Limnology of an equatorial high mountain lake — Lago San Pablo, Ecuador: The significance of deep diurnal mixing for lake productivity

Equatorial high mountain lakes are a special type of lake occurring mainly in the South American Andes as well as in Central Africa and Asia. They occur at altitudes of a few thousand meters above sea level and are cold-water lakes (<20 °C). Relatively little is known about them. A long-term limnological study was therefore undertaken at Lake Lago San Pablo, Ecuador to analyze the basic limnological processes of this lake, which has a tendency for eutrophication. Lago San Pablo is spread over an area of 668 hectares, has a maximum depth of 35 m, and is located 2660 m above sea level. Its thermal stratification is a monomictic one, with only 1–2 °C difference between the epi- and hypolimnion; overturn is achieved by strong winds during the dry summer period. The stratification phase is characterized by an oxygen deficit in the lower part of the hypolimnion. Besides, strong convective currents occur due to nocturnal cooling, and partial lake mixing was observed during the nocturnal period. This type of lake mixing is called atelomixis, which is characterized by the partial mixing of isolated layers (difference in temperature or ionic content) during stratification. The nutrient level of the lake is quite high: mean P_total concentration = 0.22 mg/l, mean N_total = 1.05 mg/l, soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) > 0.01 mg/l, and soluble inorganic nitrogen > 0.2 mg/l. Nitrogen and phosphorus are available in the epilimnion all year round (N_{sol. inorg·.} = 0.3 to 1.7 mg/l N, SRP = 0.04 to 0.63 mg/l P). The N/P ratio is sometimes > 14, sometimes < 10, indicating a variability of the limiting nutrient factor. Considering the nutrient level, the phytoplankton biomass is quite low (about 4,000 cells per ml on average; maximum cell number: 13,000 in 1998 and 10,000 in 1999). The mean epilimnic chlorophyll content (Chl a was 10 mg/l in 1998 and 11 g/l in 1999, and the maximum Chl a content was 16 and 22 g/l in 1998 and 1999, respectively.Phytoplankton production can be limited by nutrients, mainly nitrogen, but convective currents can also cause a significant loss of biomass. The lake's euphotic zone is smaller than its epilimnic zone, indicating that light radiation is limiting in the deeper water body, this is caused by a weak thermocline due to destratification by nocturnal cooling, the atelomixis.     

Primary production, sedimentation and resuspension in large shallow Lake Võrtsjärv

: Phytoplankton primary production measurements and sediment trapping in the large (270 km²) shallow (mean depth 2.8 m) Lake Võrtsjärv were performed during ice-free periods in 1995-1996. Sedimentation rate varied from 26 to 700 g DWm^-2d^-1 (DW=dry weight), with a mean value of 170 g DWm^-2d^-1. Under the influence of prevailing westerly and south-westerly winds, the sedimentation rate was higher in the northern part, and lower in the western and southern parts of the lake. An increasing trend towards autumn could be followed in both years. The mean sedimentation rates in the dry year 1996 with a low lake water level exceeded those of the “normal” 1995 by a factor of more than two. New sedimentation formed 10-15 % of the downward sediment flux in 1995 and 4-6 % in 1996, while the major part of entrapped matter originated from resuspended bottom sediments. The dynamics of gross sedimentation showed no relation to the primary production but correlated significantly with the concentration of suspended solids, with the average wind speed and with the mean depth of the lake during trap exposition.¶The composition of entrapped matter did not show seasonal variation but differed between the sampling stations. The amount of particulate organic matter (POM) per DW varied from 11 % at places where the bottom sediment consisted of moraine or sand to 28 % at places with muddy bottom. N:POM was rather stable (45-61 mgg^-1, Cvar = 6 %). The variability of P:POM (3.5-7.1, Cvar = 20 %) exceeded that of P:DW (0.75-1.31 mgg^-1, Cvar = 10 %) showing the essential role of mineral-bound P in the settling material. In these conditions, the N:P ratio was determined by the POM content of settling matter. POM:DW in settling material was generally higher than in the 0-2 cm layer of bottom sediments.     

