CHOICE OF SAMPLING STRATEGY AND ESTIMATION METHOD FOR CALCULATING NITROGEN AND PHOSPHORUS TRANSPORT IN SMALL LOWLAND STREAMS

As reliable estimates of stream nutrient transport are required for many purposes including trend analysis, mass balances and model development, the impact of sampling strategy and estimation method on the bias and precision of stream nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) transport calculations was evaluated. The study was undertaken in two catchments in eastern Denmark. Selection of the most accurate sampling strategy and estimation method, i.e. with the lowest root mean square error (RMSE) was based on random (Monte Carlo) runs for generating replicate data sets from an essentially complete record of the concentration of total N (TN), total P (TP), particulate P (PP) and dissolved P (DP) during a two-year period (June 1987 to June 1989). The evaluation comprised 13 different estimation methods and seven discrete sampling strategies involving three categories (regular, stratified and strata sampling). The regular sampling strategies were more accurate (lower RMSE) during high-flow periods than stratified sampling. The greatest improvement in RMSE for TN, TP, PP and DP transport was obtained when increasing the sampling frequency from 12 each year (monthly) to 18 (monthly in summer and fortnightly in winter) and 26 each year (fortnightly). The increase in accuracy (RMSE) was less when increasing the sampling frequency to 52 (weekly) or 104 (biweekly). Nearly all the methods evaluated underestimated the annual transport of TP and PP, whereas TN and DP were both under- and overestimated. The best method of estimating N and P transport when utilizing discrete sampling was both site- and time-dependent. The overall best and most reproducible (stream to stream, year to year) method for estimating annual transport of TN, TP, PP and DP was a linear interpolation method. When this method was used to derive estimates of annual TN and TP transport based on fortnightly sampling, the RMSE was 1.4–5.4 and 20.2–38.5%, respectively, in the Gelbæk stream and 1.1–4.9 and 10.5–15.0%, respectively, in the Gjern Å stream. Subdividing the hydrograph into two strata (low-flow and high-flow periods) and sampling these strata separately for calculating TP transport was superior to discrete sampling for the smaller of the two catchments. A combination of regular sampling (monthly) and pooled high-flow sampling (eight events out of a total of 43) reduced the RMSE of the annual TP load to 10.4%.     

Analysis of stream water quality and estimation of nutrient load with the aid of Quick Bird remote sensing imagery

Abstract

Human activities have created high nutrient surpluses in agricultural lands due to the increasing rate of chemical fertilizer application and the increase in livestock production. To analyse the nutrient characteristics and estimate the nutrient load in streams, we conducted extensive field survey and water quality experiments from 2007 to 2008 in Koise River, a major river of the Lake Kasumigaura watershed, Japan. Water quality indicators of total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP) and total organic carbon (TOC) were investigated. The nutrient loads of TN, TP and TOC, as well as dissolved total nitrogen, dissolved inorganic nitrogen, dissolved organic nitrogen, particle organic nitrogen, dissolved total phosphorus, dissolved organic carbon and particle organic carbon were also estimated for the Koise River. Seasonal variation of the nutrient concentration from 2007 to 2008 was analysed considering the river discharge variation and agricultural activities. The results showed that the irrigation water from Lake Kasumigaura has the potential ability to decrease the TN concentration and increase the TOC concentration in the Koise River. Significant correlation coefficients between nutrient load and river discharge were found. The monthly pollution loads from different sources were then evaluated based on land cover classification generated from high-resolution Quick Bird remote sensing imagery. This study presents a useful interpretation of water quality data sets with a view to obtaining better information about water quality for more effective management of water resources in river basins.

Editor Z.W. Kundzewicz

Citation He, B., Oki, K., Wang, Y., Oki, T., Yamashiki, Y., Takara, K., Miura, S., Imai, A., Komatsu, K. and Kawasaki, N., 2012. Analysis of stream water quality and estimation of nutrient load with the aid of Quick Bird remote sensing imagery. Hydrological Sciences Journal, 57 (5), 850–860.     

