Evidence for ecosystem engineering in a lentic habitat by tadpoles of the western toad

A number of aquatic organisms have demonstrated an ability to modulate sediment deposition in tropical and temperate stream systems, but little is known about the impact of similar benthic grazing processes in temperate pond systems. Using exclosure experiments in mesocosms, we used tadpoles of the western toad (Anaxyrus boreas) to investigate two questions: (1) can grazing activities of tadpoles of the western toad in ponds reduce sediment accrual on grazing surfaces (e.g. via bioturbation or ingestion); and (2) do these grazing activities contribute to enhanced periphyton biomass and chlorophyll a content of benthic matter. Mesocosms received pulses of fine sediment weekly over 8 weeks to simulate allochthonous surface inputs following rainstorms. Accumulated sediment and periphyton matter on exposed and grazing-restricted substrate surfaces were measured weekly. Tadpole grazing activity significantly reduced the standing stock of periphyton on open grazing surfaces by 80% in controls. Under sediment-additions, tadpoles effectively removed settled particulate matter from exposed grazing surfaces, but no corresponding increase in periphyton biomass was observed. These results suggest that tadpoles can impact the dynamics of sediment distribution in ponds as well as streams, providing support for a role as “ecosystem engineers” in these habitats.     

Periphyton communities in Amazonian black- and whitewater habitats: Community structure, biomass and productivity

Chlorophyll a-concentrations, AFWD (ash-free-dry-weight) and photosynthesis rates were estimated for periphyton assemblages in Amazonian black-and white-water habitats over 14 months. Cellulose-acetate strips were incubated in situ and showed few major differences in periphyton quality as compared to natural substrata. The only exceptions were submersed Igapó forest leaves, which exhibited higher proportions of green algae and cyanobacteria though not producing differences in total periphyton biomass. Enclosure experiments showed a considerable nutrient release by inundated non-senescent Igapó forest leaves. Periphyton biomass and productivity were found to be highest in black-and white water mixing zones, where biomass peaked at 41.6 mg Chla/m² and 19.8 g/m² AFDW. Production was estimated to be 380 gC/m²·a. Maximum biomass of periphyton in floating meadows was 46 mg Chla/m² and 10.6 g/m² AFDW, with an annual production of 170 gC/m²·a. Solimões main channel periphyton values were low: maximum Chla was 7.1 mg/m², AFDW 0.8 g/m² and annual production was estimated to be 30 gC/m². Blackwater periphyton values were lower compared to whitewater and mixed water values but an enlarged trophogenic zone has to be taken into account. Highest Chla content reached 30.9 mg/m², AFDW 1.43 g/m². Estimated annual production was 110 gC/m². Observed mean periphyton productivity of Amazonian blackwater habitats approximately corresponded to mesotrophic attached algae productivity in temperate zones, whereas productivity of whitewater periphyton approached those of temperate eutrophic lakes. The role of periphyton in the Amazon food web is discussed.     

Substrate influence and temporal changes on periphytic biomass accrual and metabolism in a tropical humic lagoon

We performed a field experiment in a tropical humic coastal lagoon to evaluate periphyton biomass accrual and metabolism on three different substrates (1) plastic ribbons, (2) green and (3) senescent leaves of the emergent macrophyte Typha domingensis) over 30 days. The contribution of autotrophic biomass decreased as total biomass increased over the time. Mean periphytic ash free dry weight ranged from 0.8 to 5.6 mg cm⁻², but periphyton chlorophyll a concentrations presented shorter amplitudes, which oscillated from 0.12 to 0.44 μg cm⁻² throughout the experiment. Periphyton metabolism was overall heterotrophic on all substrates, especially on senescent leaves. Our data show that substrate type influenced both biomass accrual and periphyton net productivity and respiration rates throughout periphyton development and highlighted the dominance of heterotrophic metabolism. The periphyton respiration may be subsidized by both water- and substrate-derived allochthonous energy pathways, shedding light on the role of periphytic assemblages to the carbon cycling, as a source of CO₂ to the system.     