Hydrograph separation to improve understanding of Dissolved Organic Carbon Dynamics in Headwater catchments

Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) is a key component of the global carbon cycle, but, to date, large uncertainties still exist on its source and fate in first‐order streams. In a 23 ha rangeland and steep‐slope headwater of South Africa, our aim was to quantify the contribution of overland flow (OF), soil water (SW) and ground water (GW) to DOC fluxes (DOC_F), and to interpret the results in terms of DOC sources and fate. The average 2010–2011 DOC concentration (DOC_C) at the catchment outlet was 4.7 mg C l^?1 with a standard error of ±2.5 mg C l^?1, which was significantly lower than in SW (15.2 ± 1.6 mg C l^?1) and OF (11.9 ± 0.8 mg C l^?1), but higher than in GW (2.3 ± 0.6 mg C l^?1). Based on end‐member mixing using Si and Na concentration in the water compartments, the average SW contribution to DOC_F was 66.4%, followed by OF (30.0%) and GW (3.6%). The resulting estimated DOC_F at the catchment outlet was 8.05 g C m² y^?1. This was much higher than the observed value of 2.80 g C m² y^?1, meaning that 5.25 g C m² y^?1 or 65% of the DOC is lost during its downslope and/or downstream transport to the catchment outlet. Complementary investigations revealed that the DOC_C in SW dropped from 15.2 ± 1.6 to 2.6 ± 0.3 mg C l^?1 during its downslope transport to the river system, which corresponded to a net loss of 5.10 g C m² y^?1, or 97% of the catchment DOC losses. These results on DOC sources and potential fate in headwaters are expected to improve our understanding of the impact of hydrology on the global C‐cycle. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Siliceous productivity changes in Gulf of Ancud sediments (42°S, 72°W), southern Chile,over the last ∼150 years

We evaluated changes in siliceous export production and the source of organic matter preserved in sediment core MD07-3109H recovered from the Gulf of Ancud, Chiloé Inner Sea (42°S, 72°W, water column depth: 328 m), southern Chile. We analyzed the abundance of siliceous microfossils (diatoms, silicoflagellates, sponge spicules, Chrysophyte cysts, phytoliths), geochemical proxies (weight percent silicon %Si_OPAL, organic carbon, total nitrogen, C/N molar), and sediment stable isotopes (δ¹³C_org, δ¹⁵N). Chronology based on ²¹⁰Pb and ¹⁴C provided an accumulated age of 144 years at the base of the core.Sediments of core MD07-3109H are predominantly marine in origin, averaging δ¹³C_org=–20.75‰±0.82, δ¹⁵N=8.7±0.35‰, and C/N=8.76±0.36. Marine diatoms compose 94% of the total assemblage of siliceous microfossils. Our record of productivity based on the mass accumulation rates of organic carbon, total nitrogen, Si_OPAL, and total diatoms showed high values between 1863 and 1869 AD followed by a declining trend until 1921 AD, a transition period from 1921 to 1959 AD with fluctuating values, and a clear decreasing pattern from 1960 AD to the present. This marked reduction in productivity was associated with decreased precipitation and Puelo River streamflow (41°S), as well as a warmer and more stratified water column, especially since the 1980s.     

Removal of234Th from a coastal sea: Funka Bay,Japan

In Funka Bay of Hokkaido, Japan, seawater, suspended matter and settling matter were collected once every month in the summer of 1974. These samples were analyzed for²³⁴Th, a short-lived daughter of dissolved²³⁸U. A pronounced disequilibrium between²³⁴Th and²³⁸U, and a highly variable concentration of²³⁴Th were found. Positive correlation, however, exist among the deficiency of²³⁴Th relative to²³⁸U in seawater, the concentration of particulate²³⁴Th, the fraction of particulate²³⁴Th to total²³⁴Th in seawater, the total dry weight of suspended matter, and the primary productivity during the month previous to sampling. The specific activity of²³⁴Th for the settling particles (620 ± 170 dpm/g) was nearly equal to that for suspended particles (720 ± 600 dpm/g) but much greater than that for plankton (47 ± 24 dpm/g). These facts suggest that suspended particles are somehow closely related to the removal of heavy metals from seawater, in spite of the negligibly small settling flux of suspended matter. The residence time of thorium in Funka Bay (mean depth: 60 m) is found to be about 60 days, which is nearly equal to those of²¹⁰Pb and²¹⁰Po.     

