Factors supporting harmful macroalgal blooms in flowing waters: A 2-year study in the Lower Ain River,France

A two-year study was conducted to explore summer development of macroalgae and their total phosphorus and nitrogen content at three stations in a broad and clear French carbonate river. Water discharge, temperature and insolation, each with a different time lag, as well as substrates and nutrients were examined in order to explain macroalgal biomass variability. Twenty-four macroalgae genera were recorded with Spirogyra, Cladophora, Vaucheria and Oedogonium as abundant. Through redundancy analysis the macroalgal community composition exhibited significant differences, between the sampling sites and also from one year to the next. Water discharge (time-lag = 5 days) and temperature (time-lag = 20 days) both significantly explained macroalgal biomass variability, highlighting differences in the time lag of the macroalgal community's ecological response to environmental changes. Spatial segregation was observed within the wide riverbed due to habitat variability, allowing co-occurrence in the development of ecologically different taxa within each sampling site. The high nitrate concentrations as compared with the particular low phosphorus concentrations led to especially high DIN/SRP ratios (248 ± 103, n = 18). The N/P ratios in algal tissues were high (25 ± 16, n = 26) and indicated P-limitation. The differences in DIN/SRP and N/P ratios suggest additional nutrient sources than open water such as groundwater inputs.     

Spatiotemporal modeling of watershed nutrient transport dynamics: Implications for eutrophication abatement

The main objective of this study was to quantify nutrient transport dynamics of a previously ungauged, temperate watershed (145 km²) surrounding a shallow eutrophic lake and discern lake response to external nutrient loading, based on soil water assessment tool (SWAT) and the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) empirical lake models, respectively. A SWAT model was used to simulate baseline nutrient dynamics after its calibration and validation against daily tributary flow, total dissolved phosphorus (TDP), total phosphorus (TP), and nitrate (NO₃) loads. On the watershed scale, median annual TDP, TP, and NO₃ losses were 0.4, 1.1, and 2.0 kg ha^− 1, respectively. The highest median annual TP and NO₃ losses were estimated at 3.7 and 7.7 kg ha^− 1 for pastureland and 1.7 and 3.8 kg ha^− 1 for cropland and mixed forests, respectively. Baseflow was the major nutrient transport pathway over a wide range of precipitation events (450 to 900 mm yr^− 1). Erosion was the predominant surface process exporting P across the watershed. Critical source areas (CSAs) of TP and NO₃ comprised 17% and 4% of the watershed, respectively. Annual mean TP, and mean and maximum chlorophyll content indicated a hyper-eutrophication risk for the lake. An external P load reduction by excess of 80% could be necessary to restore mesotrophy in the lake. Our results suggested that subsurface P transport should not be overlooked a priori when groundwater-dependent and extensively farmed watersheds are managed for eutrophication abatement.     

Nonparametric approaches for estimating regional lake nutrient thresholds

Nonparametric approaches including a classification and regression tree (CART), a nonparametric changepoint analysis (nCPA) and a Bayesian hierarchical modeling (BHM) method were developed to determine ecoregional nutrient response thresholds. A CART analysis revealed that hierarchical structure was important for predicting Chl a concentrations from total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP). The nCPA and BHM methods confirmed the CART results for each node in the tree, and the 90% confidence interval for each threshold was calculated to quantify uncertainty. The CART, nCPA, and BHM methods suggested that the nutrient criteria differed significantly within certain nutrient ecoregions and that numerical nutrient criteria of 0.0150–0.222 mg/L TP and 0.300–1.766 mg/L TN may control Chl a concentrations in the various lake ecoregions. The results of this analysis suggest that the integration of CART, nCPA and BHM might be useful for determining nutrient thresholds.     