克隆整合和模拟沉积物淹埋对外来水生植物粉绿狐尾藻(Myriophyllum aquaticum)生长和抗氧化系统的影响

多数外来入侵水生植物都是克隆植物,而目前关于克隆整合属性对其入侵性潜在影响的研究仍旧缺乏.本文通过研究克隆整合(匍匐茎连接)和模拟沉积物淹埋(3 cm厚基质淹埋)对外来水生植物粉绿狐尾藻(Myriophyllum aquaticum)的生长、生物量分配和抗氧化酶活性的影响,探讨了克隆整合特性对粉绿狐尾藻耐受基质淹埋的作用机制.研究发现:基质淹埋显著降低了粉绿狐尾藻的生物量、总匍匐茎长度和分枝数,而克隆整合则显著促进了受淹埋分株的这些生长指标;基质淹埋显著降低了粉绿狐尾藻分株抗氧化酶(超氧化物歧化酶、过氧化物酶和过氧化氢酶)的活性,而克隆整合显著提升了受淹埋分株的抗氧化酶活性;此外,克隆整合显著降低了受淹埋分株的冠根比.以上结果表明:克隆整合效应能显著提升粉绿狐尾藻在基质淹埋胁迫下的活性氧清除能力,从而有助于其生长;能改变受胁迫分株生物量分配,提升其资源获取能力.因此,异质性环境胁迫下,粉绿狐尾藻的入侵性可能与其克隆整合属性密切相关.     

The effect of periphyton on the light environment and production of Potamogeton perfoliatus L. in the mesotrophic basin of Lake Balaton

Light within the littoral zone affects the productivity and interaction between periphyton and its macrophyte substrate. The effect of periphyton on macrophyte photosynthesis, seasonal variation and vertical distribution of periphyton on artificial substrates (plastic strips), and the effect of periphyton on the light environment was studied in Lake Balaton. Data showed that an average of 4.1 ± 0.4 mg (dry weight) cm^?2 of periphyton had accumulated on the plastic strips after 8.8 ± 0.4 days. This biomass corresponded to 294 ± 30 μg m^?2 chl-a of epiphytic algae and blocked 92.3 ± 0.8 % of the depth specific radiation. Seasonal variation and specific vertical distribution of periphyton were observed. The most active time of periphyton accumulation corresponded to spring up until mid-June. Later in the year, the amount of periphyton significantly decreased. The optimal conditions for periphyton accumulation were at 30–40 cm depth. Most of the light reaching the adaxial leaf surface was attenuated by periphyton, decreasing the production of Potamogeton perfoliatus by 60–80 %. This increased the importance of backscattered light that corresponded to 10–15 % of the macrophyte production. A smaller part of the periphyton consisted of precipitated inorganic material, while epiphytic algae, making up the majority of the periphyton, were connected to both benthic (dominantly benthic penales) and pelagic (very close seasonal dynamics of pelagic and epiphytic biomass) algae. Periphyton affects macrophyte production especially in spring and in the upper water layers even in a mesotrophic water body. This increases the importance of the light absorbed through the abaxial side of the leaf and confirm the role of periphyton in transition from clear to turbid water states.     

氮及氮磷比对附着藻类及浮游藻类的影响

2005年5月至11月,在河北省YH水库选取5个具有代表性的样点,进行了微囊藻毒素-LR的调查,同时,测定了相应各样点的TN,TP,NH4-N,NO3-N和PO4-P.结果显示,水库中微囊藻毒素-LR(MC-LR)随季节发生变化,其中,7-10月期间相对较高,且大部分超过了生活饮用水地表水标准限值(1 μg/L);MC-LR与水体中的N、P之间的相互关系表明,5-7月期间,水库MC-LR与TP呈正相关,与NH4-N和TN/TP呈负相关;8-9月期间,水库中TP逐渐降低,但其它降低速率低于TN,造成TN/TP明显降低,MC-LR与TP和TN/TP呈正相关,与NH4-N呈负相关;10-11月期间,大量藻细胞死亡,释放到水体中MC-LR也逐渐下降,这时,大量外源营养盐也进入水库,造成微囊藻毒素-LR的变化与TN、NH4-N、NO3-N呈显著或极显著负相关.这说明在不同季节下,微囊藻毒素-LR与营养盐的关系不同,必须视实际情况而定.     

