Water quality of rivers in the drainage basin of Lake Peipsi

Water quality and general regularities that have taken place in the water quality of rivers in the drainage basin of Lake Peipsi have been studied. The lake is located in the basin of the Narva River. Several changes of the water quality of the lake in 1970–1990, caused by increasing human impact, have been observed. The water quality of Lake Peipsi depends on its pollution load whereby the main part of the pollution reaches the lake via rivers. In 1985–1989 an extensive research programme of the lake and its drainage basin was carried out. In this paper a part of these results as well as recent changes in the water quality of the rivers of the Estonian side are studied. In the last years an improvement of the general state of rivers in the drainage basin of Lake Peipsi has taken place; the content of organic substances and nutrients in the inflows of Lake Peipsi and in the Narva River (lake outflow) is decreasing.     

The influence of crop management on the water balance of lupin and wheat crops on a layered soil in a Mediterranean climate

The influence of time of sowing and sowing density on evapotranspiration and drainage loss beneath wheat (Triticum aestivum cv. Spear) and lupin (Lupinus angustifolius cv. Gungurru) crops grown on a layered soil was investigated for three seasons in a Mediterranean climate in Western Australia. The aim of the study was to investigate whether managing crops to maximise their canopy growth would increase their water use and minimise groundwater recharge contributing to dryland salinity. A soil water balance approach was used to estimate evapotranspiration, with changes in soil water content measured with a neutron water meter. The study was carried out on a layered soil typical of agricultural soils in the region with variable depth to clay (0.22–0.38 m) and a marked contrast in hydraulic properties between the topsoil and subsoil. As a result of the low permeability subsoil, a perched water table occurred in the sandy topsoil in each of the three seasons under study during winter when rainfall was high and potential evaporation low. Perched water tables persisted for 2–3 months, with hydraulic gradients consistently downward causing drainage losses to occur. Although crop management had a large influence on shoot and root development, evapotranspiration from the different treatments was generally similar. Drainage losses were not influenced by either crop type, time of sowing or sowing density, because potential evaporation and hence evapotranspiration was low during the period when drainage losses occurred. The total drainage loss measured in each season was different, with losses ranging from 20.1 to 22.2 mm in 1990, from 40.4 to 46.7 mm in 1991 and from 49.4 to 66.6 mm in 1992. The increase in drainage loss from 1990 to 1992 was a result of progressively more seasonal rainfall in 1990, 1991 and 1992. It was concluded that there was little scope to increase water use and decrease deep drainage through crop management for sites with climatic conditions where winter rainfall exceeds potential evaporation. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The effects of mycorrhizae on phosphorus mitigation and pollinator habitat restoration within riparian buffers on unceded land

Agricultural pollution, especially phosphorus (P) can cause eutrophication of freshwater quality. Riparian buffers are best management practices (BMPs) which intercept agricultural pollution. However, they are frequently degraded by reduced biodiversity. P mitigation in riparian buffers can be enhanced through mycorrhizal inoculation and cyclical coppicing. We report on a myco-phytoremediation project that investigates mycorrhizae's effect on vegetation's ability to lower legacy soil P, soil water P, and increase woody biomass P uptake. It also aimed to restore pollinator habitat through planting a diverse, native plant palette (32 species), blooming from February to November. Planting and offering culturally relevant plant materials to the Abenaki contributes to their land rematriation process. The study was located on unceded Abenaki territory at Shelburne Farms, within 300 m of Lake Pitawbagw (Lake Champlain) which is impacted increasingly by P pollution from colonial and conventional agricultural practices. Along a drainage way three treatment plots were installed: buckthorn vegetation (OIV) left in place as the control, and two restored diverse multi-synusium plant communities, consisting of either uninoculated (RV) or inoculated with 19 mycorrhizal species (RVM). After 2 years, soil water soluble reactive P extracted from lysimeter samples was not affected by treatment but varied over time. However, water extractable SRP (WEP-SRP) and TP (WEP-TP) followed this trend RV > OIV > RVM which was inversely and linearly related to mycorrhizal density. Plants are best harvested in late summer when P concentrations are highest. Restoration science can flourish through reciprocally partnering with Original Peoples who hold expertise in ecological reconciliation.     

