Twenty Years of New Zealand’s National Rivers Water Quality Network: Benefits of Careful Design and Consistent Operation1

Davies‐Colley, Robert J., David G. Smith, Robert C. Ward, Graham G. Bryers, Graham B. McBride, John M. Quinn, and Mike R. Scarsbrook, 2011. Twenty Years of New Zealand’s National Rivers Water Quality Network: Benefits of Careful Design and Consistent Operation. Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA) 47(4):750‐771. DOI: 10.1111/j.1752‐1688.2011.00554.x Abstract: This paper reviews New Zealand’s National Rivers Water Quality Network (NRWQN), which is now in its third decade of monitoring. The NRWQN is noteworthy for being operationally stable throughout its history, and the resulting consistency is increasingly valuable for detecting water quality trends and for “anchoring” temporary special purpose monitoring campaigns. The NRWQN was carefully designed following considerable effort to learn from monitoring experiences elsewhere. Monthly visits are made to 77 sites (all near hydrometric stations) on 35 river systems that cumulatively drain about one half of the national landscape. “Core” (routinely measured) variables are: conductivity, pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen, visual clarity, turbidity, colored dissolved organic matter, fecal indicator bacteria, and different forms of nitrogen and phosphorus (italics indicate field measurements). Associated benthic biological monitoring comprises monthly visual assessment of periphyton and annual sampling for macro‐invertebrates. We overview the conception, design, initiation, and operational history of the NRWQN, and highlight the diverse applications of its datasets including numerous scientific applications, national‐scale modeling of material fluxes, and state‐of‐environment reporting and practical water management at both regional and national scale. The qualified success of the NRWQN can probably be attributed to careful (and parsimonious) design and consistent operation.     

SPATIAL VARIATION OF NUTRIENT BALANCE IN THE TRUCKEE RIVER,CALIFORNIA‐NEVADA1

ABSTRACT: Because the Truckee River connects two lakes along the Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains with different limiting nutrients, this research addresses whether the nitrogen:phosphorus (N:P) balance of the river ecosystem changes longitudinally. Historical (1990 to 2000) total nitro‐gen:total phosphorus (TN:TP) ratios in river water exhibited the expected gradient from high N:P ratios upstream to low N:P ratios downstream, with the major gradient of the N:P balance occurring within the transition between montane and high desert terrain. During 2001, the river contained anomalously low total nitrogen concentrations in the far upper reaches and dissolved inorganic nitrogen concentrations in the lower reaches, resulting in a less apparent longitudinal gradient of N:P ratios. Measurements of periphyton growth and physiology (nutrient bioassays and ectoenzyme activities) and stoichiometry during the summer of 2001 also exhibited a complex picture of the spatial variation of N:P balance that was not entirely consistent with a strong N:P gradient. However, the compendium of the indicators did support the overall picture of an overarching longitudinal gradient from high to low N:P ratios. The results suggest that periphyton management efforts in the Truckee River should consider the overall spatial gradient as well as the small‐scale dynamics of the stream ecosystem structure.     

PATTERNS OF PERIPHYTON CHLOROPHYLL α IN AN AGRICULTURAL NONPOINT SOURCE IMPACTED STREAM1

ABSTRACT: An agricultural nonpoint source polluted stream in northern Idaho was examined to determine seasonal and longitudinal patterns of periphyton chlorophyll α. Chlorophyll a was measured at eight sites along Lapwai Creek, a fifth order stream impacted by agricultural runoff containing nutrients and eroded soils. Seasonally, periphyton chlorophyll α was lowest in the spring (cumulative x?= 60.4 mg m^?2) and highest in the summer (cumulative x?= 222 mg m^?2). Winter concentrations were higher than expected (cumulative x?= 168.6 mg m^?2). The headwaters, flowing through an open grassy meadow, had the lowest concentrations of the study (two-year x?= 49.7 mg m^?2). Immediately below a small, eutrophic reservoir, periphyton chlorophyll α increased markedly (two-year x?= 155.8 mg m^?2) and remained high through a deep canyon (two year x?= 135.5 mg m^?2) and down to the mouth of the stream (two-year x?= 172.3 mg^?2). Periphyton chlorophyll α in Lapwai Creek was at least two times greater than values reported in the literature for comparable, undisturbed Idaho streams. We suggest that increased nutrient concentrations via agricultural nonpoint source pollution and increased light penetration from the removal of large, woody riparian vegetation have resulted in high periphyton chlorophyll α along the continuum of Lapwai Creek.     

