Modelling sediment deposition and phosphorus retention in a river floodplain

Phosphorus (P) is one of the major limiting nutrient in many freshwater ecosystems. During the last decade, attention has been focused on the fluxes of suspended sediment and particulate P through freshwater drainage systems because of severe eutrophication effects in aquatic ecosystems. Hence, the analysis and prediction of phosphorus and sediment dynamics constitute an important element for ecological conservation and restoration of freshwater ecosystems. In that sense, the development of a suitable prediction model is justified, and the present work is devoted to the validation and application of a predictive soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) uptake and sedimentation models, to a real riparian system of the middle Ebro river floodplain. Both models are coupled to a fully distributed two‐dimensional shallow‐water flow numerical model. The SRP uptake model is validated using data from three field experiments. The model predictions show a good accuracy for SRP concentration, where the linear regressions between measured and calculated values of the three experiments were significant (r² ≥ 0.62; p ≤ 0.05), and a Nash–Sutcliffe coefficient (E) that ranged from 0.54 to 0.62. The sedimentation model is validated using field data collected during two real flooding events within the same river reach. The comparison between calculated and measured sediment depositions showed a significant linear regression (p ≤ 0.05; r² = 0.97) and an E that ranged from 0.63 to 0.78. Subsequently, the complete model that includes flow dynamics, solute transport, SRP uptake and sedimentation is used to simulate and analyse floodplain sediment deposition, river nutrient contribution and SRP uptake. According to this analysis, the main SRP uptake process appears to be the sediment sorption. The analysis also reveals the presence of a lateral gradient of hydrological connectivity that decreases with distance from the river and controls the river matter contribution to the floodplain. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Stormflow concentration–discharge dynamics of suspended sediment and dissolved phosphorus in an agricultural watershed

Concentration–discharge (C-Q) relationships are an effective tool for identifying watershed biogeochemical source and transport dynamics over short and long timescales. We examined stormflow C-Q, hysteresis, and flushing patterns of total suspended sediment (TSS) and soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) in two stream reaches of a severely impaired agricultural watershed in northeastern Wisconsin, USA. The upper watershed reach—draining a relatively flat, row crop-dominated contributing area—showed predominantly anti-clockwise TSS hysteresis during storms, suggesting that particulate materials were mobilized more from distal upland sources than near- and in-channel areas. In contrast, the incised lower watershed reach produced strong TSS flushing responses on the rising limb of storm hydrographs and clockwise hysteresis, signalling rapid mobilization of near- and in-channel materials with increasing event flows. C-Q relationships for SRP showed complex patterns in both the upper and lower reaches, demonstrating largely non-linear chemodynamic C-Q behaviour during events. As with TSS, anti-clockwise SRP hysteresis in the upper reach suggested a delay in the hydrologic connectivity between SRP sources and the stream, with highly variable SRP concentrations during some events. A broad range of clockwise, anti-clockwise, and complex SRP hysteresis patterns occurred in the lower watershed, possibly influenced by in-channel legacy P stores and connection to tile drainage networks in the lower watershed area. Total suspended sediment and SRP responses were also strongly related to precipitation event characteristics including antecedent precipitation, recovery period, and precipitation intensity, highlighting the complexity of stormflow sediment and phosphorus responses in this severely impaired agricultural stream.     

不同营养条件下铜绿微囊藻(Microcystis aeruginosa)和小球藻(Chlorella vulgaris)的生长竞争行为

蓝藻的暴发通常是藻类之间竞争的结果,了解环境中蓝藻与其它藻类的竞争特点和生存策略对揭示藻华暴发的机制及治理具有重要意义。本文以营养竞争为例,以铜绿微囊藻(Microcystis aeruginosa)和小球藻(Chlorella vulgaris)为受试对象,通过测定细胞密度、胞内C、N、P、S四种主要元素含量以及培养基中总氮(TN)、总磷(TP)的消耗,研究不同营养等级(超富营养、富营养、中营养、贫营养)以及单独N、P限制下两种藻在单独培养和共生培养条件下的生长特征和竞争行为。结果表明:(1)在超富营养、富营养、中营养、贫营养条件时,单独培养下的两种藻生物量与营养丰富程度呈正相关;(2)共培养条件下,在高营养水平时铜绿微囊藻在竞争中占优势,低营养水平时小球藻具有竞争优势;(3)胞内C、N、P、S的测定发现,随着营养水平的下降,两种藻胞内N、P的百分含量逐渐减少,而C、S并未呈现显著变化;(4)N限制时,铜绿微囊藻的半饱和常数Ks及最大比增长率μmax均大于小球藻;P限制条件下铜绿微囊藻的半饱和常数Ks小于小球藻,而最大比增长率μmax大于小球藻。综合分析,同一营养条件下,铜绿微囊藻竞争优势的先决因子是N,小球藻是P。因此,从营养竞争与生物适应力角度考虑,降低水体中富余的N或适当提高P的浓度可让小球藻获得竞争优势,对限制单一物种的形成具有平衡作用,可作为防治藻华的潜在方法。     

