Microzooplankton as an indicator of environmental quality at an industrial complex in the Brazilian Amazon

The large volume of water in the Pará River, together with governmental incentives, has attracted many industries to the city of Barcarena, Brazil. This industrial activity has the potential to cause changes to aquatic environments. Zooplankton species are considered good indicators of environmental changes. We assessed the association between changes in community composition and proximity to an industrial-port complex, and identified potential bioindicator species in these environments. Five quarterly sampling points were selected along the Pará River (P1–P5) in 2012. The zooplankton community in this region is composed of 64 species. The highest total densities were recorded in February and November, which are both during the rainy season. Zooplankton density was greatest at P3, which was near an industrial-port complex, suggesting that industrial activity affected zooplankton density. An IndVal test showed the rotifer Filinia opoliensis (r = 0.86, p = 0.02) to be a possible bioindicator of environmental quality in the study area. This paper contributes to the discussion of the impacts of installing industrial plants and large ports in the Amazon.     

The upper reached ichthyofauna of the Tietê River, São Paulo, Brazil: aspects of their diversity and conservation

Tietê River is one of the main rivers in the State of São Paulo, Brazil. It runs across this state from east to west for 1136 km. The upper reach of the Tietê River is located in the metropolitan region of the city of São Paulo where approximately 60% of the original Atlantic Forest remnants has been converted into rural and urban areas. Ichthyofauna of the upper reaches of the rivers is usually characterized by a high level of endemism, small fish with restricted geographic distribution. A qualitative survey of two main tributaries, Paraitinga and Biritiba Mirim Rivers, and a stretch of the Tietê River was carried out in order to ascertain their fish community composition, compare the former fish data collected in the same area and establish biodiversity conservation research programs. The fish fauna in the three riverine systems comprises 5 orders, 9 families, 20 genus and 28 species. One species, Glandulocauda melanogenys, out of sixteen regarded as strictly endemic to the upper reaches of the Tietê River according to previous data was found among the sampled collections. No established alien species were found despite their presence in the upstream reservoir of the Tietê Rivers. Human disturbances and their impacts on fish diversity are discussed, including their relation to the ecotone habitats.     

Plankton richness in a eutrophic reservoir (Barra Bonita Reservoir,SP, Brazil)

Species richness of plankton was studied in a eutrophic reservoir (Barra Bonita Reservoir) of the Middle Tietê River, São Paulo State, Brazil, during the period 1985–1986. This reservoir is formed by two rivers: the Tietê and the Piracicaba (the main tributaries), of which the Tiête is more eutrophic, having conductivity and nutrient concentration values twice those of the Piracicaba. In addition, the reservoir is fed by 114 smaller tributaries. Monthly sampling was carried out at three stations representing different environmental conditions: St1 on the Tietê, S2 on the Piracicaba, and St3 at the confluence of the two rivers. For the phytoplankton community, the Piracicaba River (St2) proved the richest site, with a listed 72 species with abundance of Chlorophyta, while St1 and St3 registered 59 and 50 species, respectively, with abundance of Cyanophyta. For the zooplankton community a great difference was not registered in species number at the three stations but the species composition and dominant species of rotifers and copepods were quite different. The occurrence of Mesocyclops meridianus and Metacyclops mendocinus, specific for St2;Mesocyclops ogunnus and Notodiaptomus iheringi, specific for St1, and that of these two species plus Mesocyclops meridianusat St3 shows that the conditions combining at this station were favorable to Mesocyclops meridianus but not to Metacyclops mendocinus. Both for phytoplankton and zooplankton, high values found of species richness were compared to species richness of natural lakes, e.g., Dom Helvecio, a monomictic stable lake in eastern Brazil, and another fifteen lakes in the same region.In conclusion, this work shows that environmental gradients are strong selective factors that enhance plankton richness in eutrophic reservoirs exhibiting environmental instability. This fact could explain the presence of a high number of plankton species associated with a high number of individuals in Barra Bonita Reservoir, supporting the effects of the intermediate disturbance hypothesis.     

