Effects of FPOM size and quality on aquatic heterotrophic bacteria

Mechanical and biological processing in aquatic systems converts coarse particulate organic matter (CPOM) into fine particulate organic matter (FPOM). Other sources of particles with different size classes include flocculated dissolved matter, algae and soil particles. The relative magnitudes of these inputs are influenced by the degree of allochthony of a lake or stream. The size-reactivity hypothesis, formulated for dissolved organic matter, postulates that bacterial degradation rates are higher with high-molecular-weight fractions than with low-molecular-weight fractions. In this study, we investigated the effect of particle size on degradation of POM and on freshwater bacterial communities. We generated leaf-derived particle size classes of the same age (same diagenesis status) but differing in quality (maple and beech leaves). Contrary to our expectations, we found a strong effect of particle size and no significant effect of substrate quality on community respiration which decreased at smaller particle size, on C:N ratios which declined with particle size, and on δ¹⁵ N which showed a decreasing trend (though not significant) at smaller particle size in beech leaves. By contrast, bacterial community structure and ∂¹³C values responded mainly to particle quality. Bacterial biomass, estimated by qPCR, was affected by complex interactions between particle size and quality. These findings open an unanticipated perspective on the size-reactivity hypothesis for particulate organic matter.     

Characterization of transboundary POP contamination in aquatic ecosystems of Pearl River delta

During the past two decades, the rapid development of the Pearl River delta leads to substantial accumulation of various toxic organic compounds. This study aims to give a preliminary characterization of the existing state of contamination in this region and to provide insight into the possible fate of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in this estuary. The available data on POPs in water, river, estuarine sediments, soil, and marine organisms within the Pearl River delta are compiled. It is shown that it may lead to transboundary POP pollution problems at both Hong Kong and Macau Special Administration Regions located at the downstream end of the region. It is noted that the levels of DDTs and HCHs in various environmental media are at alerting levels and that fresh DDT might still be applied illegally within the region. A systematic research is required to determine both the temporal and spatial variations of all POPs in various carrying media of the Pearl River delta as a whole.     

Saisonales Vorkommen von Arten der Saprolegniales und Leptomitales im Auesee und in der Fulda in Kassel (Hessen) unter Berücksichtigung fischpathogener Arten

Seasonal Occurrence of Species of Saprolegniales and Leptomitales in Lake Aue and the River Fulda in Kassel (Hesse) with Special Consideration of Fish Pathogenic Species In this study, we examined the occurrence of species of aquatic Oomycetes of Saprolegniales und Leptomitales in Lake Aue and the river Fulda in Kassel (Hesse, Germany) with special consideration of fish pathogenic species. We monthly collected water samples of both water bodies from July 2003 to June 2004. The baiting method was used to gain an insight into the specific seasonal occurrence of aquatic Oomycetes. Some species show a seasonal periodicity. Nine of 11 species of Saprolegniales isolated from the two water bodies, and Leptomitus lacteus (Roth) C. Agardh, one of the two species of Leptomitales, were already documented on fish according to references. Additionally, 7 of 10 species could according to references already be detected on fish species present in the two water bodies. Simultaneous measurements of limnological‐chemical parameters were done during the sampling of water for the isolation of aquatic Oomycetes. The results of some measurements, concerning the river Fulda, were additionally compared with the predetermined guideline values and limit values of water bodies of fish of the “Cyprinid region”.     

Spatial Representation of Aquatic Vegetation by Macrofossils and Pollen in a Small and Shallow Lake