Reducing nutrient loss from farms through silvopastoral practices in coarse-textured soils of Florida,USA

Trees integrated into the range- and pasturelands of Florida could remove nutrients from deeper soil profiles that would otherwise be transported to water bodies and cause pollution. Soil nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) concentrations were monitored in three pastures: a treeless pasture of bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum); a pasture of bahiagrass under 20-year-old slash pine (Pinus elliotti) trees (silvopasture); and a pasture of native vegetation under pine trees (native silvopasture). Soil analysis from 10 profiles within each pasture showed that P concentrations were higher in treeless pasture (mean: 9.11 mg kg⁻¹ in the surface to 0.23 mg kg⁻¹ at 1.0 m depth) compared to silvopastures (mean: 2.51 and 0.087 mg kg⁻¹, respectively), and ammonium–N and nitrate–N concentrations were higher in the surface horizon of treeless pasture. The more extensive rooting zones of the combined stand of tree + forage may have caused higher nutrient uptake from silvopastures than treeless system. Further, compared to treeless system, soils under silvopasture showed higher P storage capacity. The results suggest that, compared to treeless pasture, silvopastoral association enhances nutrient retention in the system and thus reduces chances for nutrient transport to surface water. The study reflects the scope for applying ecological-engineering and ecosystem-restoration principles to silvopastoral-system design.     

Impact of nutrients and herbivory by Eccritotarsus catarinensis on the biological control of water hyacinth,Eichhornia crassipes

Many water hyacinth infestations in South Africa are the symptom of eutrophication, and as a result, biological control of this weed is variable. This study examined the effects of herbivory by the mirid, Eccritotarsus catarinensis, on water hyacinth grown at high, medium and low nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) nutrient concentrations. Water nutrient concentration appears to be the overriding factor affecting plant growth parameters of water hyacinth plants—at high nutrient concentrations, leaf and daughter plant production were more than double than at low nutrient concentrations, while stem length was twice as great at high nutrient concentrations compared to low concentrations. Chlorophyll content was also twice as high at high nutrient concentrations than low concentrations. Conversely, flower production at high nutrient concentrations was less than half that at low concentrations. Herbivory by E. catarinensis did not have as great an effect on water hyacinth vigour as nutrient concentration did, although it significantly reduced the production of daughter plants by 23 ± 9%, the length of the second petiole by 13 ± 5%, and chlorophyll content of water hyacinth leaves by 15 ± 6%. In terms of insect numbers, mirids performed better on plants grown under medium nutrient conditions (99 ± 28 S.E.), compared to high nutrient concentrations (52 ± 27 S.E.), and low nutrient concentrations (25 ± 30 S.E.). Thus, these results suggest that the fastest and most significant reduction in water hyacinth proliferation would be reached by lowering the water nutrient concentrations, and herbivory by E. catarinensis alone is not sufficient to reduce all aspects of water hyacinth vigour, especially at very high nutrient concentrations.     

Effects of experimental warming and nitrogen enrichment on leaf and litter chemistry of a wetland grass,Phragmites australis

As global climate is warming and the nitrogen cycle accelerates, plants are likely to respond not only by shifting community composition, but also by adjusting traits such as tissue chemistry. We subjected a widespread wetland plant, Phragmites australis, to increased nitrate supply and elevated temperature in enclosures that were established in a littoral permanently submerged freshwater marsh. The nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) concentrations in green leaves ranged from 11.4 to 13.8 mg N and from 1.5 to 2.0 mg P g⁻¹ dry mass. While the N concentration changed little in brown litter, the P concentration decreased to 0.53–0.65 mg P g⁻¹ litter dry mass. Neither experimental warming of the water and sediment surface, nor nitrate enrichment during the growing season affected nitrogen or phosphorus concentrations in green leaves. Concentrations of the two major structural carbon compounds in plant litter, cellulose and lignin, were also unaffected, ranging from 32.1 to 34.2% of dry mass for cellulose and from 16.3 to 17.7% of dry mass for lignin. Warming, however, significantly increased the nitrogen concentration of fully brown leaf litter. Thus, temperature appears to be more important than the supply of dissolved N in the water, especially in affecting leaf litter N concentrations in P. australis, even when only water but not air temperature is increased. This result may have implications for decomposition processes and decomposer food webs, which both depend on the quality of plant litter.     

