河流岸带湿地沉积物重金属分布对植被物种多样性和底栖动物群落特征的影响

河流岸带湿地栖息地完整性对河流水环境、水生态和水文的安全与健康具有重要意义,为探究河流岸带湿地表层沉积物重金属分布特征及其对植被和底栖动物的影响,对滦河干流上中下游河段表层沉积物、植物群落和底栖动物调查分析,采用生物毒性效应系数法和综合潜在生态风险指数法评价沉积物重金属污染特征,采用植被物种多样性指数和底栖动物完整性指数评价滦河植物和底栖动物群落特征,探究岸带湿地沉积物重金属空间分布与植被及底栖动物群落特征之间关系。结果表明,滦河表层沉积物总体呈清洁水平,但不同河段重金属空间分布差异较大,下游重金属生态危害系数和潜在生态风险指数高于上中游。湿地物种调查共识别维管束植物219种,大型无脊椎底栖动物105种,综合评价结果表明下游植物群落物种多样性和底栖动物群落完整性低于上中游。滦河下游岸带湿地沉积物重金属对生物群落具有生物毒性和潜在的生态风险,降低了植被物种多样性和底栖动物群落完整性。大型底栖动物完整性指数能够综合反映底栖动物群落结构特征变化,对河岸带湿地生态健康评价和监测具有重要意义。     

北方滨海人工湿地水生生物群落快速重建目标及适宜物种清单确定——以天津临港二期湿地为例

由于滨海湿地的萎缩和退化对全球鸟类迁徙构成了严重威胁，开展自然湿地或人工构建湿地生态恢复已经成为滨海湿地保护与研究的重要内容。以天津临港二期湿地为例，研究北方滨海人工湿地生物群落快速重建目标及适宜物种清单的确定方法。临港二期湿地2019年共检出浮游植物110种、浮游动物28种，而大型底栖动物仅1种，鱼类未检出，水体生物种类结构单一，难以为迁徙侯鸟提供充足食源。选择与临港二期湿地相同（近）区域、同盐度水平的北大港湿地自然保护区以及临港一期湿地作为备选参照湿地（参考湿地）进行同步生物多样性调查分析，结果表明，北大港水库东区、北大港水库西区、临港一期湿地具有较好的浮游动植物、底栖动物多样性及鱼类资源，可以作为临港二期湿地修复的参照湿地。与参照湿地相比，临港二期湿地具有较好的浮游植物生物多样性，应重点恢复底栖动物与鱼类群落，考虑到后期鱼类恢复后的食物需求，可同步进行浮游动物的增殖放流。以参照湿地生物多样性调查结果与文献资料数据为依据，确定临港二期湿地底栖动物生态恢复目标为：Shannon-Wiener生物多样性指数远期（10年）达到3.00，近期（5年）达到1.58；生物密度远期（10年）恢复至600个/m²，近期（5年）恢复至300个/m²；同时确定了临港湿地生物群落快速重建的底栖动物清单（15种）与鱼类清单（14种），并提出了临港二期湿地生态系统恢复的食物网构建路线图。研究结果表明，选择同区域、类似的天然湿地作为参考湿地，通过生物调查与生物多样性比选，确定具体参照湿地，并依据参照湿地生态特征确定待修复湿地的生物群落快速重建目标与适宜物种清单，是合理可行的。     

大型底栖动物对淡水水质生物评价的研究进展

大型底栖动物作为淡水水域水质特征监测的指示生物越来越受到重视。底栖动物的采集主要分为定量和定性2种方法,利用底栖动物评价水质的生物学指标主要有三大类,分别是与群落结构和功能有关的指数、与种类耐污值有关的生物指数和与特定物种直接相关的生物指数。对水生昆虫、水生软体动物和水栖寡毛类对淡水水域的水质评价研究进行综述。     