东洞庭湖丁字堤苔草群落特征及其影响因子

近20年来,洞庭湖湿地的湖草面积大幅度减少,退化严重.为寻求湖草的恢复途径,本文以位于洞庭湖丁字堤的短尖苔草为对象,依高程差划分成7条样带,调查了63个样方的植被特征(株高、盖度、密度、生物量、多样性指数)和土壤理化特征(土壤有机碳、全氮、全磷、土壤容重、土壤含水量).结果表明: 除多样性指数先下降后升高外,其余生物学指标均随高程增加呈现倒“U”型分布,即靠近水域(低海拔区)和堤岸(高海拔区)的苔草长势较差,而位于中间的苔草长势较好;土壤容重随高程增加而增加,土壤含水量的变化则相反,土壤有机碳和全氮含量均呈中海拔区高、低和高海拔区低的分布规律.主成分分析表明,影响苔草生物量的关键因子依次为土壤有机碳含量、氮含量、含水量和土壤容重.可见,提高土壤肥力和保持适当的土壤含水量可能是短尖苔草恢复的有效途径.     

近十年太湖生态系统服务功能价值变化评估

理解和把握近年来湖泊生态系统服务功能退化规律的最佳手段是评估其生态系统服务功能价值的变化。以太湖为例,基于近十年来太湖生态系统的科学调查数据,综合运用生态学及经济学方法,对太湖生态系统的四大类功能和11个亚类的服务价值进行了综合评估。研究结果表明,2000年、2003年、2007年和2009年太湖生态系统服务总价值分别为1627.98亿元、1908.68亿元、1503.99亿元和3528.73亿元,保持逐渐升高的趋势,但是在2007年却意外降低。从2000年到2009年太湖生态系统服务功能价值构成发生了一些变化,2000年以供水功能为主体,约占总价值的43%,2003年和2007年变为以航运功能为主体,分别占总价值的41.31%和38.73%,而2009年又变为以旅游功能为主体,约占总价值的52.52%,总体上由供给功能向文化功能转变。航运功能和旅游功能急剧上升而供水功能急剧下降不利于长远发挥的太湖生态服务功能。蓝藻水华的发生可能降低太湖供给功能、支持服务功能和文化服务功能,进而对太湖生态服务的总价值产生负面影响。研究认为太湖生态系统对支持和保护人类社会具有重要的作用,为管理者和决策者有效的保护和管理湖泊生态系统提供了重要的信息。     

Soil and vegetation as the determinants of lake nitrogen concentrations in forested watersheds in British Columbia,Canada

This study used soil type, drainage class, parent material, and vegetation type to quantify the concentrations of lake water nitrogen for nine coastal lakes in forested watersheds in British Columbia, Canada. The results showed that forest soil type, drainage class, parent material, and vegetation type can predict more than 80% of the variance of nitrogen concentrations in these coastal lakes. The lakes in the watersheds with Orthic Humic Gleysol soils, moraine soil parent material, poor drainage, and coastal western hemlock and Douglas-fir vegetation type had higher nitrogen concentrations than the lakes in the watersheds with the other soil and vegetation types and properties. The impact factor of forest soil and vegetation on lake nitrogen concentration was defined according to the ability of each watershed soil and vegetation to contribute lake nitrogen input. This paper also demonstrates how to construct a model of lake nitrogen concentrations in response to the change of forest vegetation types and soil properties. The developed models can be used as watershed management tools for establishing and maintaining high quality water through managing soil and vegetation in forested watersheds.     

Predicting future community composition from random soil seed bank sampling – evidence from a drained lake bottom

Questions: What is the accuracy and reliability of the commonly used random soil sampling methodology for predicting seedling density, species richness and composition of the emerging seedling community? Location: Lake Kraenepoel, western Belgium. Methods: We compared density, species composition and observed and rarefactioned species richness of the seedling community emerging on a soft water lake bed exposed after drainage with the seedling community germinating in the laboratory from random soil samples in the same plots. Results: Seedling density did not differ between the two methods and there was a significant correlation between seedling density on the exposed lake bed and in the soil samples. This indicates that future seedling density can be reliably predicted based on soil sampling, in particular for the most abundant species. The most frequently occurring and abundant species among the seedlings in the soil samples were also the most frequent and abundant species germinating on the exposed lake bed. In contrast, species richness was much higher on the exposed lake bed than in the soil samples, and this difference was still significant for annual species after correction for differences in sampling intensity by rarefaction. We found no correlation between the number of species retrieved by the two methods. Although seedlings of rare and target species emerged on the lake bed, random soil sampling clearly failed to detect seeds of most of these species. Conclusions: Random soil sampling at a commonly used intensity and using the standard germination conditions can accurately predict future total seedling density and the density of the most abundant species. However, the method is not reliable for predicting the probability of establishment of populations of uncommon species. When executing a seed bank study, sampling intensity and germination conditions need to be adapted to the nature and the level of detail of the research question to be answered.     

