Assessing the P fractionation in a tropical river-estuarine system of South India

Seasonal variations in dissolved and particulate P forms were assessed in the estuarine system of Chalakudy River, Kerala, South India – a tropical river having substantial relics of riparian vegetation. The contribution of the reactive P form extended to 84–96% compared with the residual fraction. Geographical and human activities have had effects on the phosphorus-loading capacity at various locations, which reveal pronounced variability in P distribution. Not all forms of phosphate in suspended particulate matter are likely to be released, and thus the nature of the P forms within the stock is a sensitive factor that can be utilised. Ca-bound P in suspensates increases to a highly significant level in the estuarine area, whereas Fe/Al-bound P predominates at the riverine and catchment areas during both the monsoon and non-monsoon seasons. Thus, calcium compounds determine the availability of P in the alkaline estuarine environment, whereas in the riverine environment, Al and Fe control P solubility. The comparatively low P load in upstream waters indicates that, under ambient situations, vegetative riparian zones can be very important P filters.     

Effects of riparian land use on water quality and fish communities in the headwater stream of the Taizi River in China

Riparian land use remains one of the most significant impacts on stream ecosystems. This study focuses on the relationship between stream ecosystems and riparian land use in headwater regions. Four riparian land types including forest, grassland, farmland, and residential land were examined to reveal the correlation between stream water and fish communities in headwater streams of the Taizi River in north-eastern China. Four land types along riparian of 3 km in length were evaluated at 25, 50, 100, 200 and 500 m widths, respectively. Generally, the results found a significant relationship between riparian land uses and stream water quality. Grassland was positively correlated with water quality parameters (conductivity and total dissolved solids) at scales from 100 to 500 m riparian width. Farmland and residential land was negatively correlated with water quality parameters at scales from 25 to 500 m and from 50 to 200 m riparian widths, respectively. Although the riparian forest is important for maintaining habitat diversity and fish communities, the results found that only fish communities were significantly correlated with the proportion of riparian farmland. Farmland had a positive correlation with individual fish abundance within a riparian corridor of 25 to 50 m, but a negative correlation with fish diversity metrics from 25 to 100 m. This study indicates that effective riparian management can improve water quality and fish communities in headwater streams.     

广州市流溪河河岸带土壤反硝化作用的多尺度影响因子

以广州市水源地流溪河二级支流的河岸带为研究对象,分析嵌套结构的多尺度因素对河岸带土壤反硝化作用的影响,确定调节河岸带土壤反硝化酶活性的不同尺度控制因素.结果表明:以土壤反硝化酶活性表征的反硝化潜力,其在研究区内的剖面尺度空间变异性显著大于断面尺度和流域景观尺度;反硝化酶活性的空间变异受多尺度因子的作用,其中剖面尺度中土壤有机碳、全氮、硝态氮等因子对其空间分布起主要的直接控制作用,而断面尺度的景观位置、植被密度与流域景观尺度的地形指数、高程及土地利用类型等因子通过影响土壤性质而间接调控反硝化酶的空间分异性;研究区的反硝化酶活性在剖面尺度中表层最高,随着深度增加呈急剧减小的趋势;断面尺度中活性值最高位于河岸区中间的景观位置,因该位置具有良好的景观连接性和较高的植被密度;流域景观尺度中,除受人为扰动严重城市化地区外,河岸带土壤反硝化酶活性沿流域从上游至下游呈不断增加的趋势.     

