Autotrophic carbon sources for heterotrophic bacterioplankton in a floodplain lake of central Amazon

The relative contribution of autotrophic carbon sources (aquatic macrophytes, flooded forest, phytoplankton) for heterotrophic bacterioplankton was evaluated in a floodplain lake of the Central Amazon. Stable carbon isotopes (¹³C) were used as tracers. Values of ¹³C of different autotrophic sources were compared to those of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and those of bacterially produced CO₂.The percentage of carbon derived from C₄ macrophytes for bacterially produced CO₂ was the highest, on average 89%. The average ¹³C value of CO₂ from bacterial respiration was –18.5 ± 3.3. Considering a fractionation of CO₂ of 3 by bacterial respiration, ¹³C value was –15.5, near C₄ macrophyte ¹³C value (–13.1).The average value of total DOC ¹³C was –26.8 ± 2.4. The percentage of C₄ macrophytes carbon for total DOC was on average 17%. Considering that bacteria consume mainly carbon from macrophytes, the dominance of C₃ plants for total DOC probably reflects a faster consumption of the former source, rather than a major contribution of the latter source.Heterotrophic bacterioplankton in the floodplain may be an important link in the aquatic food web, transferring the carbon from C₄ macrophytes to the consumers.     

An empirical model for sediment resuspension in shallow lakes

Suspended solids concentrations were measured at routine 2–3 week intervals and on additional windy days for at least one year in each of seven shallow (mean depth < 2 m) south Island, New Zealand lakes. Surface wave characteristics were estimated from water depths and local meteorological data using a shallow-water wave forecasting model for fetch-limited waves. Bottom shear stresses were computed from surface wave characteristics for the sampling stations and for a hypothetical lake-average station. The calculated shear stresses were, on average, much better predictors of suspended solids concentrations than alternative models using two different functions of wind speed, wave height²/depth or wavelength/depth. A combination of the sample station and lake average shear stresses provided slightly better predictions than the sample station values alone, suggesting that currents also contribute significantly to the concentration at a given point. Regressions of suspended solids on the combined functions had r ² values ranging from 0.74–0.73 in the seven lakes. The slopes of these regressions were negatively related to the settling velocity of the lowest quartile of the sediment, and to macrophyte biomass, in multiple regression (r ² = 0.94, p < 0.01).     

Subsurface horizontal-flow constructed wetlands for wastewater treatment: The Czech experience

The first full-scale constructed wetland (CW) in the Czech Republic was built in 1989 and there are now three tertiary systems and 50 secondary treatment facilities. We report here on the design and operational efficiencies of these facilities. All CWs have been designed with horizontal subsurface flow. Coarse sand, gravel and crushed stones with size fraction of 4–16 mm are commonly used as substrates. The area of vegetated beds ranges between 18 and 4500 m² and operational CWs are designed for population equivalent (PE) of 4 to 1,100. Common reed (Phragmites australis) is the most frequently used macrophyte species.Results from systems studied during 1994 and 1995 show that the effluent concentrations of organics and suspended solids (SS) are well below the required discharge limits. In most cases the final effluent BOD₅ concentration is <10 mg l^–1. The relationship between vegetated bed BOD₅ inflow loadings (L ₀) and outflow loadings (L) is very strong (r=0.92). Constructed wetlands with subsurface horizontal flow usually do not remove larger amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus. The results from five Czech constructed wetlands show that nitrogen removal varies among systems, but the amount of removed nitrogen is very predictable. A regression equation between nitrogen inflow loading (L ₀) and outflow loading (L) produces a strong correlation (r=0.98). The most important process responsible for phosphorus removal in wetlands is precipitation with soil Ca, Fe and Al. However, the subsurface horizontal flow constructed wetlands use mostly coarse gravel and/or sandy materials and this provides little or no P precipitation. Results from monitored systems in the Czech Republic show that the percentage phosphorus removal varies widely among systems and is lower than the percentage removal of organics and suspended solids.     