Contrasting effects of nutrients and climate on algal communities in two lakes in the Windermere catchment since the late 19th century

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水污染是我国湖泊生态系统面临的主要环境问题,评估污染条件下湖泊生态系统服务价值对认识和恢复污染湖泊生态功能具有重要意义。针对当前湖泊生态系统服务价值评估方法中未体现水污染负面影响的问题,在传统生态系统服务功能价值评估框架的基础上,将水污染造成的经济损失内化到生态系统服务功能价值中,提出了针对污染湖泊的生态系统服务功能价值评估方法。应用该方法核算了滇池生态系统服务净价值。结果表明:2006—2015年滇池年均生态系统服务功能价值为386.55亿元/a,水污染改变了滇池的价值结构,供水价值丧失,气候调节、旅游和蓄水等成为滇池生态系统服务功能价值的主体;滇池水污染对流域内外经济社会发展造成的损失达到15.23亿元/a,主要经济损失体现在生态补水费用和蓝藻去除费用;综合湖泊生态系统服务的正向价值和水污染的负向损失,滇池的净生态系统服务价值为371.33亿元/a,占流域GDP的11.7%。将水污染损失纳入湖泊生态系统服务功能价值评估中增强了评价结果的合理性,能够更加真实地反映湖泊生态系统对人类经济社会发展的综合影响。     

应用DRASTIC模型评价西湖流域地下水污染风险

以地理信息系统（Blackland GRASS软件）为基础平台,建立了西湖流域基础和专题数据库;结合地下水污染风险评价专业模型（DRASTIC模型）。计算出流域内地下水污染风险图,对照流域的土地利用现状,提出流域内的污染优先控制区,研究表明,地下水污染高风险区中,居民区占了14.7%,在流域地下水污染防治中,建议首先对优先污染控制区内的居民区进行生活污水截污。     

洞庭湖青山垸退耕地不同水位土壤种子库特征

研究退耕地土壤种子库的组成特点和分布规律是评价受损湿地生态恢复效应的重要组成部分.本文以洞庭湖典型退田还湖区——青山垸为对象,研究了不同水位及湿地土壤(0～2、2～5和5～10 cm)种子库的大小、物种组成多样性及其与地上植被的关系.结果表明: 青山垸土壤种子库密度、丰富度指数以及地上植被与土壤种子库的相似性系数沿低-中-高水位梯度呈“V”型变化.常淹区种子库密度最高,为(36943±5207)粒·m^-2,偶淹区最低,为(18618±6977)粒·m^-2,洪淹区居中,为(30572±5329)粒·m^-2;地上植被与土壤种子库的相似性系数(Sorensen系数)为常淹区(0.76)>洪淹区(0.53)>偶淹区(0.41).种子库密度、物种多样性指数和物种丰富度指数沿土壤剖面呈递减趋势,但不同水位的递减幅度存在差异.种子库密度、物种丰富度以及地上植被与湿地种子库的相似性系数沿水位梯度呈规律性变化,与其所处的地理位置水文波动和植被的物种生活型组成等密切相关.     

洞庭湖湿地8种优势植物对镉的富集特征

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Effects of watershed liming on the soil chemistry of Woods Lake,New York

