Contaminant Exposure and Effects in Red-Winged Blackbirds Inhabiting Stormwater Retention Ponds

Stormwater wetlands are created to retain water from storms and snow melt to reduce sediment, nutrient, and contaminant pollution of natural waterways in metropolitan areas. However, they are often a source of attractive habitat to wetland-associated wildlife. In this study of 12 stormwater wetlands and a larger, older reference site, elevated concentrations of zinc and copper were found in sediments and carcasses of 8-day-old red-winged blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) nestlings inhabiting stormwater sites. Although nesting success in the stormwater wetlands was comparable to national averages, sediment zinc concentrations correlated with clutch size, hatching success, fledgling success, and Mayfield nest success, suggesting that the nestlings may have been stressed and impaired by elevated zinc. This stress may have been direct on the nestlings or indirect through effects on the availability of food organisms.Published online     

Effects of Bridge Shading on Estuarine Marsh Benthic Invertebrate Community Structure and Function

The effect of bridge shading on estuarine marsh food webs was assessed by comparing benthic invertebrate communities beneath seven highway bridges with marshes outside of bridge-affected areas (reference marshes). We used light attenuation and height–width ratio (HW ratio), which takes into account the two main bridge characteristics that determine the degree of shading, to quantify the impact of shading on invertebrate communities. Low bridges, with HW ratio <0.7 and light attenuation greater than 85–90%, had benthic invertebrate densities and diversity that were significantly lower than reference marshes. Density of benthic invertebrates at low bridges was 25–52% (29,685–72,920 organisms/m²) of densities measured in adjacent reference marshes (119,329–173,351 organisms/m²). Likewise, there were fewer taxa under low bridges (5.8/11.35 cm² core) as compared to the reference marshes (9.0/11.35 cm² core). Density of numerically dominant taxa (e.g., oligochaetes and nematodes) as well as surface- and subsurface deposit feeders also were reduced under low bridges. Decreased invertebrate density, diversity, dominant taxa, and alterations of trophic feeding groups beneath low bridges was correlated with diminished above- and below-ground macrophyte biomass that presumably resulted in fewer food resources and available refuges from predators. With a greater knowledge of bridge shading effects, bridge construction and design may be improved to reduce the impacts on estuarine benthic invertebrate communities and overall ecosystem structure and function.     

湿地价值分析及其基本原则

在对湿地功能、用途、属性与湿地价值间的关系、湿地价值的等级性进行分析的基础上,提出了湿地价值分析的基本原则,为在规划和决策时能充分考虑湿地的真正价值,从而实现湿地资源的保护与可持续利用。     

HYDROLOGIC BUDGET FOR A FRESHWATER MARSH IN FLORIDA1

ABSTRACT: Accurate water balance calculations are essential for water resource and environmental management decisions, but many of the terms used in the equation are difficult to measure. In this study, a method for measuring rates of evapotranspiration and net seepage from a freshwater marsh in southwest Florida is described. The results are compared to evaporation pan estimates as well as to calculations that balanced all the terms in the hydrologic budget. The measured rates of evapotranspiration showed a. distinct seasonal trend ranging from an average high of 0.24 in/d during July 1992 to a low of 0.06 in/d in January 1993. Evapotranspiration rates were higher than Class A evaporation pan measurements during July and August, indicating transpiration by plants exceeded evaporation by pans. Net ground water seepage flowed out of the marsh except during periods of high water table conditions. When all terms in the hydrologic budget were evaluated, the equation balanced on a yearly basis with an error of 2 percent, on a seasonal basis with errors less than 7 percent, but on a monthly basis errors were as great as 30 percent. Total annual rainfall on the marsh was 45 percent of the total marsh hydrologic input and was approximately equal to the loss by evapotranspiration of 41 percent.     

Freshwater Wetland dynamics in South Kingstown,Rhode Island, 1939–1972

The extent and causes of changes in the fresh-water wetlands of South Kingstown, Rhode Island were determined through field work and through the analysis of panchromatic aerial photographs taken in 1939 and 1972. During this period, there was a net loss of 0.9 percent of the total area (2345.2 ha) of wetland present in 1939. Highway construction and residential development accounted for most of this loss. Approximately 17 percent of the wetland present in 1939 had changed sufficiently by 1972 to warrant reclassification. Plant succession alone accounted for 57 percent of the changes in wetland types, while man's activities were influential in 41 percent of the cases. Ninety-two percent of the natural changes in wetland types was progressive, while 58 percent of the changes induced by man and undetermined causes was retrogressive. Man's major role was to alter the water regimes and vegetation of wetlands. There was a decrease in wetland diversity as the most abundant type, wooded swamp, grew in area while the abundance of shallow marshes, meadows, and shrub swamps declined. A knowledge of wetland dynamics is essential in the management of wetlands for a diversity of wildlife and other natural values.     

潜流人工湿地基质结构与水力特性相关性研究

利用数值模拟方法结合实验手段,研究基质结构与系统水力特性的相关性,数值模拟结果表明,填料渗透系数对人工湿地水力效率影响很大,单层结构人工湿地系统中,填料渗透系数越大,流场分布越不均匀;由上到下填料渗透系数逐渐增加的分层填充方式能有效避免短流及死区的发生,提高系统水力效率.根据数值模拟结果构建两个人工湿地对比小试实验系统,并开展示踪实验对模拟结果进行验证,示踪实验结果表明,分层填充结构水力特性显著优于单层结构潜流人工湿地,二者有效体积比分别为0.87和0.49.可见,数值模拟方法能够有效应用于潜流人工湿地基质结构参数优化方面.     