滇池沉水植物生长过程对间隙水氮、磷时空变化的影响

2015年6-10月通过原位采集滇池沉水植物分布区和无植物对照区柱状沉积物间隙水,分析其溶解性总氮(DTN)和溶解性总磷(DTP)、溶解性无机氮(DIN)和溶解性无机磷(DIP)及溶解性有机氮(DON)和溶解性有机磷(DOP)浓度的时空变化,探讨沉水植物分布对间隙水氮、磷浓度、形态贡献及氮磷比的影响.结果表明:滇池沉水植物生长过程显著影响间隙水氮、磷浓度.与无植物对照区相比,沉水植物生长过程对间隙水氮浓度的削减主要发生在6、8月,而对间隙水磷浓度的削减主要发生在7月,反映了沉水植物对氮、磷两种元素的生物地球化学循环作用机制不同;间隙水氮形态贡献受季节性影响较大,6-7月以DON贡献为主,沉水植物分布区和无植物对照区分别达到61%和84%;而8-10月以DIN贡献为主,沉水植物分布区和无植物对照区分别为76%和75%;沉水植物分布区磷形态贡献随季节波动变化,沉水植物分布区以DOP贡献为主(63%),无植物对照区以DIP贡献为主(62%);沉水植物生长对沉积物间隙水各形态氮磷比影响显著.沉水植物生长显著增加间隙水DTN/DTP比,尤其是DIN/DIP比,相反降低DON/DOP比.沉水植物对间隙水氮、磷吸收及转化过程改变了沉积物氮、磷释放机制,从而影响上覆水氮、磷组成及氮磷比,很可能会影响到浮游植物生长及藻类水华过程,这对于湖泊水质管理具有重要意义.     

Estimation of sediment sources using selected chemical tracers in the Perry lake basin,Kansas,USA

The ability to achieve meaningful decreases in sediment loads to reservoirs requires a determination of the relative importance of sediment sources within the contributing basins. In an investigation of sources of fine-grained sediment （clay and silt） within the Perry Lake Basin in northeast Kansas, representative samples of channel-bank sources, surface-soil sources （cropland and grassland）, and reservoir bottom sediment were collected, chemically analyzed, and compared. The samples were sieved to isolate the 〈63μt m fraction and analyzed for selected nutrients （total nitrogen and total phosphorus）, organic and total carbon, 25 trace elements, and the radionuclide cesium-137 （^137Cs）. On the basis of substantial and consistent compositional differences among the source types, total nitrogen （TN）, total phosphorus （TP）, total organic carbon （TOC）, and ^137Cs were selected for use in the estimation of sediment sources. To further account for differences in particle-size composition between the sources and the reservoir bottom sediment, constituent ratio and clay-normalization techniques were used. Computed ratios included TOC to TN, TOC to TP, and TN to TP. Constituent concentrations （TN, TP, TOC） and activities （^137Cs） were normalized by dividing by the percentage of clay. Thus, the sediment-source estimations involved the use of seven sediment-source indicators. Within the Perry Lake Basin, the consensus of the seven indicators was that both channel-bank and surface-soil sources were important in the Atchison County Lake and Banner Creek Reservoir subbasins, whereas channel-bank sources were dominant in the Mission Lake subbasin. On the sole basis of ^137Cs activity, surface-soil sources contributed the most free-grained sediment to Atchison County Lake, and channel-bank sources contributed the most fine-grained sediment to Banner Creek Reservoir and Mission Lake. Both the seven-indicator consensus and ^137Cs indicated that channelbank sources were dominant for Perry Lake and that channel-bank sources increased in importance with distance downstream in the basin.     

Organic carbon fluxes from the upper Yangtze basin: an example of the Longchuanjiang River,China

To investigate the effects of anthropogenic activity, namely, land use change and reservoir construction, on particulate organic carbon (POC) transport, we collected monthly water samples during September 2007 to August 2009 from the Longchuanjiang River to understand seasonal variations in the concentrations of organic carbon species and their sources and the yield of organic and inorganic carbon from the catchment in the Upper Yangtze basin. The contents of riverine POC, total organic carbon and total suspended sediment (TSS) changed synchronously with water discharge, whereas the contents of dissolved organic carbon had a small variation. The POC concentration in the suspended sediment decreased non‐linearly with increasing TSS concentration. Higher molar C/N ratio of particulate organic matter (average 77) revealed that POC was dominated by terrestrially derived organic matter in the high flows and urban wastewaters in the low flows. The TSS transported by this river was 2.7 × 10⁵ t/yr in 2008. The specific fluxes of total organic carbon and dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) were 5.6 and 6 t/km²/yr, respectively, with more than 90% in the high flow period. A high carbon yield in the catchment of the upper Yangtze was due to human‐induced land use alterations and urban wastes. Consistent with most rivers in the monsoon climate regions, the dissolved organic carbon–POC ratio of the export flux was low (0.41). Twenty‐two percent (0.9 t/km²/yr) of POC out of 4 t/km²/yr was from autochthonous production and 78% (3.1 t/km²/yr) from allochthonous production. The annual sediment load and hence the organic carbon flux have been affected by environmental alterations of physical, chemical and hydrological conditions in the past 50 years, demonstrating the impacts of human disturbances on the global and local carbon cycling. Finally, we addressed that organic carbon flux should be reassessed using adequate samples (i.e. at least two times in low‐flow month, four times in high‐flow month and one time per day during the flood period), daily water discharge and sediment loads and appropriate estimate method. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Spatio-temporal dynamics of sediment transport in lesser Himalayan catchments,India