The effects of watershed liming on the exchange complex of a forest soil were investigated at Woods Lake, in the west-central Adirondack Park, New York. Attempts to neutralize lake acidity via direct application of calcite during the 1980"s were short-lived due to a short hydraulic retention time. The Experimental Watershed Liming Study (EWLS) was initiated to investigate watershed base addition as a potentially more long-term strategy for mitigation of lake acidity. In this paper we discuss the changes in the exchangeable soil complex which occurred in response to the calcite addition and attempt a mass balance for calcite applied to the watershed.An extensive sampling program was initiated for the watershed study. Soil samples were collected from pits prior to and in the two years following treatment to evaluate changes in soil chemistry. Calcite addition significantly altered the exchange complex in the organic horizon. Increases in pH caused deprotonation of soil organic matter and increases in cation exchange capacity, providing additional exchange sites for the retention of added calcium. Exchangeable acidity decreased to very low values, allowing the base saturation of upper organic horizons to increase to nearly 100 percent.Post-treatment sampling found that approximately 48 percent of the calcite remained undissolved in the soil"s Oe horizon two years later. Dissolution of the calcite was affected by field moisture conditions, with greater dissolution in wetter areas of the watershed. Mass balances calculated for calcium applied to the watershed suggest that only 4 percent of the calcium was removed through the lake outlet. Approximately 96 percent of the calcium applied remained within the watershed; as undissolved calcite, on soil exchange sites or stored in the vegetation, groundwater or surface waters of the watershed.     

Application of the integrated lake-watershed acidification study model to watershed liming at woods Lake,New York

Woods Lake, in the Adirondack Mountains of New York, was the site of the Experimental Watershed Liming Study (EWLS) in which base addition was investigated as a method for mitigation of lake acidity. In an effort to predict the duration of effects, the treatment was simulated using the Integrated Lake-Watershed Acidification Study (ILWAS) model. To simulate terrestrial liming, calcite was applied to treated subcatchments as a rapidly weathering mineral in the upper horizon. Soil solution and lake outlet chemistry showed a response to calcite addition within four months of the start of the simulation. Calcium concentrations, acid neutralizing capacities (ANC), and pH increased in the upper soil layer and aluminum concentrations decreased in the upper three soil layers (0–70 cm). The response of ANC was delayed in lower soil layers due to proton production associated with aluminum hydrolysis. Moreover, soil water pH in the third soil layer decreased in response to calcite treatment due to the displacement of hydrogen ions by calcium added to the exchange complex. Calcium concentrations, ANC and pH increased and aluminum concentrations decreased in the simulated lake outlet. The modeled effects of calcite treatment on the soil and lake outlet chemistry were not as great as field observations. This was, in part, attributed to the model representation of the watershed, which did not include streams, ponds, or wetlands located in the treated subcatchments. Calcite applied to these saturated areas in the field readily dissolved, supplying ANC to lake water. Additionally, incorporation of calcite into a thick organic layer in the model diminished the possibility of dissolution by contact with overland flow. Observed concentrations of calcium, ANC, and pH in the outlet decreased after high values in the two years after treatment. Although the model failed to match observed short-term data, it may simulate the long-term response as calcium is transported through the soil. A long-term simulation of the model suggests that effects of base treatment will persist for at least 50 years.     

Hydrological Connectivity as a Shaping Force in the Zooplankton Community of Two Lakes in the Paraná River Floodplain

Zooplankton in two river‐lake systems of the Paraná River (Argentina) floodplain were studied during ordinary hydrological situations as well as during an extreme flood (El Niño event) over a period of more than 20 years. The studied lakes were selected because of their position at opposite ends of a surface connectivity gradient. Los Matadores Lake, with high connectivity, has a direct connection to the river via a short channel that is active during a large part of the year. At the other extreme, the low connectivity El Tigre Lake has an indirect connection to the river through a swampy area that is only active for short periods. During ordinary hydrologic periods, zooplankton abundance and species richness appear to be controlled by the degree of connectivity of the lakes. Abundance was higher in El Tigre, which is isolated for longer periods and consequently has a longer water‐residence time. Contrary to expectations, species richness was also higher in this lake, a result that was surprising because water bodies with low conectivity/disturbance are predicted to have a lower biodiversity. This unexpected outcome reflects the nature of the connecting route, which crosses a long and complex swampy ecotone. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Ecology of purple sulfur bacteria in the highly stratified meromictic Lake Shunet (Siberia, Khakassia) in 2002–2009

