Linking Nitrogen Export to Landscape Heterogeneity: The Role of Infrastructure and Storm Flows in a Mediterranean Urban System

Urban ecosystems are often sources of nonpoint source (NPS) nitrogen (N) pollution to aquatic ecosystems. However, N export from urban watersheds is highly variable. Examples of densely urbanized watersheds are not well studied, and these may have comparatively low export rates. Commonly used metrics of landscape heterogeneity may obscure our ability to discern relationships among landscape characteristics that can explain these lower export rates. We expected that differences not often captured by these metrics in the relative cover of vegetation, structures, and impervious surfaces would better explain observed variation in N export. We examined these relationships during storms in residential watersheds. Contrary to expectations, land cover did not directly predict variation in N or water export. Instead, N export was strongly linked to drainage infrastructure density. Our research highlights the role of fine‐scaled landscape attributes, mainly infrastructure, in explaining patterns of N export from densely urbanized watersheds. Changes to hydrologic flow paths by infrastructure explained more variation in N export than land cover. Our findings support further development of landscape ecological models of urban N export that focus on hydrologic modification by infrastructure rather than traditional landscape measures such as land use, as indicators for evaluating patterns of NPS nitrogen pollution in densely urbanized watersheds.     

Use of Congeneric Assessment to Reveal the Linked Genetic Histories of Two Threatened Fishes in the Murray‐Darling Basin,Australia

Abstract: The intensely regulated Murray‐Darling Basin in southeastern Australia is the nation's most extensive and economically important river system, and it contains fragmented populations of numerous fish species. Among these is the Murray hardyhead (Craterocephalus fluviatilis), a species listed as endangered (International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List) in the mid‐1990s prior to its acute decline with the progression of a severe drought that began in 1997. We compared the genetic structure of Murray hardyhead with 4 congeneric species (Darling hardyhead[C. amniculus], Finke hardyhead[C. centralis], Lake Eyre hardyhead[C. eyresii], and unspecked hardyhead[C. stercusmuscarum]), selected on the basis of their taxonomic or biological similarity to Murray hardyhead, in order to affirm species boundaries and test for instances of introgressive hybridization, which may influence species ecology and conservation prospects. We used allozyme (52 loci) and mtDNA markers (1999 bp of ATPase and cytochrome b) to provide a comparative genetic assessment of 139 Murray hardyhead, which represented all extant and some recently extirpated populations, and 71 congeneric specimens from 12 populations. We confirmed that Murray hardyhead and Darling hardyhead are taxonomically distinct and identified a number of potential conservation units, defined with genetic criteria, in both species. We also found allozyme and mtDNA evidence of historic genetic exchange between these 2 allopatric species, apparently involving one population of each species at the geographic edge of the species’ ranges, not in the most proximate populations sampled. Our results provide information on species boundaries and offer insight into the likely causes of high genetic diversity in certain populations, results which are already being used to guide national recovery planning and local action. Given the prevalence of incorrect taxonomies and introgression in many organismal groups, we believe these data point to the need to commence genetic investigations of any threatened species from an initially broad taxonomic focus.     

Targeted Application of Seasonal Load Duration Curves Using Multivariate Analysis in Two Watersheds Flowing Into Lake Houston1

Teague, Aarin, Philip B. Bedient, and Birnur Guven, 2011. Targeted Application of Seasonal Load Duration Curves Using Multivariate Analysis in Two Watersheds Flowing Into Lake Houston. Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA) 47(3):620‐634. DOI: 10.1111/j.1752‐1688.2011.00529.x Abstract: Water quality is a problem in Lake Houston, the primary source of drinking water for the City of Houston, Texas, due to pollutant loads coming from the influent watersheds, including Spring Creek and Cypress Creek. Statistical analysis of the historic water quality data was developed to understand the source characterization and seasonality of the watershed. Multivariate analysis including principal component, cluster, and discriminant analysis provided a custom seasonal assessment of the watersheds so that loading curves may be targeted for season specific pollutant source characterization. The load duration curves have been analyzed using data collected by the U.S. Geologic Survey with corresponding City of Houston water quality data at the sites to characterize the behavior of the pollutant sources and watersheds. Custom seasons were determined for Spring Creek and Cypress Creek watersheds and pollutant source characterization compared between the seasons and watersheds.     

