Operation of the Kis-Balaton reservoir: evaluation of nutrient removal rates

As one of the major measures for controlling the man-made eutrophication of Lake Balaton, the Hidvég reservoir of 20 km² surface area was built near the mouth of River Zala, draining half the watershed of the lake, and representing the largest nutrient source for the lake. The reservoir, as the first element of the expected total system of 70 km² surface area (Kis-Balaton Control System), started to operate in June 1985, aiming at removing nutrients primarily through sedimentation, adsorption and uptake by macrophytes.Detailed investigations began with the operation. These cover the observation of upstream and downstream nutrient loads and the water quality in the reservoir, the study of major phosphorus removal processes, and analysis of the nitrogen cycle and of the behaviour of phytoplankton, zooplankton, fish and macrophytes. The research programme is completed by the evaluation of observations (including the use of phosphorus budget models), with special emphasis on future operation modes of the reservoir.The nutrient removal efficiencies in the reservoir came up to expectations. The removal rates for suspended solids, total-P, soluble reactive-P and nitrate-N exceeded 50 % in the first full year of operation (1986). As a result of reservoir operation, nutrient loads in the western basin of Lake Balaton have been significantly reduced. However, the improvement in water quality can be expected only with a lag time due to the internal P load of the basin.     

Changes in the macro-vegetation of the Kis-Balaton Wetlands over the last two centuries: a GIS perspective

Hydrobiologia - The Kis-Balaton Water Protection System (KBWPS) is a wetland restoration project of over 8000 ha in extent, established to protect the water quality of Hungary's Lake Balaton....     

Ecotoxicological characterisation of sedimentation in the Kis-Balaton Water Protection System

The main function of the Kis-Balaton Water Protection System is to retain nutrients and total suspended solids, thus protecting the water quality of Lake Balaton. In this paper, the toxic nature of the sediment in the 2nd reservoir of the KBWPS has been characterised, using a battery of tests: Vibrio fischeri acute bioassay on whole sediment samples, and V. fischeri bioassay on pore water and elutriate samples. The latest version of the V. fischeri bioluminescence inhibition was applied, the Flash assay which uses a kinetic mode and is able to detect the toxicity of solid, turbid/coloured samples. Whole sediment toxicity showed a clear spatial distribution of toxicity, in parallel with elutriate toxicity. However, no pore water toxicity was detected, leading to the conclusion that contaminants are not water soluble.     

Morlet wavelet and autocorrelation analysis of long-term data series of the Kis-Balaton water protection system (KBWPS)

Lake Balaton is the largest shallow freshwater lake in Central Europe. Its water quality is mainly affected by the supplying rivers and other water sources. The primary source is the Zala River. The water of this river used to be filtered by the Kis-Balaton wetland (KBW) before entering Lake Balaton at Keszthely Bay. In the course of the nineteenth century, water level modifications at KBW shrank and it lost its full capacity to function as a filter for the Zala's waters, so the nutrient load of Lake Balaton greatly increased, and its water quality started to deteriorate. This is the reason an artificial extended wetland called the Kis-Balaton water protection system (KBWPS) had to be constructed–to retain the inorganic nutrients at the mouth of the Zala River and stop the further degradation of Balaton's water quality.In this study, Morlet wavelet spectrum (periodicity) analysis and autocorrelation (memory) analysis were used with weekly chemical, biological and physical data for the KBWPS for the period 1993–2007. We compared the periodicity and the memory of the parameters in the two different habitats of the KBWPS and the Zala River. We also analyzed the tracking capability of the periodical seasons of the two phases (the complete Phase I, and the incomplete Phase II) and the river. The results showed that the incomplete Phase II is unable to conserve the periodicity and sustain long memory because of the shading provided by the macrophyte cover and the extra inflows. In conclusion, we were able to point out the dependence of the system's processes on temperature and climate conditions with methods that have not yet been used for this kind of purpose.     

