Atrazine effects on meiobenthic assemblages of a modular estuarine mesocosm

Atrazine is a widely used herbicide in the US found at levels ranging from <10 ng/L to 62.5 microg/L in estuaries throughout the southeast. Effects of atrazine on estuarine meiobenthic assemblages chronically exposed to environmentally relevant concentrations are unknown. The purpose of our research was to assess effects of atrazine on meiobenthos at concentrations near the proposed USEPA SWQC (26 microg/L) using modular estuarine salt marsh mesocosms as a field surrogate. Indigenous copepod and nematode densities were assessed after 28 days of exposure in transplanted colonization chambers. Cluster analysis showed a group characterized by low copepod densities, mostly atrazine exposed chambers, and a group containing all but one control chamber. The later group included chambers with high densities of the copepods Paronychocamptus wilsoni and Enhydrosoma baruchi. Compared to controls, copepod densities was approximately 70% lower in atrazine chambers, with three of the most common copepod species (E. baruchi, Onychocamptus sp. and P. wilsoni) showing an average of 50-70% reduction in population densities (p<0.05). Although nematode density did not differ between atrazine and control chambers, the nematode-to-copepod ratio was significantly higher in atrazine (9.95+/-7.61; p=0.011) than in control chambers (0.61+/-0.35). Our findings suggest that chronic exposures over multiple generations to atrazine at concentrations near the proposed USEPA SWQC could have significant effects on the abundance and composition of estuarine meiobenthic copepod assemblages.     

Algal bioassays: their significance in monitoring water quality with respect to nutrients and toxicants

The review focuses on the use of primary producers as a biological tool for evaluating the impact of damage by human activity (eutrophication, toxicity) on the aquatic environment. Studies are discussed following a reductionist approach by using algal bioassays (Selenastrum capricornutum). Variations of algal growth potential (AGP) within watersheds show the impact of human activities such as agriculture and urbanization, on water quality. The study of variation of the AGP in time allowed the investigation of the effect of abiotic (temperature, flow rate) and biotic factors (indigenous primary production) on the concentration of nutrients potentially available to phytoplankton. Seasonal changes of the AGP have further shown the impact of non-point (runoff) or point sources (sewage effluents) on the aquatic system. A staggered relationship was observed between AGP values and chlorophyll a content of indigenous phytoplankton. Values obtained in the laboratory by means of this type of approach would therefore appear to be transferably to natural systems. S. capricornutum was also used to identify toxic characteristics of substances (in pure form or used in formulations) and effluents released into the environment. It was shown that the user of bioassays should use care when evaluating results from tests requiring pretreatment such as storage, autoclaving and filtration. Cautious interpretation is also recommended in order to distinguish between effects of growth-limiting essential elements and the presence of toxic substances. In general it appears from this review that the AGP provides helpful information for a sound management of the aquatic environment.     

Atrazine in a Stream-Aquifer System: Transport of Atrazine and Its Environmental Impact Near Ashland, Nebraska

Lincoln's municipal wellfield consists of 44 wells located adjacent to the Platte River near Ashland, Nebraska. The herbicide atrazine was monitored in the river and two transects of monitoring, wells. The amount of atrazine transported down the Platte River in 1989, 1990, and 1991 was shown to increase each year. Induced recharge from the Platte River results in movement of atrazine from the river into the aquifer. A 21-day lag time was determined for the movement of atrazine from the river to a transect of monitoring wells 10 feet West of the bank. The role that colloids play on the transport of atrazine was determined to be insignificant. A small percentage of atrazine found in the river was determined to come from rain water. The infiltration of agrichemical-contaminated river water was shown to significantly reduce the quality of raw water and finished water being produced by the adjacent aquifer.     