Use of tolerance values to diagnose water-quality stressors to aquatic biota in New England streams

Identification of stressors related to biological impairment is critical to biological assessments. We applied nationally derived tolerance indicator values for four water-quality variables to fish and benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages at 29 sites along an urban gradient in New England. Tolerance indicator values (TIVs), as biologically based predictors of water-quality variables, were determined for dissolved oxygen, nitrite plus nitrate (nitrate), total phosphorus, and water temperature for each site based on observed biological assemblages (TIV_O), and for expected assemblages (TIV_E). The quotient method, based on a ratio of the TIVs for observed and expected assemblages (tolerance units), was used to diagnose potential water-quality stressors. In addition, the ratio of measured water-quality values to water-quality criteria (water-quality units) was calculated for each water-quality variable to assess measured water-quality stressors. Results from a RIVPACS predictive model for benthic macroinvertebrates and Bray-Curtis dissimilarity for fish were used to classify sites into categories of good or impaired ecological condition. Significant differences were detected between good and impaired sites for all biological tolerance units (fish and benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages averaged) except for nitrate (P = 0.480), and for all water-quality units except for nitrate (P = 0.183). Diagnosis of water-quality stressors at selected sites was, in general, consistent with State-reported causes of impairment. Tolerance units for benthic macroinvertebrate and fish assemblages were significantly correlated for water temperature (P = 0.001, r = 0.63), dissolved oxygen (P = 0.001, r = 0.61), and total phosphorus (P = 0.001, r = 0.61), but not for nitrate (P = 0.059, r = −0.35). Differences between the two assemblages in site-specific diagnosis of water-quality stressors may be the result of differences in nitrate tolerance.     

Response of Potamogeton crispus root characteristics to sediment heterogeneity

Plant growth, biomass allocation, root distribution and plant nutrient content were investigated in the submerged macrophyte Potamogeton crispus growing in heterogeneous sediments. Three experimental sediments heterogeneous in nutrient content and phosphorus release capacity were used: sandy loam with low nutrient content (A), clay with intermediate nutrient content (B), and clay with high nutrient content (C). Biomass accumulation was significantly affected by the sediment type, and was highest in clay C (1.23 mg per plant dry weight) but lowest in sandy loam (0.69 mg per plant dry weight). The root:shoot ratios in treatments A, B and C were 0.30, 0.14 and 0.09, respectively. P. crispus allocated more biomass to roots in sandy loam compared with the other sediments. The average root numbers in sediments A, B and C were 16, 19 and 20, respectively, and the total root lengths in sediments A, B and C were 238.84, 200.36 and 187.21 cm, respectively. Almost 90% of the root biomass was distributed in the 0–15 cm depth in sediments B and C, compared with 64.53% in sediment A. The rank order of plant nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations in the sediment types was C > B > A. These results indicate that both sediment structure and nutrient availability influence the growth and distribution of the root system of P. crispus.     

Cyanotoxin diversity and food web bioaccumulation in a reservoir with decreasing phosphorus concentrations and perennial cyanobacterial blooms

In a shallow multifunction dam reservoir, perennial water blooms formed by several toxin-producing cyanobacteria (Anabaena spp., Aphanizomenon spp., Planktothrix agardhii and Microcystis spp.) were observed. Over a seven-year period, concomitantly with a gradual decrease in phosphate and total phosphorus concentrations in the water and an increase in the DIN to DIP ratio, a reduced biomass of cyanobacteria was noted. Simultaneously, a twofold increase in cyanobacterial species richness was found. The concentration of intracellular anatoxin-a was positively correlated with the total cyanobacterial biomass, but the concentration of intracellular microcystins was significantly negatively correlated with the level of phosphorus in the water. Therefore, in a period with a very low (2.3–3.6) DIN:DIP ratio, intracellular ANTX prevailed in the reservoir, while in the following years (at DIN:DIP = 23–36) much higher MC levels were noted. The highest total concentrations (22.2 μg L⁻¹) of intracellular MCs (MC-LF > -LY > -LR > -LA = -LW) and ANTX (14.4 μg L⁻¹) were found in 2010. In the following year, eight MC iso-forms were detected (MC-LF > -LY > -LA > -LR > -LW > -WR > -YR > -RR). The number of MC variants was positively correlated with the increased contribution of Anabaena planctonica/A. affinis and Microcystis spp. to cyanobacteria biomass. The indigenous bentho-pelagic fish Abramis brama L. accumulated in their tissues relatively high amounts of both ANTX (e.g. 6.2–18.4 μg g⁻¹ FW of liver) and different variants of MCs (up to 4.4 μg g⁻¹ FW of liver). Cyanotoxin tissue contents decreased in the following order: gills > liver > muscles. These observed strong changes in the species structure of cyanobacteria assemblages, even at their considerably smaller biomass, appeared to be an undesirable phenomenon due to the predominance of the efficient MC and ANTX producers, such as Anabaena spp., which is easily digested by fish. The variability of the profile of cyanobacterial blooms that depends on nutrient fluctuations and may account for the diverse toxin accumulation and tissue distribution in freshwater ichthyofauna is noteworthy, especially in water bodies used for fishery.     