Analysis of long-term water quality changes in the Kis-Balaton Water Protection System with time series-, cluster analysis and Wilks’ lambda distribution

Lake Balaton is the largest shallow freshwater lake in Central Europe. Its water quality is mainly affected by the supplying rivers and other water sources. The primary source is the Zala River. Its water used to be filtered by the Kis-Balaton Wetland (KBW) before entering Lake Balaton. During the nineteenth century, as a result of artificial water level modifications, the KBW disappeared and the Zala River's waters became partially unfiltered. It is for this reason that the Kis-Balaton Water Protection System (KBWPS) had to be constructed as a mitigation wetland.The aim of the study is to examine the available physical, chemical and biological parameters to get a more comprehensive picture of the processes evolving in the functioning of the KBWPS, and to make suggestions concerning the management and preservation of the system's wetland habitat.The central concept of the present study was to group the sampling points of the KBWPS and to determine which parameters had the greatest effect on the groups, and where. Multivariate data analysis was applied to the data concerning 25 chemical, biological and physical parameters for the time period 1984-2008 from 13 monitoring stations. The sampling locations were clustered then grouped. The groups were formed annually. The change of alignment of similar sampling points shows how the border between the determining groups (covering the eutrophic pond and wetland habitats) changed over the years. This change followed the transition from macrophyte vegetation to an open water area which took place as a result of the water level being kept artificially constant, and which did not therefore follow the weather conditions (rain, drought, etc.). Using Wilks’ λ distribution it was possible to determine that the parameters responsible for eutrophication were primarily responsible for forming the groups of the sampling points. The next most important factors determining the groups were the variables in close relation with the parameters characteristic of eutrophication. The inorganic chemical components affected the conformation of the groups the least. Finally, by examining the phosphorous forms and chlorophyll-a we tried to show the milestones in the history of the mitigation wetland, the KBWPS.The result of this research was that it points out changes in the KBWPS over a long time period, which had not been done previously. This research could hopefully help scientists to gain a broader perspective on processes evolving in the KBWPS. When it comes to finishing the second phase of the reservoir system, more knowledge will be available on what can be expected regarding the quality of the water entering Lake Balaton, and the conservation of the nature preserve wetland area.     

Seasonal Dynamics of Picocyanobacteria and Picoeukaryotes in a Large Shallow Lake (Lake Balaton,Hungary)

The abundance and composition of autotrophic picoplankton (APP) were studied between February 2003 and March 2004 in Lake Balaton. Water samples were taken fortnightly in the eutrophic western basin and mesotrophic eastern basin. Our study, which took more than one year, revealed pronounced seasonal pattern of the picoplankton abundance and composition. According to our results there were three types of picoplankton in Lake Balaton: 1. Phycoerythrin‐rich coccoid cyanobacteria (PE), dominant summer picoplankters in the mesotrophic lake area; 2. Phycocyanin‐rich cyanobacteria (PC), the most abundant summer picoplankters in the eutrophic lake area; 3. Picoeukaryotes, dominant winter picoplankters in the whole lake. The observed abundance of picoeukaryotes (3 × 10⁵ cells ml^–1) was one of the highest ever found. Our study confirms that in Lake Balaton the colonial autotrophic picoplankton (colonial APP) become dominant in summer in the nutrient limited period. We have found strong negative relationship between the concentrations of available nitrogen forms (NH₄–N, NO₃–N, urea‐N) and the colonial APP abundance. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Dynamics of the Pikeperch,Stizostedion lucioperca (L.), in Lake Balaton

The pikeperch populations inhabiting three distinct water areas of Lake Balaton differ in regard of growth. Due to stock depletion, pikeperch in the NE-basin of the lake grew considerably faster than ten years ago. The annual rate of growth in length (von Bertalanffy's K) varied between 0.09 and 0.19. The specific rate of growth in length (G_L) ranged from 0.16 to 0.23 and that of growth in weight (G_W) from 0.52 to 0.69. Length and age-structures of the stocks differed significantly between different areas and years, but the overwhelming majority of the stocks consisted of age-groups IV–V (98.2–99.3%). From NE to SW, the rates of survival were 34, 29 and 70%, respectively. These differences, and the differences in growth resulted in changes in the productive capacity of the stocks. The ratios of production and biomass were 59% (NE-basin), 63% (central basin) and 39% (SW-basin), respectively. The magnitudes of production varied inversely. The 50% retention lengths of the seine nets used in Lake Balaton were 35.0, 35.7 and 42.5 cm with weights of 572, 655 and 1019 g, respectively.     