Impacts of a Rural Subdivision on Groundwater Quality: Results of Long-Term Monitoring

A rural subdivision in south central Wisconsin was instrumented with monitoring wells and lysimeters before, during, and after its construction to examine the impacts of the unsewered subdivision on groundwater quality and quantity. Prior to construction, the 78-acre (32 ha) site was farmland. Sixteen homes were constructed beginning in 2003. Initial monitoring from 2002 to 2005 showed that groundwater beneath the site had been impacted by previous agricultural use, with nitrate-N values as high as 30 mg/L and some detections of the herbicide atrazine. Our 12-year study shows that the transition from agricultural to residential land use has changed groundwater quality in both negative and positive ways. Although groundwater elevations showed typical seasonal fluctuations each year, there were no measurable changes in groundwater levels or general flow directions during the 12-year study period. Chloride values increased in many wells, possibly as a result of road salting or water softener discharge. Nitrate concentrations varied spatially and temporally over the study period, with some initial concentrations substantially above the drinking water standard. In some wells, nitrate and atrazine levels have declined substantially since agriculture ceased. However, atrazine was still present at trace concentrations throughout the site in 2014. Wastewater tracers show there are small but detectable impacts from septic effluent on groundwater quality. Particle traces based on a groundwater flow model are consistent with the hypothesis that septic leachate has impacted groundwater quality.     

外源添加营养对安徽太平湖水库藻类增殖影响的研究

１９９２年１１月￣１９９３年１０月,在安徽太平湖水库,同时用藻类生长潜力测试法（ＡＧＰ试验）和外源添加营养的黑白瓶测定初级生产力法,对陵山站的水体分季度进行了分析测试。其结果表明,这两种方法对太平湖水库的营养评价均是行之有效的,而且二者的结果也能相互比较、相互验证;太平湖水库的不同季节,其主要营养限制性因子也各异。在枯水期,磷是藻类种群和密度的第一限制性营养元素;丰水期,由于各营养元素都相对缺乏,     

Effects of Photosystem II inhibiting herbicides on mangroves--preliminary toxicology trials

Mangroves are sensitive to the root application of Photosystem II inhibiting herbicides and Avicennia marina is more sensitive than other mangroves tested. Seedlings of four mangrove species, including two salt-excreting species (A. marina and Aegiceras corniculatum) and two salt-excluding species (Rhizophora stylosa and Ceriops australis) were treated with a range of concentrations of the herbicides diuron, ametryn and atrazine. Assessment of responses required the separation of seedlings into two groups: those that had only their roots exposed to the herbicides through the water (A. marina and R. stylosa) and those that had both roots and leaves exposed to herbicides through the water (A. corniculatum and C. australis). Salt-excreting species in each group were more susceptible to all herbicide treatments than salt-excluding species, indicating that root physiology was a major factor in the uptake of toxic pollutants in mangroves. Submergence of leaves appeared to facilitate herbicide uptake, having serious implications for seedling recruitment in the field. Each herbicide was ranked by its toxicity to mangrove seedlings from most damaging to least effective, with diuron>ametryn>atrazine. The relative sensitivity of A. marina found in these pot trials was consistent with the observed sensitivity of this species in the field, notably where severe dieback had specifically affected A. marina in the Mackay region, north eastern Australia.     

Simulating nonequilibrium transport of atrazine through saturated soil

Atrazine, an herbicide widely used for selective control of grassy weeds in the fields where maize is grown, is a potential ground water contaminant in China and, consequently, there is interest in predicting its mobility in agricultural soils. In this study, we determined the nonequilibrium transport characteristics of atrazine in Shahe soil (Beijing sandy loam) using the advection-dispersion equation, and using a sensitivity analysis, we evaluated the contribution of the uncertainty in a given input parameter to the overall uncertainty in model results. The asymmetrical shape and tailing of the atrazine breakthrough curve (BTC) showed that atrazine was subject to nonequilibrium transport. The observed atrazine BTC was best fitted by the chemical nonequilibrium model with a nonlinear least-squares optimization approach. Results from the sensitivity analysis indicated that the retardation factor was the most sensitive parameter. Considering the reliability of the estimated parameters, the best fit to the atrazine BTC was obtained by fixing the retardation factor based on the linear distribution coefficient, and by calculating the dispersion coefficient from the bromide BTC and the average pore water velocity from the measured data; nonequilibrium parameters were the only unknown parameters that were optimized. Model verification procedures were based on best-fit parameters optimized from one soil column experiment and applied to simulate the transport of atrazine in the duplicate experiment. The results showed there was good agreement between measured and simulated concentrations for atrazine leaching in the soil column.     

