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.     

A Basic Water Quality Model for the River Neckar: Part 2 – model‐based analysis of the oxygen budget and scenarios

In this paper the Basic Water Quality Model (BWQM) for the central part of River Neckar is used to analyse the oxygen budget and to assess the potentials of various measures to prevent or mitigate critical dissolved oxygen (DO) declines. It is shown that the oxygen budget is mainly governed by phytoplankton dynamics. The excessive growth of algae and the sudden break down of the resulting algal blooms may cause episodic DO depressions. Therefore, to stabilise the oxygen budget in a sustainable way, eutrophication has to be controlled within the central part of River Neckar and the upstream regions. The only feasible way to reach this goal appears to be a further drastic reduction of phosphorus emissions. In addition, it is indispensable to hold the very high standards of biochemical oxygen demand and ammonium retention at the wastewater treatment plants. A worse performance of the treatment plants would dramatically aggravate critical DO declines which may be caused by algae dynamics. As long as the oxygen budget is not completely stabilised, weir and turbine aeration can be used to mitigate DO depressions. It could be shown that the potentials of these measures suffice to keep DO at a tolerable level. However, due to the long travel times in River Neckar, it is important to start aeration up to several days before the DO minimum is reached.     

Nitrogen emissions into freshwater ecosystems: is there a need for nitrate elimination in all wastewater treatment plants?

Excessive inputs of phosphorus and nitrogen are the main reasons of eutrophication of inland waters and coastal areas. Large efforts have been made to control phosphorus, but the measures to reduce nitrogen emissions failed at least partly. While it was possible to reduce nitrogen emissions from industry and municipal wastewater treatment plants, diffuse sources are showing only very minor decline. Examples of limnetic, marine and coastal systems are given to review the current knowledge about nitrogen transformation and the effects of nitrate in the environment. When N is the limiting nutrient in a particular water body, this does not necessarily mean that phytoplankton is controllable by NO₃^– removal. In systems with problems due to a high redox‐sensitive internal phosphorus load and under certain constraints, nitrate may be used as an ecotechnological measure to prevent anaerobic phosphorus release from sediments. Model simulations are used to demonstrate this. A schematic model of redox‐mediated temporal phosphorus storage in riverine lake sediments with short retention time is proposed. We conclude that while anthropogenic nitrogen emissions are a global problem, no fast and simple single solution exists. Additional nitrogen removal in wastewater treatment will have no effect, as long as diffuse sources and nitrate concentrations in groundwater remain at a high level. Emission reductions should be achieved in an integrated way, taking direct and indirect effects into account. In this sense, case by case decisions and a new definition of “sensitive areas” are required.     

Modern diatom, cladocera, chironomid, and chrysophyte cyst assemblages as quantitative indicators for the reconstruction of past environmental conditions in the Alps. II. Nutrients

Surface sediments from 68 small lakes in the Alps and 9 well-dated sediment core samples that cover a gradient of total phosphorus (TP) concentrations of 6 to 520 g TP l^-1 were studied for diatom, chrysophyte cyst, cladocera, and chironomid assemblages. Inference models for mean circulation log₁₀ TP were developed for diatoms, chironomids, and benthic cladocera using weighted-averaging partial least squares. After screening for outliers, the final transfer functions have coefficients of determination (r², as assessed by cross-validation, of 0.79 (diatoms), 0.68 (chironomids), and 0.49 (benthic cladocera). Planktonic cladocera and chrysophytes show very weak relationships to TP and no TP inference models were developed for these biota. Diatoms showed the best relationship with TP, whereas the other biota all have large secondary gradients, suggesting that variables other than TP have a strong influence on their composition and abundance. Comparison with other diatom – TP inference models shows that our model has high predictive power and a low root mean squared error of prediction, as assessed by cross-validation.     

Common bivalve larvae from New Zealand: Leptonacea

The late stage larvae of three erycinid bivalves (Mollusca: Pelecypoda: Leptonacea) taken from the brood chamber of the adult are described (Kellia cycladiformis, Lasaea rubra hinemoa, and L. maoria), and the provisionally identified late stage larva of the erycinid Arthritica bijurca taken from the plankton is described. Also, the D‐shaped larvae of the erycinid bivalves Kellia cycladiformis, Borniola reniformis, Arlhritica crassijormis, and A. bifurca taken from the parent brood chamber are described. The seasonal occurrence of each late stage larva in the plankton at the Bay of Islands (35° 15'S, 174° 10'E), Wellington Harbour (41° 16'S, 174° 51'E), and Raumati Beach (40° 56'S, 174° 58'E), New Zealand is described. Aspects of the reproductive cycles of Lasaea rubra hinemoa and Arthritica bifurca are presented.     