Determination of the Limiting Plant Nutrient in the Water of Lake Balaton by Algal Assay Procedure

Algal assays were performed on water samples taken from different sites in Lake Balaton. Selenastrum capricornutum was used in the test to determine the primarily limiting plant nutrient. The results of supplementary nutrient additions to the bottle tests were evaluated by cell counts. The tests have indicated phosphorus as growth rate limiting, and in two cases as biomass limiting plant nutrient, but periodic occurrences of nitrogen limitation cannot be excluded.     

ALGAL BIOREMEDIATION OF THE BERKELEY PIT LAKE

Ongoing research is unraveling the intricacies of the microbial ecology of the Berkeley Pit Lake System, with ever increasing information becoming available regarding the diversity of Algae, Protistans, Fungi and Bacteria that inhabit this mine waste site. Defining the baseline community structure has been the first step not only toward understanding the interactions of the different groups of organisms, but also toward assessing any improvement in biodiversity within the biotic community. Now that this first step has begun, some of these extremophiles, specifically algae, that have been isolated from the Berkeley Pit Lake System are being used as a potential solution for bioremediation. The specific objectives of this research are fivefold: 1) To evaluate the bioremediative potential of our four most rapidly growing species: (Chromulina freiburgensis Dofl., Chlorella ellipsoidea Gerneck, Chlorella vulgaris Beyerinck and Chlamydomonas acidophilla Negoro) in Berkeley Pit Lake System Water with the additions of NaNO₃ and NaPO₄ by using an experimental matrix. This matrix will be used to estimate the minimum nutrient concentrations that would be necessary to achieve the maximum growth of algae and maximum bioremediation of the Berkeley Pit Lake System. 2) To determine which combination of nutrients will stimulate growth of the best bioremediator of our four isolated species in natural Berkeley Pit Lake System waters. In other words, what nutrient combination will give the best bioremediator a competitive edge over the other species. If time permits, different species may be grown in combination to determine if there are synergistic effects (protocooperation) between/among species. 3) To determine a temperature profile for these four species in order to determine their optimal growth temperature in Berkeley Pit Lake System water. 4) To continue to isolate organisms from the Berkeley Pit Lake System and determine their bioremediative potential. 5) Monitor algal and bacterial counts from a profile of Pit Lake System waters. The results to date will be presented for this conference.     

淀山湖富营养化过程的统计学特征

湖泊营养物输入及响应指标的统计学规律正在受到越来越广泛的关注。对淀山湖在不同富营养化阶段和近期总磷TP、总氮TN和叶绿素Chl a的频率分布以及TP-Chl a关系的经验方程进行了分析,结果表明:(1)淀山湖TP、TN和Chl a的平均浓度和离散程度随着湖泊富营养化程度的加剧而增加,其中以Chl a的增幅最大;(2)在富营养化条件下,即使营养物TP得到一定程度的控制,Chl a大于15μg/L的概率继续增加了20%以上。仅仅削减营养物的峰值,对降低湖泊初级生产力水平的贡献有限;(3)TP-Chl a对数回归方程的斜率随湖泊富营养化程度的升高而增加,由20世纪80年代的0.54增加到目前的2.46。淀山湖营养物输入及响应指标的统计学特征,可以用来表征水体富营养化程度,评价湖泊生态恢复的进程和效果,为湖泊营养物基准和标准的制定提供最为实际的统计学支持。     

Dynamics and ecological significance of daily internal load of phosphorus in shallow Lake Balaton, Hungary