Effect of periphyton community structure on heavy metal accumulation in mystery snail (Cipangopaludina chinensis):A case study of the Bai River, China

The ratio of metal:P stoichiometry was used to identify the accumulation pathways of heavy metals (V, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Cd, and Pb) from periphyton to snails Cipangopaludina chinensis Gray (C. chinensis) in the Bai River watershed. The results showed that periphyton communities were mainly composed of two types of algae, filamentous green algae and unicellular diatoms. The proportion of unicellular diatoms in the periphyton community is a key factor that influences metal accumulation in C. chinensis. The V, Cr, Co, Ni, and Cd content of C. chinensis increased steadily as the corresponding metal content of periphyton increased, but Cu and Pb in the snail did not increase in the periphyton. Mechanisms of V, Cr, and Ni accumulation were found to be related to the proportion of diatoms, while Cd and Pb accumulation were dependent on the physiological characteristics of C. chinensis. The accumulation of Cu in C. chinensis was closely related to their grazing behavior. The metal:P stoichiometry revealed that Cr, Ni, and Cd can reduce the potential ecological risks associated with increased P inputs to the ecosystem. V and Co were considered to be relatively safe, regardless of the periphyton P content. Finally, Pb may not be prone to transfer to higher trophic levels, and may pose the lowest ecological risks of the studied heavy metals, but Cu can cause potential ecological risks when eutrophication has occurred.     

The Influence of Varying Planktonic and Periphytic Algal Biomass On Exposure to Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Mesocosms

Algal populations, either suspended in the water column (planktonic) or present on the walls of an enclosure (periphytic), develop differently depending upon the physical scale of the system. This study determined whether these variations altered the speciation and therefore exposure of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in estuarine mesocosms. Exposure was defined as the fraction of applied contaminant taken up by plankton after two hours. Using a three phase equilibrium model, the partitioning of a suite of PCBs within variously-sized mesocosms was predicted using laboratory derived distribution coefficients and measured levels of planktonic and periphytic algal biomass. in mesocosms having large wall surface area to volume ratios, sorption of hydrophobic PCBs to periphyton significantly decreased contaminant exposure. However, within the range of planktonic algal biomasses observed in this study, the regulation of PCB exposure was relatively invariant between variously-sized mesocosms. to minimize sorption of hydrophobic organic contaminants (HOCs) to periphyton and reduce artefacts inherent with this partitioning, we suggest using mesocosms with low wall surface area to volume ratios (less than or equal to 1). in addition, periphytic biomass should be quantified regularly and a three-phase equilibrium approach used to predict the actual exposure concentrations.     

附着生物对富营养化水体氮磷的去除效果

以太湖梅梁湾“863示范工程”水草恢复区原位湖水以及该区渔网围隔上的附着生物为材料，通过室内静态培养试验，研究了附着生物对富营养化湖水的氮、磷去除效果。结果表明，附着生物对水体中的氮有显著的去除效果，半个月内，附着生物对水体中总氮的累积去除率可达60%，在有附着生物的水体中总氮浓度从5 mg/L左右下降到2 mg/L左右；附着生物对水柱中氮的累积去除率和水柱中氮的浓度、附着生物的生物量以及附着生物作用时间密切相关。从培养过程中水体磷的浓度变化来说，培养初期，水体中磷的浓度比较高，附着生物对其有一定的去除作用；培养后期，水柱中磷的浓度比较低，附着生物不但不去除水中的磷，而且还向水柱中释放磷，这可能与附着生物向水体分泌碱性磷酸酶密切相关。     

Linking Excess Nutrients,Light, and Fine Bedded Sediments to Impacts on Faunal Assemblages in Headwater Agricultural Streams1