铜绿微囊藻在竞争生长条件下对氧化还原电位降低的响应

在室内研究了有、无伊乐藻存在条件下,不同水平的氮及氮磷比(N/P)对实验体系中附着藻类和浮游藻类生长的影响,结果表明:1)在有沉水植物的体系中,当氮浓度较高时(5 mg/L),浮游藻类对N/P的变化比附着藻类更为敏感;而当氮浓度较低时(2 mg/L),浮游藻类与附着藻类对N/P的响应则没有显著的差异;2)在有沉水植物的体系中,当N/P为15时,随水体中氮浓度的升高,附着藻类的生物量显著增加,但浮游藻类的变化不显著.当N/P为25时,随水体中氮浓度的升高,浮游藻类及附着藻类的生物量均显著升高;3)附着藻类的生物量在无沉水植物(伊乐藻)存在的情况下要比有沉水植物(伊乐藻)存在时高得多,且随氮浓度升高,其生物量的增加量也远高于后者.而对浮游藻类而言,情况则完全相反.     

Controls on spatial and temporal variations in sand delivery to salmonid spawning riffles

Fine sediment infiltration into gravel interstices is known to be detrimental to incubating salmonid embryos. Infiltration into spawning riffles can show large spatial variations at the scale of a morphological unit and over time, with significant implications for embryo survival. Furthermore, some process‐based infiltration studies, and incubation‐to‐emergence models assume that fines are delivered to redds via suspension rather than bedload. This process‐based 12‐month study examined spatial patterns of predominantly sand infiltration into gravels in an upland trout stream, using infiltration baskets. An assessment of Rouse numbers for infiltrated sand indicated that it was transported predominantly as bedload at flow peaks. Clear temporal and spatial patterns existed, with highest rates of infiltration strongly associated with higher discharges (r² = 0.7, p < .05). Seasonal variations in the delivery of different grain sizes were also a feature, with enhanced contributions of 0.5–2 mm sediment during elevated winter flows and 0.125–0.5 mm sediment during spring and summer; the latter is potentially harmful to the later stages of embryo incubation. Clear spatial patterns were also evident across riffles, with highest rates of infiltration tending to occur in areas of lower relative roughness—the areas competent to transport sand for longer periods. Incubation‐to‐emergence models should take into consideration spatial patterns of fine sediment dynamics at the pool–riffle scale, to improve prediction.     

The Impact of Snail (Bellamya aeruginosa) Bioturbation on Sediment Characteristics and Organic Carbon Fluxes in an Eutrophic Pond

A mesocosm experiment was conducted for 32 days in an eutrophic pond to study the effects of the bioturbation of the freshwater snail, Bellamya aeruginosa, on the benthic environment and to further understand cycling of organic carbon in water containing algal blooms. Chlorophyll‐a (chl‐a), phaeopigment, and organic matter contents of sediment, sediment oxygen consumption (SOC), and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) fluxes were determined on day 1, 16, and 32, respectively. The SOC decreased on day 16 and increased on day 32 significantly with the increase in snail density. DOC fluxes showed a net sediment uptake in all enclosures throughout the experiment. DOC fluxes in the high and mid density treatments were lower than those of the control. The concentrations of chl‐a and phaeopigment in the sediment increased significantly with snail density, indicating that the presence of snails reduced the biomass of phytoplankton. The results suggest that freshwater snails, B. aeruginosa, could influence the algal biomass (chl‐a) of small water bodies by their bioturbation effects on sediment characteristics and the fluxes of organic carbon.     