Sediment transport from mountainous to lowland areas is considered one of the most important geomorphological processes. In the present study, variations in transported sediment loads and dissolved loads have been studied over 3 years (2008–2011) for two forested catchments located in the Lesser Himalayan region of India. Seasonal and annual suspended sediment flux was strongly influenced by amounts of rainfall and streamflow. On average, 93% of annual load was produced during the monsoon, of which 62–78% occurred in only five peak events. Sediment production by the degraded forest catchment (Bansigad) was 1.9-fold (suspended sediment load) to 5.9-fold (bedload) higher than the densely forested catchment (Arnigad). The dissolved organic matter potentially influences total dissolved solids in the stream. Heavy rainfall triggers both stream discharge and landslides, which lead to higher bedload transport. Total denudation rates for Arnigad and Bansigad were estimated at 0.68 and 1.02 mm?year^?1, respectively.     

Carbon and suspended sediment transport in an impounded alpine river (Isère,France)

Carbon and total suspended sediment (TSS) loads were investigated from April 2006 to March 2008 in the mountainous watershed of the Isère River, French Alps (5570 km²). The river bed has been highly impounded for hydroelectricity production during the last century. Hydraulic flushes are managed every year to prevent TSS storage within upstream dams. The Isère River has been instrumented for high‐frequency monitoring of water, TSS by turbidity and carbon (organic, inorganic, dissolved and particulate) in order to evaluate the impact of natural floods and hydraulic flushes on annual loads. Annual TSS load which was estimated between 1.3 and 2.3 MT y^?1 (i.e. 233 to 413 T km^?2 y^?1) highlighted the high erodibility of the Isère watershed. Annual carbon load was estimated between 173 10³ T y^?1 and 199 10³ T y^?1 (i.e 31 to 36 T km^?2 y^?1). About 80% of the annual carbon loads were inorganic. The impact of hydraulic flushes on annual loads appeared limited (less than 3% for annual TSS load and about 1.5% for annual carbon load), whereas the most important natural flood event contributed to 20% of the annual TSS load and 10% of the annual carbon load. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Nutrient source attribution: Quantitative typology distinction of active and legacy source contributions to waterborne loads

Distinction between active and legacy sources of nutrients is needed for effective reduction of waterborne nutrient loads and associated eutrophication. This study quantifies main typological differences in nutrient load behaviour versus water discharge for active and legacy sources. This quantitative typology is used for source attribution based on monitoring data for water discharge and concentrations of total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorous (TP) from 37 catchments draining into the Baltic Sea along the coastline of Sweden over the period 2003–2013. Results indicate dominant legacy source contributions to the monitored loads of TN and TP in most (33 of the total 37) study catchments. Dominant active sources are indicated in 1 catchment for TN, and mixed sources are indicated in 3 catchments for TN, and 4 catchments for TP. The TN and TP concentration contributions are quantified to be overall higher from the legacy than the active sources. Legacy concentrations also correlate well with key indicators of human activity in the catchments, agricultural land share for TN (R² = 0.65) and population density for TP (R² = 0.56). Legacy-dominated nutrient concentrations also change more slowly than in catchments with dominant active or mixed sources. Various data-based results and indications converge in indicating legacy source contributions as largely dominant, mainly anthropogenic, and with near-zero average change trends in the present study of catchments draining into the Baltic Sea along the coastline of Sweden, as in other parts of the world. These convergent indications emphasize needs to identify and map the different types of sources in each catchment, and differentiate strategies and measures to target each source type for possible achievement of shorter- and longer-term goals of water quality improvement.     