Cyanobacteria dominance influences resource use efficiency and community turnover in phytoplankton and zooplankton communities

Freshwater biodiversity loss potentially disrupts ecosystem services related to water quality and may negatively impact ecosystem functioning and temporal community turnover. We analysed a data set containing phytoplankton and zooplankton community data from 131 lakes through 9 years in an agricultural region to test predictions that plankton communities with low biodiversity are less efficient in their use of limiting resources and display greater community turnover (measured as community dissimilarity). Phytoplankton resource use efficiency (RUE = biomass per unit resource) was negatively related to phytoplankton evenness (measured as Pielou's evenness), whereas zooplankton RUE was positively related to phytoplankton evenness. Phytoplankton and zooplankton RUE were high and low, respectively, when Cyanobacteria, especially Microcystis sp., dominated. Phytoplankton communities displayed slower community turnover rates when dominated by few genera. Our findings, which counter findings of many terrestrial studies, suggest that Cyanobacteria dominance may play important roles in ecosystem functioning and community turnover in nutrient‐enriched lakes.     

沙颍河流域浮游动物群落结构空间变化特征与水质评价

为了解沙颍河流域浮游动物的群落结构及水质状况, 于2016年秋季对该流域设置了20个采样点, 进行浮游动物群落结构调查, 并利用生物多样性指数对水质进行评价。结果显示: 沙颍河流域共检测出浮游动物36属78种, 其中轮虫20属60种、枝角类10属12种、桡足类6属6种; 浮游动物优势种主要为长肢多肢轮虫(Polyarthra dolichoptera)、裂痕龟纹轮虫(Anuraeopsis fissa)、角突臂尾轮虫(Brachionus angularis)、萼花臂尾轮虫(B. calyciflorus)、曲腿龟甲轮虫(KeratelIa valga)和象鼻溞(Bosmina sp.); 浮游动物密度和生物量最大值出现在沙颍河流域上游, 且从上游至下游, 生物量和密度的空间变化趋势相一致, 大致呈现逐渐降低的趋势; 检测位点Shannon-Wiener 多样性指数的范围为1.03—3.51, Pielou均匀度指数的变化范围为0.26—0.70。综合分析各采样点的种群和多样性指数反映出沙颍河流域上游水体污染较为严重, 中下游水体为中度污染。水质总体呈现出中度-重度污染。     

鸭绿江口及邻近海域生物群落的胁迫响应

利用ABC曲线法结合粒径谱理论对鸭绿江口近岸海域的生物群落特征、优势种演替、多样性水平、稳定性状况等进行了分析,并尝试构建了鸭绿江口近岸海域生物群落稳定性的评估模型.研究结果表明,鸭绿江口滨海湿地生物群落结构相对简单,优势种演替明显,受外界干扰较大.春、夏季浮游植物以r-对策者为主,群落数量偏离平衡点;秋季以r-对策者为主的微小型浮游植物逐渐被中大型k-对策者演替,群落完成反馈调节,恢复到平衡点.浮游动物由于较高的能量供应其幼体全年一直处于较高优势水平,但生态效率转换相对较慢.潮间带底栖生物群落结构相对简单,优势种演替明显,系统具有低多样性低密度的特点,群落在夏季受外界扰动较大.游泳生物群落主要以小型个体为主,已处于极不稳定状态.构建的群落稳定性评估模型测算结果与上述结论基本一致,这也验证了该评估模型具有一定的有效性与实用性.综合以上分析结果,说明鸭绿江口近岸海域生物群落稳定性较差,受外界干扰比较严重.     

The diversity and longitudinal changes of zooplankton in the lower course of a large, regulated European river (the lower Vistula River, Poland)

The diversity and longitudinal variation of zooplankton in the lower Vistula River were analyzed. Samples were taken from 40 stations located along a 272-km long section of the lower river course. During the study the unique technique of taking samples from “the same water” was used. The zooplankton community was dominated by rotifers and nauplii — larval stages of copepods. The most abundant species were: Brachionus angularis, Brachionus calyciflorus and Brachionus budapestiensis. The zooplankton species diversity in the main channel of the lower Vistula River was similar to other large European rivers; however, its abundance was lower. The diversity, abundance and biomass of potamoplankton steadily decreased downstream. This could be related both to scarcity of storage zones for potamoplankton development in the river due to the extensive regulation processes, and changes in hydrological conditions of the main channel (by the straightening of riverbed) where the samples were collected.     