磷在"沉积物-自然生物膜-上覆水"三相体系中的迁移转化

地表水体中沉积物表面通常会附着一层自然生物膜,对上覆水-沉积物界面化学物质的迁移转化有着重要的影响.以往研究往往会忽略这一生物层面,因而,开展磷在"沉积物-自然生物膜-上覆水"三相界面之间的迁移转化研究具有重要的实际意义.以软性填料表面形成的自然生物膜模拟沉积物表层以及悬浮颗粒物表层的自然生物膜,开展磷在沉积物-自然生物膜-上覆水之间的迁移转化过程研究.结果表明:有无曝气情况下,自然生物膜界面的存在均能够显著降低上覆水中总磷、溶解态总磷、溶解态无机磷的含量,明显抑制沉积物中可交换态磷向上覆水释放.研究证明自然生物膜在水体磷的迁移转化中起着不可忽视的作用,在研究沉积物-上覆水界面之间磷的迁移转化行为时,要充分考虑自然生物膜界面的存在.     

Hypoxia impairs embryo development and survival in black bream (Acanthopagrus butcheri)

Coastal environments are threatened by the increasing frequency, extent and severity of hypoxic events. Hypoxia affects vast areas around the world and often causes fish kills, reduced abundance, altered distribution, low benthic biomass and declines in fisheries. In Australia, many fisheries are based on sparid fishes and in the southern states black bream (Acanthopagrus butcheri) is important to both the recreational and commercial sectors. This species completes its entire life cycle in estuaries and annual recruitment is highly variable and very likely influenced by environmental conditions during the spawning season.In a laboratory-based experiment, fertilised black bream eggs (embryos) were exposed to five different levels of dissolved oxygen (DO). The DO levels were maintained in small test wells using nitrogen gas in a novel chamber design. Embryo development was assessed over a 2-day period and hatched larvae were observed until Day 2 post-hatch. Significant differences (p < 0.05) were observed in embryonic development and survival as a function of DO level. In severely hypoxic conditions (30% saturation) survival to 1 day was reduced and no hatching occurred. In moderately hypoxic conditions (45–55%S), both precocious and delayed hatching was observed and hatch rates were reduced, whilst the number of hatched larvae with deformities increased, resulting in reduced larval lengths. No larvae survived to Day 2 post-hatch when held in hypoxic conditions (<55%S). This study demonstrates the detrimental effect that severe hypoxia can have on the early development of black bream which could result in reduced recruitment and lowered abundance. Other species that share similar early life histories may also be at risk.     

Effect of prolonged hypoxia on food consumption, respiration, growth and reproduction in marine scavenging gastropod Nassarius festivus

The effects of prolonged exposure to reduced oxygen levels (3.0 and 1.5 mg O₂ l⁻¹) on marine scavenging gastropods Nassarius festivus were studied for 8 weeks. The percentages of individuals engaged in feeding and amount of food consumed were reduced as oxygen level decreased; absorption efficiency, however, did not vary significantly with oxygen level. Oxygen consumption rates and specific oxygen consumption rates were lower at reduced oxygen levels. Reproduction occurred at all oxygen levels with less egg capsules being produced at lower oxygen levels. Egg size and number of eggs per capsule, however, were not significantly affected by oxygen level. The increase in shell length was 12%, 6% and 5% at 6.0 mg O₂ l⁻¹ (normoxia), 3.0 mg O₂ l⁻¹ and 1.5 mg O₂ l⁻¹, respectively. At the end of the experiment, the amount of energy allocated to growth and reproduction decreased at reduced oxygen levels with values obtained at 3.0 mg O₂ l⁻¹ and 1.5 mg O₂ l⁻¹ being 48% and 70% lower than those at 6.0 mg O₂ l⁻¹. At all oxygen levels, most of the accumulated energy was allocated to shell growth and reproduction, and the amount allocated to somatic growth was relatively insignificant. The reduction in energy allocated to reproduction was greater than that to shell growth as the oxygen level was reduced, indicating a strategic energy allocation of marine scavengers under stressful conditions to enhance survival.     

Der Aufwuchs im Längsschnitt der Talsperre Saidenbach

The structure of periphyton or “Aufwuchs” communities is sensitive to environmental conditions. It was proposed that periphyton biomass might similarly reflect differences in measured chemical variables between 5 sampling stations in the Saidenbach reservoir. Longitudinal gradients of periphyton biomass could be shown.     

