Lateral Hyporheic Zone Chemistry in an Artificially Constructed Gravel Bar and a Re‐Meandered Stream Channel,Southern Ontario,Canada1

Abstract: The effect of stream restoration on hyporheic functions has been neglected, although channel rehabilitation projects have a potential to alter stream‐ground‐water interactions. The present study examined the effect of an artificially constructed gravel bar and re‐meandered stream channel on lateral hyporheic exchange flow and chemistry in two lowland N‐rich streams in southern Ontario, Canada. Nitrate concentrations were relatively high, ranging from 0.5 to 1.3 mg N/l in both streams during spring through fall months. However, nitrate concentrations showed a steep decline as stream water entered the gravel bar and the meander bends. Differences between observed and predicted nitrate concentrations based on conservative ion concentration patterns indicated that 40‐100 and 68‐98% of the nitrate entering the hyporheic zone was removed in the gravel bar and meanders, respectively. Rapid depletion of dissolved oxygen concentrations along lateral hyporheic flow paths and denitrifying potentials assayed by the acetylene block technique in hyporheic sediments suggests that denitrification was an important mechanism of nitrate depletion. Despite the high rate of nitrate removal, the flux of stream water laterally entering the constructed gravel bar and meander bends was very small, and hyporheic nitrate removal was <0.015% of the daily stream load during base‐flow periods in summer and fall. The effects of restoration projects on hyporheic zone dynamics are often limited in lowland streams by low channel gradients and fine floodplain sediments with low interstitial flows that restrict the magnitude of the stream‐hyporheic connection.     

Impacts of Rotational Grazing and Riparian Buffers on Physicochemical and Biological Characteristicsof Southeastern Minnesota, USA, Streams

We assessed the relationship between riparian management and stream quality along five southeastern Minnesota streams in 1995 and 1996. Specifically, we examined the effect of rotationally and continuously grazed pastures and different types of riparian buffer strips on water chemistry, physical habitat, benthic macroinvertebrates, and fish as indicators of stream quality. We collected data at 17 sites under different combinations of grazing and riparian management, using a longitudinal design on three streams and a paired watershed design on two others. Continuous and rotational grazing were compared along one longitudinal study stream and at the paired watershed. Riparian buffer management, fenced trees (wood buffer), fenced grass, and unfenced rotationally grazed areas were the focus along the two remaining longitudinal streams. Principal components analysis (PCA) of water chemistry, physical habitat, and biotic data indicated a local management effect. The ordinations separated continuous grazing from sites with rotational grazing and sites with wood buffers from those with grass buffers or rotationally grazed areas. Fecal coliform and turbidity were consistently higher at continuously grazed than rotationally grazed sites. Percent fines in the streambed were significantly higher at sites with wood buffers than grass and rotationally grazed areas, and canopy cover was similar at sites with wood and grass buffers. Benthic macroinvertebrate metrics were significant but were not consistent across grazing and riparian buffer management types. Fish density and abundance were related to riparian buffer type, rather than grazing practices. Our study has potentially important implications for stream restoration programs in the midwestern United States. Our comparisons suggest further consideration and study of a combination of grass and wood riparian buffer strips as midwestern stream management options, rather than universally installing wood buffers in every instance. RID=" ID=" The Unit is jointly sponsored by the US Geological Survey, Biological Resources Division; the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources; the University of Minnesota; and the Wildlife Management Institute.     

Does the introduced brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) affect growth of the native brown trout (Salmo trutta)?

Non-native brook trout have become widely established in North European streams. We combined evidence from an artificial-stream experiment and drainage-scale field surveys to examine whether brook trout suppressed the growth of the native brown trout (age 0 to age 2). Our experimental results demonstrated that brown trout were unaffected by the presence of brook trout but that brook trout showed reduced growth in the presence of brown trout. However, the growth reduction only appeared in the experimental setting, indicating that the reduced spatial constraint of the experimental system may have forced the fish to unnaturally intense interactions. Indeed, in the field, no effect of either species on the growth of the putative competitor was detected. These results caution against uncritical acceptance of findings from small-scale experiments because they rarely scale up to more complex field situations. This and earlier work suggest that the establishment of brook trout in North European streams has taken place mainly because of the availability of unoccupied (or underutilized) niche space, rather than as a result of species trait combinations or interspecific competition per se. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

The Influence of Two‐Stage Ditches with Constructed Floodplains on Water Column Nutrients and Sediments in Agricultural Streams

The two‐stage ditch is a novel management practice originally implemented to increase bank stability through floodplain restoration in channelized agricultural streams. To determine the effects of two‐stage construction on sediment and nutrient loads, we monitored turbidity, and also measured total suspended solids (TSS), dissolved inorganic nitrogen (N) species, and phosphorus (P) after two‐stage ditch construction in reference and manipulated reaches of four streams. Turbidity decreased during floodplain inundation at all sites, but TSS and P, soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) and total phosphorus (TP) decreased only in the two‐stage ditches with longer duration of inundation. Both TSS and TP were positively correlated within individual streams, but neither were correlated with turbidity. Phosphorus was elevated in the stream to which manure was applied adjacent to the two‐stage reach, but not the reference reach, suggesting that landscape nutrient management plans could restrict nutrient transport to the stream, ultimately determining the efficacy of instream management practices. In addition, ammonium and nitrate decreased in two‐stage reaches with lower initial N concentrations. Overall, results suggest that turbidity, TSS, and TP were reduced during floodplain inundation, but the two‐stage alone may not be effective for managing high inorganic N loads.     