Influence of rural land use on streamwater nutrients and their ecological significance

Concentrations and loads of N and P fractions were examined for lowland rivers, the Wye and Avon, draining a range of representative agricultural land-use types in two major UK river basins. Data collected over a 2-year period demonstrated important diffuse agricultural source contributions to N and P loads in these rivers. Ground water provided a major source of total dissolved nitrogen (TDN) loads, whereas near-surface sources provided a major contribution to total phosphorus (TP) loads. In terms of aquatic ecology, concentrations of nutrients, at times of eutrophication risk (spring and summer low flows) were of key environmental and management significance. Agricultural diffuse sources provided the major source of long-term P loads across the two basins. However, the results demonstrated the dominance of point-source contributions to TP and SRP concentrations at times of ecological risk. Point sources typically ‘tip the balance’ of dissolved inorganic P (soluble reactive P, SRP) above the 100 μg l⁻¹ guideline value indicative of eutrophication risk. The significance of point sources for TP and SRP concentrations was shown by (a) the strong correlations between TP, SRP and B concentrations, using B as a tracer of sewage effluent, (b) the dominant contribution of SRP to TP concentrations and (c) the predominant pattern of dilution of SRP and B with flow. The clean Chalk streams draining low intensity grassland in areas of the Avon with sparse human settlement were oligotrophic and P limited with low SRP concentrations under spring and summer baseflows attributable to groundwater sources. The data provide important insights into the ecological functioning of different lowland stream systems. There was evidence of greater SRP losses and N-limitation in a stream which drains a pond system, demonstrating the importance of longer water residence times for biological nutrient uptake.     

Influence of the hyporheic zone on the phosphorus dynamics of a large gravel‐bed river,Garonne River,France

Phosphorus (P) concentrations in sediments and in surface and interstitial water from three gravel bars in a large river (Garonne River, southern France) were measured daily, downstream of a wastewater treatment plant for a city of 740 000 inhabitants (Toulouse). Measurements were made of vertical hydraulic gradient (VHG), total dissolved phosphorus (TDP), soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) and total phosphorus (TP) in water and of three extractable forms of phosphorus (water extractable, NaOH extractable and H₂SO₄ extractable) in hyporheic sediments from the gravel bars. Dissolved phosphorus was the major contributor to TP (74–79%) in both interstitial and surface waters on all sampling dates, and in most cases surface water P concentrations were significantly higher than interstitial concentrations. Hyporheic sediment TP concentrations ranged between 269 and 465 µg g^?1 and were highest in fine sediment fractions. Acid‐extractable P, a non‐bioavailable form, represented at least 95% of sediment TP. A positive relationship was observed between VHG and TP in two of the gravel bars, with wells that were strongly downwelling having lower TP concentrations. These results suggest that in downwelling zones, hyporheic sediments can trap surface‐derived dissolved P, and that much of this P becomes stored in refractory particulate forms. Bioavailable P is mainly present in dissolved form and only occupies a small fraction of total P, with particulate P comprising the majority of total P. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Characterization of colloidal and particulate matter transported by the magela creek system,Northern Australia

The composition and amount of colloidal and suspended participate matter transported during a small flood event in Magela Creek in tropical northern Australia was investigated. The flood studied constituted approximately 3 % of the total annual flow, most (90%) of which occurred between mid-January and mid-February of the study year. Three fractions were separated from water samples using a sequential method involving a continuous flow centrifuge to separate suspended particulate matter (SPM; nominally > 1 μm) followed by hollow fibre filtration, first using a 0.1 μm filter to separate course colloidal matter (CCM; nominal size 1–0.1 μm) and then a 0–015 μm filter to separate fine colloidal matter (FCM; nominal size 0.1–0.015 μm). The SPM was predominantly inorganic (organic matter 21 %), whereas the colloidal fractions were dominantly organic matter (CCM 60%; FCM 83%). Analysis of individual particles using electron microprobe and automated image analysis indicated that the mineral fractions in both the SPM and CCM were dominated by iron-enriched aluminosilicates (including kaolinite) (72–82%) and quartz (9–10%), indicative of a highly weathered and extensively laterized catchment. Surprisingly there was very little difference in the composition of the SPM or CCM fractions during the flood event studied, which may indicate either that sediment availability was restricted following the major run-off events in January and February, or that all the sediment sources within the catchment are geochemically similar. Approximately the same amounts of particulate (20 tonne), colloidal (21 tonne) and dissolved material (17 tonne) were transported during the 25 hour period of the main flood peak; over 90% of the colloidal matter was 0.1–1.0 μm in size. These data suggest that previous estimates of the amounts of particulate (and colloidal) matter transported by Magela Creek, which were based on suspended solids measurements, may have underestimated the particulate matter load by as much as 50%. It is possible that the relatively high proportion of colloidal matter is unique to Magela Creek because coagulation and aggregation of colloidal matter to particulate matter is slow due to the very low concentations of calcium and magnesium in these waters. However, if the result is more widespread, there are important implications for the global estimates of fluvially transported particulate and dissolved materials as many of the previous studies may have underestimated the particulate load and overestimated the dissolved load.     

