Qualitative and quantitative aspects of the evolution of the planktonic populations in Lake Lugano

This study is a summary of all available information on the long-term and on the more recent development of the planktonic populations in Lago di Lugano with regard to its trophic evolution. The first effects of the lake eutrophication became manifest beginning in the 1950's and brought to important changes in the planktonic community as the appearance and the rapid increase of the filamentous algaeOscillatoria rubescens andStephanodiscus hantzschii, and the disappearance of the zooplanktonic Diaptomidae. Since 1980 the phosphorus concentration began to decrease in lake's epilimnion and the planktonic community showed a new composition, evidencing the presence of others predominant species:Oscillatoria redekei, Lyngbya limnetica, Stephanodiscus sp. (little form). Since 1989 algal standing crop reduced its value below 2 g m^–2 (dry weight); furthermore a strong decrease of the Cyanophceae and the appearance of new predominant species (Tabellaria fenestrata, div. Ulotrichales) occurred. At the same time an increase of the herbivorous zooplankton (Daphnia hyalina) and the come-back of the Diaptomidae was observed. Only in the northern basin a decrease tendency of the primary production was observed, changing from 480 to about 300 g C m^–2 yr^–1 during the last 10 years.     

Hydrodynamics of Lake Lugano

The hydrodynamic processes in the Lake of Lugano (Lago di Lugano) have been the object of three major measuring campaigns. The first during summer 1979 in the North Basin, the second in the autumn of 1984 in the South Basin and the last in 1989 again in the North Basin. It is expected that analysis of the collected data in conjunction with theoretical concepts will yield conclusive findings on the driving forces and hydrodynamics of the lake. Numerical models have been applied to the lake and the results have been compared to the measurements. Some models calculate the periods and distributions of amplitude, as well as surface velocities and internal seiches. Other models calculate wind-induced water circulation. Evidence is given to the peculiarities of the North Basin and the difficulties related with the depth-width ratio and with its deep chemical stratification.     

Past and present state of the ichthyofauna of Lake Lugano

The evolution of the ichthyofauna of Lake Lugano (Lago di Lugano) during the past 120 years is characterized by the introduction of eight new fish species and by the possibly natural addition of the blenny (Blennius fluviatilis) in recent years. Introduced Salmonids such as charr (Salvelinus alpinus) and whitefish (Coregonus sp.) have established strong populations during the first half of this century, but have declined drastically thereafter. Likewise, the population of the native shad (Alosa fallax lacustris) has diminished significantly. A hydroacoustic survey of the pelagic fish stock of Lake Lugano in 1989 revealed the presence of a dense bleak (Alburnus albidus) population at 0 to 14 m depth. No other fish were found to be present in the pelagic zone. Oxygen and temperature distributions seem to confine the bleak to the uppermost layer in summer. In winter, very few fish were located by echosounding. Growth of bleak and roach (Rutilus rubilio) was difficult to interpret since data for comparison are lacking. Growth of perch (Perca fluviatilis) in the littoral zone was found to be slower than in other eutrophic lakes, for no obvious reason. Possible ways of restructuring the pelagic fish community are discussed.     

Chemistry and trophic evolution of Lake Lugano in relation to nutrient budget

Chemical studies performed in the last 50 years on the northern and southern basins of Lago di Lugano are reviewed and discussed in relation to the phosphorus and nitrogen loads from the drainage area.Both basins became eutrophic in the fifties as a consequence of the dense population and industrial activity in the drainage area; the effect of these was aggravated by the meromictic condition of the layer below 100 m in the northern basin.The reduction of phosphorus loads in progress since 1976 has resulted in a significant improvement in the chemical and biological condition of the southern basin and the upper 100 m of water in the northern basin. On the other hand, the balance between dissolved oxygen and reducing substances in the northern basin is shifting toward a decrease of the net oxygen concentration, partly as a consequence of the unusually dry conditions of the last three years.A reduction in phosphorus load down to 18 and 22 t a^–1 in the northern and southern basins respectively is still necessary in order to reduce the lake phosphorus concentration to 30–35 µg O l^–1.     