适应白洋淀湿地健康评价的IBI方法

IBI指数法是美国湿地生态系统健康评价的常用方法之一,在国内应用较少,目前为止只有少数学者尝试了底栖动物完整性指数(B-IBI)和鱼类完整性指数进行河流生态系统健康评价。试图建立适合白洋淀地区的生物完整性指数湿地健康状况评价的方法。在白洋淀的23个淀区进行土壤、水体、植物的实地调查与采样分析。根据已有研究所选择的植物属性,选择了30个植物属性作为备选参数。通过考察备选参数与人类干扰的相关性,最后确定了9个对人类干扰敏感的IBI参数。通过分析,建立了适合白洋淀湿地健康评价的标准:IBI,35-45,好;27-34,一般;19-26,差;＜18,极差。评价结果表明,白洋淀23个淀区中,6个健康状况好,5个一般,7个差,5个很差。     

基于B-IBI指数的温榆河生态健康评价

基于温榆河底栖动物和水质采样数据,采用底栖动物完整性指数(B-IBI)方法,进行温榆河生态健康评价,并探求河流水质与B-IBI指数的相关性。通过分布范围、判别能力以及相关性分析等,确定研究区B-IBI指标体系,包括总分类单元数、总生物量、优势分类单元个体相对丰度、敏感类群分类单元数、生物指数和粘附者个体丰度6个指标。根据参照点25%分位数确定温榆河底栖动物完整性评价标准,即B-IBI>1.821为健康,1.366—1.821为亚健康,0.910—1.366为一般,0.455—0.910为较差,0—0.455为极差。结果表明,温榆河27.3%河段处于健康状态,9.1%河段处于亚健康状态,13.6%河段处于一般状态,50%河段处于较差和极差状态。河流水质与B-IBI指数的相关系数为-0.549,表明生物指标作为水体评价的补充指标十分必要。     

应用生物完整性指数评价水生态系统健康的研究进展

生物完整性指数(IBI)法是评价水生态系统健康的一种重要且被广泛应用的方法.本文综述了生物完整性指数的指示物种选择原因、构建方法以及在水生态系统健康评价中的应用,并总结了现阶段生态系统评估常用的鱼类完整性指数（F_IBI）、底栖无脊椎动物完整性指数（B_IBI）和着生藻类完整性指数（P_IBI)中候选生物状况参数指标,提出了使用微生物完整性指数(M_IBI)评价水生态系统健康的可行性和必要性.     

广西北海西村港互花米草对红树林湿地大型底栖动物群落的影响

为了解互花米草(Spartina alterniflora)入侵红树林的生态影响, 作者对位于北海市西村港的红树林湿地以及周边互花米草盐沼的大型底栖动物群落多样性和群落结构进行了研究。2012年10月至2013年9月连续4次取样, 按照取样时间研究大型底栖动物的种类、物种组成、生物量和生物多样性等群落特征的差异, 探讨互花米草入侵红树林湿地对大型底栖动物的影响。本研究共采集底栖动物16种, 隶属于5门7纲15科, 其中互花米草群落10种, 红树林湿地12种。研究发现互花米草入侵后中国绿螂(Glauconome chinensis)个体数量剧增, 导致不同采样时间互花米草盐沼的大型底栖动物生物量均显著高于红树林湿地; 除个别月份外, 红树林湿地大型底栖动物的Margalef丰富度指数、Shannon-Wiener多样性指数、Simpson多样性指数和Pielou均匀度指数均显著高于互花米草群落。基于生境-采样时间的双因素方差分析结果表明, Shannon-Wiener多样性指数和Simpson指数在两种生境间差异显著; 两种生境的Margalef丰富度和Pielou均匀度指数在不同采样时间差异显著; 大型底栖动物生物量和物种数量在两种生境间和不同采样时间差异均显著。基于多元回归分析的研究结果表明, 互花米草密度是影响大型底栖动物生物量的关键因子, 而互花米草株高可以解释物种个体数量、Shannon-Wiener多样性指数和Simpson指数在两种生境的变化。对不同采样时间大型底栖动物群落结构的非度量多维度(non-metric multidimensional scaling, NMDS)分析结果表明, 红树林与互花米草群落的大型底栖动物群落相似性很低。总而言之, 在西村港地区, 互花米草入侵虽然增加了大型底栖动物的生物量, 但由于优势物种的凸显, 显著降低了大型底栖动物群落的多样性, 且种类组成与群落结构与红树林群落相比已有差异。由此可见, 互花米草入侵红树林对当地的大型底栖动物群落多样性造成影响。     

