Dynamics of algae growth and nutrients in experimental enclosures culturing bighead carp and common carp:Phosphorus dynamics

This is the third paper of the series about “Dynamics of algae growth and nutrients in experimental enclosures culturing bighead carp and common carp”. In this paper, phosphorus dynamics were inves-tigated under the condition of culturing bighead carp and common carp with added fish food (nitrogen dynamics is discussed in the second paper because their behaviors are so different from each other). Nearly fifty days’ observation results indicated that the reservoir water was typical of “phosphorus limited” water, and soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) was the main constituent of measured total phosphorus (TP). The presence of fish food resulted in significantly higher SRP, dissolved total phos-phorus (DTP) and TP concentrations in contrast with the reservoir water. Moreover, continuous supply of fish food led to the decline of total nitrogen to total phosphorus (TN:TP) from more than 100 to less than 5. Variations in the ratio of TN to TP favored the growth of blue-green algae. Fish species affected phosphorus concentrations, and culturing bait-eating common carp contributed more to reducing the SRP, DTP and TP concentrations than culturing planktivorous bighead carp. 0.5%, 4.1%and 3.1%TP can be removed in enclosures with culturing bighead carp, common carp and mixed bighead carp and common carp, respectively. Abundant phosphorus in the fish culturing activities may be present as the uneaten food, algae cells, and within the water column and sediment, which should be taken into serious con-sideration for the target of future water eutrophication prevention and safety of the drinking water supply.     

Maintenance of estuarine water quality by mangroves occurs during flood periods: A case study of a subtropical mangrove wetland

Seasonal changes in water quality were measured in samples taken at various distances from shallow water across mudflat to mangroves during flood period and from mangroves across mudflat to shallow water during ebb period in a subtropical mangrove estuary (Zhangjiang Estuary, Fujian, China). The TN (total dissolved nitrogen), TP (total dissolved phosphorus), COD (chemical oxygen demand), and DOC (dissolved organic carbon) contents during the flood period were significantly higher than those during the ebb period. In contrast, the opposite was true for the POC (particulate organic carbon) content and transparency. The mangroves at Zhangjiang Estuary may trap nutrients at rates of 90.5 g N/m²/yr, 2.2 g TP/m²/yr, and 13.7 g C/m²/yr in the form of DOC, and export POC at a rate of 81.8 g/m²/yr. Our results support the hypothesis that the maintenance of estuarine water quality by mangroves occurs during flood periods.     

新丰江水库上游氮磷污染的时空变化

新丰江水库流域是广东省最大的饮用水源保护区,对东江下游和香港地区的用水安全有十分重要的作用,水质长期保持在国家地表水I类标准。但随着经济的发展,水库上游地区人类活动加剧,对水质和水量造成潜在威胁。通过2007、2008年对新丰江水库上游流域采样分析氮磷质量分数,发现总氮和总磷超过地表水Ⅱ类标准的采样点比例分别为48%和12%。与总磷相比,新丰江水库上游总氮的污染要更加严重,丰水期超标点明显少于枯水期,而枯水期氮-磷正相关关系较好（P＜0.000 1,R²＝0.868 3）,污染物可能为同一污染源或同期释放。空间上超标点多位于新丰、连平县城和大型城镇居民点如马头、忠信、灯塔镇附近,河流污染主要来自生活污水和养殖废水等人为点源污染。尽管目前新丰江水库库区的水质情况总体较好,但上游水质也存在恶化风险,可能导致水库自净能力降低,水体富营养化加剧,因此需要对新丰江水库上游的水质进行定期监测,通过控制内、外源性氮磷措施,以减少饮用水源安全风险和保证新丰江水库水质长期稳定。     

Phosphorus in suspended matter and sediments of a hypertrophic lake. A case study: Lake Dianchi,China