Sediment‐water Fluxes of Nutrients and Dissolved Organic Carbon in Extensive Sea Cucumber Culture Ponds

Sediment samples were collected from three seawater aquaculture ponds, and soil characteristics, sediment oxygen consumption (SOC), dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and nutrient fluxes were measured using chamber incubations at laboratory. The three ponds were each representing a specific monoculture or polyculture model of sea cucumber. Total organic carbon (TOC) and total nitrogen (TN) contents in the dry sediment ranged from 0.14 to 0.26% and 0.022 to 0.037%, respectively. Total phosphorus (TP) contents in the sediment were more spatially and temporally variable. SOC ranged from 15.29 to 45.86 mmol m^–2 d^–1 and showed significant differences among the three ponds (p < 0.05). TOC, total carbon (TC) contents, and SOC of the sediment in the pond polycultured with jellyfish increased with culture time, indicating that jellyfish farming enhanced the accumulation of organic matter in the sediments to some extent. Sediment showed net nitrate and ammonium uptake in most ponds and months, and significant differences were found among months (p < 0.05). Dissolved inorganic phosphate (DIP) was released from the sediments in all ponds with low flux rates. DOC was released from the sediment in all ponds and ranged from 0.67 to 1.74 g DOC m^–2 d^–1. The results suggested that non‐artificial‐feeding sea cucumber culture ponds could not only yield valuable seafood products, but also effectively remove nutrients from the aquaculture systems and consequently alleviate nutrient loadings of the nearby coast.     

Spatial patterning of water quality in Biscayne Bay, Florida as a function of land use and water management

An objective classification analysis was performed on a water quality data set from 25 sites collected monthly during 1994-2003. The water quality parameters measured included: TN, TON, DIN, NH4+, NO3-, NO2-, TP, SRP, TN:TP ratio, TOC, DO, CHL A, turbidity, salinity and temperature. Based on this spatial analysis, Biscayne Bay was divided into five zones having similar water quality characteristics. A robust nutrient gradient, driven mostly by dissolved inorganic nitrogen, from alongshore to offshore in the main Bay, was a large determinant in the spatial clustering. Two of these zones (Alongshore and Inshore) were heavily influenced by freshwater input from four canals which drain the South Dade agricultural area, Black Point Landfill, and sewage treatment plant. The North Bay zone, with high turbidity, phytoplankton biomass, total phosphorus, and low DO, was affected by runoff from five canals, the Munisport Landfill, and the urban landscape. The South Bay zone, an embayment surrounded by mangrove wetlands with little urban development, was high in dissolved organic constituents but low in inorganic nutrients. The Main Bay was the area most influenced by water exchange with the Atlantic Ocean and showed the lowest nutrient concentrations. The water quality in Biscayne Bay is therefore highly dependent of the land use and influence from the watershed.     

The value of high-resolution nutrient monitoring: A case study of the River Frome, Dorset, UK

The River Frome was sampled at sub-daily sampling interval, with additional storm sampling, through an annual cycle. Samples were analysed for total phosphorus (TP), soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP), total oxidisable nitrogen (TON) and dissolved reactive silicon (Si). The resulting data set was artificially decimated to mimic sampling frequencies from 12 h to monthly time interval. Monthly sampling interval resulted in significant errors in the estimated annual TP and SRP load of up to 35% and 28% respectively, and the resulting data sets were insufficient to observe peaks in P concentration in response to storm events. Weekly sampling reduced the maximum percentage errors in annual load estimate to 15.4% and 6.5%. TON and silicon concentrations were less variable with changing river flow, and monthly sampling was sufficient to predict annual load estimates to within 10%. However, to investigate within-river nutrient dynamics and behaviour, it is suggested that a weekly sampling interval would be the minimum frequency required for TON and Si studies, and daily sampling would be a minimum requirement to adequately investigate phosphorus dynamics. The loss in nutrient-concentration signal due to reduced sampling interval is presented. Hysteresis in the nutrient concentration/flow relationships for all 32 storm events during the study period were modelled and seasonal patterns discussed to infer nutrient sources and behaviour. The high-resolution monitoring in this study identified, for the first time, major peaks in phosphorus concentration in winter that coincide with sudden falls in air temperature, and was associated with biofilm breakdown. This study has shown that to understand complex catchment nutrient processes, accurately quantify nutrient exports from catchments, and observe changes in water quality as a result of nutrient mitigation efforts over time, it is vital that the newly emerging field-based automated sampler/analyzer technologies begin to be deployed, to allow for routine high-resolution monitoring of our rivers in the future.     