杭州西溪湿地大型底栖动物群落特征及与环境因子的关系

为揭示现阶段西溪湿地大型底栖动物群落现状及其对湿地生态保护工程的响应,于2009年8月至2010年5月对西溪湿地在3个不同时期建设的区域(Ⅰ区、Ⅱ区和Ⅲ区)中的大型底栖动物进行季度调查.共记录大型底栖动物3门8纲15科45种.霍甫水丝蚓(Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri)、多毛管水蚓(Aulodrilus pluriseta)和梨形环棱螺(Bellamya purificata)是现阶段西溪湿地大型底栖动物的优势种.最早建设的Ⅰ区的环节动物密度在各季节均低于建设较晚的Ⅱ区和Ⅲ区,而软体动物的密度和生物量的变化趋势则相反;Ⅰ区大型底栖动物的总密度虽然与Ⅱ区和Ⅲ区没有明显差异,但总生物量、物种数、Margalef物种丰富度指数和Shannon-Wiener多样性指数均显著上升.上述结果表明,西溪湿地生态保护工程早期建设区域的底栖动物多样性趋于增加,水生生态系统环境质量得以改善.ANOSIM分析显示,西溪湿地不同区域或季节间大型底栖动物群落结构均存在显著差异,且这些差异的主要贡献物种为多毛管水蚓(Aulodrilus pluriseta)和梨形环棱螺(Bellamya purificata),表明这两个优势物种对西溪湿地底栖环境变化反应敏感,可作为湿地环境评价的指示物种.BIO-ENV分析表明,水温是影响春季和夏季大型底栖动物群落结构的主要环境因子,水深是影响秋季和冬季大型底栖动物群落的主要因子,同时底泥总磷含量对解释大型底栖动物生物量和群落结构具有一定作用.     

漩门湾不同类型湿地大型底栖动物群落特征比较研究

为研究漩门湾围垦后自然滩涂湿地和不同利用方式人工湿地7种生境的大型底栖动物群落结构现状和受扰动情况,2010年10月至2012年7月在两个区域中进行了为期两周年8个季度的大型底栖动物调查,结果表明:两周年共获得大型底栖动物5门8纲41科63种;第一周年为47种,其中自然滩涂湿地41种,人工湿地14种;第二周年为58种,其中自然滩涂湿地50种,人工湿地10种,人工湿地的物种数明显少于自然滩涂湿地。采集到的物种以软体动物和节肢动物为主,分别为32种和23种,各占总物种数的50.00%和37.10%。两周年的年均栖息密度和年均生物量在生境间从高到低依次为,年均栖息密度第一周年HSGTHHRLSCNYSK,第二周年GTHSHHSCNYRLSK;年均生物量第一周为HSRLHHGTNYSKSC,第二周年是HSHHRLGTNYSCSK。3种大型底栖动物的生物多样性指数(Margalef丰富度指数(S)、Shannon-Wiener多样性指数(H')、Pielou均匀度指数(J))分析表明,两周年7种生境3种多样性指数均处在不断的变化之中,人工湿地的Margalef丰富度指数(S)和Shannon-Wiener多样性指数(H')相对于自然滩涂湿地偏低,而Pielou均匀度指数(J)人工湿地大于自然滩涂湿地。聚类和排序的结果表明,围垦使大型底栖动物的群落结构发生明显的变化。ABC曲线分析结果表明,自然滩涂湿地受到的干扰程度较轻,而人工湿地受到的干扰程度较大。围垦改变了潮滩高程、水动力、盐度、沉积物特性,再加上人类活动的影响,这些因素是造成底栖动物群落结构及生物多样性变化的主要原因,围垦结束后的生态修复十分必要。     