From June 2004 to December 2004, Lake Dianchi, which had large scale of cyanobacterial blooms was investigated in order to study P-fractionation in the suspended matter and the sediment. The investigation improves our understanding of phosphorus in Lake Dianchi and the relationship between phosphorus and cyanobacterial blooms. It contributes to the available literature on the behavior of P in hypertrophic lakes. The distribution of P-fractions in Lake Dianchi was not uniform from northwest to south, but was closely related to the trophic status of the whole lake. The concentrations of total phosphorus, labile P (NH₄Cl-P), Organic P (NaOH-NRP) and loss on ignition in suspended matter were positively correlated with the strength of cyanobacterial blooms. Total phosphorus in suspended matter was relatively stable for almost half an year and closely related to Chl. a concentration. The main content of organic phosphorus is in the cyanobacterial blooms. The concentrations of phosphorus bound to metal oxides and carbonates (NaOH-SRP and HCl-P) in sediment were similar to NaOH-SRP and HCl-P in the corresponding suspended matter. The latter two forms of P in suspended matter were not affected by cyanobacterial blooms, indicating that the inorganic phosphorus is derived from the sediment after resuspension from the sediment due to wind and wave action. The contribution of the different P-fractions to TP in sediment and in suspended matter indicates that NH₄Cl-P in the suspended matter is an important buffer for maintaining dissolved phosphorus in water.     

Coastal pollution due to increasing nutrient flux in aquaculture sites

The supply of nitrogen and phosphorus in coastal zones through time is reflected in the nutrients’ concentration in the sediment record. Five aquaculture sites in the Philippines were investigated in an effort to establish how long-term changes in land and coastal water use could have led to biogeochemical modifications affecting the coastal ecosystem. Samples from study sites show a narrow concentration range for nitrogen and did not reveal any significant trend through time. In contrast, phosphorus concentrations in most sites start at less than 20 ppm in sediments 30 years and older. The phosphorus value continuously increase in younger sediments, with each site having a different magnitude change as well as timing of when the major increase happened. The uppermost 10 cm, representing the last 15 years in sites with age control, typically show a 2- to 3-fold increase in P load values. Historical increase in nutrient load also coincides with harmful algal bloom events in each area; when effective P input exceeded 130 kg/km² per year. Lastly, the observed increase may be attributed to several factors including physical attributes of the area, urbanization of coastal zones, but most importantly in the proliferation of aquaculture activities.     

PSYCHIC – A process-based model of phosphorus and sediment mobilisation and delivery within agricultural catchments. Part 1: Model description and parameterisation

PSYCHIC is a process-based model of phosphorus (P) and suspended sediment (SS) mobilisation in land runoff and subsequent delivery to watercourses. Modelled transfer pathways include release of desorbable soil P, detachment of SS and associated particulate P, incidental losses from manure and fertiliser applications, losses from hard standings, the transport of all the above to watercourses in underdrainage (where present) and via surface pathways, and losses of dissolved P from point sources. The model can operate at two spatial scales, although the scientific core is the same in both cases. At catchment scale, the model uses easily available national scale datasets to infer all necessary input data whilst at field scale, the user is required to supply all necessary data. The model is sensitive to a number of crop and animal husbandry decisions, as well as to environmental factors such as soil type and field slope angle. It is envisaged that the catchment-scale model would provide the first tier of a catchment characterisation study, and would be used as a screening tool to identify areas within the catchment which may be at elevated risk of P loss. This would enable targeted data collection, involving farm visits and stakeholder discussion, which would then be followed up with detailed field-scale modelling. Both tiers allow the effects of possible mitigation options at catchment scale (Tier 1) and field scale (Tier 2) to be explored. The PSYCHIC model framework therefore provides a methodology for identifying critical source areas of sediment and P transfer in catchments and assessing what management changes are required to achieve environmental goals.     

Nutrient availability in support of Karenia brevis blooms on the central West Florida Shelf: What keeps Karenia blooming?