不同类型LDHs对垂直流人工湿地无烟煤基质的覆膜改性及其脱氮效果研究

选取垂直流人工湿地无烟煤基质,采用不同类型金属化合物(CaCl2、ZnCl2、MgCl2、FeCl3、AlCl3、CoCl3)两两组合方式,在碱性环境下共沉淀生成9种不同类型的层状双金属氢氧化物LDHs并覆膜于基质表面;构建基质试验柱,分别对未改性及9种LDHs覆膜改性无烟煤基质进行模拟垂直流人工湿地脱氮效果研究.结果表明,9种不同组合方式生成的LDHs均能有效地进行无烟煤基质覆膜改性;Mg2+参与合成的改性基质对TN和氨氮均有很好的去除效果,其中MgCo-LDHs改性基质对TN的平均去除率超过80%,对氨氮的平均去除率达到了85%;Mg2+和Fe3+参与合成的改性基质对氨氮的去除效果优良,其中CaFe-LDHs和MgFe-LDHs改性基质的平均去除率达到了85%以上.     

Settling basin design in a constructed wetland using TSS removal efficiency and hydraulic retention time

Using total suspended solid （TSS） removal efficiency and hydraulic retention time （HRT） as design parameters a design guideline of a settling basin in a constructed wetland （CW） was suggested; as well as management of sediment and particle in the settling basin. The CW was desiEned to treat the piggery wastewater effluent from a wastewater treatment plant during dry days and stonnwater runoff from the surrounding paved area during wet days. The first settling basin （FSB） in the CVV was theoretically designed with a total storage volume （TSV） of 453 ms and HRT of 5.5 hr. The amount of sediment and particles settled at the FSB was high due to the sedimentation and interception of plants in the CVV. Dredging of sediments was performed when the retention rate at the FSB decreased to approximately 80%. Findings showed that the mean flow rate was 21.8 m3/hr less than the designed flow rate of 82.8 m3/hr indicating that the FSB was oversize and operated with longer HRT （20.7 hr） compared to the design HRT. An empirical model to estimate the length of the settling basin in the CW was developed as a function of HRT and desired TSS removal efficiency. Using the minimum tolerable TSS removal efficiency of 30%, the length of the FSB was estimated to be 31.2 m with 11.8 hr HRT.     

Pollutant removal from municipal wastewater employing baffled subsurface flow and integrated surface flow-floating treatment wetlands

This article reports pollutant removal performances of baffled subsurface flow, and integrated surface flow-floating treatment wetland units, when arranged in series for the treatment of municipal wastewater in Bangladesh. The wetland units （of the hybrid system） included organic, inorganic media, and were planted with nineteen types of macrophytes. The wetland train was operated under hydraulic loading fluctuation and seasonal variation. The performance analyses （across the wetland units） illustrated simultaneous denitrification and organics removal rates in the first stage vertical flow wetland, due to organic carbon leaching from the employed organic media. Higher mean organics removal rates （656.0 g COD]（m2.day）） did not completely inhibit nitrification in the first stage vertical flow system; such pattern could be linked to effective utilization of the trapped oxygen, as the flow was directed throughout the media by the baffle walls. Second stage horizontal flow wetland showed enhanced biodegradable organics removal, which depleted organic carbon availability for denitrification. The final stage integrated wetland system allowed further nitrogen removal from wastewater, via nutrient uptake by plant roots （along with nitrification）, and generation of organic carbon （by the dead macrophytes） to support denitrification. The system achieved higher E. coli mortality through protozoa predation, E. coli oxidation, and destruction by UV radiation. In general, enhanced pollutant removal efflciencies as demonstrated by the structurally modified hybrid wetland system signify the necessity of such modification, when operated under adverse conditions such as： substantial input organics loading, hydraulic loading fluctuation, and seasonal variation.     

外源氮、硫添加对闽江河口湿地CH4、CO2排放的短期影响

于2015年4月在闽江河口鳝鱼滩湿地原位开展氮、硫添加实验,研究外源氮、硫添加对河口湿地CH_4、CO_2排放通量的短期影响,并同步观测相关环境因子.结果表明,NH_4Cl(NH)和NH_4NO_3+K_2SO_4(NS)添加显著促进了河口湿地CH_4平均排放通量(P0.01),NS耦合添加显著促进了湿地CO_2平均排放通量(P0.05);KNO_3(NO)和K_2SO_4(S)处理在实验期间对CH_4、CO_2排放通量表现为促进与抑制作用的交互影响,并且影响均不显著(P0.05).与对照(CK)相比,NH和NS添加使CH_4平均排放通量分别提高了(286.36%、122.73%),使CO_2平均排放通量分别提高了(39.92%、34.24%).氮、硫添加对河口潮滩湿地CH_4、CO_2排放的影响具有明显的时间变异性,改变了短叶茳芏湿地生长季CH_4排放时间变化规律,但未改变CO_2排放时间规律.相关分析显示,NH和NS添加处理下河口湿地土壤CH_4、CO_2排放通量主要受土温、EC、DOC以及NH+4-N的控制(P0.05或P0.01),NO和S处理主要受土温、EC、pH、DOC、NO_3~--N的控制(P0.05或P0.01),CK处理则主要受土温的影响(P0.01).温度、盐度、氮有效性是影响河口湿地CO_2、CH_4排放的主要因素.