The Fate of Chernobyl137Cs in Lake Lugano

A rapid removal of Chernobyl¹³⁷Cs from a number of large lakes has been previously reported. Our measurements of¹³⁷Cs in water, sediments and pore water in the mono- and meromictic basins of Lake Lugano (Lago di Lugano) reveal generally slower half-removal times of 1.2 and 6.7 yrs, respectively. In the seasonally anoxic southern basin, this is most probably related to an intensive recycling of¹³⁷Cs between water and sediments. In the permanently stratified northern basin the removal rate is much slower due to an important inventory build up in the deep anoxic part of the basin.     

The dynamic model Seemod applied to the Southern Basin of Lake Lugano

The dynamic model Seemod developed at the EAWAG (Imboden and Gächter, 1978) and modified by Bührer (Ambühl and Bührer, 1984), was adapted to the South Basin of the Lake of Lugano (Lago di Lugano). The model can predict the evolution of the state of the lake, described by the concentrations of dissolved phosphorus, dissolved oxygen particulate phosphorus and organic particulate carbon, in function of phosphorus load and taking into account physical and biochemical initial- and boundary conditions. The model parameters were chosen through measurements and calibrations by short runs. A 10-year-long simulation was done, starting from the data of 1980, and its results agree quite well with the measurements. Then some 15-year-long simulations were done, which corresponded to different scenarios related to a progressive linking up of sewage systems to water treatment plants. The model predicts that a satisfactory water quality level can only be reached by reducing the total phosphorus input to less than 25 t/a.     

The role of sediments in the phosphorus cycle in Lake Lugano. I. Geochemical approach

The bottom sediment from three coring stations in Lake Lugano (Lago di Lugano) show major differences in their role in the P-cycles related to their geochemistry and characteristics of sedimentation. In the northern basin, the deepest sediment may be considered practically inactive, due to a permanently reduced condition at the sediment-water interface. In the southern basin, the sediments are active with respect to P-recycling with strong seasonal variations. One of the sites (Figino) behaves as a sink for P due to a high iron content and an important rate of detrital sedimentation.     

Possibilities and limitations of lake restoration: Conclusions for Lake Lugano

In most lakes eutrophication is linked to an excessive input of phosphorus. Lake restoration by reduction of P-input (external measure) has led to a considerable drop of the P-concentration in all major Swiss lakes as well as in many other lakes. Internal restoration measures such as artificial mixing, drainage of hypolimnetic water, flushing, aeration, biomanipulation and others serve to improve and accelerate the response of a lake to external measures. For the case of Lago di Lugano, a simple two-box model is employed to demonstrate that a reduction of the P-input to about 25% of the present values is necessary to reach the P-criterion (P-concentration below 30 µg/l). Internal measures could possibly accelerate the extremely slow response of the northern basin.     

Aquatic system response to climatic and human changes: Productivity,bottom water oxygen status,and sapropel formation in Lake Lugano over the last 10 000 years