西太湖北部夏季藻类种间关系的初步研究

利用１９９１年至１９９７年对太湖梅梁湾的定点监测资料和１９９７年８月对西太湖北部的三次水化学和藻类布点监测资料,初步探讨了西太湖北部夏季藻类分布和种间关系。结果显示,西太湖北部夏季藻类主要由蓝藻,隐藻,硅藻,绿藻,裸藻和甲藻六大门类组成,以微囊藻为优势种的蓝藻水化主要在夏秋季暴发,夏季梅梁湾内藻类光合效率较高是该地区蓝藻暴发的原因之一;自梅梁湾河口湖我向外太湖,藻类总生物量递减,且种类组成也发生变     

亚热带大型河流型水库—富春江水库浮游植物群落及其与环境因子的关系

为了掌握富春江水库浮游植物群落特征,探寻其与环境因子的关系,于2006年1月至2007年12月,对其进行了20次采样调查.鉴定结果表明富春江水库共有浮游植物107种,浮游植物密度范围在0.21×10~5-3.01×10~7cells/L之间.浮游植物组成随季节变化有所不同,春季绿藻、隐藻、硅藻占优势,夏季蓝藻和硅藻占优势,秋冬季硅藻、隐藻占优势.浮游植物群落结构受水文条件的影响较大,浮游植物密度与水体温度呈显著正相关,与透明度在不同范围内表现出不同的相关关系;与TN、TP在不同范围内表现出不同的相关关系,与TN/TP及可溶性硅呈显著正相关.库区总氮和总磷浓度均很高,足够满足藻类生长需要;TN/TP较低,基本在8-30之间,说明氮磷含量不是富春江库区藻类生长的限制因子.水文季节性变化会明显地影响浮游植物群落结构和密度的季节性变化,特别是降雨、水温及水力滞留时间等因子是影响水库浮游植物群落结构及密度变化的主要因子.     

The seasonal productivity cycle of phytoplankton and controlling factors in Lake Constance

Annual phytoplankton productivity in Lake Constance is about 300 g C m⁻², a value typical for mesoeutrophic lakes. Seasonal variations in phytoplankton biomass and productivity are exceptionally great because of a sequence of factors controlling the production process. During winter productivity is controlled by low energy inputs and high respiratory losses due to deep water column mixing. Biomass is low and water transparancy high. The spring phytoplankton growth is triggered by the thermal stabilization of the water column. The summer phytoplankton biomass maximum mainly depends on phosphorus availability. However, biomass yields comprise only 15–20% of values to be expected from the Redfield ratio because large proportions of POM are detritus and non-algal biota. Moreover, sedimentation during the second half of the year removes biomass from the euphotic zone. Water transparency and thus vertical distribution of algal photosynthesis is highly dependent on phytoplankton biomass. Self-shading causes considerably smaller seasonal variations in areal biomass and photosynthetic rates than in volume-based values. By light-shade adaptation effects of seasonal fluctuations in mean daily surface radiance fluxes on algal photosynthesis can to a significant extent be compensated for. At any given level of biomass daylength is the major determinant of daily production rates. Dedicated to Professor Elster on his 80th birthday.     