北京市妫水河浮游动物群落结构与水质评价

由于浮游动物对水体环境变化敏感,可表征水体污染程度,因此在2017年对妫水河浮游动物群落结构进行调查研究,分析了浮游动物群落结构时空变化特征及其与环境因子的关系,并利用生物学评价方法对水质进行评价。结果表明:妫水河浮游动物有4门22属88种,其中原生动物种类最多,为42种,主要以轮虫和原生动物为主,浮游动物平均细胞密度和生物量分别为5041.58个/L和2.88 mg/L。浮游动物群落结构与环境因子的CCA分析显示,水温、pH、DO和氨氮是影响妫水河浮游动物群落结构变化的重要因素,其中裂痕龟纹轮虫、冠饰异尾轮虫和螺形龟甲轮虫等对水体中氮磷的相关性极为显著,具有富营养化指示作用,可作为监测水质的指示生物。妫水河浮游动物多样性指数H、均匀度指数J和丰富度指数D全年平均值分别为0.43、0.31和0.41,整体评价结果显示,妫水河水体处于中到富营养型水平,尤其是下段城区段污染严重,表明妫水河水体生态功能遭到破坏,水质还需进一步改善和治理。本研究结果可为妫水河水质评价、水环境监测及水污染治理提供基础数据资料和理论依据。     

浙江饮用水源地浮游动物群落特征及环境响应

2010年1月至2011年10月,对浙江省16个饮用水源地(H1—H8为河网型,K1—K8为水库型)的浮游动物群落进行季节调查。共记录浮游动物优势种(属)21种(轮虫8种、枝角类5种、剑水蚤5种和哲水蚤3种),各类群第一优势种分别为针簇多肢轮虫(Polyarthra trigla)、长额象鼻溞(Bosmina longirostris)、粗壮温剑水蚤(Thermocyclops dybowskii)和汤匙华哲水蚤(Sinocalanus dorrii)。2年间,河网和水库浮游动物平均密度分别为345.2 L-1和199.4 L-1,生物量分别为0.667 mg/L和0.421mg/L。各类群密度百分比例均以轮虫和桡足类无节幼体为主,甲壳动物以剑水蚤为主。经逐步回归分析表明,浮游动物群落密度(生物量)与河网水质因子(P0.01)之间相关性比水库(P0.05)更密切,总磷和氨氮分别入选了河网和水库所有有效的回归方程中。通径分析和决策系统分析表明,河网的总磷和叶绿素a含量对浮游动物群落变动具有正效应,溶解氧具有负效应;总磷含量是影响河网群落变动的最重要因子,叶绿素a含量则是影响群落增长最主要的限制因子。河网剑水蚤、无节幼体和轮虫群落的密度(生物量)与水体综合营养指数TLIc密度(TLIc生物量)之间有显著的线性回归关系(P0.001),无节幼体密度构成了TLIc密度变动的限制因子,轮虫生物量成为TLIc生物量变动的限制因子,而剑水蚤是一类最重要、稳定的水质指示群落,这对于筛选浮游动物群落的一些拓展性监测指标具有重要的参考作用。     

Changes and drivers of zooplankton diversity patterns in the middle reach of Yangtze River floodplain lakes,China

Anthropogenic habitat alteration interferes the natural aquatic habitats and the system''s hydrodynamics in the Yangtze River floodplain lakes, resulting in a serious decline in freshwater biodiversity. Zooplankton communities possess major position in freshwater ecosystems, which play essential parts in maintaining biological balance of freshwater habitats. Knowledge of processes and mechanisms for affecting variations in abundance, biomass, and diversity of zooplankton is important for maintaining biological balance of freshwater ecosystems. Here, we analyzed that the temporal and spatial changes in the structure of zooplankton community and their temporal and spatial variations respond to changes in environmental factors in the middle reach of Yangtze River floodplain lakes. The results showed that zooplankton samples were classified into 128 species, and Rotifera was the most common taxa. Significant seasonal differences were found among the abundance and diversity of zooplankton. Similarly, we also found significant seasonal differences among the biomass of zooplankton functional groups. The spatial turnover component was the main contributor to the β diversity pattern, which indicated that study areas should establish habitat restoration areas to restore regional biodiversity. The NMDS plot showed that the structure of zooplankton community exhibited significant seasonal changes, where the community structure was correlated with pH, water temperature, water depth, salinity, total nitrogen, chlorophyll‐a, and total phosphorus based on RDA. This study highlights that it is very important to ensure the floodplain ecosystem''s original state of functionality for maintaining the regional diversity of the ecosystem as a whole.     