1. As supported by field data, turbidity recorded by light scattering sensors could reliably be converted into concentration of suspended particulate matter (SPM) and coefficient of vertical light attenuation (K_d) in Lake Balaton. 2. Autocorrelation analysis revealed that proper determination of SPM concentration and K_d required daily sampling. To approximate daily rate of resuspension, 15 min or more frequent measurements were needed. Thus, routine monitoring provides very little insight into environmental variability of shallow lakes as habitats for phytoplankton. 3. The internal P load was estimated from daily rate of resuspension and P desorption capacity of sediments. The latter was assumed to be proportionate to the potentially mobile inorganic P content of SPM. A comparison with net primary production and nutrient status of phytoplankton showed that the proposed method of estimating time series of internal P load captured seasonal trends. 4. The daily rate of resuspension was high whereas that of internal P load was low in Lake Balaton relative to other shallow lakes. The latter reflects favourable behaviour of the calcite‐rich sediments. As a consequence, carrying capacity of Basin 1 of Lake Balaton was P‐determined. 5. The timing of external and internal loads was radically different. While the former showed mostly seasonal changes, large pulses characterised the latter. As a consequence, internal load may supply more P to phytoplankton growth during the critical summer months than external load. However, the relative importance of these sources may show substantial interannual variability. 6. Large resuspension events often followed each other during periods of 10–15 days. It has been shown that disturbances in this frequency range are of key importance in maintaining the diversity of phytoplankton. We propose that resuspension can be perceived not only as a disturbance factor but also as a factor that periodically relaxes nutrient stress. The former feature may dominate the instantaneous effect, whereas the latter may determine the persistent effect of resuspension on succession of phytoplankton.     

白洋淀水陆交错带对陆源营养物质的截留作用初步研究

在白洋淀进行的野外实验结果表明水陆交错带中的芦苇群落和群落间的小沟都能有效地截留来自府河的陆源营养物质,其中,在植被２９０ｍ长的小沟对地表径流总Ｎ和总Ｐ的截留分别为４２和６５％;４ｍ芦苇根区土壤对地表下径流总Ｎ和总Ｐ的截留率分别为６４和９２％。被截留比率最大的是无机态的正磷酸根态磷和铵态氮。     

The influence of water quality and sediment geochemistry on the horizontal and vertical distribution of phosphorus and nitrogen in sediments of a large,shallow lake

Distinct horizontal water column concentration gradients of nutrients and chlorophyll a (Chl a) occur within large, shallow, eutrophic Lake Taihu, China. Concentrations are high in the north, where some of the major polluted tributaries enter the lake, and relatively low in the south, where macrophytes generally are abundant. It is not clear, however, whether these water column concentration gradients are similarly reflected in spatial heterogeneity of nutrient concentrations within the bottom sediments. The main objective of this study was therefore to test if horizontal and vertical variations in the phosphorus and nitrogen content in bottom sediments of Lake Taihu are significantly related to (1) horizontal variations in overlying water column nutrient concentrations and (2) other sediment geochemical constituents. We measured the concentration of total phosphorus (TP) and total nitrogen (TN) in surficial sediments (0–2 cm) and TP, TN and Chl a concentrations in water column samples, collected from 32 sites in 2005. In 2006 sediment, TP, TN, carbon, iron and manganese concentrations were measured vertically at 2 cm intervals, extending to a depth of approximately 20 cm, at an additional eight sites. Linear correlation analysis revealed that surficial sediment TP concentrations across the 32 stations were related significantly, though weakly, to annual mean water column concentrations of TP, TN as well as Chl a. Correlations of surficial sediment TN with water column variables were, however, not significant (P > 0.05). Amongst the geochemical variables tested, the vertical variability of sediment TP concentrations was most strongly related to sediment manganese and carbon concentrations. A multiple stepwise linear regression revealed that the combination of sediment manganese and carbon concentrations explained 91% of the horizontal variability in sediment TP concentrations and 65% of the vertical variability. Handling editor: Luigi Naselli-Flores     

Global‐scale patterns of nutrient density and partitioning in forests in relation to climate