High efficiency production of astaxanthin by autotrophic cultivation of Haematococcus pluvialis in a bubble column photobioreactor

Haematococcus pluvialis was cultivated under photoautotrophic conditions in a bubble column with fed-batch addition of nutrients, especially nitrate, and a cell number above 5 × 10⁶ cells mL⁻¹ was attained after 300 h.The reduction of nutrient concentrations accompanied by dilution of the fermentation broth and an increase in the light intensity enhanced accumulation of astaxanthin. The final astaxanthin concentration of 390 mg L⁻¹ was several times higher than ever reported. This combination of fed-batch addition of nutrients and dilution of broth for nutrient deficiency is a promising method for attainment of high cell and astaxanthin concentrations in a bubble column photobioreactor.     

Estimating microcystin levels at recreational sites in western Lake Erie and Ohio

Cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (cyanoHABs) and associated toxins, such as microcystin, are a major global water-quality issue. Water-resource managers need tools to quickly predict when and where toxin-producing cyanoHABs will occur. This could be done by using site-specific models that estimate the potential for elevated toxin concentrations that cause public health concerns. With this study, samples were collected at three Ohio lakes to identify environmental and water-quality factors to develop linear-regression models to estimate microcystin levels. Measures of the algal community (phycocyanin, cyanobacterial biovolume, and cyanobacterial gene concentrations) and pH were most strongly correlated with microcystin concentrations. Cyanobacterial genes were quantified for general cyanobacteria, general Microcystis and Dolichospermum, and for microcystin synthetase (mcyE) for Microcystis, Dolichospermum, and Planktothrix. For phycocyanin, the relations were different between sites and were different between hand-held measurements on-site and nearby continuous monitor measurements for the same site. Continuous measurements of parameters such as phycocyanin, pH, and temperature over multiple days showed the highest correlations to microcystin concentrations. The development of models with high R² values (0.81–0.90), sensitivities (92%), and specificities (100%) for estimating microcystin concentrations above or below the Ohio Recreational Public Health Advisory level of 6 μg L⁻¹ was demonstrated for one site; these statistics may change as more data are collected in subsequent years. This study showed that models could be developed for estimates of exceeding a microcystin threshold concentration at a recreational freshwater lake site, with potential to expand their use to provide relevant public health information to water resource managers and the public for both recreational and drinking waters.     

Phosphorus removal from agricultural runoff by constructed wetland

A free-water surface wetland covering an area of 2800 m² was operated from March 2002 to June 2004 for agricultural runoff treatment in the Dianchi Valley in China. In the wetland were grown Zizania Caduciflora Turez Hand-mazt and Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin.ex Steud. The instantaneous inflow rate was measured and the integrated flux was recorded by an ultrasonic flow instrument all year round. The average inflow rate, hydraulic loading rate (HLR) and hydraulic retention time (HRT) were kept at 242 m³ d^?1, 12.7 cm d^?1 and 2.0 d, respectively. The annual average total phosphorus (TP) in the inflow was 0.87 mg L^?1, and the corresponding removal efficiency was calculated to be 59.0%. Biannual plant uptake and removal by harvesting and seed transport was the main pathway for TP removal, while the influent TP load was 12.9 g m^?2 year^?1. Hydraulic retention time had a significant positive correlation with the removal of P (r² = 0.88). Water temperature, inflow phosphorus load, inflow and hydraulic load rates were positively correlated with the removal of P. Inflow phosphorus concentrations were negatively correlated with the removal of P. It is shown that the free-water surface wetland was an effective and economical system for agricultural runoff treatment in lake regions.     