Algal δ15N values detect a wastewater effluent plume in nearshore and offshore surface waters and three-dimensionally model the plume across a coral reef on Maui, Hawai'i, USA

The coral reef at Kahekili, Maui is located ~300 m south of the Lahaina Wastewater Reclamation Facility which uses four Class V injection wells to dispose of 3-5 million gallons of wastewater effluent daily. Prior research documented that the wastewater effluent percolates into the nearshore region of Kahekili. To determine if the wastewater effluent was detectable in the surface waters offshore, we used algal bioassays from the nearshore region to 100 m offshore and throughout the water column from the surface to the benthos. These algal bioassays documented that significantly more wastewater effluent was detected in the surface rather than the benthic waters and allowed us to generate a three-dimensional model of the wastewater plume in the Kahekili coastal region. Samples located over freshwater seeps had the highest δ(15)N values (~30-35‰) and the effluent was detected in surface samples 500 m south and 100 m offshore of the freshwater seeps (~8-11‰).     

Effects of nutrient availability and temperature on phytoplankton development: a case study from large lakes south of the Alps

This work investigated the combined effects of nutrient availability and temperature on phytoplankton in large and deep lakes south of the Alps (lakes Garda, Iseo, Como, Lugano and Maggiore). The more eutrophic basins (Lugano and Iseo) showed a higher presence of cyanobacteria, green algae (Chlorophyta and Charophyta) and dinoflagellates (Dinophyta). Besides these two water bodies, high biomasses of cyanobacteria were recorded also in the oligo-mesotrophic Lake Garda. The development of these algal groups during the growing season showed a strong dependence on the surface spring availability of SRP, which, in turn, was related to winter climatic oscillations, deep mixing dynamics, and trophic status. A specific analysis carried out by applying additive mixed modelling, generalized least squares and mixed modelling, allowed investigation of the direct, seasonal effects of water temperature variations and trophic status on different algal groups. The dominant cyanobacteria (Oscillatoriales) showed only a partial relationship with temperature, while Nostocales and Chroococcales, which did not appear to have a close relationship with the trophic status of the lakes, were characterised by abrupt increases during the warmer months. High positive relationships with temperature were found for a few other algal groups (e.g., Chlorophyta, Charophyta and Dinophyta). Overall, the results indicated a positive relationship between the seasonal development of the more abundant and eutrophic-sensitive algal groups and the concurrent effect of trophic status and water temperature. Nevertheless, it was stressed that specific differences could be interpreted taking into account the different autoecological characteristics and susceptibilities of different species and functional groups to other stressing factors favouring losses, including, e.g., vertical sinking and grazing.     

Localized algal blooms induced by river inflows in a canyon type reservoir

The local response of the phytoplankton community to river inflow processes was investigated with modeling and field analyses in a long and narrow, stratified reservoir in mid-summer. The river water had high concentrations of phosphorus and nitrogen (ammonium and nitrate) and temperature had large variations at diurnal scales. As a consequence of the large variation in river temperature, the level of neutral buoyancy (the depth where the river water spreads laterally in the reservoir) oscillated between the surface (overflows) during the day, and the depth of the metalimnion (interflows) during the night. The reservoir remained strongly stratified, which favoured the presence of cyanobacteria. It is shown that under these conditions, nutrient-rich river water injected during overflows into the surface layers promoted the occurrence of localized algal blooms in the zones where the overflow mixed with the quiescent water of the reservoir. A series of hydrodynamic simulations of the reservoir were conducted both with synthetic and realistic forcing to assess the importance of river temperatures and wind-driven hydrodynamics for algal blooms. The simulations confirmed that the river inflow was the main forcing mechanism generating the localized bloom.     

Elemental and stable isotopic constraints on river influence and patterns of nitrogen cycling and biological productivity in Hudson Bay