滆湖入湖河流春季大型底栖动物群落结构及水质生物学评价

分别于2018年4月和2019年4月对滆湖入湖河流底栖动物开展调查,并利用生物指数对水质进行生物学评价。结果表明:共鉴定滆湖入湖河流底栖动物28种,以重度耐污种霍甫水丝蚓(优势度为0.46)和中等耐污种铜锈环棱螺(优势度为0.11)占据绝对优势。生物多样性方面以鹤溪河最高,湟里河、扁担河次之,夏溪河及入湖河口最低,水生植物分布是影响各区域底栖动物多样性的重要因素。卡尔森营养状态指数(TSI)与水质污染等级生物评价结果基本一致,以新孟河延伸拓浚工程沿线为界,鹤溪河、夏溪河、湟里河中上游河段处于中度富营养化水平,水体为轻-中污染状态,而下游河段、扁担河及入湖河口处于重度富营养化水平,水体为中-重污染状态。     

Response of American dippers (Cinclus mexicanus) to variation in stream water quality

1. Semi‐aquatic birds may be sensitive to altered water quality. While avian species are not used in the bioassessment of streams, they may complement the more common use of benthic macroinvertebrates and fish. We estimated the extent to which water quality can predict attributes of the populations of one common semi‐aquatic bird, the American dipper (Cinclus mexicanus). 2. First, we estimated dipper presence/absence in relation to water quality as measured by a multimetric assessment index and individual bioassessment metrics. Second, we estimated dipper territory area and reproductive success in response to variation in water quality. We studied the diet, territory area and fecundity of dippers and sampled benthic macroinvertebrates, water chemistry and physical variables at 32 sites with and 17 sites without nesting dippers. 3. Dipper presence was only weakly related to chemical, physical and commonly recorded bioassessment metrics such as per cent Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera (%EPT). Dippers were strongly related to the abundance of their common prey, Drunella and Heptageniidae, which are only a small component of the commonly recorded bioassessment metrics. The variances in territory area and reproductive success were weakly predicted by water quality variables. 4. Dipper presence reflected disturbance as measured by their common prey, showing that lower abundance of these stream invertebrates affected this semi‐aquatic bird. We suggest dipper presence/absence might be used in multimetric indices of biotic integrity for the bioassessment of streams.     

Effects of coalbed natural gas development on fish assemblages in tributary streams of the Powder and Tongue rivers

1. Extraction of coalbed natural gas (CBNG) often results in disposal of large quantities of CBNG product water, which may affect aquatic ecosystems. We evaluated the effects of CBNG development on fish assemblages in tributary streams of the Powder and Tongue rivers. We used treatment and control, impact versus reference sites comparisons, surveys of CBNG product‐water streams and in situ fish survival approaches to determine if CBNG development affected fish assemblages. 2. Several of our results suggested that CBNG development did not affect fish assemblages. Species richness and index of biotic integrity (IBI) scores were similar in streams with and streams without CBNG development, and overall biotic integrity was not related to the number or density of CBNG wells. Fish occurred in one stream that was composed largely or entirely of CBNG product water. Sentinel fish survived in cages at treatment sites where no or few fish were captured, suggesting that factors such as lack of stream connectivity rather than water quality limited fish abundance at these sites. Fish species richness did not differ significantly from 1994 to 2006 in comparisons of CBNG‐developed and undeveloped streams. Biotic integrity declined from 1994 to 2006; however, declines occurred at both impact and reference sites, possibly because of long‐term drought. 3. Some evidence suggested that CBNG development negatively affected fish assemblages, or may do so over time. Specific conductivity was on average higher in treatment streams and was negatively related to biotic integrity. Four IBI species richness metrics were negatively correlated with the number or density of CBNG wells in the catchment above sampling sites. Bicarbonate, one of the primary ions in product water, was significantly higher in developed streams and may have limited abundance of longnose dace (Rhinichthys cataractae). Total dissolved solids, alkalinity, magnesium and sulphate were significantly higher in developed streams. 4. Biological monitoring conducted before the development of CBNG, and continuing through the life of development and reclamation, together with data on the quantity, quality and fate of CBNG product water will allow robust assessment of potential effects of future CBNG development worldwide.     

