Instream Large Wood: Denitrification Hotspots with Low N2O Production

We examined the effect of instream large wood on denitrification capacity in two contrasting, lower order streams — one that drains an agricultural watershed with no riparian forest and minimal stores of instream large wood and another that drains a forested watershed with an extensive riparian forest and abundant instream large wood. We incubated two types of wood substrates (fresh wood blocks and extant streambed wood) and an artificial stone substrate for nine weeks in each stream. After in situ incubation, we collected the substrates and their attached biofilms and established laboratory‐based mesocosm assays with stream water amended with ¹⁵N‐labeled nitrate‐N. Wood substrates at the forested site had significantly higher denitrification than wood substrates from the agricultural site and artificial stone substrates from either site. Nitrate‐N removal rates were markedly higher on woody substrates compared to artificial stones at both sites. Nitrate‐N removal rates were significantly correlated with biofilm biomass. Denitrification capacity accounted for only a portion of nitrate‐N removal observed within the mesocosms in both the wood controls and instream substrates. N₂ accounted for 99.7% of total denitrification. Restoration practices that generate large wood in streams should be encouraged for N removal and do not appear to generate high risks of instream N₂O generation.     

Field Testing the Riparian Ecosystem Management Model on a Riparian Buffer in the North Carolina Upper Coastal Plain

The riparian ecosystem management model (REMM) was field tested using five years (2005‐2009) of measured hydrologic and water quality data on a riparian buffer located in the Tar‐Pamlico River Basin, North Carolina. The buffer site received NO₃‐N loading from an agricultural field that was fertilized with inorganic fertilizer. Field results showed the buffer reduced groundwater NO₃‐N concentration moving to the stream over a five‐year period. REMM was calibrated hydrologically using daily field‐measured water table depths (WTDs), and with monthly NO₃‐N concentrations in groundwater wells. Results showed simulated WTDs and NO₃‐N concentrations in good agreement with measured values. The mean absolute error and Willmott's index of agreement for WTDs varied from 13‐45 cm and 0.72‐0.92, respectively, while the root mean square error and Willmott's index of agreement for NO₃‐N concentrations ranged from 1.04‐5.92 mg/l and 0.1‐0.86, respectively, over the five‐year period. REMM predicted plant nitrogen (N) uptake and denitrification were within ranges reported in other riparian buffer field studies. The calibrated and validated REMM was used to simulate 33 years of buffer performance at the site. Results showed that on average the buffer reduced NO₃‐N concentrations from 12 mg/l at the field edge to 0.7 mg/l at the stream edge over the simulation period, while the total N and NO₃‐N load reductions from the field edge to the stream were 77 and 82%, respectively.     

Life-history traits and the fate of translocated populations

Attempts to identify predictors and mechanisms of invasion success have been weakened by poor data quality, mostly because monitoring does not begin immediately after introduction events. To overcome this issue, we used data from conservation translocations of threatened bird species. We analyzed information on >1200 translocation events of >150 bird species to investigate how life-history traits affect population establishment measured based on rates of survival and reproduction. Species position along the slow–fast life-history continuum was a key predictor of translocation success. Species with fast-paced life histories were less likely to survive (over both short- and mid-term) and more likely to breed successfully than species with slow life histories. The temporal partitioning of reproductive effort (number of clutches per year) also affected the probability of successful reproduction. Our results illustrate how conservation-motivated reintroduction programs can provide proxies for the initial stages of the invasion process, enabling empirical tests of predictions from life-history theory and informing management.     

Evaluation of the Impact of Acid Mine Drainage on the Chemistry and the Macrobenthos in the Carolina Stream (San Luis – Argentina)

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of acid mine drainage on the chemistry and the macrobenthos of the Carolina stream (San Luis – Argentina). Samples were obtained in the years 1997–1998 at two sites: site C₁, located 200 m upstream of the drainage, and site C₂, located 800 m downstream. The system buffer capacity was evaluated in the non – contaminated site by means of the buffer index calculation. The physico – chemical changes observed as a consequence of the contribution of acid mine drainage (AMD) were: a decreasing of pH and an increase in the ionic concentration, especially sulfate and Fe coming from the oxidation produced by chemiolithotrophic bacteria. The values obtained indicated a low buffer capacity and a high intrinsic vulnerability of the system to resist the impact originated by the AMD, producing a remarkable decreasing of pH of the receiving stream. These changes caused modifications in the original benthic community that was replaced by organisms more tolerant to the acid stress. A reduction in the abundance and in the taxonomic richness of the benthic macroinvertebrates was observed when compared with the reference station. An increase in the proportion of Chironomidae and of Acari and a decrease in the proportion of the remaining taxa were observed. The most sensitive groups were Ephemeroptera, Trichoptera and Mollusca. The community was mostly affected by the following variables: pH, conductivity, sulfate and dissolved total Fe.     

