macroinvertebrate assessments, and 3) the scope of commonly used macroinvertebrate assessment systems (mainly focusing on water chemistry perturbation, such as eutrophication and acidification). The need is urgent to develop refined and updated biological assessment systems targeting hydromorphological stress for the use of the European Water Framework Directive (WFD) and national water-related policies. [source]

Comparative study of the efficacy of three coagulants in treating dairy factory waste water

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DAIRY TECHNOLOGY, Issue 2 2005
A HAMDANI
The treatment of dairy factory waste water by coagulation and decantation has shown that calcium hydroxide at a weak dose of 0.49,0.63 g provides the highly efficient removal of suspended matter (SM) (94%) and total phosphorus (Tp-P) (89%) accompanied by an average elimination of chemical oxygen demand (COD), total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN-N), faecal coliforms (FC) and faecal streptococci (FS). This is within the Moroccan limits for the first two parameters (SM and TP-P). The dose necessary to obtain optimal removal is 0.8,1.2 g when using aluminium sulfate and 0.6,0.75 g with iron chloride and the percentage elimination of chemical and bacteriological pollutants is not substantial. However, coagulation by calcium hydroxide induced less sludge (0.93 g/L) than either aluminium sulfate (1.21 g/L) or iron chloride (1.38 g/L). In terms of cost, the price of treating 1 m3 of dairy effluent by using calcium hydroxide is lower (approximately 25 times less expensive) than when using the other two coagulants. [source]

Phytoplankton and Epipelon Responses to Clear and Turbid Phases in a Seepage Lake (Buenos Aires, Argentina)

INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF HYDROBIOLOGY, Issue 2 2009
María Adela Casco
Abstract Annual changes in the algal density and concentrations of chlorophyll a, total phosphorus, and organic matter were analyzed in water and sediments at four sites characterized by the presence or absence of submerged and emergent macrophytes, during turbid- and clear-water conditions to determine the contribution of the algal components of the plankton and the epipelon and to identify the most typical species in each community. Three states were recognized: one turbid and two clear, with different submerged macrophyte cover. The peaks of phytoplankton and epipelon occurred in the turbid phase, whereas the highest proportion of true epipelic algae in sediments was reached in the second clear phase. The Oscillatoriaceae dominated during the turbid phase in the water and throughout the entire year within the sediments. (© 2009 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source]

Excessive Phosphorus Loading to Dal Lake, India: Implications for Managing Shallow Eutrophic Lakes in Urbanized Watersheds

INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF HYDROBIOLOGY, Issue 2 2008
Sabah Ul Solim
Abstract Extensive watershed development has resulted in excessive total phosphorus (TP) loads to Dal Lake, a high altitude Himalayan lake known for its tourism and economic potential. External and internal TP loads of 5 and ,1 g m,2 yr,1, respectively, were estimated for the lake. These loading rates are high in relation to the lake's critical tolerance range of 0.1,0.2 g m,2 yr,1, and, over time, have resulted in severe eutrophication in view of extremely high macrophyte biomass (average = 3.2 kg m,2 -fresh weight) and bottom sediment enrichment (79 tons of TP reserves which contribute 88% of the annual TP budget). This study emphasizes the importance of external TP load reduction as a primary management objective to counteract internal TP loading and P storage within bottom sediments resulting from historic anthropogenic loads. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source]

The Ratios of Carbon, Nitrogen, and Phosphorus in a Wetland Coastal Ecosystem of Southern India