Knowledge of nutrient storage and partitioning in forests is imperative for ecosystem models and ecological theory. Whether the nutrients (N, P, K, Ca, and Mg) stored in forest biomass and their partitioning patterns vary systematically across climatic gradients remains unknown. Here, we explored the global‐scale patterns of nutrient density and partitioning using a newly compiled dataset including 372 forest stands. We found that temperature and precipitation were key factors driving the nutrients stored in living biomass of forests at global scale. The N, K, and Mg stored in living biomass tended to be greater in increasingly warm climates. The mean biomass N density was 577.0, 530.4, 513.2, and 336.7 kg/ha for tropical, subtropical, temperate, and boreal forests, respectively. Around 76% of the variation in biomass N density could be accounted by the empirical model combining biomass density, phylogeny (i.e., angiosperm, gymnosperm), and the interaction of mean annual temperature and precipitation. Climate, stand age, and biomass density significantly affected nutrients partitioning at forest community level. The fractional distribution of nutrients to roots decreased significantly with temperature, suggesting that forests in cold climates allocate greater nutrients to roots. Gymnosperm forests tended to allocate more nutrients to leaves as compared with angiosperm forests, whereas the angiosperm forests distributed more nutrients in stems. The nutrient‐based Root:Shoot ratios (R:S), averaged 0.30 for R:S_N, 0.36 for R:S_P, 0.32 for R:S_K, 0.27 for R:S_Ca, and 0.35 for R:S_Mg, respectively. The scaling exponents of the relationships describing root nutrients as a function of shoot nutrients were more than 1.0, suggesting that as nutrient allocated to shoot increases, nutrient allocated to roots increases faster than linearly with nutrient in shoot. Soil type significantly affected the total N, P, K, Ca, and Mg stored in living biomass of forests, and the Acrisols group displayed the lowest P, K, Ca, and Mg.     

元江干热河谷植物叶片解剖和养分含量特征

研究了元江干热河谷旱田植物(旱季可浇灌,水分较好)和山坡半萨王纳植被中(自然状况,水分较差)共20种的叶片形态解剖特征,以及7种山坡植物叶片养分含量特征.结果表明,山坡植物叶片比叶重大,气孔密度大,气孔长度小,海绵组织/栅栏组织的值小等.元江干热河谷山坡植物叶片养分含量低,1.3%＞Ca＞N＞K＞1%＞Mg＞P＞S.除氮元素外,其它元素种间差别1～3倍.与热带植物群落叶片养元素含量相比,热带雨林＞元江山坡植物＞东南亚沙地旱生林和巴西矮卡廷加群落,表明元江干热河谷植物叶片具有明显的旱生性形态解剖特征,且叶片养分含量也较低.     

Experiments on Nitrogen and Phosphorus Release by Chironomus ex gr. plumosus from the Sediments of Lake Balaton,Hungary

Sediment-water systems of Lake Balaton mud and tap water were constructed in plexiglass tubes and boxes for evaluation of changes in the nitrogen and phosphorus contents of overlying water as influenced by chironomid density and light conditions. Nitrogen flux from sediment was greatly influenced by denitrification process. The amount of TN released by chironomids amounted to about half of the yearly nitrogen fixation rate in Lake Balaton. Omnivorous chironomids increased the phosphorus content of the overlying water. The rate of release was density dependent. TP release rates ranged between 1–17 mg m⁻² day ⁻¹ over a range of densities 500–20,000 larvae m⁻². It became evident that aerobic sediment cores can be an important nutrient source in lakes where chironomids inhabit them at densities above 1,000 larvae m⁻².     