Zooplankton of turbid and hydrologically dynamic prairie rivers

1. Compared with rivers in more humid, forested ecoregions of eastern and midwestern U.S.A., rivers in semi‐arid grassland of the U.S. Great Plains tend to be relatively shallow, more variable in discharge, and characterised by high suspended sediment loads. Although critical life stages of fish in prairie rivers probably depend at least partially on zooplanktonic food, data on community and distributional patterns of potamoplankton in these widespread ecosystems are almost entirely absent. 2. We examined summer zooplankton distribution in five prairie rivers (Arkansas, Kansas, Platte, Elkhorn, and Niobrara Rivers) spread over six degrees of latitude during 2003–2004. We compared our results from 126 samples with previously collected data from the Ohio and St Lawrence Rivers in forested ecoregions and correlated differences with abiotic environmental conditions. 3. The importance of hydrological retention zones to stream biota has been recently demonstrated for rivers with quasi‐permanent islands and slackwater regions, but the importance of slackwaters formed by ephemeral sandbar islands in prairie rivers is unknown. We evaluated the role of hydrological retention for planktonic rotifers, cladocera, and copepods in the Kansas River during the summer of 2004. 4. Zooplankton assemblages were extremely similar among prairie rivers (Sorensen Dissimilarity Index: mean = 0.07) but moderately disparate for comparisons of prairie versus forested‐basin rivers (mean = 0.50). 5. Total zooplankton densities in prairie rivers (approximately 81 L^?1) were intermediate between the Ohio (approximately 92 L^?1) and St Lawrence Rivers (approximately 43 L^?1), but relative abundances were significantly different. Rotifers represented >99% of zooplankton individuals in grassland rivers, but only approximately 37–68% in other rivers. Rotifer species richness was lower in prairie rivers, but relative abundances of common genera were much less skewed compared with eastern rivers where Polyarthra dominated rotifer assemblages (41–73%). 6. For comparisons among rivers, rotifers were significantly more abundant in turbid rivers, while microcrustaceans were less dense. However, for comparisons within the Kansas River over time, rotifer densities were inversely related to turbidity. We hypothesise that rotifers indirectly benefit from river turbidity because their food competitors (cladocera) and predators (e.g. cyclopoid copepods and visually feeding fish) are relatively more susceptible to suspended sediments. 7. Crustacean densities were positively related to the degree of hydrological retention (negatively to current velocities) throughout the study, but rotifer densities were significantly depressed by current velocities only when river discharge was high, making slackwaters that much more valuable. Ephemeral sandbars may not provide sufficient hydrological retention in time and space to sustain viable crustacean populations, but they are adequate to help sustain growth of rotifer populations.     

鸭绿江口近岸海域水质环境对冬季浮游动物群落结构的影响

定量分析滨海湿地近岸海域水质环境与浮游动物群落结构之间的关系对揭示海水水质环境健康状态具有重要意义。2019年12月在鸭绿江口湿地国家级自然保护区近岸海域开展了浮游动物和水环境因子调查,运用冗余分析和结构方程模型等方法探讨了水质环境对冬季浮游动物群落结构的影响。研究区共鉴定出浮游动物14种以及浮游幼虫5大类,桡足类最多占比52.63%;保护区不同功能分区间浮游动物群落结构总体差异不大,多样性指数、均匀度指数和丰富度指数平均值分别为1.34、0.51和0.59;浮游动物的种群分布与海水化学需氧量、溶解性无机氮、浮游植物群落多样性指数和铜元素含量关系显著;结构方程模型模拟结果表明,海水富营养化水平对浮游动物丰富度的效应系数为-0.26,具有显著的直接影响(P=0.01),重金属污染水平通过影响浮游植物丰富度(效应系数为-0.41,P<0.001)间接对浮游动物丰富度产生作用(间接效应系数为-0.2)。研究结果将有助于深化对海水环境和浮游动物群落结构协同演变过程的认识,为滨海湿地近岸海洋生态系统科学管理提供理论支撑。     