The Holocene record of Lake Lugano (southern basin: surface area 20.3 km², maximum depth 87 m) comprising organic carbon-rich sediments (sapropels), is divided into eight intervals based on radiocarbon- and varve-dating. The content of organic carbon, inorganic carbon, and biogenic silica, as well as the benthic remains of ostracods and oligochaetes, are converted into accumulation rates and benthic abundances in order to assess past production rates and bottom water oxygen status, respectively. The results suggest three periods of distinct palaeolimnological character: (i) low primary production combined with shifts between aerobic and anaerobic profundal conditions (prior to ca. 3000 BC), (ii) moderate rates of production combined with a relatively high profundal oxygen content (after ca. 1500 BC), and (iii), high production rates (460 g C m^–2 a^–1) combined with anaerobic profundal conditions (present eutrophic state). Corresponding organic carbon contents in the sediments are: up to 5% (i), 4% (ii), and 8% (iii). Until the beginning of this century, the flux of autochthonous sediments to the lake floor correlated with the fluctuations in the allochthonous sediment accumulation rate, indicating that catchment erosion largely controlled lacustrine production during the Holocene history of Lake Lugano. Pollen data show catchment-vegetational transformations at ca. 3500 BC (change from fir to beech forests), at 1400 BC (onset of cereal vegetation) and at ca. A.D. 450 (strong increase in various cultural plants). The first two changes had a relatively large imprint on lacustrine sedimentation. At ca. 3500 BP, erosion increase in the catchment was triggered by vegetation changes in the mountain zone above ca. 1000 m a. s. l., which may have been induced by climatic and human alteration (drop in the treeline altitude). Maximum catchment erosion occurred at ca. 1400 BC which was clearly dominated by human cultivation during the Bronze Age. More oxygenated profundal conditions in the lake after ca. 3000 BC are possibly related to a better mixing of the lake waters during the winter season by increased wind activity.     

Density structure and tritium-helium age of deep hypolimnetic water in the northern basin of Lake Lugano

Long-term stratification of the deep hypolimnetic waters of the northern basin of Lake Lugano (Lago di Lugano) has resulted in a lack of deep-water renewal which has persisted for decades. Tritium-helium age measurements reveal that deep water has not been in contact with the atmosphere since the 1960s. Higher primary production associated with the significant increase in phosphorus concentration which occurred at this time resulted in greater autochthonous gross sedimentation rates, increasing the rate of mineralization and, consequently, the rate of release of dissolved solids (mainly HCO ₃ ^- and Ca²⁺) into the deep hypolimnion. This gave rise to an intensification of the stratification and to a consequent reduction in the vertical exchange of hypolimnetic water layers. Today, the density stabilizing effect of ion release due to mineralization in the deep water is four to five times greater than the destabilizing effect of the geothermal heat flux from the earth's interior. It is known from laboratory experiments that such small density gradient ratios are likely to give rise to double-diffusive instabilities. However, even rudimentary mass balance calculations of biogeochemical components indicate that shear-induced turbulence, most likely generated by bottom currents, mixes far more efficiently than double diffusion. In the future, the biogenic density stratification is likely to persist in the deep water, unless the upward ion flux, driven by primary production, decreases by a factor of four to five.     

Seasonal changes of microbial populations in the sediments of the basins of Lugano and Agno

This research was carried out with the aim to explore the heterotrophic microbial population of two sediments in different oxic conditions of the Lake of Lugano (Lago di Lugano). The values of the viable bacterial counts found in our sediment samples were typical for an eutrophic lake.The increase in the proportion of anaerobic to aerobic bacteria at 30 °C observed in the sediment samples of Agno may reflect the depletion of oxygen concentrations in the water column.The generaAeromonas, Pseudomonas, Bacillus andClostridium, as well as strains belonging to the Coryneform-group, represented the major taxonomic groups of heterotrophic bacterial communities in the water-sediment interface.     