We have explored the contemporary spatial relationship between aquatic vegetation and surficial macrofossil and pollen remains in a small, shallow, English lake. A detailed point-based (n = 87) underwater vegetation survey was undertaken in the middle of the plant-growing season in July 2000. Then following plant die-back in November 2000, surface sediment samples (upper 1.5 cm) were collected from 30 of these plant survey points and analysed for plant macro-remains (all 30 samples), and pollen (4 evenly spaced samples). All data were stored as separate layers in a geographical information system and spatial relationships between the aquatic vegetation and plant remains were explored. In contrast to pollen types, plant macrofossils were not evenly dispersed across all parts of the lake and, with the exception of Chara oospores, higher concentrations of remains (particularly for Potamogeton) were found close to areas of source-plant dominance. The spatial pattern of macrophyte–macrofossil relationships revealed that vegetative remains (particularly leaf fragments) were probably deposited at source, whereas seeds were recovered close to the shore suggesting slightly wider dispersal. Overall, however, macro-remains best represented local ‘patch-scale’ vegetation within 20–30 m of the core site. The macro-remains effectively recorded the dominant plants in the lake with 63% of samples containing a combination of remains of Chara, Elodea, and Potamogeton. However, relationships between macrophytes and fossils were complex. Some species were significantly over-represented by macrofossils (e.g., Chara spp., Nitella flexilis agg., and Zannichellia palustris), while others were either under-represented (e.g., Potamogeton spp.), or not represented at all (e.g., Lemna trisulca). Pollen represented macrophyte diversity poorly, but some taxa were found (e.g., Myriophyllum spicatum, Ceratophyllum demersum) that were not recorded by macro-remains. We conclude that macrofossil analysis may be very usefully employed to determine the dominant taxa in past aquatic plant communities of shallow, productive lakes and that the addition of pollen analysis provides further information on former species richness.     

Mesocosm experiments for evaluating the biological efficacy of ozone treatment of marine ballast water

Ballast water is a major pathway for the transfer of non-indigenous species in aquatic environments. The objectives of this study were to determine the ability of ozone to reduce the numbers of a spectrum of marine organisms collected from Puget Sound, Washington in replicated mesocosm (280 l) experiments, and estimate the minimum ozone concentrations as measured by total residual oxidant (TRO) required to reduce organism densities. Ozone treatment was effective in removing bacteria, phytoplankton, and mesozooplankton with initial TRO concentrations of 2–5 mg l⁻¹ as Br₂. Persistence of TRO resulted in an extended period of toxicity and cumulative mortality. TRO decay allowed bacteria populations to multiply when TRO levels fell below 0.5–1.0 mg l⁻¹ as Br₂. Phytoplankton chlorophyll a concentrations were rapidly reduced by ozone treatment and did not increase in any treatments or controls because of lack of light. Overall mesozooplankton viability was rapidly reduced by 90–99% in treatment TRO levels above 1.85 mg l⁻¹ as Br₂. Our study outlines novel protocols that can be used for testing different potential ballast water treatment systems in replicated and controlled mesocosm experiments.     

黄淮海平原封丘试区水生植被

对封丘试区水生植被的研究表明:挺水植物的种类少,但其分布和生物量在该地区占有绝对优势。在本地区的两大代表水体中其生物量(鲜重)可达2.9×10~(?)kg和0.13×10~(?)kg。沉水植物的分布面积在其中一个主要水体(曹岗湖)分布较广,但其生物量仅为3.2×10~3kg(鲜重),其生长的制约因素是水体中过多的草食性鱼类和水体过低的透明度。对植被中的主要经济种类芦苇的生长研究得出了其生物量与时间、密度和均长之间关系的函数。     

High-levels of microplastic pollution in a large,remote, mountain lake

Despite the large and growing literature on microplastics in the ocean, little information exists on microplastics in freshwater systems. This study is the first to evaluate the abundance, distribution, and composition of pelagic microplastic pollution in a large, remote, mountain lake. We quantified pelagic microplastics and shoreline anthropogenic debris in Lake Hovsgol, Mongolia. With an average microplastic density of 20,264 particles km⁻², Lake Hovsgol is more heavily polluted with microplastics than the more developed Lakes Huron and Superior in the Laurentian Great Lakes. Fragments and films were the most abundant microplastic types; no plastic microbeads and few pellets were observed. Household plastics dominated the shoreline debris and were comprised largely of plastic bottles, fishing gear, and bags. Microplastic density decreased with distance from the southwestern shore, the most populated and accessible section of the park, and was distributed by the prevailing winds. These results demonstrate that without proper waste management, low-density populations can heavily pollute freshwater systems with consumer plastics.