The Detroit River: effects of contaminants and human activities on aquatic plants and animals and their habitats

Despite extensive urbanization of its watershed, the Detroit River still supports diverse fish and wildlife populations. Conflicting uses of the river for waste disposal, water withdrawals, shipping, recreation, and fishing require innovative management. Chemicals added by man to the Detroit River have adversely affected the health and habitats of the river's plants and animals. In 1985, as part of an Upper Great Lakes Connecting Channels Study sponsored by Environment Canada and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, researchers exposed healthy bacteria, plankton, benthic macroinvertebrates, fish, and birds to Detroit River sediments and sediment porewater. Negative impacts included genetic mutations in bacteria; death of macroinvertebrates; accumulation of contaminants in insects, clams, fishes, and ducks; and tumor formation in fish. Field surveys showed areas of the river bottom that were otherwise suitable for habitation by a variety of plants and animals were contaminated with chlorinated hydrocarbons and heavy metals and occupied only by pollution-tolerant worms. Destruction of shoreline wetlands and disposal of sewage and toxic substances in the Detroit River have reduced habitat and conflict with basic biological processes, including the sustained production of fish and wildlife. Current regulations do not adequately control pollution loadings. However, remedial actions are being formulated by the U.S. and Canada to restore degraded benthic habitats and eliminate discharges of toxic contaminants into the Detroit River.Contribution 738 of the National Fisheries Research Center-Great Lakes, 1451 Green Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, U.S.A.     

Summer co‐existence of small‐sized cyprinid and percid individuals in natural and impounded stretches of a lowland river: food niche partitioning among fishes

Due to changes of discharge regime downstream of a dam reservoir, an alluvial natural stretch of the Warta River changed to a macrophyte‐dominated ecosystem. Large patches of submersed, aquatic macrophytes appeared in summer and their effect is analysed in this study. These patches contained enriched macroinvertebrate assemblages (epiphyton and benthos) and they were refuge for both zooplankton and young fishes released from the reservoir. Despite these altered conditions in this stretch, roach Rutilus rutilus, perch Perca fluviatilis and ruffe Gymnocephalus cernua dominated, as they did in the natural backwater. Fishes were sampled every 2 weeks from June to August, together with their food resources to assess the partitioning of the diet among small individuals of the three species in both stretches (the natural and affected ones). The aim of the analysis was to answer how animal food associated with water plants was partitioned between the species. In both stretches, G. cernua were primarily benthivorous, but epiphytic fauna, zooplankton and large‐sized benthic chironomid larvae replaced lack of many large, benthic insects in the tailwater. Levins' food breath index decreased from 0·36 in the backwater to 0·29 in the tailwater. An opposite trend was observed for P. fluviatilis occurring among macrophytes. Perca fluviatilis were competitors of R. rutilus and took food not only in or on the river bed, but also in the water column. They ate zooplankton and epiphytic fauna and Levins' index increased from 0·32 to 0·44 in the tailwater. Rutilus rutilus fed on adult insects, algae and plant fragments in the natural stretch. In the tailwater, these food types were chiefly complemented by zooplankton. Despite this, the niche breadth of R. rutilus was similar at the two sites. Abundance of food associated with the macrophytes appeared to facilitate cohabitation in the abundant fish populations, but P. fluviatilis appeared to benefit the most in the altered river stretch.     

Diet partitioning in sympatric Atlantic salmon and brown trout in streams with contrasting riparian vegetation