Phototrophic sulfur bacteria form dense accumulations in the chemocline zones of stratified lakes where light reaches the sulfide-containing layers of water. Many works are dedicated to the ecophysiology of these microorganisms in meromictic lakes. However, the role of these microorganisms in the trophic network of these ecosystems, the ways of biomass utilization, and the contribution to the turnover of biogenic elements have so far been insufficiently understood. This work deals with the analysis of many years?? seasonal dynamics of the biomass of purple sulfur bacteria and the physicochemical conditions of their environment in Lake Shunet (Siberia, Khakassia, Russia), unraveling the causes of their anomalous development in the chemocline of this lake, as well as the comparative analysis of such type of ecosystems. Lake Shunet is characterized by markedly pronounced stratification and the high density of purple sulfur bacteria (PSB) in the chemocline, which is comparable to that of Lake Mahoney (Canada) where the number of PSB is the greatest among those known in the world. It was shown that, in the period 2002?C2009, the total amount of bacterio-chlorophyll a in the water column of Lake Shunet increased and did not correlate with the seasonal variations in temperature and illumination in the chemocline. It was established that PSB cells in the purple layer experienced the effect of self-shading. The sedimentation rate of purple sulfur bacteria in Lake Shunet was low due to the pronounced density gradient in the chemocline zone. Thus, the high number of PSB in the chemocline was due to the combination of strong illumination, a high sulfide concentration, and a high water density gradient, which was responsible for stable stratification and contributed to the accumulation of the cells in a narrow layer. The data obtained could be useful for the paleoreconstruction of climatically deter-mined changes in the level of the lake and its periods of meromixis by the presence of carotenoids and bacte-riochlorophylls in the bottom sediments.     

The experimental watershed liming study: Comparison of lake and watershed neutralization strategies

The Experimental Watershed Liming Study (EWLS) was initiated to evaluate the application of CaCO₃ to a forested watershed in an effort to mitigate the acidification of surface water. The objective of the EWLS was to assess the response of the Woods Lake watershed to an experimental addition of CaCO₃. During October 1989, 6.89 Mg CaCO₃/ha was applied by helicopter to two subcatchments comprising about 50% (102.5 ha) of the watershed area. The EWLS involved individual investigations of the response of soil and soil water chemistry, forest and wetland vegetation, soil microbial processes, wetland, stream and lake chemistry, and phytoplankton and fish to the CaCO₃ treatment. In addition, the Integrated Lake/Watershed Acidification (ILWAS) model was applied to the site to evaluate model performance and duration of the treatment. The results of these studies are detailed in this volume. The purposes of this introduction and synthesis paper are to: 1) present the overall design of the EWLS, 2) discuss the linkages between the individual studies that comprise the EWLS, and 3) summarize the response of the lakewater chemistry to watershed addition of CaCO₃ and compare these results to previous studies of direct lake addition. An analysis of lake chemistry revealed the watershed treatment resulted in a gradual change in pH, acid neutralizing capacity (ANC) and Ca²⁺ in the water column. This pattern was in contrast to direct lake additions of CaCO₃ which were characterized by abrupt changes following base addition and subsequent rapid reacidification. Over the three-year study period, the supply of ANC to drainage waters was largely derived from dissolution of CaCO₃ in wetlands. Relatively little dissolution of CaCO₃ occurred in freely draining upland soils. The watershed treatment had only minor effects on forest vegetation. The watershed treatment eliminated the episodic acidification of streamwater and the near-shore region of the lake during snowmelt, a phenomenon that occurred during direct lake treatments. Positive ANC water in the near-shore area may improve chemical conditions for fish reproduction, and allow for the development of a viable fish population. The watershed CaCO₃ treatment also decreased the transport of Al from the watershed to the lake, and increased the concentrations of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and dissolved silica (H₄SiO₄) in stream and lakewater. The watershed treatment appeared to enhance soil nitrification, increasing concentrations of NO₃ ^– in soilwater and surface waters. However, the acidity associated with this NO₃ ^– release was small compared to the increase in ANC due to CaCO₃ addition and did not alter the acid-base status of Woods Lake. Acid neutralizing capacity (ANC) budgets for 12-month periods before and after the watershed treatment showed that the lake shifted from a large source of ANC to a minor source due to retention of SO₄ ^2–, NO₃ ^–, Al and the elevated inputs of Ca²⁺ associated with the watershed CaCO₃ application. In contrast to the direct lake treatments, Ca²⁺ inputs from the watershed application were largely transported from the lake.     