Experimental investigation of outdoor and indoor mean concentrations and concentration fluctuations of pollutants

Tracer gas was released upwind of a two-compartment complex shaped building under unstable atmospheric conditions. The mean wind direction was normal to or at 45° to the long face of the building. The general patterns of concentration distribution on the building external walls and inside the building were analysed and the influence of natural and mechanical ventilation on indoor concentration distributions was discussed. Mean concentration levels, as well as the concentration fluctuation intensity, were higher on the windward walls of the building, although concentration levels varied along each wall. Concentration fluctuations measured inside the building were lower than those measured outside. Inside the two compartments of the building, the time series of concentrations had a similar general behaviour; however, gas concentrations took approximately 1.5 times longer to reach the mean maximum concentration value at the downwind compartment 02 while they also decreased more rapidly in the upwind compartment 01 after the source was turned off. The highest indoor concentration and concentration fluctuation values were observed at the detectors located close to the windward walls, especially when the building windows were open. Experiments with and without natural ventilation suggested that infiltration and exfiltration of contaminants is much faster when the building windows are open, resulting to higher indoor concentration levels. Furthermore, mechanical ventilation tends to homogenize concentrations and suppress concentration fluctuations, leading to lower maximum concentration values.     

PVA降解混合菌系生长和产酶的营养条件分析

研究碳源、氮源以及不同金属离子对PVA降解混合菌系生长和产酶的影响。结果表明,混合菌系生长过程中无机氮源优于有机氮源;补充碳源可促进混合菌系的生长,但酶活比不添加时稍有降低。金属离子对酶活影响的正交实验表明Mg2＋浓度影响最大,其次是Fe2＋和K＋浓度,Ca2＋、Mn2＋、Zn2＋和Cu2＋浓度影响较小;最佳浓度分别为Mg2＋0.05 g/L、Fe2＋0.04 g/L、K＋2 g/L和Ca2＋0.05 g/L。     

沈阳市固定燃烧源挥发性有机化合物2007年排放清单研究

挥发性有机化合物(VOCs)与.OH的反应是对流层臭氧形成的重要化学过程,是导致城市光化学烟雾的根本原因。为建立沈阳市固定燃烧源VOCs排放清单,选取了电力热力行业、钢铁行业和秸秆燃烧3个主要排放源进行研究。结果表明:(1)2007年,沈阳市固定燃烧源VOCs排放总量为8 544.539 t,其中排放量最大的是秸秆燃烧,为6 317.115 t;其次是电力热力行业,为2 225.780 t;最小的是钢铁行业,为1.644 t。(2)沈阳市各区县固定燃烧源VOCs排放量由大到小排序依次为新民市、法库县、东陵区、康平县、辽中县、于洪区、苏家屯区、大东区、沈北新区、铁西区、沈河区、皇姑区、和平区;VOCs排放强度由大到小排序依次为大东区、沈河区、铁西区、东陵区、皇姑区、和平区、于洪区、苏家屯区、法库县、康平县、辽中县、沈北新区、新民市。     

以红薯浸泡液为碳源的生物反硝化

为选择低碳氮比污水生物脱氮中合适的碳源,以搅拌罐浸泡淀粉类物质释放碳源,在确定利用红薯浸泡液为碳源后,以浸没式生物滤池为反应器进行生物反硝化实验。实验结果表明:20 g红薯置于2 L自来水中,采用250 r/m in的搅拌速度,搅拌频率为每搅拌3 h停1 h,2 d后得到的浸泡液COD浓度平均为5 921 mg/L,最高可超过7 000 mg/L;将此红薯浸泡液和污水以1∶50的流量比例,采用分别投加的方式进入反应器,污水中总氮、硝酸盐氮、亚硝酸盐氮及氨氮的平均去除率分别为88.6%、91.6%、88.2%和54.8%,出水COD平均在30 mg/L以下;在红薯浸泡液COD浓度为5 700 mg/L左右时,进水中亚硝酸盐氮浓度与硝酸盐氮浓度比为3∶2时总氮去除率为95.3%,当该比例为2∶3时总氮去除率为88.2%。研究表明,红薯浸泡液是一种经济合适的碳源,采用红薯浸泡液作为低碳氮比污水生物处理中反硝化的碳源是可行的。     