Factors influencing the return of submerged plants to a clear-water,shallow temperate lake

Lack of submerged vegetation was studied in a small, shallow, alkaline, clear-water lake with high nitrate concentration (mean 9 mg NO₃–N L⁻¹) and profuse filamentous green algae (FGA) (mainly Spirogyra sp.). A laboratory microcosm and two lake enclosure experiments were carried out using Elodea nuttallii (Planchon) St John. E. nuttallii grew about 1.7 times as well in sediment from its place of origin compared with sediment from the lake. Differential water quality had no effect, and neither sediment nor water prevented growth in the lake. Nutrient addition reduced plant growth by more than 55% because of shading from epiphytic filamentous green algae (shoot dry weight versus epiphytic algal dry weight, r = −0.491, P < 0.05). Transplanted Elodea plants grew better in enclosures in the lake than in laboratory conditions with lake water and sediment (P < 0.001, t-test). Rare Elodea individuals in the lake indicate the presence of plant propagules in the lake sediment, but excessive growth of filamentous green algae (summer mean 3.2 g dry weight m⁻²) significantly hamperd plant growth (shoot length reduced from 29 ± S.E.M. 1 to 25 ± 1 cm) and bird herbivory significantly reduced survival (from 82 ± 7 to 40 ± 6%) and shoot growth (from 78 ± 6 to 18 ± 5 cm) and thus eliminates establishment of even modest plant beds. Fish disturbance and sediment stability were not important. Restoration of submerged plants may require reduction of nitrate input, control of filamentous green algae and protection from birds.     

Nutrient ratios influence variability in Pseudo-nitzschia species diversity and particulate domoic acid production in the Bay of Seine (France)

The population dynamics of different Pseudo-nitzschia species, along with particulate domoic acid (pDA) concentrations, were studied from May 2012 to December 2013 in the Bay of Seine (English Channel, Normandy). While Pseudo-nitzschia spp. blooms occurred during the two years of study, Pseudo-nitzschia species diversity and particulate domoic acid concentrations varied greatly. In 2012, three different species were identified during the spring bloom (P. australis, P. pungens and P. fraudulenta) with high pDA concentrations (∼1400 ng l⁻¹) resulting in shellfish harvesting closures. In contrast, the 2013 spring was characterised by a P. delicatissima bloom without any toxic event. Above all, the results show that high pDA concentrations coincided with the presence of P. australis and with potential silicate limitation (Si:N < 1), while nitrate concentrations were still replete. The contrasting environmental conditions between 2012 and 2013 highlight different environmental controls that might favour the development of either P. delicatissima or P. australis. This study points to the key role of Pseudo-nitzschia diversity and cellular toxicity in the control of particulate domoic acid variations and highlights the fact that diversity and toxicity are influenced by nutrients, especially nutrient ratios.     

Land use patterns,ecoregion, and microcystin relationships in U.S. lakes and reservoirs: A preliminary evaluation

A statistically significant association was found between the concentration of total microcystin, a common class of cyanotoxins, in surface waters of lakes and reservoirs in the continental U.S. with watershed land use using data from 1156 water bodies sampled between May and October 2007 as part of the USEPA National Lakes Assessment. Nearly two thirds (65.8%) of the samples with microcystin concentrations ≥1.0 μg/L (n = 126) were limited to three nutrient and water quality-based ecoregions (Corn Belt and Northern Great Plains, Mostly Glaciated Dairy Region, South Central Cultivated Great Plains) in watersheds with strong agricultural influence. canonical correlation analysis (CCA) indicated that both microcystin concentrations and cyanobacteria abundance were positively correlated with total nitrogen, dissolved organic carbon, and temperature; correlations with total phosphorus and water clarity were not as strong. This study supports a number of regional lake studies that suggest that land use practices are related to cyanobacteria abundance, and extends the potential impacts of agricultural land use in watersheds to include the production of cyanotoxins in lakes.     

