The change of gaseous carbon fluxes following the switch of dominant producers from macrophytes to algae in a shallow subtropical lake of China

Successions of lake ecosystems from clear-water, macrophyte-rich conditions into turbid states with abundant phytoplankton have taken place in many shallow lakes in China. However, little is know about the change of carbon fluxes in lakes during such processes. We conducted a case study in Lake Biandantang to investigate the change of carbon fluxes during such a regime shift. Dissolved aquatic carbon and gaseous carbon (methane (CH₄) and carbon dioxide (CO₂)) across air–water interface in three sites with different vegetation covers and compositions were studied and compared. CH₄ emissions from three sites were 0.62±0.36, 0.70±0.36, and 1.31±0.57 mg m⁻² h⁻¹, respectively. Correlation analysis showed that macrophytes, rather than phytoplankton, directly positively affected CH₄ emission. CO₂ fluxes of three sites in Lake Biandantang were significantly different, and the average values were 77.8±20.4, 52.2±14.1 and 3.6±26.8 mg m⁻² h⁻¹, respectively. There were an evident trend that the larger macrophyte biomass, the lower CO₂ emissions. Correlation analysis showed that in different sites, dominant plant controlled CO₂ flux across air–water interface. In a year cycle, the percents of gaseous carbon release from lake accounting for net primary production were significantly different (from 39.3% to 2.8%), indicating that with the decline of macrophytes and regime shift, the lake will be a larger carbon source to the atmosphere.     

Role of specific microbial communities in the bioavailability of iron in Doñana National Park

The Doñana National Park contains highly complex microbial communities that play critical roles in the bioavailability and biogeochemical cycling of elements. In this study, we analyzed the formation of Fe-rich films on the surface of shallow waters at Doñana National Park as a model for future applications in bioremediation. Phytoplankton composition and abundance, physicochemical measurements, culture enrichments, and molecular detection of microorganisms were determined during this study. Natural samples were incubated in the laboratory and enrichments producing similar phenomena were obtained. Bacteria belonging to the genera Enterobacter were the major participants in surface Fe-film formation in laboratory enrichments. Film formation was dependent on wind exposure and only those sites protected from the direct influence of wind developed these films. A higher concentration of euglenophytes was found in the proximity of film-covered waters. Available iron (Fe²⁺) and total Fe concentrations were high (18.8 and 46.6 mg/L, respectively) underneath the surface film, and higher than in film-free waters and pore-sediment water. The concentration of phosphate and its availability were higher in the iron-rich film sediment, as 61% of total P was bound to iron oxy-hydroxides. Our results provide evidence of the link between P and Fe biogeochemical cycling in aquatic systems on sandy soils at the Doñana National Park. In addition, they provide significant insights into the bioavailability of these elements with potential interest in the role of microorganisms for metal sequestration in natural environments and utilization in bioremediation processes.     

Phytoplankton patchiness and their role in the modelled productivity of a large, seasonally stratified lake

Phytoplankton concentration in Lake Kinneret (Israel) has varied up to 10-fold in space and time, with horizontal patches ranging from a couple of kilometres to a basin scale. Previous studies have used a 1D model to reproduce the temporal evolution of physical and biogeochemical variables in this lake. The question that arises then is how appropriate is a 1D approach to represent the dynamic of a spatially heterogeneous system, where there are non-linear dependencies between variables. Field data, a N-P-Z model coupled to both a 1D and a 3D hydrodynamic model, a 1D diffusion-reaction equation and scaling analysis are used to understand the role of spatial variability, expressed as phytoplankton patchiness, in the modelling of primary production. The analysis and results are used to investigate the effect of horizontal variability in the forcing and in the free mechanisms that affect the growth of patterns. The study shows that the use of averaged properties in a 1D approach may produce misleading results in the presence of localised patches, in terms of both concentration and composition of phytoplankton. The reason lies in the fact that the calibration process of ecological parameters in the 1D model appears to be site and process specific. That is, it depends on the pattern's characteristics and the underlying physical processes causing them. And this is a critical point for the success of numerical simulations under spatial variability. In this study, it is also shown that a length scale based on diffusion and growth rate of phytoplankton could be used as a criterion to assess the appropriateness of the 1D assumption.     

An individual-based analysis of the dynamics of two coexisting phytoplankton species in the mixed layer

In marine ecosystems ecological and environmental conditions continuously change, possibly supporting the wide range of phytoplankton species coexisting in aquatic environments. Phytoplankton communities are not homogeneously distributed in the water column due to the spatial and temporal variability of turbulent mixing and the concurrent biological response. In this paper an individual-based model (Lagrangian method) simulating the basic physiology of two coexisting phytoplankton species has been developed. The species, sharing the same availability of light and nutrient resource, are characterized by different photo-physiological parameters. The spatial and temporal evolution of turbulent mixing is simulated introducing vertical profiles of measured eddy diffusivity. Three case studies have been examined to analyze the role of environment–individual interactions in determining bloom conditions for both the selected species. The organisms experience recurrent fluctuations of light, temperature, and nutrient concentration gradients, due to the turbulent mixing in the water column, which have significant effects on the growth of the phytoplankton species. In all the numerical experiments, the temporal and spatial variability of different forcings do not support the prevalence of one species over the other over the time scale typical of a phytoplankton bloom.A well mixed water column favours the growth of both the populations while a variable mixing regime limits their growth reducing the photophysiological differences between the species.     