Assessment of Temporal and Spatial Variation of Nitrate Removal in Riparian Zones

The aim of this study was to monitor long-term temporal and spatial groundwater NO₃^- removal efficiencies in different riparian zones via a limited number of sampling wells. Groundwater NO₃^- concentrations were measured fortnightly or monthly over a period of two years using transects of ground water sampling wells. Depending on the level of the NO₃^- load (up to 120mgNL^-1 at the input side of the riparian zone a distance of 10 to 30m was needed to remove NO₃^- from the groundwater below 11.3mgNL^-1. Considering all seasons, the mixed vegetation and grass riparian site succeeded to remove groundwater NO₃^- efficiently (92—100% within a distance of 30m. The forested riparian zone removed 72—90% of the total NO₃^- input within a distance of 30m. Evidence emerged that NO₃^- could also be removed actively at depths up to 2m, due to the presence of organically enriched layers of alluvial deposits or roots. Our four dimensional approach (three dimensional space and time), in combination with a limited number of sampling wells, was shown to be a useful monitoring tool to assess the variability of NO₃^- removal in riparian zones.     

岩溶山地撂荒地演变研究—以郎溪槽谷区为例

中国山区面积广、坡耕地比重大,耕地撂荒不仅关系到山区农地的合理利用和可持续发展政策的制定,还对生态环境问题产生影响.因此,本文以2004年、2010年、2014年、2017年朗溪槽谷遥感影像等为数据源,通过景观格局指数、缓冲区分析及结合槽谷高程分析朗溪槽谷撂荒地分布格局、演变规律、驱动机制和撂荒效应.结果得出:耕地撂荒...     

上海城市河岸带土壤反硝化作用研究

2011年4月至2012年2月,以2个月为周期,在上海市不同地点浦东(PD)、金山(JS)、嘉定(JD)、青浦(QP)、崇明(CM)、闵行(MH)采集不同类型城市河岸带土壤,采用乙炔抑制法测定土壤反硝化速率.结果表明,上海河岸带土壤反硝化速率介于1.00 ～ 82.92μmol·m-2·h-1之间,时空差异明显.不同区域,农田背景下的河岸带土壤反硝化速率(浦东:29.51 μmol·m-2h-1,嘉定:36.99μmol·m-2·h-1)要高于以草地(青浦:4.95 μmol·m-2·h-1,闵行:7.84 μmol·m-2·h-1)、矮灌丛(金山:27.83 μmol·m-2·h-1,崇明:23.26 μmol·m-2·h-1)背景为主的河岸带土壤;垂直变化上,2～5 cm深度处的河岸带土壤反硝化速率最大,随深度增加反硝化速率呈逐步降低趋势;季节变化上,河岸带土壤反硝化速率呈现夏秋高冬春低的特点,夏季是反硝化作用最为强烈的季节.温度、pH值、土壤有机碳(Soil Organic Carbon,SOC)、土壤总氮(Soil Total Nitrogen,STN)等是影响反硝化速率的重要因子,其中,反硝化速率与温度、SOC、STN含量呈正相关关系,与pH值呈负相关关系.     

水位变化对湖泊(水库)消落带生态环境影响的研究进展

消落带是水域生态系统与陆地生态系统的交替控制地带,具有生物的多样性、人类活动的频繁性和生态系统的脆弱性等特征。水位变化是影响湖泊特别是湖泊消落带生态系统主导因素,水位变化的频度、大小、持续时间等因素对消落带水-陆交换过程有重要的影响。本文回顾了近年来水位变化影响研究的基本概况,分析了水位变化对消落带物理因子、植物、动物、生物地球化学过程的影响,并讨论了国内外的研究趋势以及存在的问题。     

Agricultural non-point nitrogen pollution control function of dierent vegetation types in riparian wetlands: A case study in the Yellow River wetland in China

Riparian wetland is the major transition zone of matter, energy and information transfer between aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems and has important functions of water purification and non-point pollution control. Using the field experiment method and an isotope tracing technique, the agricultural non-point nitrogen pollution control function of dierent vegetation types in riparian wetland was studied in the Kouma Section of the Yellow River. The results showed that the retention of agricultural non-point ...     

不同草皮缓冲带对径流污染物的去除效果试验研究

选择上海地区常见的5种草皮植被,利用自行设计的试验装置构建草皮缓冲带,模拟上海地区农业面源污染和降雨特征,进行缓冲带污染物净化效果试验研究。结果表明,草皮的存在明显提高缓冲带对污染物的净化效果,并且能增强缓冲带土壤的渗透能力;百慕大缓冲带对径流SS的截留能力最强,平均去除率达到71.86%;草皮缓冲带对渗流水营养物质的净化效果明显高于径流,渗流水TN、TP平均去除率以白花三叶草最高,分别为58.27%和60.49%;综合考虑降雨特征和污染物净化效果等因素,百慕大、白花三叶草和高羊茅等3种草皮,可以作为上海地区缓冲带草皮植被的优先选择种类。