Zytotoxikologische Untersuchung von Schadstoffen und Wasserblüten mit gefrierkonserviertem Bullensperma (Spermatest)

The method is based on the determination of the number of the nonmotile sperms and/or the lethally damaged sperms with the aid of the fluorescent dye primuline. Incubation takes place at a suspension density of 10.000/mm³… 38.000/mm³, at 40°C or 46 °C for 15… 60 min. During the test with sublimate the loss of motility amounts to 55% at 4 mg/l Hg²⁺, the LC₅₀ is 7.3 mg/l Hg²⁺. Phenyl-mercuric acetate causes the total loss of motility with 20 mg/l, the LC₅₀ is above 168 mg/l (equivalent to 100 mg/l Hg²⁺). The LC₅₀ of sodiumpentadecylmonosulphonate and dodecylpyridinchloride are 11.6 and 15.8 mg/l, resp. Filtrates of blooming of cyanophyceae on Baltic, having been digested by repeated freezing and thawing, with 1.5… 6.4 g/l dry matter showed motility losses of 30… 100 % for Nodularia spumigena, whereas no significant effect was produced by a filtrate of Microcystis aeruginosa with 28.2 g/l dry matter as well as water-blooming of Nodularia spumigena from the Small Jasmund Bodden.     

Phosphoraufnahme durch Potamogeton natans und submerse Makrophyten in einem Fließgewässer-Laboratoriumsmodell

The germs of macrophytes were exposed in a ring channel at 0.073 m/s, 0.085 m water level and natural daylight for 52 h in tap water whose phosphorus concentration had been increased with KH₂PO₄ to 0.325 mg/1 P. After 4, 28 and 52 h the phosphorus concentrations in water and in dry matter were determined and the relative phosphorus elimination and incorporation, as referred to the concentrations in water and in dry matter prior to the test, were calculated in 0/0. Within 52 h the following increases of the internal phosphorus pool resulted (in %): Ranunculus aquatilis April 141, Potamogeton crispus May 178, P. natans June 139, Callitriche polymorpha June 128, Ranunculus aquatilis August 118, Elodea canadensis September 124. The phosphorus uptake behaves thus parallel to the gas-metabolism-physiological activity and the subsequently made differentiation into species which are active in spring, summer and autumn. Therefore, weed removals from waters should be done at the date of the species-specific activity maximum, since the then obtained biomass with 3… 9 kg/t P in the dry matter guarantees a maximum phosphorus elimination from the water.     

High-pressure phases of Co2GeO4, Ni2GeO4, Mn2GeO4 and MnGeO3: implications for the germanate-silicate modeling scheme and the Earth's mantle

In a diamond-anvil press coupled with YAG laser heating, the spinels of Co₂GeO₄ and Ni₂GeO₄ have been found to disproportionate into their isochemical oxide mixtures at about 250 kbar and 1400–1800°C in the same manner as their silicate analogues. At about the same P-T conditions MnGeO₃ transforms to the orthorhombic perovskite structure (space group Pbnm); the lattice parameters at room temperature and 1 bar are a₀ = 5.084 ± 0.002, b₀ = 5.214 ± 0.002, and c₀ = 7.323 ± 0.003Å with Z = 4 for the perovskite phase. The zero-pressure volume change associated with the ilmenite-perovskite phase transition in MnGeO₃ is ?6.6%. Mn₂GeO₄ disproportionates into a mixture of the perovskite phase of MnGeO₃ plus the rocksalt phase of MnO at P = 250kbar and T = 1400–1800°C. The concept of utilizing germanates as high-pressure models for silicates is valid in general. The results of this study support the previous conclusion that the lower mantle comprises predominantly the orthorhombic perovskite phase of ferromagnesian silicate.     