Elemental (carbon and nitrogen) ratios and stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios (δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N) are examined in sediments and suspended particulate matter from Hudson Bay to study the influence of river inputs and autochthonous production on organic matter distribution. River-derived particulate organic matter (POM) is heterogeneous, nitrogen-poor and isotopically depleted, consistent with expectations for OM derived from terrestrial C3 vascular plant sources, and distinct from marine OM sources. Both δ¹³C and C/N source signatures seem to be transmitted to sediments with little or no modification, therefore making good tracers for terrigenous OM in Hudson Bay. They suggest progressively larger contributions from marine sources with distance from shore and secondarily from south to north, which broadly corresponds to the distribution of river inputs to Hudson Bay. Processes other than mixing of marine and terrigenous OM influence sedimentary δ¹⁵N values, including variability in the δ¹⁵N of phytoplankton in the Bay's surface waters due to differences in relative nitrate utilization, and post-production processes, which bring about an apparently constant ¹⁵N-enrichment between surface waters and underlying sediments. Variability in the δ¹⁵N of phytoplankton in the Bay's surface waters, in contrast, seems to be organized spatially with a pattern that suggests an inshore–offshore difference in surface water nitrogen conditions (open- vs. closed-system) and hence the δ¹⁵N value of phytoplankton. The δ¹⁵N patterns, supported by a simple nitrate box-model budget, suggest that in inshore regions of Hudson Bay, upwelling of deep, nutrient-rich waters replenishes surface nitrate, resulting in ‘open system’ conditions which tend to maintain nitrate δ¹⁵N at low and constant values, and these values are reflected in the sinking detritus. River inflow, which is constrained to inshore regions of Hudson Bay, appears to be a relatively minor source of nitrate compared to upwelling of deep waters. However, river inflow may contribute indirectly to enhanced inshore nutrient supply by supporting large-scale estuarine circulation and consequently entrainment and upwelling of deep water in this area. In contrast to previous proposals that Hudson Bay is oligotrophic because it receives too much fresh water (Dunbar, 1993), our results support most of the primary production being organized around the margin of the Bay, where river flow is constrained.     

三峡水库小江回水区水华暴发期浮游植物群落结构及其与环境因子的关系

三峡水库蓄水以来,支流水华频发,尤以小江情况最为严重,给三峡库区的生态安全带来较大隐患。为探究支流水华暴发特征和主控因素,于2014-2021年小江水华暴发期间在小江高阳江段进行浮游植物及环境因子调查,并使用单因素方差分析、聚类分析、百分比相似性分析以及基于距离的线性模型等方法,对小江水华暴发期间浮游植物和环境因子在不同年份不同水层间的差异以及二者的关系进行研究。结果表明:小江水华暴发期内,浮游植物的种类数在43~70种之间,其中2015年蓝藻种类数明显减少,2018年以后硅藻种类数明显减少;采样期间浮游植物平均细胞密度在0.66×10⁶~61.28×10⁶ cells/L之间,同期表层细胞密度明显高于中层和底层;各层水体间水华微囊藻、铜绿微囊藻、不定微囊藻等10种藻的密度存在明显差异,是主要差异种;显著影响表层、中层和底层浮游植物群落结构变动的环境因子是水位的日平均变幅;水位的日平均变幅与藻类优势种拟合关系显示,当日水位下降幅度在0.5 m以上时,浮游植物平均密度会呈指数级减少。研究结果可为三峡库区支流水华的防控提供数据支持。     

三峡水库支流小江富营养化模型构建及在水量调度控藻中的应用

三峡水库蓄水以来,支流小江呈富营养化加重的趋势,且多次暴发春季水华.水库蓄水以后支流流速变缓,水体滞留时间增加,是引发支流水华的主要因素之一.基于MIKE软件,建立小江调节坝下游至河口的二维水动力-富营养化模型,考虑碳、氮、磷3种元素在浮游植物有机体、死亡腐屑和无机盐中的循环转化,模拟小江河段的春季水华过程.分析小江生态调节坝的水量调节抑藻作用,即人为制造"洪水脉冲",增加短时间内的水流流速,对下游流场进行扰动以控制水华.计算结果表明,增大泄水量对调节坝下游的小江河段的春季藻华总体上具有一定的抑制作用.小江上游河段调度作用效果明显,下游高阳至入汇口河段调节作用较小,上游调节坝水力调度可以作为三峡水库支流水华应急治理措施之一.营养盐控制应该是控制支流水华的根本措施.     

