Interactions betweenLythrum salicaria and native organisms: A critical review

Seventy-one articles concerningLythrum salicaria (purple loosestrife), a European herb introduced to North America, were reviewed for evidence of utilization by North American fauna and the effect of loosestrife on native plant species. In contrast to popular claims, 29 species of organisms were found to utilize this plant, and no evidence of species declines due to purple loosestrife were found. Evidence that loosestrife out-competes cattails and other plant species was found to be lacking or contradictory. Thus detailed, quantitative data are needed to understand loosestrife's natural history, population dynamics, and impacts on native ecosystems if we are to effectively manage this plant.     

A FRAMEWORK FOR PHOSPHORUS TRANSPORT MODELING IN THE LAKE OKEECHOBEE WATERSHED1

ABSTRACT: A modeling framework was developed to determine phosphorus loadings to Lake Okeechobee from watersheds located north of the lake. This framework consists of the land-based model CREAMS-WT, the in-stream transport model QUAL2E, and an interface procedure to format the land-based model output for use by the in-stream model. QUAL2E hydraulics and water quality routines were modified to account for flow routing and phosphorus retention in both wetlands and stream channels. Phosphorus loadings obtained from previous applications of CREAMS-WT were used by QUAL2E, and calibration and verification showed that QUAL2E accurately simulated seasonal and annual phosphorus loadings from a watershed. Sensitivity and uncertainty analyses indicated that the accuracy of monthly loadings can be improved by using better estimates of in-stream phosphorus decay rates, ground water phosphorus concentrations, and runoff phosphorus concentrations as input to QUAL2E.     

An assessment of urban development into coastal wetlands using historical aerial photography: a case study

Like many other states in the USA, Virginia passed legislation to protect coastal wetlands with limited information on the rate and location of past wetlands conversions. This information, however, can be useful in the design of cost-effective and flexible programs for wetlands management, particularly when such information is used in combination with studies of the socioeconomic value of wetlands. This paper reports on the use of photogrammetric and interpretive methods to determine historical changes in wetlands use for Virginia Beach and Accomack counties, Virginia. Conclusions are drawn as to the use of such information in policy design and program monitoring.     

A PRELIMINARY STUDY OF THE EFFECTS OF DRAINAGE AND HARVESTING ON WATER QUALITY IN OMBROTROPHIC BOGS NEAR SEPT-ILES,QUEBEC1

ABSTRACT: Runoff and ground-water samples were collected from four ombrotrophic bogs, representing undisturbed and drained/harvested conditions, at two-week intervals during the summer of 1984. Analyses of samples for water quality parameters revealed significant (P < 0.05 level) increases in specific conductance, NH4⁺-N, total dissolved P, Mg, K, and Na and a decrease in the E₄:E₆ ratio (suggesting increased proportions of humic acid) associated with drainage. There were no significant changes in dissolved organic carbon, Ca concentrations, or pH. Comparison of samples collected before, during, and after ditching showed increases in the dissolved organic carbon, NH₄⁺-N, total dissolved P, K, and Na and a decrease in the E₄:E₆ ratio, but these changes were short lived; water quality returned to preditching values after about a week. The observed changes in water quality are small, probably because the peat is very acid (pH 3.0 to 4.5).     

Impact of riverine wetlands construction and operation on stream channel stability: Conceptual framework for geomorphic assessment

Wetland conservation is a critical environmental management issue. An emerging approach to this issue involves the construction of wetland environments. Because our understanding of wetlands function is incomplete and such projects must be monitored closely because they may have unanticipated impacts on ecological, hydrological, and geomorphological systems. Assessment of project-related impacts on stream channel stability is an important component of riverine wetlands construction and operation because enhanced erosion or deposition associated with unstable rivers can lead to loss of property, reductions in channel capacity, and degradation of water quality, aquatic habitat, and riparian aesthetics. The water/sediment budget concept provides a scientific framework for evaluating the impact of riverine wetlands construction and operation on stream channel stability. This concept is based on the principle of conservation of mass, i.e., the total amount of water and sediment moving through a specific reach of river must be conserved. Long-term measurements of channel sediment storage and other water/sediment budget components provide the basis for distinguishing between project-related impacts and those resulting from other causes. Changes in channel sediment storage that occur as a result of changes in internal inputs of water or sediment signal a project-related impact, whereas those associated with changes in upstream or tributary inputs denote a change in environmental conditions elsewhere in the watershed. A geomorphic assessment program based on the water/sediment budget concept has been implemented at the site of the Des Plaines River Wetlands Demonstration Projection near Chicago, Illinois, USA. Channel sediment storage changed little during the initial construction phase, suggesting that thus far the project has not affected stream channel stability.     

PHOSPHORUS RELEASE AND ASSIMILATORY CAPACITY OF TWO LOWER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY FRESHWATER WETLAND SOILS1

ABSTRACT: Phosphorus fluxes and water quality functions of a bottomland hardwood and freshwater marsh wetland soil were compared. The effect of soil physicochemical conditions, phosphorus loading rate, and diffusive exchange between soils and the overlying food water column on phosphorus release and retention were studied. The predominantly mineral swamp forest soil displayed greater phosphorus sorption potential than the organic freshwater marsh soil. Moreover, due to its low bulk density (0.11 g cm^?3), the freshwater marsh soil surface area required for phosphorus retention is very large compared to the bottomland hardwood wetland soil. For both wetlands, soil redox status affected P release and assimilatory capacity. The more reducing the soils, the smaller their phosphorus retention capacity (greater their release). Phosphorus removal from the overlying water column into the wetland soils followed a first-order kinetic model. Under similar hydrological conditions, phosphorus was found to diffuse 1.2 times faster to the bottom. land hardwood soil than in the freshwater marsh soil. Results indicate that while the bottomland hardwood wetland soil will serve as a sink for phosphorus entering such wetland, phosphorus will be released and exported from the freshwater marsh soil into adjacent ecosystems.     