荒漠河岸多枝柽柳灌丛碳氮磷化学计量特征及其影响因素

为了解群落水平下荒漠河岸多枝柽柳（Tamarix ramosissima Ledeb.）灌丛的碳氮磷化学计量特征及其影响因素,在黑河下游荒漠河岸3 800 m范围内,沿垂直河道方向上设置9个采样点,采用相关性分析、冗余分析（RDA）和偏冗余分析（pRDA）方法,对多枝柽柳群落的碳氮磷化学计量格局及其与环境因子的关系进行研究.结果表明:黑河下游荒漠河岸多枝柽柳群落TC、TN、TP含量平均值分别为380.27、30.42和1.54 mg/g,C:N、C:P和N:P平均值分别为12.98、257.09和20.04.与全球和区域尺度物种水平研究相比,黑河下游荒漠河岸多枝柽柳灌丛群落具有较低的TC含量、较高的TN含量和N:P以及相对稳定的TP含量.多枝柽柳灌丛群落碳氮磷化学计量特征变异系数相对较小,内稳性较强,相对较高的N:P（14.55~27.20）表明群落水平下多枝柽柳灌丛更倾向于受磷元素的限制.在沿河梯度上,多枝柽柳群落TC含量和TN含量均随沿河距离的增加呈显著下降的变化趋势,而C:N随沿河距离的增加呈波动上升的变化趋势;TP含量呈先降后升的变化趋势,而C:P和N:P大致呈先上升后下降的变化趋势.多枝柽柳灌丛群落的碳氮磷化学计量特征与土壤理化属性存在一定相关性,土壤含水量、土壤容重和土壤pH是影响多枝柽柳群落碳氮磷化学计量特征变化的关键因子,三者共同解释了总变异的57.7%,其中土壤含水量解释了总变异的32.8%.研究显示,土壤水盐与多枝柽柳灌丛的碳氮磷化学计量特征关系密切,土壤含水量在解释多枝柽柳灌丛碳氮磷化学计量特征变化方面比土壤pH更为重要.      

ABATEMENT OF GROUND WATER PHOSPHATE IN GIANT CANE AND FOREST RIPARIAN BUFFERS1

ABSTRACT: Forest and grass riparian buffers have been shown to be effective best management practices for controlling nonpoint source pollution. However, little research has been conducted on giant cane [Arundinaria gigantea (Walt. Muhl.)], a formerly common bamboo species, native to the lower midwestern and southeastern United States, and its ability to reduce nutrient loads to streams. From May 2002 through May 2003, orthophosphate or dissolved reactive phosphate (DRP) concentrations in ground water were measured at successive distances from the field edge through 12 m of riparian buffers of both giant cane and mixed hardwood forest along three streams draining agricultural land in the Cache River watershed in southern Illinois. Giant cane and mixed hardwood forest did not differ in their DRP sequestration abilities. Ground water DRP concentrations were significantly reduced (14 percent) in the first 1.5 m of the buffers, and there was an overall 28 percent reduction in DRP concentration by 12 m from the field edge. The relatively low DRP reductions compared to other studies could be attributed to high DRP input levels, narrow (12 m) buffer lengths, and/or mature (28 to 48 year old) riparian vegetation.     

BENEFITS OF TRANSFERRING STREAMFLOW PRIORITY FROM AGRICULTURAL TO NON-AGRICULTURAL USE1

ABSTRACT: In Virginia, as in many states, priority to streamflow is held by riparian landowners who are predominantly agricultural users. The streamfiow may also have a high potential value to non-agricultural users who do not have riparian rights. The potential benefits of transferring streamfiow priority rights from agricultural to non-agricultural use were evaluated using simulation for an eastern Virginia watershed. Lowering irrigators' priority to streamflow reduced crop yields and irrigated returns in some years because of inadequate water supplies. However, the transfer of priorities increased the likelihood that the urban reservoir would be able to withdraw water from the stream without interruption. As a result, priority trades reduced the size of reservoir needed to meet a given water requirement by municipal users. The resulting savings in reservoir construction and maintenance costs more than offset the losses to irrigators. Net savings could be achieved even if the reservoir were required to release water periodically to maintain a minimum level of instream flow. The conclusion is that the state should encourage trading of access to streamflow in order to increase the use efficiency of streamfiows. Alternative means by which the state can facilitate water exchanges are discussed.     