Perchlorate accumulation and migration in the deep vadose zone in a semiarid region

For 25 years, a plant in Israel manufacturing ammonium perchlorate disposed of untreated wastewater in four unlined ponds. This study explores the transport mechanisms of perchlorate infiltrated from 1965 to 1990 from one of these active storage ponds into a deep (40 m) layered vadose zone and the underlying Israeli coastal aquifer. Perchlorate migration from 1990, when wastewater disposal ceased, until today, with infiltration due only to natural rain (500 mm y⁻¹), was also studied. Several indirect methods were used, including: mass balance in the unsaturated zone profile, δ¹⁸O and δ²H profiles below the pond, and a comparison of the same sediment profiles in 2005 and 2007. The isotopic composition of the pore water could be divided into two separate groups: lighter (depleted) and heavier (enriched) samples. All samples in the lighter group were from the shallow vadose zone, above two clayey layers, and represent natural infiltration of rainwater. The enriched samples were from the deeper section of the unsaturated zone (20–40 m) and represent water used for perchlorate manufacturing 14 years prior to drilling. Consequently, the overall maximum infiltration rate was estimated to be 1.4 m y⁻¹. Below the clayey layer almost identical perchlorate concentrations were found along the sediment profile in 2005 and 2007 (two boreholes, 3 m apart). Very different perchlorate profiles were observed above the clayey layers. This suggests that perchlorate below the clay layers (20–40 m) is practically stagnant under the current natural conditions. The reduction in perchlorate concentration in groundwater below the ponds vs. its increased concentration further downgradient supports the contention that the current migration of perchlorate from the vadose zone to the groundwater is very small. We estimate that perchlorate concentration in the groundwater under the infiltration pond, which was 187 mg l⁻¹ in 2004, will reach 10 μg l⁻¹ within about 14 years. The existence of a clayey layer crossing the thick vadose zone was thus found to significantly change the infiltration rate when ponded conditions were replaced with natural precipitation.     

The sedimentation of salmonid spawning gravels in the Hampshire Avon catchment,UK: implications for the dissolved oxygen content of intragravel water and embryo survival

The accumulation of sediment within salmonid redd gravels can have a detrimental impact on the development of salmonid embryos; therefore, redd sedimentation represents a potential limiting factor for salmonid reproduction. The links between redd sedimentation, the dissolved oxygen content of intragravel water and salmonid embryo survival within the upper and middle parts of the Hampshire Avon catchment in southern England are explored. Measurements of surface and intragravel water quality and redd properties were undertaken for artificial redds constructed at known spawning sites. Salmonid embryos were also planted into artificial redds adjacent to the monitoring equipment. The rate of sedimentation of the newly cleaned redd gravels demonstrated a non‐linear decrease over time, which is attributed to a particle‐size‐selective depositional process. The results of the study confirm that low embryo survival and low dissolved oxygen concentrations in intragravel water can be attributed to the accumulation of sediment within the redd gravels. This was found to produce a reduction in redd permeability, which limited the interchange of surface and intragravel water and, therefore, the supply of dissolved oxygen to the intragravel environment. In view of the diminished status of salmonids within many of the UK's chalk rivers and streams, the results highlight the need for management initiatives aimed at reducing redd sedimentation and thereby optimizing salmonid embryo incubation success. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Hypoxia impairs embryo development and survival in black bream (Acanthopagrus butcheri)