Prey intake by Atlantic salmon Salmo salar and brown trout Salmo trutta was measured across different riparian vegetation types: grassland, open canopy deciduous and closed canopy deciduous, in upland streams in County Mayo, Western Ireland. Fishes were collected by electrofishing while invertebrates were sampled from the benthos using a Surber sampler and drifting invertebrates collected in drift traps. Aquatic invertebrates dominated prey numbers in the diets of 0+ year Atlantic salmon and brown trout and 1+ year Atlantic salmon, whereas terrestrial invertebrates were of greater importance for diets of 1+ and 2+ year brown trout. Terrestrial prey biomass was generally greater than aquatic prey for 1+ and 2+ year brown trout across seasons and riparian types. Prey intake was greatest in spring and summer and least in autumn apart from 2+ year brown trout that sustained feeding into autumn. Total prey numbers captured tended to be greater for all age classes in streams with deciduous riparian canopy. Atlantic salmon consumed more aquatic prey and brown trout more terrestrial prey with an ontogenetic increase in prey species richness and diversity. Atlantic salmon and brown trout diets were most similar in summer. Terrestrial invertebrates provided an important energy subsidy particularly for brown trout. In grassland streams, each fish age class was strongly associated with aquatic, mainly benthic invertebrates. In streams with deciduous riparian canopy cover, diet composition partitioned between conspecifics with older brown trout associated with surface drifting terrestrial invertebrates and older Atlantic salmon associated with aquatic invertebrates with a high drift propensity in the water column and 0+ year fish feeding on benthic aquatic invertebrates. Deciduous riparian canopy cover may therefore facilitate vertical partitioning of feeding position within the water column between sympatric Atlantic salmon and brown trout. Implications for riparian management are discussed.     

Are alien fish a reliable indicator of river health?

1. The ability of many introduced fish species to thrive in degraded aquatic habitats and their potential to impact on aquatic ecosystem structure and function suggest that introduced fish may represent both a symptom and a cause of decline in river health and the integrity of native aquatic communities. 2. The varying sensitivities of many commonly introduced fish species to degraded stream conditions, the mechanism and reason for their introduction and the differential susceptibility of local stream habitats to invasion because of the environmental and biological characteristics of the receiving water body, are all confounding factors that may obscure the interpretation of patterns of introduced fish species distribution and abundance and therefore their reliability as indicators of river health. 3. In the present study, we address the question of whether alien fish (i.e. those species introduced from other countries) are a reliable indicator of the health of streams and rivers in south‐eastern Queensland, Australia. We examine the relationships of alien fish species distributions and indices of abundance and biomass with the natural environmental features, the biotic characteristics of the local native fish assemblages and indicators of anthropogenic disturbance at a large number of sites subject to varying sources and intensities of human impact. 4. Alien fish species were found to be widespread and often abundant in south‐eastern Queensland rivers and streams, and the five species collected were considered to be relatively tolerant to river degradation, making them good candidate indicators of river health. Variation in alien species indices was unrelated to the size of the study sites, the sampling effort expended or natural environmental gradients. The biological resistance of the native fish fauna was not concluded to be an important factor mediating invasion success by alien species. Variation in alien fish indices was, however, strongly related to indicators of disturbance intensity describing local in‐stream habitat and riparian degradation, water quality and surrounding land use, particularly the amount of urban development in the catchment. 5. Potential confounding factors that may influence the likelihood of introduction and successful establishment of an alien species and the implications of these factors for river bioassessment are discussed. We conclude that the potentially strong impact that many alien fish species can have on the biological integrity of natural aquatic ecosystems, together with their potential to be used as an initial basis to find out other forms of human disturbance impacts, suggest that some alien species (particularly species from the family Poeciliidae) can represent a reliable ‘first cut’ indicator of river health.     