Lake restoration: successes, failures and long-term effects

JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY, Issue 6 2007
MARTIN SØNDERGAARD
Summary 1Eutrophication constitutes a serious threat to many European lakes and many approaches have been used during the past 20,30 years to improve lake water quality. Results from the various lake restoration initiatives are diverse and the long-term effects are not well described. 2In this study we evaluated data from more than 70 restoration projects conducted mainly in shallow, eutrophic lakes in Denmark and the Netherlands. Special focus was given to the removal of zooplanktivorous and benthivorous fish, by far the most common internal lake measure. 3In more than half of the biomanipulation projects, Secchi depth increased and chlorophyll a decreased to less than 50% within the first few years. In some of the shallow lakes, total phosphorus and total nitrogen levels decreased considerably, indicating an increased retention or loss by denitrification. The strongest effects seemed to be obtained 4,6 years after the start of fish removal. 4The long-term effect of restoration initiatives can only be described for a few lakes, but data from biomanipulated lakes indicate a return to a turbid state within 10 years or less in most cases. One of reasons for the lack of long-term effects may be internal phosphorus loading from a mobile pool accumulated in the sediment. 5Synthesis and applications. Lake restoration, and in particular fish removal in shallow eutrophic lakes, has been widely used in Denmark and the Netherlands, where it has had marked effects on lake water quality in many lakes. Long-term effects (> 8,10 years) are less obvious and a return to turbid conditions is often seen unless fish removal is repeated. Insufficient external loading reduction, internal phosphorus loading and absence of stable submerged macrophyte communities to stabilize the clear-water state are the most probable causes for this relapse to earlier conditions. [source]

Water Framework Directive: ecological classification of Danish lakes

JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY, Issue 4 2005
MARTIN SØNDERGAARD
Summary 1The European Water Framework Directive (WFD) requires that all European waterbodies are assigned to one of five ecological classes, based primarily on biological indicators, and that minimum good ecological quality is obtained by 2015. However, the directive provides only general guidance regarding indicator definitions and determination of boundaries between classes. 2We used chemical and biological data from 709 Danish lakes to investigate whether and how lake types respond differently to eutrophication. In the absence of well-defined reference conditions, lakes were grouped according to alkalinity and water depth, and the responses to eutrophication were ordered along a total phosphorus (TP) gradient to test the applicability of pre-defined boundaries. 3As a preliminary classification we suggest a TP-based classification into high, good, moderate, bad and poor ecological quality using 0,25, 25,50, 50,100, 100,200 and > 200 µg P L,1 boundaries for shallow lakes, and 0,12·5, 12·5,25, 25,50, 50,100 and > 100 µg P L,1 boundaries for deep lakes. Within each TP category, median values are used to define preliminary boundaries for the biological indicators. 4Most indicators responded strongly to increasing TP, but there were only minor differences between low and high alkalinity lakes and modest variations between deep and shallow lakes. The variability of indicators within a given TP range was, however, high, and for most indicators there was a considerable overlap between adjacent TP categories. Cyanophyte biomass, submerged macrophyte coverage, fish numbers and chlorophyll a were among the ,best' indicators, but their ability to separate different TP classes varied with TP. 5When using multiple indicators the risk that one or more indicators will indicate different ecological classes is high because of a high variability of all indicators within a specific TP class, and the ,one out , all out' principle in relation to indicators does not seem feasible. Alternatively a certain compliance level or a ,mean value' of the indicators can be used to define ecological classes. A precise ecological quality ratio (EQR) using values between 0 and 1 can be calculated based on the extent to which the total number of indicators meets the boundary conditions, as demonstrated from three Danish lakes. 6Synthesis and applications. The analysis of Danish lakes has identified a number of useful indicators for lake quality and has suggested a method for calculating an ecological quality ratio. However, it also demonstrates that the implementation of the Water Framework Directive faces several challenges: gradual rather than stepwise changes for all indicators, large variability of indicators within lake classes, and problems using the one out , all out principle for lake classification. [source]

Performance of the hydrolyzation film bed and biological aerated filter (HFB,BAF) combined system for the treatment of low-concentration domestic sewage in south China

JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY & BIOTECHNOLOGY, Issue 2 2006
Xiao Ling
Abstract The performance of the hydrolyzation film bed and biological aerated filter (HFB,BAF) combined system in pilot scale (with a daily treatment quantity of 600,1300 m3 d,1), operated for 234 days, for low-strength domestic sewage was assessed using different amounts of aeration, reflux ratios and hydraulic loading rates (HLR). In steady state it was found that the average removal efficiency of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and biological oxygen demand at 5 days (BOD5) were 82.0% and 82.2% and the average effluent concentrations were 15.8 mg L,1 and 9.4 mg L,1 respectively as the HFB was running at an HLR of 1.25,1.77 m3 m,2 h,1 and the BAF was running at an HLR of 1.56,2.21 m3 m,2 h,1. In general, the removal efficiency of total nitrogen (TN) fluctuated with the HLR, gas,water ratio and reflux ratio, so the ratio of gas to water should be controlled from 2:1 to 3:1 and the reflux ratio should be as high as possible. The effluent concentration of TN was 10.4 mg L,1 and the TN removal averaged 34.3% when the gas,water ratio was greater than 3:1 and the reflux ratio was 0.5. The effluent concentration and removal efficiency of NH4+ -N averaged respectively 2.3 mg L,1 and 78.5%. The overall reduction of total phosphorus (TP) was 30% and the average effluent concentration was 0.95 mg L,1. The removal efficiency of linear alkylbenzene sulfonates (LAS) reached 83.8% and the average effluent concentration was almost 0.9 mg L,1. The effluent concentration and removal efficiency of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were 0.0654 µ g L,1 and 37.05% respectively when the influent concentration was 0.1039 µ g L,1. The excess sludge containing water (volume 15 m3) was discharged once every 3 months. The power consumption of aeration was 0.06,0.09 kWh of sewage treated. The results show that the HFB,BAF combined technology is suitable for the treatment of low-concentration municipal sewage in south China. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry [source]

COMPARISON OF SIMPLE AND MULTIMETRIC DIATOM-BASED INDICES FOR GREAT LAKES COASTLINE DISTURBANCE,

JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY, Issue 3 2008
Euan D. Reavie
Because diatom communities are subject to the prevailing water quality in the Great Lakes coastal environment, diatom-based indices can be used to support coastal-monitoring programs and paleoecological studies. Diatom samples were collected from Great Lakes coastal wetlands, embayments, and high-energy sites (155 sites), and assemblages were characterized to the species level. We defined 42 metrics on the basis of autecological and functional properties of species assemblages, including species diversity, motile species, planktonic species, proportion dominant taxon, taxonomic metrics (e.g., proportion Stephanodiscoid taxa), and diatom-inferred (DI) water quality (e.g., DI chloride [Cl]). Redundant metrics were eliminated, and a diatom-based multimetric index (MMDI) to infer coastline disturbance was developed. Anthropogenic stresses in adjacent coastal watersheds were characterized using geographic information system (GIS) data related to agricultural and urban land cover and atmospheric deposition. Fourteen independent diatom metrics had significant regressions with watershed stressor data; these metrics were selected for inclusion in the MMDI. The final MMDI was developed as the weighted sum of the selected metric scores with weights based on a metric's ability to reflect anthropogenic stressors in the adjacent watersheds. Despite careful development of the multimetric approach, verification using a test set of sites indicated that the MMDI was not able to predict watershed stressors better than some of the component metrics. From this investigation, it was determined that simpler, more traditional diatom-based metrics (e.g., DI Cl, proportion Cl-tolerant species, and DI total phosphorus [TP]) provide superior prediction of overall stressor influence at coastal locales. [source]

SHIFT FROM CHLOROPHYTES TO CYANOBACTERIA IN BENTHIC MACROALGAE ALONG A GRADIENT OF NITRATE DEPLETION,

JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY, Issue 1 2008
Chantal Vis
A survey of the spatial distribution of benthic macroalgae in a fluvial lake of the St. Lawrence River (Lake Saint-Pierre, Quebec, Canada) revealed a shift in composition from chlorophytes to cyanobacteria along the flow path of nutrient-rich waters originating from tributaries draining farmlands. The link between this shift and changes in water quality characteristics was investigated by sampling at 10 sites along a 15 km transect. Conductivity, current, light extinction, total phosphorus (TP; >25 ,g P · L,1), and ammonium (8,21 ,g N · L,1) remained fairly constant along the transect in contrast to nitrate concentrations, which fell sharply. Filamentous and colonial chlorophytes [Cladophora sp. and Hydrodictyon reticulatum (L.) Bory] dominated in the first 5 km where nitrate concentrations were >240 ,g N · L,1. A mixed assemblage of chlorophytes and cyanobacteria characterized a 1 km transition zone where nitrate decreased to 40,80 ,g N · L,1. In the last section of the transect, nitrate concentrations dropped below 10 ,g N · L,1, and cyanobacteria (benthic filamentous mats of Lyngbya wollei Farl. ex Gomont and epiphytic colonies of Gloeotrichia) dominated the benthic community. The predominance of nitrogen-fixing, potentially toxic cyanobacteria likely resulted from excessive nutrient loads and may affect nutrient and trophic dynamics in the river. [source]