Seasonal changes of mechanisms maintaining clear water in a shallow lake with abundant Chara vegetation

The study is based on monitoring data on the seasonal variation during four (1996–1999) vegetation periods, as well as long-term summer data on submerged vegetation, nutrients, light, phytoplankton and zooplankton in Lake Krankesjön, a shallow, calcium-rich, moderately eutrophic lake in southern Sweden.The lake has been in the clear water state with abundant submerged vegetation since the end of the 1980s. Somewhat lower summer biomass of submerged macrophytes during 1997 and 1999 indicates a temporary instability of the clear water state. During these 2 years, summer transparency was about 1.2–2.1 m, while concentrations of total phosphorus and chlorophyll (Chl) a were about 26–40 and 8–18 μg l⁻¹, respectively.Summer biomass of submerged macrophytes was higher during 1996 and 1998. In both years, a distinct increase in light availability and decrease in concentrations of nutrients and chlorophyll occurred simultaneously with the development of dense Chara vegetation. Summer values for transparency were about 2.0–2.5 m, while concentrations of total phosphorus and Chl a were about 20–32 and 4–11 μg l⁻¹, respectively.Summer biomass of crustacean zooplankton was below 250 μg l⁻¹ during all 4 years. A peak abundance of Cladocera (mainly Bosmina longirostris) during May or June caused only a short-term reduction in chlorophyll concentrations that was more pronounced in 1997 than in 1996.Measured light attenuation during 1999 was closely correlated with light attenuation calculated from the amount of suspended solids, chlorophyll concentrations, and water colour. Detritus contributed most to the total amount of suspended solids, while chlorophyll was the main contributor to light attenuation.A long-term decrease of the ratios between chlorophyll and total phosphorus suggests that phytoplankton in the clear water state is limited by factors other than total phosphorus concentrations. Increased sedimentation rate, carbon limitation, allelopathy and a lower bioavailable fraction of the total amount of phosphorus are possible explanations, while nitrogen limitation and grazing from zooplankton probably are of minor importance.Possible reasons for the “instability” of the clear water state during 1997 and 1999 are discussed. Unusually high water level as well as cold and windy weather during the spring of 1996–1999 may have caused a slow and late growth of the plants and thus a temporary instability. However, a tendency for an increase in total phosphorus concentrations and sediment accumulation along the wind-protected shores during the clear water state indicate the possibility of a long-term destabilization which contradicts the alternative stable states model.     

Nutrient concentrations in tidal creeks as indicators of the water quality role of mangrove wetlands in Southwest Florida

Coastal mangroves have the potential to improve the water quality of urban and rural runoff before it is discharged into adjacent coastal bays and oceans; but they also can be impaired by excessive pollutants from upstream. Nutrients (phosphorus and nitrogen), salinity, and other water quality parameters were measured in five mangrove tidal creeks in different hydrogeomorphic and urbanization settings during high and low tides over a calendar year of wet (June and August 2015) and dry (February and April 2016) seasons in the Greater Naples Bay area in Southwest Florida, USA. Nutrient concentrations (ave. ± std error) in the tidal creeks were 0.055 ± 0.008 mg-P/L for total phosphorus (TP) and 0.610 ± 0.020 mg-N/L for total nitrogen (TN), with an average N:P ratio of 11.4:1. Average wet season TP (0.075 ± 0.010 mg-P/L) was significantly higher than the dry season TP (0.033 ± 0.003 mg-P/L; p < 0.01, f = 15.17, f_crit = 3.89) and the average wet season TN (0.75 ± 0.03 mg-N/L) was significantly higher than dry season TN (0.52 ± 0.02 mg/L; p < 0.01, f = 64.14, f_crit = 3.89), suggesting that urban stormwater runoff is directly or indirectly affecting the nutrient conditions in these mangroves. Significant differences in nutrient concentrations between low tide and high tide were not found for either TP (p = 0.43, f = .63, f_crit = 3.88) or TN (p = 0.20, f = 1.66, f_crit = 3.89). These differences were confirmed by a PCA and cluster analyses, which found differences to be seasonal. We could not conclude from these results whether these five mangrove wetlands were sources nor sinks of nutrients based simply on the measurement of nutrient concentrations. But we illustrated that nutrient concentrations were indicators of the mangroves’ hydrogeomorphic settings, their tidal fluxes from Naples Bay, and the Bay's upstream watersheds, and less by direct urban runoff.     