Empirical Estimation of Stream Discharge Using Channel Geometry in Low‐Gradient,Sand‐Bed Streams of the Southeastern Plains

Manning's equation is used widely to predict stream discharge (Q) from hydraulic variables when logistics constrain empirical measurements of in‐bank flow events. Uncertainty in Manning's roughness (n_M) is the major source of error in natural channels, and sand‐bed streams pose difficulties because flow resistance is affected by flow‐dependent bed configuration. Our study was designed to develop and validate models for estimating Q from channel geometry easily derived from cross‐sectional surveys and available GIS data. A database was compiled consisting of 484 Q measurements from 75 sand‐bed streams in Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina (Southeastern Plains), and Florida (Southern Coastal Plain), with six New Zealand streams included to develop statistical models to predict Q from hydraulic variables. Model error characteristics were estimated with leave‐one‐site‐out jackknifing. Independent data of 317 Q measurements from 55 Southeastern Plains streams indicated the model (Q = A_cR_H^0.6906S^0.1216; where A_c is the channel area, R_H is the hydraulic radius, and S is the bed slope) best predicted Q, based on Akaike's information criterion and root mean square error. Models also were developed from smaller Q range subsets to explore if subsets increased predictive ability, but error fit statistics suggested that these were not reasonable alternatives to the above equation. Thus, we recommend the above equation for predicting in‐bank Q of unbraided, sandy streams of the Southeastern Plains.     

Describing Damage to Stream Modification Projects in Constrained Settings

Complex relationships between stream functions and processes make evaluation of stream modification projects difficult. Informed by vague objectives and minimal monitoring data, post‐construction project evaluations can often be a subjective attribution of success or failure. This article provides a simple framework to rapidly describe the degree of damage in stream modification projects performed in constrained settings. Based on widely accepted evaluations of physical habitat quality and stream stability, the damage states framework describes a continuum of damage in multiple categories that relate natural stream functions to the often desired state of static equilibrium. Given that channel form is closely related to stream function, it follows that changes to the channel form result in changes in function. The damage states focus on damage to flow hydraulics, sediment transport and channel equilibrium, hydraulic, and geomorphic parameters that describe basic stream functioning and support higher level functions in the modified channel. The damage states can be used in decision making as a systematic method to determine the need for repair and design adjustments.     

土壤真菌群落对五台山亚高山草甸退化的响应

草地退化已经成为了一个世界性的生态问题.尽管土壤微生物作为草地退化过程的主要参与者,在维持生态系统功能和提高土壤生产力中扮演着关键角色,但目前对草地退化引起的微生物群落变化及其与土壤性质和植物群落的关系知之甚少.本文利用Illumina MiSeq测序技术,对五台山亚高山草甸4个不同退化阶段[未退化(ND)、轻度退化(LD)、中度退化(MD)和重度退化(HD)]土壤真菌群落特征进行了分析.结果表明,子囊菌门、担子菌门和接合菌门是亚高山草甸土壤真菌的优势门. LEfSe分析显示不同退化程度草甸富集了不同的生物标志物,MD和HD富集了更多的病原真菌.与ND相比,HD土壤真菌群落丰富度和香农指数显著降低(P<0.05).非度量多维尺度分析(NMDS)和相似性分析(ANOSIM)结果表明,真菌群落组成和结构在退化梯度上存在显著的差异(P<0.05).冗余分析(RDA)发现土壤含水量、总氮、植物丰富度和铵态氮是真菌群落组成和结构变化的主要驱动因子.植物与真菌群落之间的α多样性和β多样性均存在显著相关性(P<0.05),具有强耦合性.本研究结果为研究亚高山草甸不同退化阶段下土壤真...     