WATER QUALITY IN AGRICULTURAL WATERSHEDS: IMPACT OF RIPARIAN VEGETATION DURING BASE FLOW1

ABSTRACT: Water quality was monitored for 17 months during base flow periods in six agricultural watersheds to evaluate the impact of riparian vegetation on suspended solids and nutrient concentrations. In areas without riparian vegetation, both instream algal production and seasonal low flows appeared to be major determinants of suspended solids, turbidity, and phosphorus concentrations. Peak levels of all parameters were reached during the summer when flows were reduced and benthic algal production was high. Similar summer peaks were reached in streams receiving major point inputs but peaks occurred downstream from the input. Instream organic production was less important in regulating water quality in areas with riparian vegetation and permanent flows. Concentrations of suspended solids remained relatively constant, while phosphorus and turbidity increased in association with leaf fall in autumn. Intermittent flow conditions in summer increased the importance of instream organic production in controlling water quality, even when riparian vegetation was present. Efforts to improve water quality in agricultural watersheds during base flow should emphasize maintenance of riparian vegetation and stable flow conditions.     

THE USE OF BINARY OPTIMIZATION AND HYDROLOGIC MODELS TO FORM RIPARIAN BUFFERS1

ABSTRACT: Riparian buffers are considered important management options for protecting water quality. Land costs and buffer performance, which are functions of local environmental characteristics, are likely to be key attributes in the selection process, especially when budgets are limited. In this article we demonstrate how a framework involving hydrologic models and binary optimization can be used to find the optimal buffer subject to a budget constraint. Two hydrologic models, SWAT and REMM, were used to predict the loads from different source areas with and without riparian buffers. These loads provided inputs for a binary optimization model to select the most cost efficient parcels to form a riparian buffer. This methodology was applied in a watershed in Delaware County, New York. The models were parameterized using readily available digital databases and were later compared against observed flow and water quality data available for the site. As a result of the application of this method, the marginal utility of incremental increases in buffer widths along the stream channel and the set of parcels to form the best affordable riparian buffer were obtained.     

RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN FLOOD FREQUENCIES AND RIPARIAN PLANT COMMUNITIES IN THE UPPER KLAMATH BASIN,OREGON1

ABSTRACT: This study was conducted in the Klamath Basin of southwestern Oregon to evaluate the dependency of riparian plant communities upon infrequent flooding. Plant communities were sampled with 1 m² quadrats along established cross‐sections. Data collected for purposes of hydraulic modeling included channel and floodplain elevations (i.e., cross‐sectional profiles) and water surface elevations associated with specific discharges. The elevational distribution of hydrophytic plant communities relative to modeled return periods provided the basis for establishing relationships between these variables for nine sites. Results indicate that, on average, a peak flow frequency of 4.6 years (range of 3.1 to 7.6 years) was needed to sustain riparian plant communities at seven of nine sites. At two sites, results indicated return periods of more than 25 years were needed; these results possibly were influenced by local geomorphic conditions (a narrow steep channel in one case and an incised channel in the other). Overall, these results tend to confirm a strong dependency of riparian plant communities on overbank flows.     

DAM‐INDUCED MODIFICATIONS TO UPPER ALLEGHENY RIVER STREAMFLOW PATTERNS AND THEIR BIODIVERSITY IMPLICATIONS1

ABSTRACT: This study evaluates the streamflow characteristics of the upper Allegheny River during the periods preceding (1936 to 1965) and following (1966 to 1997) completion of the Kinzua Dam in northwestern Pennsylvania. Inter‐period trends in seasonal patterns of discharge and peak flow at three downstream sites are compared to those at two upstream sites to determine the influence of this large dam on surface water hydrology. Climatic records indicate that significant changes in annual total and seasonal precipitation occurred over the twentieth century. Increased runoff during the late summer through early winter led to increased discharge both upstream and downstream during these months, while slightly less early‐year rainfall produced minor reductions in spring flood peaks since 1966. The Kinzua Dam significantly enhanced these trends downstream, creating large reductions in peak flow, while greatly augmenting low flow during the growing season. This reduction in streamflow variability, coupled with other dam‐induced changes, has important biodiversity implications. The downstream riparian zone contains numerous threatened/endangered species, many of which are sensitive to the type of habitat modifications produced by the dam. Flood dynamics under the current post‐dam conditions are likely to compound the difficulties of maintaining their long‐term viability.