Dynamics of phosphorus compounds in a lowland river system: Importance of retention and non-point sources

Intensive measurements of the fluxes of phosphorus (P) and of P retention were carried out in a Danish lowland watershed (Gjern Å) during two hydrological years (June 1987 to May 1989). Seasonal and short-term variations of P concentrations were measured by intensive automatic sampling covering P fluxes from the entire Gjern Å watershed and two subcatchments: the Gelbæk and Lake Søbygård. Moreover, infrequent sampling was performed in all major tributaries of the river system. Transport of P compounds (dissolved and particulate P) exposed a seasonal pattern which was highly affected by flow conditions, instream processes, as well as point and non-point sources. Stormflow P transport during the two study years (1987-8 and 1988-9) constituted 56 and 61% in the Gelbæk, respectively, compared with 25 and 23% in the Gjern Å, respectively. Particulate P transport in the Gelbæk constituted 56 and 75% of annual total P transport during the two years compared with 77 and 75% in the Gjern Å. The magnitude of monthly baseflow and stormflow total P loads was significantly correlated with the mean monthly discharge during baseflow and stormflow in the Gelbæk, whereas only stormflow loads were correlated to discharge in the Gjern Å. In situ measurements of retention showed that the maximum amount of P stored in the Gelbæk during summer (June to August) was 22gPm^?2 (1988) compared with 27gPm^?2 (1987) in the Gjern Å. Lake Søbygård was a P source during summer but a P sink during winter and on an annual basis the net P released was 810 and 1420 kg, which corresponded to 7 and 20% of the annual P export from the watershed, respectively. Retention constituted about 30% of gross P transport in the Gelbæk during summer compared with 20% in the Gjern Å. Resuspension of retained P during stormflows in September 1987 constituted 94% of the stormflow P transport and 54% of the total P transport. Monthly total P and dissolved reactive P (DRP) mass balances for the main channel of the Gjern Å revealed a significant DRP retention over 17 months (p < 0.05) caused by P adsorption on sediments and biological uptake. On an annual basis the main channel was a sink of DRP (1220 and 1660 kg P) but a source of total P (3440 and 1000 kg P). implying that the channel is an important source of particulate P. Bank erosion proved to be a significant P source in the main channel of Gjern Å, whereas P delivery from soil erosion was possibly of minor importance. The annual non-point P export from two intensively sampled catchments was significantly higher (0.89 and 0.45 kg Pha^?1 yr^?1) than from the five extensively sampled subbasins (0.43 and 0.17 kg Pha^?1 yr^?1). No significant relationship could be established between non-point P export and the proportion of arable land and soil type. Only for the wet year of 1987-8 was a significant relationship established between non-point P export and the P load from scattered dwellings outside sewage areas in five subbasins.     

Changes in the patterns of inorganic nitrogen and TN/TP ratio and the associated mechanism of biological regulation in the shallow lakes of the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River