The use of monitoring data for identifying factors influencing phytoplankton bloom dynamics in the eutrophic Taw Estuary, SW England

Using the Taw Estuary as an example, data routinely collected by the Environment Agency for England and Wales over the period 1990-2004 were interrogated to identify the drivers of excessive algal growth. The estuary was highly productive with chlorophyll concentrations regularly exceeding 100 μg L⁻¹, mostly during periods of low freshwater input from the River Taw when estuarine water residence times were longest. However, algal growth in mid estuary was often inhibited by ammonia inputs from the adjacent sewage treatment works. The reported approach demonstrates the value of applying conventional statistical analyses in a structured way to existing monitoring data and is recommended as a useful tool for the rapid assessment of eutrophication. However, future estuarine monitoring should include the collection of dissolved organic nutrient data and targeted high temporal resolution data because the drivers of eutrophication are complex and often very specific to a particular estuary.     

Zusammenhänge zwischen Chlorophyll a,Phytoplanktonvolumen, Seston,Sichttiefe und Trübung als Methoden zur Einschätzung der Wasserbeschaffenheit in Talsperren

The statistical relations between the different parameters of water quality are represented from investigations of an oligotrophic to mesotrophic storage reservoir carried out for several years. The significant linear regressions between chlorophyll a and the phytoplankton volume show seasonal differences depending on the aspect change of phytoplankton. Equally, there may occur differences of this relation for the euphotic layer and the intermixed layer. Chlorophyll, phytoplankton volume and dry matter of seston as well as turbidity show also close correlations with the depth of visibility. The scattering occuring for the individual regressions, the distribution of measured values and the relations of chlorophyll a to the phytoplankton volume of dominant algal groups are discussed.     

夏季短期调水对太湖贡湖湾湖区水质及藻类的影响

贡湖湾作为"引江济太"工程长江来水进入太湖的第一站,湖湾水体生态环境的变化是对调水工程净水效果的最好响应,因此本文针对贡湖湾一次夏季短期调水展开调查研究,分别取2013年7月24日(调水前)和2013年8月18日(短期调水后)两次监测水样的水体理化指标和浮游藻类群落数据进行了对比分析,并对浮游藻类群落与环境因子做了相关性分析.结果表明:受来水影响,短期调水后监测区水体的p H略有下降,溶解氧、浊度、硝态氮、总氮、总磷以及高锰酸盐指数等水体理化指标浓度均较调水前有所升高;其中受调水影响最为显著的区域为望虞河的入湖口区、湾心区.两次监测调水前后湖区水体优势藻种属未发生变化,仍以微囊藻为主,但蓝藻种属比例有所下降,绿藻和硅藻等种属比例则有所上升.望虞河入湖口区和贡湖湾湾心区的Shannon-Wiener多样性指数和Pielou均匀度指数受调水的影响升高.同时,浮游藻类群落结构与受水水体理化参数的冗余分析结果表明,此次监测的短期调水后,太湖贡湖湾监测湖区水体p H、溶解氧、硝态氮、总氮、总磷、高锰酸盐指数等环境因子与浮游藻类的群落分布呈显著相关,是影响受水水体中藻类群落的主要环境因子.     

Assessing the effects of Irgarol 1051 on marine phytoplankton populations in Key Largo Harbor, Florida

The antifouling boosting agent Irgarol 1051 is a strong inhibitor of the photosystem II (PSII) with high efficiency/toxicity towards algae. However, because some phytoplankton species are more sensitive to Irgarol than others, its persistent release into the environment could result in adverse changes in the phytoplankton community structure at heavily impacted sites such as marinas. Continuous monitoring in the Florida Keys showed Irgarol concentrations of up to 635 ngL(-1) in the canal system leading to Key Largo Harbor Marina (KLH) with a sharp decrease in concentration at stations offshore from the mouth of the canal. Preliminary phytoplankton community assessments from surface water samples collected in KLH between February and August 2004 showed changes in several phytoplankton species in concordance with the increase of the herbicide concentrations. Typical responses include an increase in the abundance of eukaryotes and Cryptomonas sp. as Irgarol concentrations increase.