The performance of constructed wetlands for,wastewater treatment: a case study of Splash wetland in Nairobi Kenya

The performance of a constructed wetland for wastewater treatment was examined for four months (December 1995 to March 1996). The study area, hereby referred to as the Splash wetland, is approximately 0·5 ha, and is located in the southern part of Nairobi city. Splash wetland continuously receives domestic sewage from two busy restaurants. Treated wastewater is recycled for re‐use for various purposes in the restaurants. Both wet and dry season data were analysed with a view of determining the impact of seasonal variation on the system performance. The physical and chemical properties of water were measured at a common intake and at series of seven other points established along the wetland gradient and at the outlet where the water is collected and pumped for re‐use at the restaurants. The physico‐chemical characteristics of the wastewater changed significantly as the wastewater flowed through the respective wetland cells. A comparison of wastewater influent versus the effluent from the wetland revealed the system's apparent success in water treatment, especially in pH modification, removal of suspended solids, organic load and nutrients mean influent pH = 5·7 ± 0·5, mean effluent pH 7·7 ± 0·3; mean influent BOD₅ = 1603·0 ± 397·6 mg/l, mean effluent BOD₅ = 15·1 ± 2·5 mg/l; mean influent COD = 3749·8 ± 206·8 mg/l, mean effluent COD = 95·6 ± 7·2 mg/l; mean influent TSS = 195·4 ± 58·7 mg/l, mean effluent TSS = 4·7 ± 1·9 mg/l. As the wastewater flowed through the wetland system dissolved free and saline ammonia, NH₄⁺, decreased from 14·6 ± 4·1 mg/l to undetectable levels at the outlet. Dissolved oxygen increased progressively through the wetland system. Analysis of the data available did not reveal temporal variation in the system's performance. However, significant spatial variation was evident as the wetland removed most of the common pollutants and considerably improved the quality of the water, making it safe for re‐use at the restaurants. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

食物和理化因子对浮游甲壳动物群落结构的影响

食物质量和数量对浮游动物群落结构的影响在野外研究中较少涉及.本文通过对湖北省境内14个水体的春季采样,分析了食物质量和数量以及理化因子对浮游甲壳动物群落结构的影响.结果显示,浮游甲壳动物的密度和生物量以及Daphnia的相对生物量百分比与光照漫射衰减系数(Kd)呈显著负相关,与营养盐和叶绿素a(Chl.a)浓度无显著相关性;群落的平均体长随Chl.a浓度的增加而减小.典范对应分析显示,7个因子共解释了优势浮游甲壳动物群落结构变异的37.4%,贡献率排在前4位的是Kd、Chl.a浓度、悬浮物C/N比和C/P比,分别解释了总变异的11.5%、8.9%、5.6%和4.9%.近邻剑水蚤(Cyclops vicinus vicinus)喜好生活在Chl.a浓度高、水下光照弱的水体中,而汤匙华哲水蚤(Sinocalanus dorrii)喜好生活在水下光照较好、Chl.a浓度和悬浮物C/N比较低的水体中.透明蟤(Daphnia hyalina)喜好生活在Chl.a浓度较低、光照良好、悬浮物C/P比较高的水体中,但简弧象皮蟤(Bosmina coregoni)喜好生活在Chl.a浓度高、光照较好、悬浮物C/P比较低的水体中.整体来看,食物因子解释了群落结构总变异的19.4%,理化因子解释了18.0%,还剩下62.6%的变异未被解释,表明还有其他更为重要的环境因子未被纳入到分析之中.     

Ein Beitrag zur Bestimmung von partikulärem organischen Kohlenstoff in Wasserproben

The method after Strickland and Parsons is modified for fresh water as follows: filtration on glass-fibre paper, oxidation with K₂Cr₂O₇ in cone. H₂SO₄ for 2 h at 130 °C, dilution to 2.5 times the volume by aqua dest., centrifuging-off of the turbidity and extinction measurement at 445 nm against the blank value, the sample solution being balanced to the transmission of 100% (extinction = 0). Here, the following calibration line holds for the concentration C and the quantity of oxidation solution Ox: C = E_1cmc · 0.162 · Ox, C in mg filter. The oxidation solution contains 4.8 g K₂Cr₂O₇ as dissolved in 20 ml aqua dest. and made up with conc. H₂SO₄ to 11. With 5 ml of this solution one is able to determine 0.05 … 1 mg C/filter. Calibration is performed with 125 mg/l glucose solution. Comparative investigations have shown a good agreement with elementary-analytically obtained measured values. The occurring errors have been determined mainly by sampling. In the range of very small values we have to take into account a blank value of the filter due to the adsorption of dissolved organic substances on the filter.     