环丙沙星在亚高山草甸土和沼泽土中的吸附特性

为了研究环丙沙星（Ciprfloxacin,CIP）在土壤中的吸附过程及主要影响因素,以川西北高原亚高山草甸土和沼泽土为研究对象,采用OECD guideline 106批平衡方法,分析了亚高山草甸土和沼泽土对CIP的吸附动力学特征、吸附热力学特征以及pH、温度、CIP初始浓度等对其吸附过程的影响.结果表明:①不同初始浓度CIP在两种土壤中的吸附过程均符合准二级吸附动力学模型,R2为0.920 2~0.988 6.②Freundlich等温吸附模型能够较好地拟合两种土壤对CIP的吸附热力学过程,吸附等温线符合“L”型.③在15~35℃范围内,吸附热力学参数ΔHθ（吉布斯自由能）和ΔGθ（焓变）均小于0,ΔSθ（熵变）大于0,表明两种土壤对CIP的吸附过程以物理吸附为主,属于吸附体系混乱度增加的自发进行的放热反应.④吸附容量lg K_f满足沼泽土大于亚高山草甸土,说明沼泽土对CIP的吸附能力强于亚高山草甸土,且两种土壤的吸附能力与CIP的初始浓度呈正相关.⑤在pH为3~9条件下,吸附量均随pH的增加呈现先增后减的趋势,当pH为5时,两种土壤对CIP的吸附效果均最好,表明强酸和碱性环境均不利于土壤对CIP的吸附.研究显示,CIP在两种土壤中的吸附容量、吸附强度以及吸附速率均存在较大差异,温度、CIP的初始浓度和pH对两种土壤吸附CIP存在一定影响.      

不同取样尺度下亚高山草甸土壤呼吸的空间变异特征

基于对4个取样尺度(10、5、2.5、1.25 m)下亚高山草甸土壤呼吸速率的观测,对不同尺度土壤呼吸的空间变异特征进行了研究,分析了不同尺度土壤全氮、有机碳、碳氮比、全硫、土壤温度和土壤水分对土壤呼吸空间异质性的影响,并对各尺度不同置信水平与估计精度下的必要采样数量进行了计算.结果表明:除1.25 m和2.5 m尺度上土壤温度的空间变异属于弱变异外,土壤呼吸及其相关因子的空间变异均属于中等变异,土壤呼吸和土壤温度的变异系数随着取样尺度的增大而增大,而土壤全氮、有机碳、全硫和土壤水分的变异系数随着取样尺度的增大均有减小的趋势;不同取样尺度,影响土壤呼吸的关键因子不同.在10 m尺度,土壤呼吸与土壤全氮、有机碳呈极显著正相关,与土壤温度呈显著正相关,与土壤全硫、碳氮比和土壤水分相关性不显著;在5 m尺度,与土壤全氮和有机碳呈极显著正相关,与土壤全硫、碳氮比、土壤水分和土壤温度相关性不显著;在2.5 m尺度,与土壤有机碳、全氮和土壤水分呈极显著正相关,与土壤全硫、碳氮比和土壤温度相关性不显著;在1.25 m尺度,与土壤全氮、有机碳和土壤水分呈极显著正相关,与碳氮比呈显著负相关,与土壤温度呈极显著负相关,与土壤全硫相关性不显著.随着取样尺度的减小,土壤水分所起的作用逐渐增大,相关系数从0.27~0.49,土壤温度与土壤呼吸的相关性由显著正相关向极显著负相关变化;4个取样尺度95%置信水平误差在10%和20%内必要采样数量分别为28、21、18、14个和7、5、4、4个,随着取样尺度的减小,必需的采样数量减少.     

亚高山湖群中真菌群落的分布格局和多样性维持机制

真菌群落的组成和多样性对维持亚高山湖泊生态系统平衡具有重要影响.本文以包括琵琶海(PPH,0、2和4 m)、马营海(MYH,0、2、4和6 m)和公海(GH,0、2、4、6和8 m)在内的亚高山湖群中不同深度的水生真菌群落为研究对象,通过高通量测序的方法探究真菌群落的分布格局和多样性维持机制(确定性过程VS随机过程).结果表明,不同湖泊水质差异明显,GH中p H、电导率、铵态氮、总碳和无机碳含量均显著高于其他两者.真菌群落主要由子囊菌门(Ascomycota,0. 82%～21. 05%)、担子菌门(Basidiomycota, 1. 26%～11. 79%)、壶菌门(Chytridiomycota, 0. 42%～4. 26%)和隐真菌门(Rozellomycota,0. 11%～0. 33%)等组成.囊担子菌纲(Cystobasidiomycetes)、座囊菌纲(Dothideomycetes)、壶菌纲(Chytridiomycetes)和粪壳菌纲(Sordariomycetes)为所有湖泊共有.不同湖泊真菌群落的α-多样性和优势类群差异显著(P 0. 05),而在每个湖内不同深度之间没有显著的差异.相似性分析结果表明,不同湖之间真菌群落的β-多样性明显不同(r=0. 99,P 0. 01),同时MYH(r=0. 98,P 0. 01)和GH(r=0. 25,P 0. 05)不同深度真菌群落的β-多样性也差异明显,但是PPH(r=0. 23,P 0. 05)不同深度真菌群落的β-多样性没有显著的差异.冗余分析和方差分解分析结果表明,在小区域范围内(3个湖之间)以及局域范围内(MYH不同深度)真菌群落的β-多样性格局是环境选择和扩散限制共同影响的结果,但是环境选择的相对作用更强,其中水体p H、溶解氧、总碳和电导率是主要的影响因子.零模型分析结果表明,种间相互作用驱动了GH中真菌群落β-多样性格局的维持.总之,亚高山湖群中真菌群落的β-多样性格局主要是由确定性过程驱动的.