Effects of pollution on macroinvertebrates and water quality bio-assessment

Many large rivers in China have an inflow of contaminated water. Water pollution caused by urban sewage and agriculture, and occasionally pollution events from industries have become a significant stress on aquatic ecology. Pollution affects the biodiversity of the aquatic community and the species composition changes from natural species to tolerant species. The species composition of aquatic animals may reflect water pollution level. Extremely non-uniform distributions of functional feeding groups occurred as a result of high nutrient levels. A combination of chemical and biological methods constitutes the best approach for biological monitoring studies that measure water quality. Macroinvertebrates were used as bio-assessment indicator to determine the environmental quality of given water body. In this study, samples of water and macroinvertebrates were taken from several dozen sites in 14 rivers in China with different pollution levels, including the Yangtze, East, Weihe, Songhua, Yongding, and Panlong rivers. Macroinvertebrates were identified to genus or family level. Water samples were classified into different water quality grades according to the concentration of different substances. Five biological indices: taxa richness (S), density (D), total BMWQ score (t-BMWQ), average BMWQ score (a-BMWQ), and the family biotic index (FBI) were used for biological assessment of water quality. Analyzing macroinvertebrates’ occurrence in different water quality levels, taxa-specific indicators, which are defined as the taxa of macroinvertebrates that live in a certain water quality level but do not exist in other water quality levels were proposed for water quality bio-assessment. Leptophlebiidae, Siphlonuridae, Arctopsychidae, Perlidae, and Antocha sp. are the taxa-specific indicators for very good or good water quality; Chironomidae, Lymnaeidae, Tubifex sp., Limnodrilus sp., Limnoperna lacustris, Corbicula sp., Macrobrachium sp., Planorbidae, Glossiphoniidae, and Branchiura sp. are the taxa-specific indicators for very poor water quality; and Psychomyiidae and Hydroptilidae are the taxa-specific indicators for moderate water quality.     

Effects of hydrology and river management on the distribution,abundance and persistence of cyanobacterial blooms in the Murray River,Australia

Major cyanobacterial blooms (biovolume > 4 mm³ L⁻¹) occurred in the main water reservoirs on the upper Murray River, Australia during February and March 2010. Cyanobacterial-infested water was released and contaminated rivers downstream. River flow velocities were sufficiently high that in-stream bloom development was unlikely. The location has a temperate climate but experienced drought in 2010, causing river flows that were well below the long-term median values. This coupled with very low bed gradients meant turbulence was insufficient to destroy the cyanobacteria in-stream. Blooms in the upper 500 km of the Murray and Edward Rivers persisted for 5 weeks, but in the mid and lower Murray blooms were confined to a small package of water that moved progressively downstream for another 650 km. Anabaena circinalis was the dominant species present, confirmed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing, but other potentially toxic species were also present in smaller amounts. Saxitoxin (sxtA), microcystin (mcyE) and cylindrospermopsin (aoaA) biosynthesis genes were also detected, although water sample analysis rarely detected these toxins. River water temperature and nutrient concentrations were optimal for bloom survival. The operational design of weirs and retention times within weir pools, as well as tributary inflows to and diversions from the Murray River all influenced the distribution and persistence of the blooms. Similar flow, water quality and river regulation factors were underlying causes of another bloom in these rivers in 2009. Global climate change is likely to promote future blooms in this and other lowland rivers.     