Coastal environments are threatened by the increasing frequency, extent and severity of hypoxic events. Hypoxia affects vast areas around the world and often causes fish kills, reduced abundance, altered distribution, low benthic biomass and declines in fisheries. In Australia, many fisheries are based on sparid fishes and in the southern states black bream (Acanthopagrus butcheri) is important to both the recreational and commercial sectors. This species completes its entire life cycle in estuaries and annual recruitment is highly variable and very likely influenced by environmental conditions during the spawning season.In a laboratory-based experiment, fertilised black bream eggs (embryos) were exposed to five different levels of dissolved oxygen (DO). The DO levels were maintained in small test wells using nitrogen gas in a novel chamber design. Embryo development was assessed over a 2-day period and hatched larvae were observed until Day 2 post-hatch. Significant differences (p < 0.05) were observed in embryonic development and survival as a function of DO level. In severely hypoxic conditions (30% saturation) survival to 1 day was reduced and no hatching occurred. In moderately hypoxic conditions (45–55%S), both precocious and delayed hatching was observed and hatch rates were reduced, whilst the number of hatched larvae with deformities increased, resulting in reduced larval lengths. No larvae survived to Day 2 post-hatch when held in hypoxic conditions (<55%S). This study demonstrates the detrimental effect that severe hypoxia can have on the early development of black bream which could result in reduced recruitment and lowered abundance. Other species that share similar early life histories may also be at risk.     

沉水植物苦草(Vallisneria natans)对沉积物中磷赋存形态的影响

湖泊富营养化是世界面临的重大环境问题,磷在沉积物-水界面的循环在富营养化过程中起关键作用,因此,研究沉水植物对沉积物-水界面磷循环的作用及其机理具重要的理论和实践意义.本实验通过在水泥池中(4.0 m×7.0 m×1.5 m)种植苦草(Vallisneria natans),并采用定期更换原位上覆水的方式模拟自然状态下的水体交换,研究了沉水植物苦草从定植到生长末期沉积物中不同形态磷含量的变化,以期揭示期间苦草对沉积物中磷赋存形态的影响.结果表明,本实验条件下苦草经历了两个生长阶段,在约1个月的快速生长期内能显著降低沉积物中的总磷(TP)含量,TP含量降低了78.79 mg/kg,其中有机磷(Org-P)含量降低49.99 mg/kg,对TP降低的贡献度为62.67%,而钙结合态磷(Ca-P)比对照组减少2.20%,因此,苦草可能主要通过促进Org-P的矿化向水柱和间隙水中释放磷的方式降低沉积物中TP含量,其次苦草可促进Ca-P的分解;此外,苦草为满足植株生长,所吸收的沉积物铁结合态磷(Fe-P)和铝结合态磷(Al-P)分别为2.99和4.10 mg/kg,但苦草对沉积物中闭蓄态磷(Oc-P)含量没有显著影响.在缓慢生长阶段,苦草促进有机物的沉降以及Fe-P和Oc-P的形成,Fe-P和Oc-P含量分别增加14.82和101.53 mg/kg.苦草对Al-P的形成也略有促进作用,其含量升高7.39%.研究结果表明,苦草在不同生长阶段对沉积物中磷形态的转化以及各形态磷的迁移方向具有不同的影响.在快速生长期苦草转化吸收高活性磷,将其固定到植株体内;缓慢生长阶段则促进水体中的磷转化成沉积物中难分解态的磷,对磷的沉降表现出积极促进作用.     

人工载体理化性状对附着生物水质修复能力的影响

附着生物初级生产力、叶绿素a含量和碱性磷酸酶活性能够指示其对水质的净化能力.本实验选择了5种具有不同表面结构和理化特性的人工载体(载玻片、PVC片、软性载体、组合载体和立体载体),野外原位测定了不同人工载体上附着生物的初级生产力、叶绿素a含量及碱性磷酸酶活性.结果表明:人工载体的理化性状是影响其上附着生物群落稳定、生产力、叶绿素a含量和碱性磷酸酶活性的重要因素.在野外原位条件下,附着生物通常在8～10 d就可以达到最大附着量,此时,其初级生产力、叶绿素a含量和代谢活性等均处于最佳状态.在所选择的5种人工载体中,立体载体和软性载体上附着生物的初级生产力、叶绿素a含量及碱性磷酸酶活性均显著高于其他3种载体,其中立体载体上附着生物净初级生产力最高可达164.21 mgO2/(g.h),且与软性载体相比,立体载体价格相对经济,因此立体载体是一种比较理想的用于水质修复的人工载体.