Biodiversity of constructed wetlands for wastewater treatment

Constructed wetlands are often built for wastewater treatment to mitigate the adverse effects of organic pollution in streams and rivers caused by inputs of municipal wastewater. However, there has been little analysis of biodiversity and related factors influencing the ecosystem functioning of constructed wetlands. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the biodiversity of two free-water-surface integrated constructed wetlands in subtropical Taiwan by analyzing the water quality, habitat characteristics, and biotic communities of algae, macrophytes, birds, fish, and aquatic macroinvertebrates in the treatment cells. Our results indicated that the two integrated constructed wetlands (Hsin-Hai II and Daniaopi Constructed Wetlands) achieved good performance in reducing the concentrations of total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP), and loadings of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) from municipal sewage. In total, 58 bird species, 7 fish species, and 34 aquatic macroinvertebrate taxa were recorded in the two wetlands. The results of stepwise multiple regressions showed that the richness, abundance, and diversity of birds increased with wetland area. Fish richness and abundance respectively increased with wetland area and dissolved oxygen, while the diversity decreased with increases in TP concentrations. The richness and density of aquatic macroinvertebrates increased with the cover of aquatic macrophytes, while the diversity increased with wetland area. Ordination analyses indicated that variations in the community structures of birds, fishes, and aquatic macroinvertebrates were respectively best explained by water temperature, wetland area, and species richness of fish. Our results suggest that wetland area, cover of aquatic macrophytes, and water quality were the most important factors governing the diversity in the constructed wetlands, and that the factors influencing community structures varied among different taxonomic groups. In addition to improving water quality, this study implied that the biodiversity of constructed wetlands for wastewater treatment can be enhanced through proper design and management.     

Mercury Pollution from a Chloralkali Source in a Tropical Lake and Its Biomagnification in Aquatic Biota: Link between Chemical Pollution,Biomarkers, and Human Health Concern

Mercury is a highly toxic heavy metal that can cause adverse ecological and toxicological impacts through the mechanism of biomagnification. Hg accumulation in aquatic biota may thus also pose a serious threat to humans and other fish-eating animals. The present work observed the transfer of Hg from abiotic (water and sediments) to biotic (algae, aquatic macrophytes, and fish) components, belonging to different trophic levels in a tropical lake in India. Hg was analyzed in water, sediments, plants, and fish collected from different sampling points, receiving the discharge of chloralkali effluent. Hg concentrations increased significantly from lake water and sediments to algae and aquatic macrophytes. Statistical analysis (Pearson correlation) revealed a significant positive correlation between Hg in water and plants (r = 0.88–0.93; p < .01 and p < .05) as well as for Hg in sediment and plants (r = 0.50–0.83; p < .01 and p < .05). However, the increase in Hg concentration in fish was not significantly correlated with lake ambient water (r = 0.31–0.36), sediments (r = 0.29–0.33), and aquatic plants (r = 0.31–0.36). Results obtained encourage the use of naturally occurring wetland plants in designed systems like constructed wetlands to ameliorate Hg pollution in lakes, rivers, and ponds resulting from the discharge of industrial effluents, especially chloralkali effluent, hence reducing the human health risks associated with Hg.     

Effects of headwater impoundment and channelization on invertebrate drift

The construction of a flood control impoundment on Twitty's Creek added large numbers of organisms of limnetic origin to the stream ecosystem. However, the number of limnetic organisms per unit volume of water decreased rapidly as the distance downstream from the reservoir increased and, during most sampling periods, made up an insignificant portion of the total drift biomass at 7.2 km downstream. Factors favoring the extended downstream drift of limnetic organisms were high stream discharge and low water temperature.Several taxa of benthic organisms had much lower drift rates in the station immediately below the dam than at other stations and several taxa commonly taken at other stations were not captured immediately below the reservoir outfall. One possible explanation is that these organisms may have longer drift recruitment distances than the distance from the reservoir outfall to the sample location.A comparison of drift densities of organisms of benthic origin and benthic standing crop densities in channeled and unchanneled streams revealed that drift densities were higher in channeled streams than in unchanneled streams for most taxa of invertebrates. In addition, channeled streams appeared to have lower benthic standing crops than unchanneled streams for most taxa of invertebrates.In stream sections impacted by either channelization or the Twitty Lake outfall, the energy dynamics of the stream ecosystems were altered by increased density of drifting invertebrates. From the standpoint of increasing food availability to the fish fauna of the stream, these changes would appear to benefit drift feeding species and negatively impact bottom feeding species.     

The distribution of zoobenthic organisms as the water level decreases in a small river

The influence of water level changes on the distribution of aquatic organisms in the channel of a small river was studied. A decrease in the water level leads to the migration of animals to deeper habitats. A further decrease in the water level results in the concentration of benthic organisms in other streams. Aquatic organisms able to survive for a long time were found on the wet bottom sediments at dried parts of the river channel.