Hydrologic and biogeochemical controls on the spatial and temporal patterns of nitrogen and phosphorus in the Kuparuk River,arctic Alaska

Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) dynamics in the Kuparuk River in arctic Alaska were characterized in a 3‐year study using routine samples near the mouth of the river at the Arctic Ocean, synoptic whole‐river surveys, and temporally intense sampling during storms in three headwater basins. The Lower Kuparuk River has low nitrate concentrations (mean [NO₃]‐N] = 17 µg l^?1 ± 1·6 SE) and dissolved inorganic N (DIN, mean [N] = 31 µg l^?1 ± 1·2 SE) compared with rivers in more temperate environments. Organic forms constituted on average 90% of the N exported to the Arctic Ocean, and high ratios of dissolved organic N (DON) to total dissolved N (TDN) concentrations (mean 0·92) likely result from waterlogged soils formed by reduced infiltration due to permafrost and low hydrologic gradients. Annual export of TDN, DON, and particulate N averaged 52 kg km^?2, 48 kg km^?2, and 4·1 kg km^?2 respectively. During snowmelt, the high volume of runoff typically results in the highest nutrient loads of the year, although high discharge during summer storms can result in substantial nutrient loading over short periods of time. Differences in seasonal flow regime (snowmelt versus rain) and storm‐driven variation in discharge appear to be more important for determining nutrient concentrations than is the spatial variation in processes along the transect from headwaters towards the ocean. Both the temporal variation in nitrate:DIN ratios of headwater streams and the spatial variation in nitrate:DIN between larger sub‐basins and smaller headwater catchments is likely controlled by shifts in nitrification and soil anoxia. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Investigating the distribution and sources of organic matter in surface sediment of Coombabah Lake (Australia) using elemental,isotopic and fatty acid biomarkers

Extensive physical and biological measurements were made of the surface sediments within the shallow, semi-urbanised Coombabah Lake in southern Moreton Bay, Australia. Sediment bulk parameters (C/N ratios, δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N) and fatty acid biomarkers were used to determine distributions and sources of organic matter in the intertidal sediments. The determination of organic matter sources within coastal and estuarine settings is important in understanding the roles of organic matter as energy and nutrient sources. Spatial variability of biomarker values within the sediments were interpreted by thematic maps employing the Krigging algorithm. Grain size analysis indicated the lake was dominated by mud (<63 μm) in the southern (landward) and sand (>63 μm) in the northern (seaward) lake regions, respectively. Surface sediment organic C and N values ranged from 0.12% to 1.76% and 0.01% to 0.12% dry weight, respectively, and C/N ratios averaged 16.3±3.19%. Sedimentary δ¹³C values ranged from −26.1‰ to −20.9‰, with an average value of −23.9±1.0‰. Sedimentary δ¹⁵N values ranged from +1.7‰ to +4.8‰, with an average value of +2.8±0.8‰. Bulk sediment parameters suggested that sedimentary organic matter is provided predominantly by allochthonous sources in the form of fringing mangroves. Thirty-nine individual fatty acids were identified using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The mean contributions of long chain fatty acids (LCFAs), polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), saturated fatty acids (SAFAs) and bacterial fatty acids (BAFAs) were, respectively, 13.9±11.4%, 7.6±4.1%, 53.6±8.6% and 18.2±4.6% of the identified fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs), with BAFAs occurring in all sampled sediments. Fatty acid compositions varied throughout lake sediments, which indicated spatial differences in autochthonous and allochthonous organic matter sources, including terrestrial and planktonic (i.e. zooplankton, diatoms and other algal species) sources. The contribution of organic matter from shoreline mangroves was confirmed by the presence of LCFAs and 18:2ω6 and 18:3ω3, which are markers for mangroves in this ecosystem. BAFAs were identified in increased proportions in sediments adjacent to urban developments and dominated by mud. Grain size was identified as a dominant factor in the fatty acid compositions and contributing values to FAME pool. Spatial patterns of C/N ratios, δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N values, and fatty acid biomarker contributions illustrated that there is a greater contribution of autochthonous and labile organic matter to the sedimentary organic matter pool in the northern (marine entrance) sediments compared to the more allochthonous sourced organic matter of the southern region of the lake. This study details the distribution and sources of organic matter within Coombabah Lake and illustrates the usefulness of a multiple biomarker approach in discriminating organic matter sources within estuarine environments.     