快速高效去除微囊藻的GO/QPEI复合纳米材料

本研究合成了一种新型高效的去除铜绿微囊藻(Microcystis aeruginosa)的氧化石墨烯/季铵盐聚乙烯亚胺(GO/QPEI)纳米复合材料.GO/QPEI在pH为4~10的条件下都具有高效去除M.aeruginosa的能力,其去除能力在2 min内可达96%以上.GO/QPEI对微囊藻的吸附更符合Freundlich方程,最大吸附量为5.58×1011cells·mg-1.吸附动力学表明GO/QPEI的假二级吸附反应.GO纳米片和QPEI的协同效应是其高效去除微囊藻的主要机制.     

双级虚拟撞击采样器应用于固定污染源PM10和PM2.5排放测量

为贯彻落实《大气污染防治行动计划》,环境保护部指导各地开展大气污染源排放清单编制工作,其中包括固定源PM_(10)和PM_(2.5)的排放清单.但目前国内尚无固定源PM_(10)和PM_(2.5)标准采样方法.本研究提出了适合我国固定源PM_(10)和PM_(2.5)测量的双级虚拟撞击采样方法,开发了相应的分级采样系统,并用该方法对各类固定源进行了现场测试.测试结果表明,所测试的煤粉炉电厂的烟囱入口PM_(2.5)质量浓度为(0.93±0.03)mg·m~(-3),PM_(10)质量浓度为(1.13±0.11)mg·m~(-3).所测试的垃圾焚烧电厂的烟囱排放口PM_(2.5)质量浓度为(3.3±0.65)mg·m~(-3),PM_(10)质量浓度为(6.9±0.86)mg·m~(-3).所测试的大型循环流化床发电厂的烟囱排放口PM_(2.5)质量浓度为(0.59±0.04)mg·m~(-3),PM_(10)质量浓度为(1.12±0.16)mg·m~(-3).所测试的钢铁转炉的烟囱排放口PM_(2.5)质量浓度为(0.15±0.04)mg·m~(-3),PM_(10)质量浓度为(0.43±0.15)mg·m~(-3).     

乌江中上游段河水主要离子化学特征及控制因素

开展人类活动影响下乌江中上游段河流水化学特征研究,有助于流域地表水资源有效开发利用和保护.本文采用主成分分析法对乌江中上游段的六冲河、三岔河、猫跳河、清水河的主要离子化学特征及控制因素进行了定量评价.结果表明,乌江上游段4条河流优势阳离子均为Ca~(2+)、Mg~(2+),两者占全部阳离子的70%以上,阴离子以HCO~-_3、SO~(2-)_4为主,两者占总阴离子的85%以上.与乌江1999年水化学数据相比,本次样品的阴阳离子浓度出现了明显增加,主要表现在NO~-_3、SO~(2-)_4等受人为活动影响显著的离子方面.受流域碳酸盐岩地层的控制,4条河流水化学类型以HCO_3~-Ca为主,少部分样点为HCO_3·SO_4-Ca型,反映出部分样点可能受到人类源的SO~(2-)_4影响.河水中Na~+、K~+、Cl~-主要来源于大气输入,Ca~(2+)、HCO~-_3、Mg~(2+)主要来源于碳酸盐岩的溶解;NO~-_3和SO~(2-)_4主要来源于人为活动.主成分分析法和相关分析得出:六冲河、三岔河、清水河上游水化学成分主要受大气降水及碳酸盐岩的溶解因子的控制,向下游受人为活动因子影响均增强;猫跳河上游、下游水化学组成主要受大气降水及碳酸盐岩的溶解控制,而中游湖泊受人为活动影响明显.清水河支流南明河中下游水化学组成主要受人为活动因子控制.