EFFECTS OF PRECIPITATION AND LAND USE ON STORM RUNOFF1

ABSTRACT: Storm-runoff quantity and quality were studied in three watersheds located near St. Paul in Ramsey County, Minnesota, from April 15 through September 15 of 1984, 1985, and 1986 to qualitatively determine the effects of precipitation and selected land uses on storm runoff. In respect to precipitation effects, differences in stormrunoff quantity between years in an urban watershed that lacks wetlands appear to be related to the average storm size (amount of precipitation) during the study period of each year. In contrast, the differences in storm-runoff quantity from watersheds that contain wetlands appear to be related to total precipitation during study period of each year. In respect to land use, the differences in storm-runoff quantity appear to be related to the amounts of impervious and wetland area. The watershed that contains the largest amount of impervious area and smallest amount of wetland area has the largest amount of storm runoff. Differences in storm-runoff quality appear to be related to the amounts of wetland and lake area. The watershed that contains the largest amounts of wetland and lake area has the smallest storm-runoff loading of suspended solids, phosphorus, and nitrogen. The wetland and lake areas likely retain the loading and, subsequently, lower the amount of storm-runoff loading exported from a watershed.     

长江三角洲国际重要湿地人为胁迫遥感解析

以长江三角洲上海崇明东滩鸟类国家级自然保护区、江苏大丰麋鹿国家级自然保护区、西溪国家湿地公园和江苏盐城国家级珍禽自然保护区4处国际重要湿地为研究对象,以Landsat MSS/TM/OLI遥感影像为基础信息源,采用面向对象的遥感分类方法获取了1980~2015年4个国际重要湿地（Ramsar）的5期土地覆被数据.通过分析湿地面积、景观格局动态及景观指数变化等,定量解析人类活动对湿地景观变化的影响,研究发现：（1）35a间,研究区内湿地面积持续减少,其中上海崇明东滩鸟类国家级自然保护区的湿地损失比例最高,为27.2%;（2）4个国际重要湿地的斑块数量和斑块密度都在增加,湿地趋于破碎化,景观间连通度降低.（3）耕地和人工表面增加是造成湿地损失的主要因素,耕地、人工表面、外来物种入侵和养殖池扩张等人为胁迫呈现上升趋势.（4）总体而言,入选国际重要湿地对人为活动有一定抑制作用,尤其是江苏大丰麋鹿国家级自然保护区湿地保护成效最为显著;但湿地保护有效性仍有待提升.     

功能分区型人工湿地处理养殖废水厌氧消化液的性能

针对养猪废水厌氧消化液高ρ(NH₄+-N)的特点,构建了上层填充沸石强化硝化、下层填充砖渣强化反硝化的功能分区型人工湿地,考察其启动阶段运行性能、硝化区及反硝化区污染物去除性能. 结果表明,湿地以间歇方式运行(饱和液位无变化),启动后NO₃--N的产生速率为0.014 6 kg/(m3·d),湿地底部出水的ρ(NO₃--N)平均值为14.94 mg/L,明显低于沸石层的21.77 mg/L. COD_Cr主要在湿地上层硝化区被去除,平均去除率为64.82%. 随着湿地启动,下层由于反硝化作用消耗的有机物增至56.67 mg/L. 在进水期的前15 min,COD_Cr、NH₄+-N、TP的去除率最大,NO₃--N溶出量(以ρ计)最高,达42.30 mg/L. 沸石层10、20和30 cm处硝化速率基本稳定,沸石层的E_h均在400 mV以上. 与间歇方式相比,湿地以潮汐流方式(进水期与落干期时间比为1 h∶23 h)运行时,COD_Cr和TN去除率分别由78.45%和41.99%升至82.62%和53.41%. 研究显示,功能分区型人工湿地通过上层硝化、下层反硝化方式可有效去除养殖废水厌氧消化液中的NH₄+-N.      

垂直流人工湿地有机质含量分布特征

利用3种复合基质(沸石+泥炭+红壤、河砂+泥炭+红壤、蛭石+泥炭+红壤,体积比均为18∶1∶1)构建模拟垂直流人工湿地处理人工合成污水,分析基质灭菌与接种污水等情况下,不同基质层w(OM)(OM为有机质)的分布特征. 结果表明:3种复合基质初始w(OM)依次为1.011、6.654和15.896 g/kg,存在显著差异(P<0.01). 复合基质2经灭菌后w(OM)下降26.77%,说明河砂微生物活性最高. 基质灭菌和接种3%污水对湿地w(OM)分布的影响均比较显著(P<0.05),主要是改变了表层的w(OM). 湿地运行45 d后,w(OM)沿基质深度增加明显,并且分布差异显著(P<0.01),OM主要分布于表层;其中复合基质3不灭菌+不接种污水湿地表层的w(OM)高达42.008 g/kg,运行90 d后增至44.228 g/kg,说明蛭石的吸附作用最强. 吸附和微生物作用对复合基质3湿地表层OM积累的贡献大小表现为吸附作用>基质微生物作用>接种污水微生物作用.