Identifying nutrient sources, primarily nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), sufficient to support high biomass blooms of the red tide dinoflagellate, Karenia brevis, has remained problematic. The West Florida Shelf is oligotrophic, yet populations >10⁶ cells L⁻¹ frequently occur and blooms can persist for months. Here we examine the magnitude and variety of sources for N and P that are available to support blooms. Annual average in situ or background concentrations of inorganic N in the region where blooms occur range 0.02–0.2 μM while inorganic P ranges 0.025–0.24 μM. Such concentrations would be sufficient to support the growth of populations up to ∼3×10⁴ cells L⁻¹ with at least a 1 d turnover rate. Organic N concentrations average 1–2 orders of magnitude greater than inorganic N, 8–14 μM while organic P concentrations average 0.2–0.5 μM. Concentrations of organic N are sufficient to support blooms >10⁵ cells L⁻¹ but the extent to which this complex mixture of N species is utilizable is unknown. Other sources of nutrients included in our analysis are aerial deposition, estuarine flux, benthic flux, zooplankton excretion, N₂-fixation, and subsequent release of organic and inorganic N by Trichodesmium spp., and release of N and P from dead and decaying fish killed by the blooms. Inputs based on atmospheric deposition, benthic flux, and N₂-fixation, were minor contributors to the flux required to support growth of populations >2.6×10⁴ cells L⁻¹. N and P from decaying fish could theoretically maintain populations at moderate concentrations but insufficient data on the flux and subsequent mixing rates does not allow us to calculate average values. Zooplankton excretion rates, based on measured zooplankton population estimates and excretion rates could also supply all of the N and P required to support populations of 10⁵ and 10⁶ cells L⁻¹, respectively, but excretion is considered as “regenerated” nutrient input and can only maintain biomass rather than contribute to “new” biomass. The combined estuarine flux from Tampa Bay, Charlotte Harbor, and the Caloosahatchee River can supply a varying, but at times significant level of N and P to meet growth and photosynthesis requirements for populations of approximately 10⁵ cells L⁻¹ or below. Estimates of remineralization of dead fish could supply a significant proportion of bloom maintenance requirements but the rate of supply must still be determined. Overall, a combination of sources is required to maintain populations >10⁶ cells L⁻¹.     

Land Use and Lake Sedimentation on the New England Tablelands of New South Wales,Australia

Lead-210 methods have been used to establish a chronology of sedimentation extending back almost 80 years in Black Mountain Lagoon near Guyra on the New England Tablelands of north-eastern New South Wales, Australia. Estimates of the direct atmospheric fallout of unsupported ²¹⁰Pb and historical records of the pattern of phosphorus input to the lake provide support for the ²¹⁰Pb chronology. The sediments in the lake record an episode of disturbance which took place prior to c .1916, but after c .1790-1860. Since then, however, the site-specific rate of minerogenic sedimentation has been maintained at a relatively low and constant level of 0.93 kg m^-2 a^-1. [Note: the following symbols are used in this paper: a = year (annum), and d min^-1 g^-1 = radioactivity (spontaneous nuclear disintegrations per minute per gram of material).] This is despite major shifts in land use and intensification of agriculture, despite the occurrence of significant floods and droughts, and in the absence until recent times of the application of soil conservation practices. These rates may be contrasted with rates of 0.023 kg m^-2 a^-1 from the period 12.3-5.6 ka. These are at least an order of magnitude lower than those of the twentieth century. The lake sediments preserve evidence of the use of agricultural chemicals on the catchment during the twentieth century. These include phosphorus, zinc, arsenic and lead. Soils and sediments may act as long-term toxic stores for such chemicals, a problem often overlooked in rural areas.     

太湖现代沉积物中磷的沉积通量及空间差异性

在水文状况、水质状况、生态类型均显著不同的三个太湖典型湖区, 利用^210Pb定年测定了近百年来沉积物及磷的沉积通量.结果发现, 三个湖区磷的沉积通量及其变化规律相差很大.发生蓝藻水华暴发的梅梁湾近百年来沉积物和磷的沉积通量都比较小, 只是在近十几年来才有明显增加的趋势; 太湖上游的夹浦沉积物沉积速率近百年来持续增加, 只有表层有所下降, 但表层12cm沉积物中磷的沉积通量却显著下降; 处于太湖下游草型化的胥口湾湖区, 在20世纪60年代以前沉积物沉积通量呈增加趋势, 之后呈下降趋势, 磷的沉积通量则呈振荡下降趋势.研究表明, 太湖沉积物中磷的累积通量具有明显的空间异质性.