鄱阳湖水利枢纽工程建设对草鱼江湖洄游潜在的影响

鄱阳湖是长江四大家鱼索饵、育肥的重要场所,近年来鄱阳湖出现了枯水季水位严重降低、枯水期延长、湿地面积缩小的现象。为解决鄱阳湖水资源、水文、水生态等问题,建议在鄱阳湖入江水道兴建控制闸水利枢纽。然而,拟建的水利枢纽工程将打破鄱阳湖与长江的天然连通性,可能会对四大鱼类洄游过程产生影响。通过构建二维和三维水动力模型,分析鄱阳湖水利枢纽建设后入江水道与枢纽洄游通道的水动力学特征,结合实验和文献获得的草鱼幼鱼和成鱼游泳能力参数,阐明了枢纽建设对草鱼洄游的影响。结果表明:在设计调度模式下,草鱼幼鱼入湖期间,湖口段适宜通过天数达到83.74%以上,说明湖口及入江水道的水动力条件对洄游的影响较小,同时,枢纽工程处在过鱼高峰期仍能保持较高的过闸效率;草鱼成鱼出湖期间,丰、平水年闸前水动力条件对洄游的影响较小,仅在枯水年闸前流速几乎静止,草鱼适宜出湖天数偏低。在该调度模式下,水利枢纽建设运行后鄱阳湖整体水动力条件能够满足草鱼洄游需求。目前设计的鱼道在高、低水位时期均出现局部流速过大的现象,不满足过鱼条件。从四大家鱼江湖洄游的角度为鄱阳湖水利枢纽工程设计和运行提供科学参考。     

Oligochaetes and water pollution in two deep Norwegian lakes

Analyses of the oligochaete fauna of two of the deepest lakes in Scandinavia — the Norwegian lakes Mjösa (450 m) and Tyrifjorden (295 m), revealed a totally different species composition in the deep profundal compared with the upper profundal - in contact with the nutrient-enriched epilimnion. In both lakes a pronounced thermal stratification develops in the summer, thus the epilimnion receiving gross organic pollution behaves differently from the profundal. The lakes are each effectively divided into two bodies of water with limited water exchange between them, i.e. one major oligotrophic body and one minor more nutrient-rich. Since the 1950s both lakes have been exposed to heavy pollution of various kinds. In Lake Mjösa in 1975 and 1976 unpleasant algal blooms of the blue-green alga Oscillatoria bornetii fa. tenuis occurred. Bottom samples obtained at the same time revealed that the deep central bottoms of the lake were totally dominated by oligotrophic oligochaete indicators, i.e. by Stylodrilus heringianus and Spirosperma ferox, while the fauna of the upper profundal in the vicinity of domestic and agricultural sewage outfalls, wood processing industries, etc. was dominated by Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri and Tubifex tubifex in great abundance, indicating enriched conditions. Several other species indicative of eutrophy, were absent, most of them belonging to the genus Potamothrix. A fairly similar situation exists in Lake Tyrifjorden, where, for instance, in the shallow bay of Steinsfjorden — heavily eutrophied by agricultural wastes — blooms of blue-green algae have caused problems from time to time. The same oligochaete communities as in Lake Mjösa distinguish the central oligotrophic bottoms from the regionally more enriched upper profundal. The likely reasons for an intact profundal oligochaete fauna are great volumes of oxygen-rich hypolimnic water of low temperature and a high bottom/lake surface area ratio.     

Functioning and dynamics of wetland vegetation of Lake Victoria: an overview

The aquatic macrophytic vegetation constituting the wetlands situated along the coast of Lake Victoria provides valuable services to both local and regional communities as well as an important ecological function through the transition between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. The wetland vegetation is typically rooted in the substrate on the landward side of the lake, but forms a floating mat towards the middle of the wetland and at the wetland/lake interface. Cyperus papyrus and Miscanthidium violaceum vegetation typically dominate the permanently inundated wetland areas along most of the shores of Lake Victoria. Due to the prevailing climatic and hydrological catchment conditions, these macrophytic plants (papyrus in particular) tend to exhibit high net productivity and nutrient uptake which strongly influences both wetland status and lake water quality. In addition, these wetlands provide important economic livelihoods for the local populations. The integrity and physical structure of these wetlands strongly influences their associated mass transport mechanisms (water, nutrients and carbon) and ecosystem processes. Wetland degradation in Africa is an increasing problem, as these ecosystems are relied upon to attenuate industrial, urban and agricultural pollution and supply numerous services and resources. In an integrated project focused on the wetlands of Lake Victoria, the ecological and economic aspects of littoral wetlands were examined and new instruments developed for their sustainable management.