Vergleichende Untersuchungen über das Phosphataufnahmevermögen ausgewählter Bakterienarten

The P-uptake by Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli is determined in batch culture with peptone/glucose/sodium chloride or peptone/acetate/sodium chloride as substrate at 60 to 120 mg/1 orthophosphate for 20 h with cell densities of 2 · 10⁷/ml (Acinetobacter) or 1.2 · 10⁹. The measurements were carried out by means of an Na₂HPO₄ (³²P) addition of 95 to 420 kBq. During the stationary phase the bacteria achieved the following P-contents in the biomass in fg/g bacterium: Acinetobacter 6 to 13, Pseudomonas 0.2 to 0.6, Escherichia 0.04 to 0.09; during the phase of growth Acinetobacter achieved 40 to 100 fg/bacterium. Acetate as the substrate did not result in any increase of the P-uptake. The maximum accumulation with Acinetobacter was 13 % P in the dry substance.     

Die gaschromatographische Bestimmung von freien flüchtigen Fettsäuren (C2 — C6) im Sickerwasser von Hausmülldeponien

After extensive experiments aimed at determining the free volatile fatty acids (C₂ to C₆) in organically highly polluted percolation water of household refuse dumping places there proved optimum a column packed with 10% Carbowax 20 M on Chromatron N-AW-DMCS after having been conditioned for five days at 270°C and subsequently covered with 10% hard wax. On short retention times the investigated isomeric column pairs are completely separated. Equally favourable results were obtained also for liquid manure and silage extracts. The detection limits lie between 10 and 20 mg/l, the relative standard deviation is 20 … 30% in the range of the lower detection limit and 2 … 3% at 200 mg/l in the upper range. In the investigation of percolation waters with concentrations between 235 and 4300 mg/l reproducibility lies at a mean relative standard deviation of 0.5 … 2.8%. The technique is well suited for routine checking.     

云南高原10个湖泊沉水植物的碳、氮、磷化学计量学特征

于2010年8月以云南高原10个湖泊进行沉水植物的化学计量学特征研究,以期为高原湖泊沉水植物的元素化学计量以及富营养化湖泊中沉水植物的恢复提供基础数据.研究表明,10个湖泊沉水植物的种类随营养水平的增加而减少,基本都是眼子菜科眼子菜属和小二仙草科狐尾藻属植物.10个湖泊沉水植物的总碳、总氮和总磷含量范围分别为170.22～373.14、0.90～9.70和0.36～4.30 mg/g;碳氮比、碳磷比和氮磷比范围分别为37.21～188.47、83.18～468.02和1.57～4.90.Spearman秩相关分析表明,10个湖泊的沉水植物氮磷比与湖泊特征和理化参数没有显著相关性,而碳氮比和碳磷比分别与水体总磷和总氮显著负相关.从单一物种来看,总碳、总氮、总磷、碳氮比、碳磷比和氮磷比的最高平均值分别出现在马来眼子菜(368.41 mg/g)、光叶眼子菜(7.60 mg/g)、蓖齿眼子菜(3.26 mg/g)、微齿眼子菜(68.93)、光叶眼子菜(224.57)和光叶眼子菜(4.82)上.综上所述,调查的云南10个高原湖泊普遍磷过剩而氮相对不足,物种多样性下降,蓖齿眼子菜、微齿眼子菜和光叶眼子菜可能更适合作为云南高原富营养化湖泊沉水植物恢复的物种.     

Ein Beitrag zur Seston-Eliminierung mit Mikrosiebfiltern

The treatment of a highly eutrophic raw water is investigated by a differentiated microscopic analysis of the seston particles in three size classes, an analysis of the assimilation pigments and of the seston solids. At an average number of particles of 10⁶/ml elimination amounts to 31… 44%. The average pigment content of 124 mg/m³ chlorophyll a plus phaeopigments is reduced by 34%, the average dry matter of 14.6 mg/l being reduced by 50%.     