水库现代沉积过程沉积磷的早期成岩作用模型研究

在沉积磷形态分析、孔隙水化学、核素计年以及吸附解吸实验等的基础上,运用一维“反应-平流-扩散”模型,研究了红枫湖现代沉积过程中磷的沉积改造。结果表明:红枫湖现代沉积过程中,有机态磷的矿化分解和铁结合态磷的络合/溶解,是控制沉积物磷迁移转化动力学的主要机制。沉积物-水界面附近有机磷的快速降解,可能克服沉积界面上铁氧化物对溶解磷的吸附缓冲,而形成向水体的磷酸盐迁移通量;自生磷灰石的沉积改造相对不明显,沉积磷向稳定形态含磷矿物(钙氟磷灰石)的转化过程同样不能影响红枫湖现代沉积过程中磷转化的质量平衡。     

长江口和浙江近岸海域表层沉积物中颗粒磷的形态分布和影响因素

研究长江口和浙江近岸海域的水团流向、缺氧程度、潮汐作用以及养殖活动对表层沉积物中颗粒磷赋存形式的影响,对东海生态环境的可持续发展有着重要的意义。长江口以北和浙江近岸泥质区各存在一个缺氧中心,杭州湾属于强潮区,而象山港遍布养殖场。2018年8—9月在上述4个海域分别采集表层沉积物,采用SEDEX方法进行了颗粒磷的形态划分和含量测定。研究结果表明：在长江口外北部缺氧区和浙江近岸泥质区的南部缺氧区,由于沉积物-水界面的还原环境可以活化铁结合态磷,使之转变为生物可以直接利用的弱吸附态无机磷,因此表现出沉积物中铁结合态磷的低值和弱吸附态无机磷的高值;前者的缺氧程度高于后者,因此其铁结合态磷的含量相应更低。杭州湾和象山港海域均受潮汐作用影响,两者沉积物中磷的分布比较均匀。象山港表层沉积物中铁结合态磷含量均较低,这可能是因为养殖活动造成的水体缺氧通过潮汐活动扩散到整个港底。象山港废弃养殖场沉积物中的碎屑磷和残余有机磷含量显著低于非养殖区,可能是由于养殖活动累积的生物沉积稀释了陆源输入的碎屑颗粒。     

磷矿石中磷、钙、镁、锶、氟测定方法评述

本文系统分析了磷矿石高含量磷、钙、镁、锶、氟诸元素存在时对其测定的相互影响及其测定中存在的问题,比较全面地总结了国内分析工作者针对该问题,对诸难测元素在常规分析方法方面的工作进展。     

Water, organic matter, nitrogen and phosphorus contents in sediment of a large-scale mariculture area in the Zhelin Bay of eastern Guangdong Province, China

The Zhelin Bay is one of the most important bays for large-scale mariculture in Guangdong Province, China. Owing to the increasing human population and the expanding mariculture in the last two decades, the ecological environment has greatly changed with frequent harmful algal blooms. A monthly survey of water content, organic matter （TOM）, and various forms of nitrogen and phosphorous in sediment from July 2002 to July 2003 in the bay was conducted. The results showed that the water content was correlated significantly with TOM and various forms of nitrogen and phosphorus and can be used as proxy for quick and rough estimate of these factors in the future surveys. TOM was also correlated significantly with various forms of nitrogen and phosphorus, indicating that it was one of the key factors affecting the concentrations and distributions of nitrogen and phosphorus in the investigated waters. Average total Kjeldhal nitrogen （TkN） content was（ 1 113.1 ± 382.5）μg/g and average total phosphorus （TP） content was（567.2± 223.3）μg/g, and both were much higher than those of similar estuaries in China and elsewhere. Average nitrogen and phosphorus tended to be higher inside than outside the bay, higher at aquaculture than non-aquaculture areas, and higher at fish-cage culture than oyster culture areas, suggesting that large-scale mariculture inside the bay played an important role in the eutrophication of the Zhelin Bay. Various forms of nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations were higher during the warm season （July--September）, which was due to the increased decomposition and concentration of organic matter resulted from the fast growth and high mortality of the cultured species. Compared with July 2002, TkN and TP contents were much higher in July 2003, in consonance with the eutrophication of the Zhelin Bay. Because exchangeable phosphorus （Ex-P）, iron-bounded phos- phorus （Fe-P） and organic phosphorus （OP） combined accounted for 34.3% of the TP and authigenic phosphorus （Au-P     