3种不同营养水平的河流浮游植物群落结构及其与环境因子的相关性

为了更好地了解人类活动干扰下,河流水质和浮游植物群落结构的变化情况以及河流生态系统的演变过程,于2019年6月对贵州境内3种不同营养类型的河流（锦江河、湘江河和南明河）进行调查。研究了3条河流的理化因子、浮游植物种类组成及密度,结合冗余分析（RDA）研究了它们之间的关系,并应用聚类分析法研究3条河流浮游植物的空间分布特征。结果表明：水体富营养化程度排序为南明河>湘江河>锦江河,3条河流的综合营养指数分别为61.76、48.76和36.05。锦江河共有浮游植物6门19属21种,其中硅藻门种类最多,占总种数的57.14%;湘江河共有浮游植物6门34属43种,其中硅藻门和绿藻门种类最多,分别占总种数的41.86%和37.21%;南明河共有浮游植物6门32属46种,其中硅藻门和绿藻门种类最多,分别占总种数的39.13%和32.61%,锦江河、湘江河、南明河水体中浮游植物细胞数的平均值分别为12.66×10⁵、38.66×10⁵、132.61×10⁵个/L。浮游植物细胞密度与溶解氧呈显著正相关（P<0.05）,浮游植物细胞密度与电导率、溶解性总固体、盐度、总氮、总磷、氨氮、硝酸盐氮也呈显著正相关（P<0.01）。锦江河的电导率、盐度、溶解性总固体和营养盐含量最低,南明河的最高。此外,聚类分析显示3条河流的浮游植物群落按结构特征可分为两大类。这表明,随着人类活动的加强,河流的电导率、盐度、溶解性总固体、营养盐含量升高,浮游植物的细胞密度增加,其群落结构会由硅藻门占优势,逐渐转变为蓝藻门占优势。     

深圳大鹏半岛主要河流底栖动物群落结构及水质生物学评价

2013年5月对深圳大鹏半岛4条主要河流(葵涌河、王母河、鹏城河和东涌河)的大型底栖动物群落结构进行了调查,并利用香农-维纳多样性指数和生物指数(BI)对河流水质进行了生物学评价。在大鹏半岛主要河流的15个样点共采获大型底栖动物35种,隶属3门7纲21科,其中水生昆虫26种,约占底栖动物种类数的74%。但底栖动物的种类组成与分布极不均匀,EPT(蜉蝣目+襀翅目+毛翅目)等对水质变化较敏感的类群主要分布于葵涌河的源头及受人为干扰活动较少的东涌河,而耐污能力较强的摇蚊科幼虫、霍甫水丝蚓和颤蚓等则为葵涌河中、下游样点、王母河和鹏城河的优势物种。生物指数(BI)相较于香农-维纳多样性指数,更适用于水质评价。结果显示,除葵涌河源头、鹏城河和东涌河样点的水质处于清洁至轻污染外,其余大部分样点处于中污染至重污染状态。推测大鹏半岛的王母河及葵涌河中、下游河段的生活污水及工业废水已对底栖动物的群落结构与河流水质造成了一定的影响。     

上海市不同区县中小河道氮磷污染特征

以上海11个区县,共19条河道、65个点位进行1a的氮磷污染情况调查。结果表明:(1)上海河道为不完全感潮型河网水系。潮汐、降雨对氮磷污染物的分布影响具有时间差异性。(2)上海河道区县之间氮磷污染差异大(P0.05)。氮磷浓度从中心城区河道依次向外呈现"圆环状"稀释扩散趋势。黄浦江以南河道水质好于黄浦江以北河道;近江苏的河道总体氮磷浓度水平高于近浙江的河道(上海东南部)(P0.05)。水体中污染物浓度、扩散、降解与人为扰动和城镇化程度密切相关。(3)聚类分析(Cluster Analysis,CA)结果显示上海市河道污染水平在点位之间区别不大,而多维尺度分析(Multidimensional Scaling,MDS)显示上海市河道污染水平在点位之间具有一定差异,并与水质评价结果一致。(4)经生态修复后的河道水质优于修复前(P0.05),说明上海市人工水生态修复措施和生态型驳岸建设对改善河道水质有潜在价值。     

Phytoplankton growth in the Ohio, Cumberland and Tennessee Rivers, USA: inter-site differences in light and nutrient limitation