Composition and flux of suspended organic matter in the middle and lower reaches of the Changjiang (Yangtze River) — impact of the Three Gorges Dam and the role of tributaries and channel erosion

To investigate the sources of particulate organic matter (POM) and the impact of Three Gorges Dam (TGD), two large lakes and erosion processes on determining the composition and flux of POM in low water discharge periods along the middle and lower Changjiang, suspended particulate samples were collected along the middle and lower reaches of the Changjiang (Yangtze River) in January 2008. Organic geochemistry of bulk sediment (particulate organic carbon, organic carbon to nitrogen molar ratio (C/N), stable carbon isotope (δ¹³C) and grain size) and biomarker of bulk sediment (lignin phenols) were measured to trace the sources of POM. The range of C/N ratios (6.4–8.9), δ¹³C (?24.3‰ – ?26.2‰) and lignin phenols concentration Λ8 (0.45 mg/100 mg OC‐2.00 mg/100 mg OC) of POM suggested that POM originated from the mixture of soil, plant tissue and autochthonous organic matter (OM) during the dry season. POM from lakes contained a higher portion of terrestrial OM than the mainstream, which was related to sand mining and hydropower erosion processes. A three end‐member model based on δ¹³C and Λ8 was performed. The results indicated that soil contributed approximately 50% of OM to the POM, which is the dominant OM source in most stations. POM composition was affected by total suspended matter (TSM) and grain size composition, and the direct OM input from two lakes and channel erosion induced OM. The lower TSM concentration in January 2008 was mainly caused by seasonal variations; the impact from the TGD in the dry season was relatively small. A box model indicated that more than 90% of the terrestrial OM transported by the Changjiang in January 2008 was from the middle and lower drainage basins. Channel erosion induced OM, and contributions from Poyang Lake were the major terrestrial OM sources in the dry season. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Temporal and spatial variations of canopy temperature over a C3?C4 mixture grassland

This study discusses the photosynthetic pathway types involved in canopy temperature measurements on a mixed grassland consisting of C₃ and C₄ plants (dominant species in biomass were Solidago altissima (C₃), Miscanthus sinensis (C₄), and Imperata cylindrica (C₄)). In the wet conditions immediately after the rainy season, the mean canopy temperature for S. altissima was the lowest among the dominant species, mainly due to its leaf conductance being twice as large as the other two species. Despite using the same C₄ photosynthetic pathway, M. sinensis had a lower apparent canopy temperature than I. cylindrica due to a smaller proportion of sunlit elements in the field of view. In the dry conditions during late July, the mean canopy temperatures of the three dominant species were within 0·3 °C of one another. These results can be explained by poor water conditions for C₃ species (S. altissima). The simultaneous survey of vegetation and thermal imaging can help clarify characteristics of C₃ and C₄ canopy temperature over complicated grassland. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Compression and phase behavior of solid CO2 to half a megabar

CO₂ has been investigated up to 514 kbar at23 ± 2°C by both optical and in situ X-ray diffraction studies using a diamond-anvil pressure cell. CO₂ solidifies in an unknown structure in the pressure range 5 to 23 kbar, and transforms to ordinary dry-ice structure above 23 kbar at room temperature. Isothermal compression data for dry ice have been obtained above about 24 kbar. These appear to be the first data at room temperature known in the literature. The data fitted to the Birch equation of state yieldK₀ = 29.3 ± 1.0kbar andK₀^′ = 7.8 assuming the volume of the hypothetical dry ice at zero-pressure and room temperature is 31.4 ± 0.2 cm³/mole. The isothermal bulk modulus(K₀) thus derived is consistent with the compression data and compressibilities for dry ice obtained at low temperatures using dilatometry and ultrasonic techniques, respectively, reported in the literature. By comparing shock-wave data for relevant materials, it is suggested that CO₂ is not likely to transform to one of the crystalline forms of SiO₂ which is otherwise expected from empirical grounds, but may instead decompose into C (diamond) + O₂, at high pressures.