The changes of NH3-N, NO3-N, NO2-N and TN/TP were studied during growth and non-growth season in 33 subtropical shallow lakes in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River. There were significant positive correlations among all nutrient concentrations, and the correlations were better in growth season than in non-growth season. When TP>0.1 mgL-1, NH3-N increased sharply in non-growth season with increasing TP, and NO3-N increased in growth season but decreased in non-growth season with TP. These might be attributed to lower dissolved oxygen and low temperature in non-growth season of the hypereutrophic lakes, since nitrification is more sensitive to dissolved oxygen and temperature than antinitrification. When 0.1 mgL-1>TP>0.035 mgL-1, TN and all kinds of inorganic nitrogen were lower in growth season than in non-growth season, and phytoplank-ton might be the vital regulating factor. When TP<0.035 mgL-1, inorganic nitrogen concentrations were relatively low and NH3-N, NO2-N had significant correlations with phytoplankton, indicating that NH3-N and NO2-N might be limiting factors to phytoplankton. In addition, TN/TP went down with decline in TP concentration, and TN and inorganic nitrogen concentrations were obviously lower in growth season than in non-growth season, suggesting that decreasing nitrogen (especially NH3-N and NO3-N) was an important reason for the decreasing TN/TP in growth season. The ranges of TN/TP were closely related to trophic level in both growth and non-growth seasons, and it is apparent that in the eutrophic and hypertrophic state the TN/TP ratio was obviously lower in growth season than in non-growth season. The changes of the TN/TP ratio were closely correlated with trophic levels, and both declines of TN in the water column and TP release from the sediment were important factors for the decline of the TN/TP ratio in growth season.     

Variability of particulate (SS,POC) and dissolved (DOC,NO3) matter during storm events in the Alegria agricultural watershed

The temporal variability of suspended sediment, nitrates (NO₃) and dissolved (DOC) and particulate organic carbon concentrations was analysed in the Alegria agricultural watershed over a 2‐year period. Nine storm events were studied, including an exhaustive analysis of hydrometeorological conditions, quantification of fluxes, and concentration‐discharge hysteresis loop characterization. The overall aim was to study the variability in these components during storm events and determine the mechanisms (flow paths) affecting the trajectories, from the source to the stream. The forms, rotational patterns and trends of hysteretic loops were investigated, and relationships between hysteresis features and hydrological parameters were studied. The results revealed clear differences between particulate (suspended sediment, particulate organic carbon) and dissolved (DOC, NO₃) matter transport responses. Movement of the particulate matter was attributed to surface water, as reflected in clockwise hysteresis loops, whereas dissolved matter showed, in general, counterclockwise hysteresis loops, indicating a time delay in the arrival of solutes to the stream. This could be related to subsurface flow paths for DOC and a groundwater source for NO₃. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

太湖沉积物理化性质及营养盐的时空变化

在不同季节,采集太湖梅梁湾和贡湖湾沉积物柱状样,研究沉积物Eh、pH、总氮、总磷以及有机质四季垂向剖面分布变化特征.研究结果表明,在表层下(0-3 cm),Eh随沉积物深度的增加迅速下降,很快进入还原状态.沉积物剖面上pH变化幅度不大,在6.4-7.8之间,冬季沉积物pH均有所降低.太湖沉积物中含有丰富的营养盐,总氮和总磷最高浓度分别为2.68和0.864 mg/g,其剖面分布特征表明,沉积物表层总氮和总磷含量远高于底层,其含量随深度增加而降低,但四季变化趋势不明显.沉积物中有机质含量在10 cm以上变化幅度较大,随着沉积物深度的增加,有机质含量明显减少,季节变化幅度不大.比较不同采样点发现,位于梅梁湾生态系统试验区内的S1位点沉积物氮磷内源负荷最大.     

澜沧江梯级筑坝下水体氮磷分布特征及其形成机制

水库建设改变了河流水文情势及物质迁移转化过程,从而影响水环境质量。为探究梯级筑坝影响下河流氮、磷的空间分布特征及其形成机制,以澜沧江为研究对象,于2016年和2021年分别开展了沿程水环境监测,对比分析水体中氮、磷及其形态浓度在水库建成前后的变化及沿程分布特征,探究氮、磷变化及其沿程分布的主控因子和影响机制。结果表明：由于河流建库蓄水淹没的土地释放大量土壤有机氮,新建水库段(2021年)水体总氮(TN)浓度相比于建库前(2016年)显著上升;由于建库后水流流速减缓而促进颗粒态磷沉降,水体总磷(TP)浓度显著下降。此外,河流建库蓄水后原自然河道的水环境特征改变且利于沉积物磷的释放,筑坝后水体磷酸盐(PO₄^3--P)占生物可利用磷(Bio-P)的比例显著上升。受沿程土地利用的影响,从上游到下游水体TN浓度总体上逐渐升高,而水体TP浓度由于水库的截留效应逐渐降低。筑坝增加的水力停留时间为水库氮、磷转化提供了有利条件,主要表现为溶解性无机氮以硝态氮为主转变为以氨氮为主;同时,Bio-P中PO₄^3--P的占比...