Macroalgae blooms and their effects on seagrass ecosystems

Seagrass decline caused by the macroalgae blooms is becoming a common phenomenon throughout temperate and tropical regions. We summarized the incidence of macroalgae blooms throughout the world and their impact on seagrass beds by direct and indirect ways. The competition for living space and using resources is the most direct effect on seagrass beds when macroalgae are blooming in an aquatic ecosystem. The consequence of macroalgae blooms (e.g., light reduction, hypoxia, and decomposition) can produce significant indirect effects on seagrass beds. Light reduction by the macroalgae can decrease the growth and recruitment of seagrasses, and decomposition of macroalgae mats can increase the anoxic and eutrophic conditions, which can further constrict the seagrass growth. Meanwhile, the presence of seagrass shoots can provide substrate for the macroalgae blooms. Controlling nutrient sources from the land to coastal waters is a general efficient way for coastal management. Researching into the synergistical effect of climate change and anthropognic nutrient loads on the interaction between searsasses and macroalgae can provide valuable information to decrease the negative effects of macroalgae blooms on seagrasses in eutrophic areas.     

2010—2011年东海藻华高发区水体层化对东海原甲藻(Prorocentrum donghaiense Lu)藻华的影响

本文通过2010年和2011年不同时空角度对东海原甲藻藻华进行调查,研究水体层化对藻华发生和发展的影响。结果显示,起初东海原甲藻在50m等深线附近的外海繁殖与聚集,然后随着台湾暖流与长江冲淡水的相互作用,东海区域水体层化现象加剧,其细胞丰度越来越大,直至藻华发生并持续推进到近岸。大部分东海原甲藻细胞位于层化水体上方,而且当水体层化现象明显时,藻华的发展最为迅速且呈大规模爆发状态。结果还显示当出现叶绿素高值层时,总是伴随出现温盐突变现象。本项研究不仅第一次从时间角度记录了东海原甲藻藻华的发展动态,而且还发现了东海水体层化现象为东海原甲藻藻华的发生和发展提供了多种环境因子条件,这为该藻华的监控和预测提供了重要的科学依据。     

九龙江-河口表层水体营养盐含量的时空变化及潜在富营养化评价

分别于2012年9月、2013年1、6月,对九龙江两大支流北溪、西溪及河口区开展了3个航次的营养盐监测.研究结果表明,河口区表层水体溶解无机氮（DIN）、总磷（TP）和活性磷酸盐（PO4-P）质量浓度范围分别为0.13-17.35、0.14-1.00和0.00-0.38 mg/dm3,受上游输入和海水稀释作用,营养盐浓度由淡水端至海水端逐渐降低.北溪表层水体的DIN、TP和活性磷酸盐质量浓度范围分别为1.99-24.92、0.12-1.47和0.04-0.68 mg/dm3,受龙岩地区工农业生产及城市进程影响,由上游至下游逐渐降低.西溪表层水体的DIN、TP和活性磷酸盐质量浓度范围分别为2.74-20.61、0.14-0.92和0.02-0.37 mg/dm3,受上游农业生产和下游漳州地区人类活动影响,上下游的DIN质量浓度较高.此外,九龙江沿岸的人类活动可能影响了该地区水体中的溶解无机氮形态组成：北溪和西溪上游的NH4-N和NO3-N占比分别较高.水期分析表明,2013年1月的DIN浓度显著高于其他水期,而不同区域TP和活性磷酸盐的水期波动不尽相同.营养盐结构分析表明,九龙江总体处于磷限制状态,但在河口及北溪部分站位,CDIN/CPO4-P比值已达到适合浮游生物生长繁殖的水平.潜在富营养化程度评价表明,九龙江河口多数站位均处于N或P限制的富营养化级别,但由于N、P营养盐的绝对浓度较高,具有水华暴发的潜在风险.     

熵值理论和改进BP网络在湖泊富营养化评价中的应用研究

针对湖泊型饮用水源地水体污染、富营养化加剧的问题,引入熵值理论,建立单指标营养状态指数(TSI)和熵权藕合的湖泊综合营养状态指数模型(STSI),计算得到湖泊综合富营养状态指数判断湖泊富营养综合状态;基于神经网络仿真理论和Matlab软件系统,采用附加动量法和自适应学习速率改进BP算法,建立5-3-1结构型式的BP网络模型对湖泊富营养状态进行仿真预测。综合富营养化指数模型及改进BP模型应用于评价及预测固城湖富营养状态,并对模型评价结果进行验证。结果表明,改进BP网络模型可以有效地综合判断水体状态,为富营养评价及预测提供新的方法。