Observations on phytoplankton productivity in relation to hydrography in the Northern Adriatic

This work, carried out within the framework of the PRISMA II project, aims at evaluating the effects of the Po River flow on primary productivity, measured by C with in situ sample incubations. A total of four cruises was carried out in late winter and early summer (1996-1998) along transects from the coast offshore. In both seasons, the highest primary productivity was found in the most oligohaline stations. The effects of the Po River inputs were therefore clearly evident in the westernmost area, both in high productivity values and in the shape of productivity profiles. In late winter, extensive blooms of Skeletonema costatum and Pseudo-nitzschia delicatissima resulted in productivity values that were sometimes higher than in early summer. In early summer 1996, greatly reduced river flow clearly influenced productivity which was much lower than in 1997.     

以浮游植物评价太湖春季水质污染及富营养化

通过太湖浮游植物群落生态学的研究 ,对太湖春季水质污染及富营养化进行总评及分区评价。就太湖总体而论 ,藻量均值达 2 88× 1 0 6个细胞 /L ,硅藻指数 1 1 0 ,污染指示种占 58 8% ,各样点多以蓝藻 (微囊藻为主 )占优势 ,其分布频度达 1 0 0 % ,多度达 6 5 5% ,表明太湖受到中等程度的污染。与过去同期太湖浮游植物的调查资料对比表明人为富营养化进程有所减缓。     

蟒蛇河水域浮游植物调查与水生态评价

2012—2013年春(3月)、秋(9月)两季,从蟒蛇河上游大纵湖至下游新洋港大桥,共设置6个监测点位,调查浮游植物种类组成及群落结构,并利用群落结构指数等方法评价其水生态状况,结果表明:蟒蛇河水域共监测到浮游植物64种,以硅藻门、绿藻门和蓝藻门为主要门类;各监测点位浮游植物密度呈现秋季显著高于春季的季节性变化趋势;春、秋季节浮游植物优势种存在交叉演替的现象;蟒蛇河浮游植物多样性较好,指征水体污染程度为尚清洁;Shannon-wiener多样性指数、Margalef物种丰富度指数和Pielou均匀度指数数值均表现为春季高于秋季,且上、下游点位间差异不明显。     

连云港港区海洋环境质量状况

为分析连云港海洋环境质量,对连云港港区水质、沉积物及生物因子进行监测。结果表明,港区内某些点位水质中无机氮含量较高,达到污染程度,其余点位监测指标均正常,沉积物中的重金属尚未对该海域造成污染。浮游植物31种,其中甲藻门8种,硅藻门23种,浮游植物数量变动为1.84×104m-3~1.16×105m-3;底栖生物17种,多样性指数平均值为1.89。港区内水域环境时空变化表明,海水中锌含量连续大幅增加,其余指标均下降50%,沉积物重金属含量变化不大。     

苏州河叶绿素a动态特征及其与环境因子的关联分析

通过对苏州河叶绿素a的时空动态特征及叶绿素a含量与理化及生物因子的关联分折，探讨了苏州河水体叶绿素a的动态规律与各因子的相关性。研究表明，该水域叶绿素a含量不仅表现出明显的季节变异，而且呈现了年际变化的趋向，同时也具有空间上的差异。叶绿素a含量与水温呈密切正相关；浮游植物对溶解氧的影响是非常小的，溶解氧含量主要是受水温控制，两者呈负相关关系；氮和磷不是该水体浮游植物生长的限制因子，氨氮的相对含量与叶绿素a呈明显负相关关系，而亚璃酸盐、璃酸盐氮含量与叶绿素a呈明显正相关关系；浮游植物的兴衰除受硫酸盐含量的限制外，与高等水生植物的消长也存在着一定的关联性。     

淀山湖富营养化控制的模型研究

针对淀山湖富营养化严重的问题,应用USEPA的AQUATOX模型对淀山湖水体中营养盐时间变化规律和藻类生长演替进行了研究。在对模型率定、验证的基础上．对水力条件、污染源等富营养控制方案的效果进行模拟。模拟结果显示：该生态模型较好地模拟了常规水质和藻类的动态变化;改善淀山湖的水力条件,能有效控制蓝藻水华的暴发;淀山湖污染负荷主要来自于上游负荷;在控磷和控氮的对比上．蓝藻对于控制磷比较敏感。对于淀山湖富营养化的治理应采取控源与生态修复并举的方式,这样有利于有效稳定水质改善的效果。