Biological invasion by a benthivorous fish reduced the cover and species richness of aquatic plants in most lakes of a large North American ecoregion

Biological invasions are projected to be the main driver of biodiversity and ecosystem function loss in lakes in the 21st century. However, the extent of these future losses is difficult to quantify because most invasions are recent and confounded by other stressors. In this study, we quantified the outcome of a century‐old invasion, the introduction of common carp to North America, to illustrate potential consequences of introducing non‐native ecosystem engineers to lakes worldwide. We used the decline in aquatic plant richness and cover as an index of ecological impact across three ecoregions: Great Plains, Eastern Temperate Forests and Northern Forests. Using whole‐lake manipulations, we demonstrated that both submersed plant cover and richness declined exponentially as carp biomass increased such that plant cover was reduced to <10% and species richness was halved in lakes in which carp biomass exceeded 190 kg ha^?1. Using catch rates amassed from 2000+ lakes, we showed that carp exceeded this biomass level in 70.6% of Great Plains lakes and 23.3% of Eastern Temperate Forests lakes, but 0% of Northern Forests lakes. Using model selection analysis, we showed that carp was a key driver of plant species richness along with Secchi depth, lake area and human development of lake watersheds. Model parameters showed that carp reduced species richness to a similar degree across lakes of various Secchi depths and surface areas. In regions dominated by carp (e.g., Great Plains), carp had a stronger impact on plant richness than human watershed development. Overall, our analysis shows that the introduction of common carp played a key role in driving a severe reduction in plant cover and richness in a majority of Great Plains lakes and a large portion of Eastern Temperate Forests lakes in North America.     

黑藻生产力的研究

黑藻是一种广泛分布于我国各地的野生沉水植物,但在南方的一些养鱼场进行了人工种植。本文报道了如下内容:黑藻生产力的测定值;水温、光强度和植株密度对黑藻生产力的影响;种黑藻养鱼池中溶氧、二氧化碳和pH的昼夜变化规律,以及黑藻断枝的无性繁殖。     

Characteristics of softwater streams in Rhode Island. III. Distribution of macrophytic vegetation in a small drainage basin

The Wood River watershed, a small well-defined drainage basin in Rhode Island was monitored seasonally for all macrophytic vegetation and various physical variables. Twenty-four segments, 20 m in length were sampled. Mean stream depth, width and current velocity increased by 3 to 8 fold from 1st- to 4th-order segments. Light penetration was positively correlated with the above variables (p < 0.05) and increased by 11 fold from the headwaters to the mouth during September when the riparian canopy was maximum. 74 subgeneric taxa of macrophytes were collected in the Wood River basin, 36% algae, 13% bryophytes, 4% vascular cryptograms and 45% angiosperms. The highest diversity occurred in the 4th-order segments throughout the year. Species numbers were positively correlated with depth, width and light penetration (p < 0.05). Vascular plants dominated all orders, but their proportion doubled from 1st- to 4th-order streams. Macrophyte cover was twice as high in the 4th-order segments in June and September as in the other orders. Macrophyte abundance was positively correlated to light penetration and negatively correlated to the ratio of nonvascular: vascular plants (p < 0.05). Two distinct clusters were found for the predominant species. The first cluster contained mostly large angiosperms, which were rooted in sediments, while the second cluster was composed of small epilithic algae and bryophytes. The moss, Fontinalis antipyretica, was the most frequent species, occurring in 51% of the samples and in all 4 orders throughout the year.     

An automatic system to study the responses of respiration and photosynthesis by submerged macrophytes to environmental variables

An apparatus to measure the rates of respiration and photosynthesis of aquatic plants in water at velocities of up to 200 mm s^–1 in a closed water-flow system with partial recirculation, is described. The temperature, the light regime and the concentration of dissolved oxygen are controlled automatically. Typical results are given for Ranunculus penicillatus var. calcareus which were repeatable between the same season in different years and compared with published data.     

Application of multiple discriminant analysis on the analysis of the correlation between macrophyte vegetation and water quality in running waters of Central Europe

124 sections of water courses from Northwest Germany and 154 sections of water courses from Southern Germany were classified into ten groups with regard to water quality and physico-chemical water type. Vegetation data were transformed into a two-step scale. Using the 39 most frequent water plant species as predictor variables a stepwise multiple discriminant analysis was carried out.29 species proved to be suitable for optimal discrimination of the groups. Most of the species correspond to those to which a certain indicator value had already been adjudged, using other methods. Species number, which was also tested, was not taken into the analyses. The score of right predictions ranges between 70 and 85 per cent depending on the technique of analysis and the number of data. Totaly wrong predictions with regard to water quality, as well as to water type were not frequent. Some possibilities for an explanation of mispredictions were suggested with respect to the fact that a statical model will never immediately indicate changes in the investigated systems.Finally, an ordination of the groups was carried out. The position of the groups in the canonical discriminant space could partly be interpreted in terms of succession.

