Effects of land‐cover transitions on emerging aquatic insects and environmental characteristics of headwater streams in an agricultural catchment

Streams and their adjacent riparian zones are increasingly viewed as interdependent systems linked by reciprocal exchanges of energy, organisms, and materials. We assessed potential associations between the emerging aquatic insect flux and transitions between agricultural land and forest fragments to better understand these stream‐riparian linkages in managed landscapes. We sampled stream environmental conditions and emerging insects at 28 sites distributed along three streams flowing through agriculture‐forest‐agriculture transitions in central Ohio, USA, in the summer of 2012. Ephemeroptera and Trichoptera (ET) taxa had higher flux densities in forests (mean and 95% CI: 0.3 insects m^?2 d^?1 [0.1, 0.8]) compared to agriculture (mean and 95% CI: 0 insect m^?2 d^?1 [0, 0.1]; p = .004), and ET taxa were found in 67% of forested sites compared to only 15% of agricultural sites. In contrast, Dolichopodidae were more strongly associated with agricultural land (mean and 95% CI: 0.6 insect m^?2 d^?1 [0.3 to 1.2]) than forests (mean and 95% CI: 0.1 insects m^?2 d^?1 [0.1, 0.2]; p = .002). Although Chironomidae were the most numerically abundant, ET taxa were among the larger bodied insects and comprised >30% of the total biomass flux, illustrating the importance of taxonomic traits in mediating flux dynamics. Mechanisms driving emerging insect flux were related to substrate grain‐size distribution, channel width, and nutrient concentrations. Overall, our results demonstrate that small forest fragments are strongly related to the aquatic‐to‐terrestrial insect flux and thus have important implications for terrestrial biodiversity and food webs in agricultural landscapes.     

Stratification,diel and seasonal energy transfers in Malilangwe Reservoir in the south‐eastern lowveld of Zimbabwe

This study provides a 9‐month record of Malilangwe Reservoir stratification and diel and seasonal energy transfers between February and October 2011. The reservoir was not strongly stratified during the hot‐wet season (February and March), exhibiting low dissolved oxygen concentrations of <2 mg DO L^?1 in the bottom layers (<6 m depth). During the cool‐dry season, when both the air temperature and solar radiation input decreased, the water temperatures in the epilimnion and across the thermocline decreased, and the water column was very weakly stratified. In this state, the reservoir could easily be mixed, even by light winds, resulting in overturning, thereby giving the bottom water an opportunity to become aerated, as observed during the cool‐dry season. The stability was greatest when the water level was high (during midday), while it was considerably lower during the predawn hours. The calculated annual Birgean heat budget for the reservoir was 110 MJ m^?2 year^?1 for February to October 2011. The diurnal Birgean heat budget was consistently associated with heat loss over a 24 hour period in all seasons, mostly between 0400 and 1000 h. Spearman's correlation suggests that the DO was significantly correlated with stability for the three study months (February r = 0.69, P < 0.05; June r = ?0.76, P < 0.001; October r = 0.96, P < 0.001). The results of this study suggests that warming temperatures (warmer months or seasons) will result in high Birgean heat budgets, which could potentially trigger some important changes in plankton population dynamics in small reservoir, with severe water quality implications. The nutrient concentrations varied throughout the seasons.     

SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL WATER QUALITY VARIABILITY IN AQUATIC HABITATS OF A CULTIVATED FLOODPLAIN