Seasonal patterns in resource limitation of phytoplankton growth were assessed monthly within three large rivers with differing extents of water regulation. The Ohio River is regulated by low dams that do not substantially modify discharge, while the Cumberland and Tennessee Rivers are impounded by a series of high dams to enhance water storage for downstream flood control. Laboratory dilution assays with light and nutrient manipulations indicated that light was the main factor limiting phytoplankton growth at irradiances below 7 E m^–2 d^–1. Light limited growth was frequent in the turbid, higher discharge of the Ohio River, but was rare in the heavily regulated Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers. When irradiance exceeded 7 E m^–2 d^–1, phytoplankton were either P-limited (Cumberland River), co-limited by P and N (Tennessee River), or Si limited (Ohio River). Site-specific differences in nutrient limitation were consistent with differences in ambient nutrient levels, with the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers characterized by lower N and P concentrations, and the Ohio River by lower Si. Downstream nutrient depletion was evident in the Ohio River through comparison of an upstream and a downstream site, with nutrient limitation (Si) occurring more frequently downstream. Phytoplankton growth rates at ambient light and nutrient levels ranged from 0.1 to 1.5 d^–1 in the Ohio River and 0.2 to 0.6 d^–1 in the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers. Growth rates were greatest at the onset of the summer base pool, as light intensities increased and nutrient levels were maximal. Our findings indicate that multiple factors regulate phytoplankton growth in regulated rivers and that spatial complexity may arise from differences in discharge and water aging.     

Water management in mediterranean river basins: a comparison of management frameworks, physical impacts, and ecological responses

Rivers in mediterranean climates have been extensively modified by water management infrastructure and practices, yet patterns of development and consequent effects on freshwater ecosystems have not been compared across multiple regions. To evaluate the influence of water management on mediterranean-climate rivers, we compare the historic progression of management policies, institutions, and ecosystem impacts in the Sacramento River (California, USA), Ebro River (Spain), and Biobío River (Chile) basins. There are broad similarities in patterns of ecosystem alterations related to the extensive development of dams and water management infrastructure in the three study basins. Flow regimes have been altered by the reduction of winter peak flows and increased summer baseflows. There are also common patterns of disturbance from sediment transport alteration, water quality degradation, and declines in freshwater biodiversity. Current approaches are inadequate for addressing the formidable water management challenges in California, Spain, and Chile, yet the dramatic evolution of water policies and institutions over the past 150 years suggests that further adaptation is possible. Advances toward integrated and sustainable water management models are likely to occur through incremental change, driven by growing awareness of climate change effects and public demands for water-use efficiency and improved environmental quality.     

Importance of phytoplankton carbon to heterotrophic bacteria in the Ohio,Cumberland, and Tennessee rivers,USA

The flux of carbon and nutrients through aquatic systems is largely dependent upon interactions between autotrophic and heterotrophic processes. As a means of assessing the relative importance of autotrophy and heterotrophy in large rivers, we compared phytoplankton production, heterotrophic bacterial production and community respiration in three regulated rivers of the Midwestern USA. Samples were collected monthly (March to December 1999) from impoundments of the Ohio (McAlpine Pool), Cumberland (Lake Barkley), and Tennessee (Kentucky Lake) Rivers. Bacterial production was tightly coupled to phytoplankton production at each site (r ² = 0.63–0.85). Ratios of phytoplankton production to bacterial production ranged from <1 to 15 in the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers and 2 to 90 in the Ohio River. The ratio of primary production to community respiration (P:R) ranged from 0.03 to 2.76 across all sites, with average P:R values lower in the Ohio River (0.14) than the Tennessee River (0.39) and the Cumberland River (1.10). P:R values above unity (P > R) were observed only in the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers during seasonal (April–July) spikes in primary production. We estimate that 3, 6, and 20% of annual bacterial carbon requirements were met by exudates from in situ phytoplankton in the Ohio River, Tennessee River, and Cumberland River, respectively. Our findings indicate that heterotrophic bacteria were largely dependant upon allochthonous carbon. Autochthonous sources provided supplemental organic matter (up to 40% of bacterial carbon demand) during summer low flow. Handling editor: J. Padisak