污染物在农田溪流生态系统中的动态变化

氮是地表水体发生富营养化的主要因子,河流系统是氮输出的主要运移通道,养分在河流生态系统中的持留和趋向控制着污染物的输出。以巢湖流域一个受人为活动严重影响的农田源头溪流——六岔河为研究对象(包括4个渠道型、1个水塘型和3个河口型断面,对应长度分别为1．3km、0．15km和0．36km),设置9个监测点研究总氮(TN)、硝酸盐(NO3-N)、氨态氮(NH4^ -N)和总悬浮物(TSS)在溪流生态系统中的持留,评价人为严重干扰下的农田溪流生态系统在非点源污染物运移中的生态功能。结果表明：TN、NO3-N、NH4^ -N和TSS在溪流中的持留、释放受溪流的河流形态影响,水塘型和河口型断面是污染物持留的主要区域;TN、NO3-N、NH4^ -N和TSS在水塘型和河口型断面内的持留量分别占溪流持留量(基流、径流持留量的和)的61％、47％、75％和56％。降雨-径流过程中发生的持留是污染物持留的主要部分,TN、NO3-N、NH4^ -N和TSS的持留量分别占溪流持留量的93％、97％、89％和96％;渠道型断面是溪流最主要的内在污染源,污染物释放量占溪流释放量的90％以上;受水塘型断面出口处的水坝影响,位于水塘前的渠道型断面在基流和降雨-径流过程中均有效地持留污染物,而其余渠道型断面在不同水文条件下呈现出不同的持留特性。非点源污染物在溪流中的持留和释放的空间动态变化是溪流生态系统对自然和人为干扰的一种综合响应,有必要恢复溪流生态系统功能,控制农业非点源污染。     

广东省公平水库与星湖生态特征的对比分析

在采样和测定分析的基础上,对营养盐水平和水深较为接近的公平水库和星湖的生态特征进行对比分析。结果表明,公平水库和星湖的生态特征差异显著,其主要原因是两者水动力过程的不同。公平水库水力滞留时间是星湖的1／2,水柱全年混合较好,而星湖在夏季则有明显分层现象。公平水库总氮、总磷浓度的最高值出现在丰水期的7月,枯水期明显低于丰水期,营养盐主要来源于外源．而星湖主要受内源循环的控制,总氮和总磷浓度的最高值出现在丰水期刚开始的4月,7月总氮、总磷浓度有所下降,在分层现象消失的10月,总磷浓度明显升高。公平水库水滞留时间短,水位波动较大。不利于蓝藻形成优势,其浮游植物的群落结构类型表现为硅藻-绿藻-蓝藻型,星湖水滞留时间长,水体相对稳定,为蓝藻占优势提供了条件,浮游植物群落结构类型表现为蓝藻-绿藻-硅藻型。     

The Role of Fish Communities in Water Quality Management of a Large Shallow Lake

Management measures of Lake Balaton such as wetland reconstruction at the main inflow to the lake along with the “unplanned” commercial fishery led to great changes in the density and biomass of fish populations. There was no significant difference in CPUE data between the two, eastern and western, basins. Biomass of total fish stock in Lake Balaton has decreased substantially, 2–3 times between 1991–1999, and ranges between 120–194 kg ha⁻¹. Bottom‐up effects are more important than the top‐down effects due to the impact of internal nutrient load. Changes in the biomass and thus the activity of omnivorous fish in the lake lowered the intensity of various indirect effects and feedback mechanisms causing changes in the nutrient metabolism of the lake. Intensified fishery effort in Lake Balaton did not result in an increased stock of piscivores. The ratio of piscivores and omnivores remained at 5% during the whole study period. Despite this low piscivores to omnivores ratio, the water quality has improved in all basins.     

流溪河水库丰水年与枯水年营养盐动态的比较分析

流溪河水库是一座位于北回归线上的大型山谷型水库,典型的热带-亚热带过渡区水体。为了解该水库的营养盐动态特征,于2008-2009年对水库的营养盐状况和环境因子进行了逐月监测,分析了其丰水年(2008)和枯水年(2009)营养盐动态的动态特征和影响因素。两年的降雨量分别为2660mm和1583mm,降雨主要集中在季风期(4-9月)。丰水期初期(4-5月)是全年营养盐浓度最高的时期,该时期丰水年与枯水年的营养盐空间分布相似:营养盐浓度沿入库河流至水库大坝方向递减,地表径流带来的外源输入是这个期间营养盐变化的主要因素。河流区的营养盐主要受地表径流带来的外源输入的影响,湖泊区营养盐主要受水位变化导致的内源输入的影响。较大的降雨量差异导致两年不同的营养盐季节动态,丰水年有着更高的营养盐水平,更小的DIN/TN与DIP/TP值。河流区较高的营养盐水平会带来湖泊区较高的TN浓度,但不会导致湖泊区更高的TP浓度。