Modelling and mass balance assessments of nutrient retention in a seasonally-flowing estuary (Swan River Estuary,Western Australia)

An integrated mass balance and modelling approach for analysis of estuarine nutrient fluxes is demonstrated in the Swan River Estuary, a microtidal system with strong hydrological dependence on seasonal river inflows. Mass balance components included estimation of gauged and ungauged inputs to the estuary and losses to the ocean (outflow and tidal exchange). Modelling components included estimation of atmospheric (N fixation, denitrification) and sediment–water column nutrient exchanges. Gross and net denitrification derived using two independent methods were significantly correlated (r² = 0.49, p < 0.01) with net rates averaging 40% of gross. Annual nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) loads from major tributaries were linearly correlated with annual freshwater discharge and were 3-fold higher in wet years than in dry years. Urban drains and groundwater contributed, on average, 26% of N inputs and 19% of P inputs, with higher relative contributions in years of low river discharge. Overall, ungauged inputs accounted for almost 35% of total nitrogen loads. For N, elevated loading in wet years was accompanied by large increases in outflow (7x) and tidal flushing (2x) losses and resulted in overall lower retention efficiency (31%) relative to dry years (70%). For P, tidal flushing losses were similar in wet and dry years, while outflow losses (4-fold higher) were comparable in magnitude to increases in loading. As a result, P retention within the estuary was not substantially affected by inter-annual variation in water and P loading (ca. 50% in all years). Sediment nutrient stores increased in most years (remineralisation efficiency ca. 50%), but sediment nutrient releases were significant and in some circumstances were a net source of nutrients to the water column.     

Seasonal changes in nitrogen and phosphorus transport in the lower Changjiang River before the construction of the Three Gorges Dam

Water and sediment samples were collected at Datong from June 1998 to March 1999 to examine seasonal changes in the transports of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) from the Changjiang River (Yangtze River) to the East China Sea (ECS). Dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN; dominated by nitrate) concentration exhibited small seasonality, and DIN flux was largely controlled by water discharge. Dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP) concentration was inversely correlated with water discharge, and DIP was evenly delivered throughout a year. The transports of DIN and DIP from the Changjiang River were consistent with seasonal changes in nutrient distributions and P limitation in the Changjiang Estuary and the adjacent ECS. Dissolved organic and particulate N (DON and PN) and P (DOP and PP) varied parallel to water discharge, and were dominantly transported during a summer flood. The fluxes of DOP and particulate bioavailable P (PBAP) were 2.5 and 4 times that of DIP during this period, respectively. PBAP accounted for 12–16% of total particulate P (PP), and was positively correlated with the summation of adsorbed P, Al–P and Fe–P. Ca–P, the major fraction of PP, increased with increasing percent of CaCO₃. The remobilization of riverine DOP and PBAP likely accounted for the summer elevated primary production in DIP-depleted waters in the Changjiang Estuary and the adjacent ECS. The Changjiang River delivered approximately 6% of DIN (1459 × 10⁶ kg), 1% of DIP (12 × 10⁶ kg), and 2% of dissolved organic and particulate N and P to the totals of global rivers. The construction of the Three Gorges Dam might have substantially reduced the particulate nutrient loads, thereby augmenting P limitation in the Changjiang Estuary and ECS.     

Effects of diet and body size on phosphorus utilization of Liza haematocheila T. ＆ S.

A 21-d laboratory experiment was conducted to study, the phosphorus （P） utilization of two different diets by redlip mullet Liza haematocheila T. ＆ S. Sand-filtered water in salinity 30 and temperatare 25℃ was used. Twenty-nine fish individuals were divided into three groups： 11 to group 1 （G1） fed on diet 1, 11 to group 2 （G2） fed on diet 2, and 7 to contrast group. Diet 1 was a commercial feed, more valuable in nutrition than diet 2 that similar to natural detritus. The results show the intake phosphorus （IP） of G1 was significantly higher than that of G2, and both increased linearly with body size at a certain amount of diet. The retention phosphorus （RP） in fish of G1 was lower than G2. The relationship between retention phosphorus and body size was positive and stronger in G2. Significant difference in faecal phosphorus （FP） was found between G1 and G2. Body size significantly impacted the excretion phosphorus （EP） in G1 but G2. The loss of intake phosphorus in G1 was 10.83-20.27 mg per g fish weight gain, higher than that in G2 for 6.63-9.56. Of the phosphorus, about 10% was allocated into growth, 50% in faeces, and the rest lost in excretion. The main part of phosphorus was lost in faeces but excretion. The phosphorus budget of the fish could be described as 100IP = 7.40RP ＋ 47.39FP ＋ 36.63EP （Diet 1） or 100IP = 11.93RP ＋ 56.64FP ＋ 21.76EP （Diet 2）.