贝加尔湖的污染与富营养化

The long term systematic investigations of ion composition components (bicarbonates, chlorides, sulphates, magnesium, calcium, sodium, potassium) and trophic status components (suspension, chlorophyll-a, mineral and organic forms phosphorus and nitrogen, carbon, silica) of water from the lake proper, its tributaries and atmospheric precipitation, which make up the main share of substance supply in to the lake, as well as the Angara river, being the source of substance discharge allowed the lake recent state to be evaluated in terms of both chemical pollution and possible eutrophication of its water. The similar (in terms of river runojf) periods of 50-ies and 80-ies have been compared. It was revealed that as a result of industrial activity 409 thousand tons of mineral substances (27.2 thousand tons of chlorides, 162 thousand tons of sulphates and over 200 thousand tons of organic substances) are supplied in the lake annually. The supply of substances of the anthropogenic origin is higher for the South Baikal than that for the North and Middle Baikal (the sum of mineral substances in 3.6 times; sulphates in 5 times, organic substances, including hydrocarbons in 7 times).The absence of abundant phytoplankton in the period studied when the ratio of silica to phosphorus is optimum (over 100), as well as a revers correlation between winter nitrogen content and spring of chlorophyll-a concentration in the Baikal water and revers dependence between the suspension and chlorophyll-a along the Selenga river valley lead to the conclusion that Baikal water contains toxicants. It is verified by the presence of polychlorbiphenyls (PCB), poly-chlordibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDD) and dibenzofurans (PCDF) for the whole food web with the maximum PCDD/PCDF (TEQ to 175 P g · g^-1) concentration in the seal blubber. The levels are comparable with those reported for ringed seal (phoca hispida), living in the Baltic sea and Bar-row Strait Inlet in the Canadian Arctic.     

太湖贡湖湾虾类种类组成与时空分布特征

分别于2005年4月、7月、10月利用蹦网对贡湖湾虾类种类组成和时空分布进行调查.共采集到虾类9605尾,属于2科3属5种,分别是秀丽白虾(Exopalaemon modestus)、日本沼虾(Macrobrachium nipponense)、锯齿新米虾中华亚种(Neocaridina denticulata sin...     

岱海水体及沉积物细菌多样性及群落组成特征

采用高通量测序技术,研究了内蒙古岱海流域入湖河流、湖水及沉积物细菌多样性及群落组成.结果显示,细菌多样性从高到低依次为：沉积物>河流>湖泊.聚类分析表明入湖河流、湖水和沉积物细菌群落可分为明显不同的3支,说明这3种生境中细菌群落结构有较大差异.物种注释结果表明,河流中优势细菌菌群为髌骨细菌(Patescibacteria)、变形菌门(Proteobacteria)、拟杆菌门(Bacteroidetes)和放线菌门(Actinobacteria);湖水中优势细菌菌群为放线菌门(Actinobacteria);而沉积物中优势细菌菌群为变形菌门和绿弯菌门(Chloroflexi).典范对应分析及Monte Carlo检验表明,电导率和悬浮物含量对水体中(河流与湖泊)细菌群落影响显著,二者共解释了细菌群落变化的86.5%;而冗余分析及Monte Carlo检验表明,泥深、磁化率和总有机碳对沉积物中细菌群落影响显著,三者共解释了细菌群落变化的47.9%.近30年来,岱海地区气候变化和人类活动导致湖水咸化,沉积物碳氮指标显著增长.岱海水体及沉积物细菌多样性及群落组成的差异及其主要驱动因...     

山西晋阳湖浮游藻类分布的时空格局及水质分析

对山西晋阳湖的浮游藻类进行了研究,共发现156种及11变种,隶属于5门,25科,67属.其中以绿藻门种类最多,达29属57种4变种;硅藻门次之,17属34种6变种;蓝藻门和裸藻门分别为15属32种1变种和5属31种,黄藻门最少,只有1属2种.秋季浮游藻类种类最多,冬季最少.浮游藻类细胞密度变化范围为2.84×10~6-2.30×10~9 cells/L,平均细胞密度为4.86×10~8 cells/L.每个季节水体的浮游植物细胞密度均已达到富营养化水平.多样性指数、均匀度指数均较低,而优势度很高,说明水体处于富营养状态,污染严重.     