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Zusammenfassung 124 Gewässerabschnitte aus Nordwestdeutschland (eigene Aufnahmen) sowie 154 Gewässerabschnitte aus Süddeutschland (nach Veröffentlichungen der Arbeitsgruppe Kohler) wurden nach der Gewässergüte und dem physiko-chemischen Gewässertyp in 10 Gruppen eingeteilt. Die Vegetation wurde in einer 2-teiligen Skala geschätz bzw. umgerechnet. Mit den 39 häufigsten Wasserpflanzenarten as Prädiktoren wurde eine schrittweise Multiple Diskriminanzanalyse durchgeführt.Es zeigt sich, daß 29 Arten geeignet sind, die Gruppen optimal zu trennen. Einigen dieser Arten war auch schon vorher mit Hilfe anderer Methoden ein Zeigerwert zugesprochen worden. Die Artenzahl wird nicht in die Trennung der Gruppen einbezogen. Die Trefferquote für die richtige Zuordnung schwankt zwischen 70 und 85% je nach Methode und Datenmenge. Absolute Falschzuordnungen (sowohl nach Gewässergüte als auch Gewässertyp) sind selten. Einige Möglichkeiten der Erklärung von Falschzuordungen werden angedeutet, unter Bezug auf die Tatsache, daß ein statisches Modell Veränderungen im System nicht sofort widerspiegeln kann.Abschließend wird eine Ordination der Gruppen durchgeführt. Die Lage der Gruppen im kanonischen Diskriminanzraum kann teilweise im Sinne einer Sukzession interpretiert werden.

     

Euhydrophyte communities of the River Nile and its impoundments in Egyptian Nubia

The River Nile and its two impoundments, the Aswan Reservoir and Lake Nasser, are important habitats for submerged and floating-leaved freshwater macrophytes (euhydrophytes) in the desert region of Egyptian Nubia. Ordination and classification analysis of survey data collected during the period 1980–1986 suggested that the Aswan High Dam forms a man-made vegetational boundary, delineating two basic macrophyte community types. In Lake Nasser a community dominated by Najas spp. is present. In the Aswan Reservoir and the R. Nile downstream of the old Aswan Dam the euhydrophyte community is dominated by a Potamogeton crispus — Ceratophyllum demersum association. Differences between the two community types appear to be related to differences in physical factors (e.g. water level fluctuation and flow regime), and water chemistry, to phenological factors, and to the differing successional ages of the macrophyte communities of the Nile system upstream and downstream of the Aswan High Dam. There is some evidence for depth zonation of the submerged macrophyte community in both lake and river habitats. Strategy analysis of the euhydrophyte communities present upstream and downstream of the High Dam, over the period 1963–89, indicated that successful established-phase strategy types were similar on both sides of the dam. In the long term there seems little to prevent euhydrophyte species at present confined to below the High Dam from crossing this boundary to colonise Lake Nasser.     

Biota of Lake St. Clair: habitat evaluation and environmental assessment

As a shallow, productive lake in the drainage system between Lake Huron and Lake Erie, Lake St. Clair provides habitat for a diverse biota including significant populations of fish and wildlife that are of use to man. Of the more than 70 species of native and migrant fishes, 43 use the lake for spawning. Peak numbers of waterfowl utilizing the lake and adjoining wetlands have been estimated at 60 000 in spring and 150 000 in autumn. In addition to recreational fishing and hunting, the lake is also used for swimming, boating and as a source of municipal water. It is located downstream from an industrial centre and adjacent to a population estimated at about four million. Mercury contamination closed the fisheries in 1970 and concentrations of the metal persist above consumption guidelines in some species. Almost all of the Michigan shoreline is urbanized and much of it altered through dyking and bulkheading. Coastal wetlands of the lake have declined 41 percent in the past century and only about one-half of the remaining area is open to the lake.Despite impacts from the large urban population and users, ecosystem quality remains reasonably good. The flushing action of relatively clean water from Lake Huron has slowed the eutrophication process. Major habitat problems are toxic substances from industries located on the St. Clair River and the continued loss of shoreline and wetlands to urbanization and agriculture. Further research and monitoring of sources, fates and impacts of toxic substances in sediments and biota are required. In addition, there is a need for environmental and economic evaluations of shorelines and wetlands to prevent further losses of these important habitats.Contribution No. 90-16 of the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Research Section, Fisheries Branch, Box 5000, Maple, Ontario.