Stream Condition in Piedmont Streams with Restored Riparian Buffers in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed,

JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN WATER RESOURCES ASSOCIATION, Issue 3 2010
Leslie L. Orzetti
Orzetti, Leslie L., R. Christian Jones, and Robert F. Murphy, 2010. Stream Condition in Piedmont Streams with Restored Riparian Buffers in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA) 46(3):473-485. DOI: 10.1111/j.1752-1688.2009.00414.x Abstract:, This study tested the efficacy of restored forest riparian buffers along streams in the Chesapeake Bay watershed by examining habitat, selected water quality variables, and benthic macroinvertebrate community metrics in 30 streams with buffers ranging from zero to greater than 50 years of age. To assess water quality we measured in situ parameters (temperature, dissolved oxygen, and conductivity) and laboratory-analyzed grab samples (soluble reactive phosphorus, total phosphorus, nitrate, ammonium, and total suspended solids). Habitat conditions were scored using the Environmental Protection Agency Rapid Bioassessment Protocols for high gradient streams. Benthic macroinvertebrates were quantified using pooled riffle/run kick samples. Results showed that habitat, water quality, and benthic macroinvertebrate metrics generally improved with age of restored buffer. Habitat scores appeared to stabilize between 10 and 15 years of age and were driven mostly by epifaunal substrate availability, sinuosity, embeddedness, and velocity depth regime. Benthic invertebrate taxa richness, percent Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, Trichoptera minus hydropsychids (%EPT minus H), % Ephemeroptera, and the Family Biotic Index were among the metrics which improved with age of buffer zone. Results are consistent with the hypothesis that forest riparian buffers enhance instream habitat, water quality, and resulting benthic macroinvertebrate communities with noticeable improvements occurring within 5-10 years postrestoration, leading to conditions approaching those of long established buffers within 10-15 years of restoration. [source]

Integrated Modular Modeling of Water and Nutrients From Point and Nonpoint Sources in the Patuxent River Watershed,

JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN WATER RESOURCES ASSOCIATION, Issue 3 2008
Zhi-Jun Liu
Abstract:, We present a simple modular landscape simulation model that is based on a watershed modeling framework in which different sets of processes occurring in a watershed can be simulated separately with different models. The model consists of three loosely coupled submodels: a rainfall-runoff model (TOPMODEL) for runoff generation in a subwatershed, a nutrient model for estimation of nutrients from nonpoint sources in a subwatershed, and a stream network model for integration of point and nonpoint sources in the routing process. The model performance was evaluated using monitoring data in the watershed of the Patuxent River, a tributary to the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland, from July 1997 through August 1999. Despite its simplicity, the landscape model predictions of streamflow, and sediment and nutrient loads were as good as or better than those of the Hydrological Simulation Program-Fortran model, one of the most widely used comprehensive watershed models. The landscape model was applied to predict discharges of water, sediment, silicate, organic carbon, nitrate, ammonium, organic nitrogen, total nitrogen, organic phosphorus, phosphate, and total phosphorus from the Patuxent watershed to its estuary. The predicted annual water discharge to the estuary was very close to the measured annual total in terms of percent errors for both years of the study period (,2%). The model predictions for loads of nutrients were also good (20-30%) or very good (<20%) with exceptions of sediment (40%), phosphate (36%), and organic carbon (53%) for Year 1. [source]