巢湖柱状沉积物中甘油二烷基甘油四醚脂(GDGTs)的组成特征

甘油二烷基甘油四醚脂(GDGTs)是目前生物地球化学研究的热点之一.与GDGTs有关的指标已成功地应用在海洋环境中有关来源判识和古环境古气候重建的研究,但是在湖泊环境中的应用目前还比较有限.通过开展巢湖柱状沉积物中GDGTs的组成测定,为GDGTs类脂分子标志物在湖泊系统中的应用提供依据.研究表明由柱状沉积物中支链GDGTs参数计算得到的量化结果与巢湖周围流域的环境温度、pH等历史记录能较好地吻合;柱状沉积物中类异戊二烯类GDGTs来源的不确定性可能是造成TEX_(86)指标的量化结果和实际的水体温度出现较大偏差的重要原因.另外,沉积物中GDGTs指标和TOC、C/N、δ~(13)C_(org)、δ~(15)N等传统湖泊总体有机质参数以及其它分子标志物指标相比,具有高分辨性和抗干扰等特点.因此,湖泊中GDGTs有望成为湖泊古气候和古环境重建的重要指标.     

The role of sediments in the phosphorus cycle in Lake Lugano. II. Seasonal and spatial variability of microbiological processes at the sediment-water interface

P, Fe, Mn, and S species were analyzed in water samples from the sediment-water interface collected at four seasonally different times during the course of a year at two sampling sites in the southern basin of Lake Lugano (Lago di Lugano). The results reveal the strong influence of the biogeochemical processes in the sediment on the chemical composition of the lake water above. Consumption of oxygen and nitrate under oxic to microoxic conditions in the water column as well as sequential release of reduced manganese and iron under anoxic conditions was observed as a direct or indirect consequence of microbially mediated degradation of organic matter. The seasonal pattern observed for the release and the retainment of dissolved reduced iron and manganese correlates well with the one for dissolved phosphate. Iron, manganese and phosphorus cycling are coupled tightly in these sediments. Both sediment types act as sinks for hydrogen sulfide and sulfate. An inner-sedimentary sulfur cycle is proposed to couple iron, manganese and phosphorus cycling with the degradation of organic matter. Nutrient cycling at the sediment-water interface might thus be driven by a microbially regulated electron pumping mechanism. The results contribute to a better understanding of the role of sediment processes in the lake's internal phosphorus cycle and its seasonal dynamics.     

乌梁素海沉积物腐殖质的组成及分布特征

以乌梁素海为研究对象,应用化学方法对乌梁素海湖泊表层沉积物有机质含量、腐殖质组成、影响腐殖质的环境因子及腐殖化程度进行了研究,结果表明:乌梁素海表层沉积物有机质含量变化范围为1.06%~5.38%.有机质分布特征与表层沉积物所处的水力条件、水生植物分布、人为活动有关;腐殖质组成中,胡敏酸含量为0.65~2.78 g/kg,富里酸含量为2.19~8.72 g/kg,胡敏素是主体,含量在3.28~20.92 g/kg之间;腐殖质与环境因子的相关性分析中,各组分含量与有机质含量呈极显著相关.pH值与胡敏素含量呈显著负相关.溶解氧与富里酸、胡敏素含量分别呈极显著正相关、显著正相关.腐殖化程度分析中,随着有机质含量的上升,可提取腐殖质的相对含量下降.PQ值介于9.50%~27.06%之间,平均值为21.47%,变异较大,且腐殖化程度较低.     

五里湖底质条件与水生高等植物的适应性研究

在五里湖富营养化过程中,氮、磷及有机物质在湖底沉积物中大量积累。在夏季高温、高水位期。底泥中因有机物分解耗氧强烈和溶解氧补给受阻而发生缺氧。挺水植物和浮叶植物均能适应这种底质条件;在水温低于30C或水深小于1m的情况下,五里湖的底质条件对沉水植物生长十分有利;但在夏季,当水温超过30C且水深远大于1m时,底泥和底层湖水中的厌氧环境会引起沉水植物烂根,故沉水植物无法在五里湖渡过夏季,成为重建水生植被的障碍。适当降低水位,开挖湖心区底泥,在沿岸带堆积造成人工浅滩,可以创造出适合水生植物生长的生境条件。