Modeling nutrients,oxygen and critical phosphorus loading in a shallow reservoir in China with a coupled water quality – Macrophytes model

Many macrophyte-dominated clear lakes switch to a phytoplankton-dominated turbid state when the lake becomes eutrophic. An existing Yuqiao Reservoir Water Quality Model (YRWQM) and the macrophyte submodel were coupled to simulate the effect of submerged macrophytes on nutrients and dissolve oxygen cycles in a shallow reservoir in China. The level of phosphorus loading in a transition from a clear to turbid state was addressed using the integrated model. The model runs from seedling establishment until dying out, from March 1 to July 18 in 2009. The simulations were performed for a contingent range of P loadings, starting from three different initial conditions. The results indicated that the integrated model improves accuracy of predictions compared to YRWQM. The concentrations of nutrients declined slightly during the macrophyte growth period in the reservoir and dissolved oxygen increased slightly. Although nutrient concentrations increased by submerged macrophyte release during the extinction period, the effect on the nutrients was less than that of transfer with nutrient-rich water. More released nutrients may enhance increases in substantial abundance. The critical phosphorus loading level during a switch from the clear to turbid state was estimated by these scenarios. The threshold for the switch is ∼6.1 mgP m⁻² d⁻¹ with an initial total phosphorus concentration of 160 μg l⁻¹. Moreover, the results demonstrated that the switch was also dependent on the initial total phosphorus concentration. These results suggest that the reservoir in a clear water state is at risk of a switch as nutrient levels are close to the critical levels.     

Effect of nutrient pulses on photosynthesis of Chaetomorpha linum from a shallow Mediterranean coastal lagoon

The influence of nitrogen and phosphorus pulses on Chaetomorpha linum (Muller) Kutzing growth and photosynthesis was studied in laboratory experiments. Photosynthesis and growth of C. linum from Tancada lagoon seems limited by both nitrogen and phosphorus, as indicated by the high rate (4.7–11.6 mg O₂ g⁻¹ dry weight h⁻¹) of light-saturated photosynthesis (P_m) and growth rates observed under nitrogen plus phosphorus enrichment in relation to enrichment by nitrogen alone (2.9–7.6 mg O₂ g⁻¹ dry weight h⁻¹). Significant increase in nitrogen and phosphorus content as percentage of dry weight was observed in C. linum fertilized with a single nutrient or with nitrogen plus phosphorus. In Tancada lagoon, when availability of nitrogen to primary producers is by pulses, an increase of nitrate concentration in the water column (from 6 to 100 μM) has a greater effect on growth of C. linum (growth rate: 0.13 day⁻¹) than an increase in ammonium concentration (from 20 to 100 μM and growth rate: 0.11 day⁻¹). For a given thallus nitrogen content (0.6–1.4% N), both P_m and the photosynthetic efficiency (α) normalized to dry weight were correlated (r² = 0.73, p < 0.005) indicating that variations in electron transport were coupled to variations in C-fixation capacity. Optimizing both α and P_m may be a general characteristic of thin-structured opportunistic algae in more variable estuarine environments.     

Growth and nutrient removal properties of a freshwater microalga Scenedesmus sp. LX1 under different kinds of nitrogen sources

Microalgae have received much attention for the inorganic nutrient removal in tertiary treatment of domestic wastewater. Effect of different kinds of nitrogen sources on the growth and nitrogen/phosphorus removal properties of a newly isolated freshwater microalga, Scenedesmus sp. LX1, from a low-nutrient environment condition was studied and reported in this paper. The order of specific growth rate of the microalga with different nitrogen sources was NH₄-N > urea-N > NO₃-N. With nitrate or urea as nitrogen source, the microalga could grow well and remove both nitrogen and phosphorus efficiently (90% nitrogen and nearly 100% phosphorus were removed). However, with ammonium as the nitrogen source, the maximum algal density was relatively low, and the nitrogen and phosphorus removal efficiencies were as low as 31.1% and 76.4%, respectively. This was caused by the inhibitory effect of algal culture's acid pH due to H⁺ releasing from NH₄⁺ during algal cultivation process.