WATER QUALITY IN AGRICULTURAL, URBAN, AND MIXED LAND USE WATERSHEDS,

JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN WATER RESOURCES ASSOCIATION, Issue 6 2004
Chris B. Coulter
ABSTRACT: Water quality and nonpoint source (NPS) pollution are important issues in many areas of the world, including the Inner Bluegrass Region of Kentucky where urban development is changing formerly rural watersheds into urban and mixed use watersheds. In watersheds where land use is mixed, the relative contributions of NPS pollution from rural and urban land uses can be difficult to separate. To better understand NPS pollution sources in mixed use watersheds, surface water samples were taken at three sites that varied in land use to examine the effect of land use on water quality. Within the group of three watersheds, one was predominately agriculture (Agricultural), one was predominately urban (Urban), and a third had relatively equal representation of both types of land uses (Mixed). Nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), total suspended solids (TSS), turbidity, pH, temperature, and streamflow were measured for one year. Comparisons are made among watersheds for concentration and fluxes of water quality parameters. Nitrate and orthophosphate concentrations were found to be significantly higher in the Agricultural watershed. Total suspended solids, turbidity, temperature, and pH, were found to be generally higher in the Urban and Mixed watersheds. No differences were found for streamflow (per unit area), total phosphorus, and ammonium concentrations among watersheds. Fluxes of orthophosphate were greater in the Agricultural watershed that in the Urban watershed while fluxes of TSS were greater in the Mixed watershed when compared to the Agricultural watershed. Fluxes of nitrate, ammonium, and total phosphorus did not vary among watersheds. It is apparent from the data that Agricultural land uses are generally a greater source of nutrients than the Urban land uses while Urban land uses are generally a greater source of suspended sediment. [source]

CHANGES IN LAND USE/MANAGEMENT AND WATER QUALITY IN THE LONG CREEK WATERSHED,

JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN WATER RESOURCES ASSOCIATION, Issue 6 2002
Daniel E. Line
ABSTRACT: Surface water in the Long Creek watershed, located in western Piedmont region of North Carolina, was monitored from 1993 to 2001. The 8,190 ha watershed has undergone considerable land use and management changes during this period. Land use surveys have documented a 60 percent decrease in cropland area and a more than 200 percent increase in areas being developed into new homes. In addition, more than 200 conservation practices have been applied to the cropland and other agricultural land that remains in production. The water quality of Long Creek was monitored by collecting grab samples at four sites along Long Creek and continuously monitoring discharge at one site. The monitoring has documented a 70 percent reduction in median total phosphorus (TP) concentrations, with little reductions in nitrate and total Kjel-dahl nitrogen, or suspended sediment levels. Fecal coliform (FC) and streptococci (FS) levels declined significantly downstream as compared to upstream during the last four years of monitoring. This decrease was attributed to the implementation of waste management practices and livestock exclusion fencing on three dairy operations in the watershed. Annual rainfall and discharge increased steadily until peaking in the third year of the monitoring period and varied while generally decreasing during the last four years of the project. An array of observation, pollutant concentration, and hydrologic data provide considerable evidence to suggest that the implementation of BMPs in the watershed have significantly reduced phosphorus and bacteria levels in Long Creek. [source]

VIRGINIA USA WATER QUALITY, 1978 TO 1995: REGIONAL INTERPRETATION,

JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN WATER RESOURCES ASSOCIATION, Issue 3 2002
Carl E. Zipper
ABSTRACT: Nine surface water-quality variables were analyzed for trend at 180 Virginia locations over the 1978 to 1995 period. Median values and seasonal Kendall's tau, a trend indicator statistic, were generated for dissolved oxygen saturation (DO), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), pH (PH), total residue (TR), nonfilterable residue (NFR), nitrate-nitrite nitrogen (NN), total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN), total phosphorus (TP), and fecal coliform (FC) at each location. Each location was assigned to one of four physiographic regions, and mean state and regional medians and taus were calculated. Widespread BOD and NFR improvements were detected and FC improvements occurred in the state's western regions. TR and TKN exhibited predominantly increasing trends at locations throughout the state. BOD, TKN, NFR, and TR medians were higher at coastal locations than in other regions. NN, TKN, and TR exhibited predominantly increasing trends in regions with high median concentrations, while declining trends predominated in regions with relatively high BOD, FC, and NFR medians. Appalachian locations exhibited the greatest regional water-quality improvements for BOD, FC, NFR, and TKN. Factors responsible for regional differences appear to include geology, land use, and landscape features; these factors vary regionally. [source]