Griffith, Michael B., F. Bernard Daniel, Matthew A. Morrison, Michael E. Troyer, James M. Lazorchak, and Joseph P. Schubauer‐Berigan, 2009. Linking Excess Nutrients, Light, and Fine Bedded Sediments to Impacts on Faunal Assemblages in Headwater Agricultural Streams. Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA) 45(6):1475‐1492. Abstract: Biological impairments in streams are typically defined by regulatory agencies in terms of altered invertebrate or fish assemblages. While nutrients, canopy cover, and sediment fines contribute to these impairments, these stressors are often defined, at least in part, by their impacts on periphyton. Path analysis can extend these assessments to impacts on invertebrates and fish by characterizing the direct and indirect relationships among variables along defined model pathways. With data from headwater tributaries in the Little Miami River, Ohio, we tested models of the impacts of nutrients [total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), and the nitrogen to phosphorus (N/P) ratio], the percentage of (%) open canopy, and the % sand and fines on three periphyton metrics [periphytic ash‐free dry mass (AFDM), the percent abundance of cyanobacteria (% cyanobacteria), and the percent abundance of Chlorophyta (% Chlorophyta)] and, in turn, on selected invertebrate or fish metrics. Our objective was to develop and evaluate a statistical model that assesses the direct and indirect impacts of excess nutrients on macroinvertebrate and fish in these streams and demonstrate how this approach might be applicable elsewhere. The results suggest indirect pathways for the influences of nutrients, canopy cover, and fine bedded sediments on invertebrates or fish that are mediated by their influences on periphyton. This is in addition to any direct impacts of these stressors on the invertebrate and fish metrics. In most models, all three periphyton metrics increased with % open canopy. Periphytic AFDM increased with TN, while % cyanobacteria decreased. The % cyanobacteria also decreased with % sand and fines, but % Chlorophyta increased. The metrics, percent abundance of (%) three most dominant (macroinvertebrate) taxa, % Trichoptera, and % herbivorous fish all increased with periphytic AFDM, while % climbers, % swimmers, and %Lepomis cyanellus Rafinesque decreased. Lepomis cyanellus is an indicator species, because it is generally common in these streams and relatively tolerant to various common environmental stressors. The % three most dominant macroinvertebrate taxa increased while % Hydropsychidae (Trichoptera) and %L. cyanellus decreased with % cyanobacteria. The % Trichoptera and %L. cyanellus increased with % Chlorophyta. Some macroinvertebrate metrics, such as the % burrowers and number of burrower taxa, did not have any statistically significant relationships with the periphyton metrics but did exhibit a direct pathway with % sand and fines. These analyses illustrate how path analysis can be used to estimate the relationships among the variables in a conceptual model, modify the model, assess the relative importance of different paths, and explore responses resulting from stressors with interacting and indirect impacts.     

附着生物对沉水植物伊乐藻生长的研究

以沉水植物伊乐藻(Elodea nuttalii(Plant.)ST.John.)为研究对象,室内利用原位湖水进行培养,通过测定伊乐藻的生物量、叶绿素质量分数、光合作用速率等指标,研究了附着生物量的增加对沉水植物伊乐藻的影响。结果表明,随着附着生物处理量的增加,伊乐藻的生物量、叶绿素质量分数以及光合作用速率随之下降,50d后,各处理的生物量与对照相比分别减少了约5%~15%,叶绿素质量分数以及光合作用速率下降了20%~43%、10%~36%。同时也分析了丝状藻对沉水植物伊乐藻的遮阴作用,初步推测附着生物对沉水植物伊乐藻的影响可能是由于附着生物的遮荫作用。研究的结果为揭示富营养化湖泊沉水植被衰退的机理提供了理论依据。     

氮负荷升高对螺-附着藻-苦草生态关系的影响

本文设计了双因子(氮负荷升高、有无螺类)受控实验,研究了氮负荷升高(太湖正常氮负荷的3倍)对螺-附着藻-苦草关系的影响.结果表明,氮负荷升高处理明显提高了水体总氮、总溶解氮、叶绿素a等指标的含量,显著增加了附着生物干重,进而抑制了苦草生长;与正常氮负荷处理组相比,3倍氮负荷处理组中苦草的相对生长率、株高和叶片数分别降低了33%、25%和13%.环棱螺降低了附着生物干重和水体叶绿素a含量,明显促进了苦草生长.氮负荷升高和环棱螺存在对水体各项理化指标、附着生物干重和苦草的各项生长指标均无交互作用.此外,氮负荷升高还降低了环棱螺的生长速率.分析认为,氮负荷升高对沉水植物生长的抑制机理主要体现在浮游藻类与附着生物生物量增加的抑制效应;环棱螺的存在虽然在一定程度上减弱了这种效应,但由于氮负荷升高还同时使环棱螺生长率降低,削弱了其对附着生物的牧食压力,从而使得附着生物对苦草生长的抑制作用加强.因此,氮负荷升高使螺-附着藻-沉水植物之间的生态关系失衡,也可能是氮浓度较高的富营养湖泊中沉水植被稀少的重要原因.     

附着生物对富营养化水体氮磷的去除效果

以太湖梅梁湾“863示范工程”水草恢复区原位湖水以及该区渔网围隔上的附着生物为材料,通过室内静态培养试验,研究了附着生物对富营养化湖水的氮、磷去除效果。结果表明,附着生物对水体中的氮有显著的去除效果,半个月内,附着生物对水体中总氮的累积去除率可达60%,在有附着生物的水体中总氮浓度从5 mg/L左右下降到2 mg/L左右;附着生物对水柱中氮的累积去除率和水柱中氮的浓度、附着生物的生物量以及附着生物作用时间密切相关。从培养过程中水体磷的浓度变化来说,培养初期,水体中磷的浓度比较高,附着生物对其有一定的去除作用;培养后期,水柱中磷的浓度比较低,附着生物不但不去除水中的磷,而且还向水柱中释放磷,这可能与附着生物向水体分泌碱性磷酸酶密切相关。