The floodplains of lowland rivers contain diverse aquatic habitats that provide valuable ecosystem services but are perturbed when intensively cultivated. Hydrologic, water chemistry and biological (fish) conditions in five aquatic habitats along the Coldwater River, Mississippi, were measured for more than 4 years: the river, two severed meanders that functioned as backwaters, a managed wetland and an ephemeral channel draining cultivated fields. Off‐channel habitats were connected to downstream regions 0.10% to 32% of the dry season and 24% to 67% of the wet season. The median temperatures for the five monitored sites ranged from 18°C to 23°C, the median total solids concentration for all sites was 135 mg L^?1, the median total phosphorus was 0.29 mg L^?1 and the median total nitrogen was 1.56 mg L^?1. Chemical and physical water quality displayed strong seasonal differences between the wet winter/spring and the dry summer/fall periods so that temporal variation consisted of gradual seasonal trends superimposed on strong diurnal variations. All off‐channel habitats exhibited periods of hypoxia and temperatures >30°C during the dry season. Between‐site gradients of water and habitat quality were strongly coupled to water depth and runoff loading. The rehabilitation of one backwater by increasing water depth and diverting agricultural runoff was associated with improved water quality and fish species richness relative to an adjacent untreated backwater. The diversion of polluted runoff and the use of water control structures to maintain greater water depth were observed to be effective management tools, but the former reduces the water supply to habitats that tend to dry up and the latter reduces connectivity. Published in 2011 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Hydrochemistry of the hyporheic zone in salmon spawning gravels: a preliminary assessment in a degraded agricultural stream

Hydrochemical changes were monitored in a simulated, sea run salmon redd in a small agricultural stream in northeast Scotland following the 1998–1999 spawning season. Immediately after redd construction, the hydrochemical characteristics of hyporheic water, at depths of 0.1 m and 0.3 m, were very similar to stream water. These apparently well‐mixed waters were alkaline, well‐oxygenated and enriched in nutrients. In the weeks and months following redd construction, clear and statistically significant differences in the chemistry of stream and hyporheic waters were observed. Typically, hyporheic water had lower concentrations of dissolved oxygen (mean 7.35 mg L^?1 at 0.3 m depth) than stream waters (mean=11.26 mg L^?1). Alkalinity, calcium, sulphate and conductivity levels tended to be higher in hyporheic waters, with concentrations increasing with depth. These data implied an increasing influence of groundwater with depth in the hyporheic zone following redd construction; an inference supported by subsequent hydraulic head measurements, which revealed an upwards groundwater flux in the stream bed. However, groundwater–surface water interactions were dynamic and complex: road salts eluted into the stream during periods of snowmelt simulated tracer experiments that implied that a reversed hydraulic gradient may occur at high flows with deeper streamwater penetration and mixing in the hyporheic zone. High flows also result in the mobilization of fine sediments from the stream bed which subsequently infiltrated into spawning gravels. These appear to cause ‘capping’ of redds and probably reduce the hydraulic conductivity of the redd matrix. Infiltrating sediments also contain a small, but probably important organic component, the decomposition of which may contribute to oxygen consumption and nutrient mineralization in the hyporheic zone. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

MACROINVERTEBRATE RESPONSE TO FLOW CHANGES IN A SUBALPINE STREAM: PREDICTIONS FROM TWO‐DIMENSIONAL HYDRODYNAMIC MODELS

Two‐dimensional hydrodynamic models are being used increasingly as alternatives to traditional one‐dimensional instream flow methodologies for assessing adequacy of flow and associated faunal habitat. Two‐dimensional modelling of habitat has focused primarily on fishes, but fish‐based assessments may not model benthic macroinvertebrate habitat effectively. We extend two‐dimensional techniques to a macroinvertebrate assemblage in a high‐elevation stream in the Sierra Nevada (Dana Fork of the Tuolumne River, Yosemite National Park, CA, USA). This stream frequently flows at less than 0.03 m³ s^?1 in late summer and is representative of a common water abstraction scenario: maximum water abstraction coinciding with seasonally low flows. We used two‐dimensional modelling to predict invertebrate responses to reduced flows that might result from increased abstraction. We collected site‐specific field data on the macroinvertebrate assemblage, bed topography and flow conditions and then coupled a two‐dimensional hydrodynamic model with macroinvertebrate indices to evaluate habitat across a range of low flows. Macroinvertebrate indices were calculated for the wetted area at each flow. A surrogate flow record based on an adjacent watershed was used to evaluate frequency and duration of low flow events. Using surrogate historical records, we estimated that flow should fall below 0.071 m³ s^?1 at least 1 day in 82 of 95 years and below 0.028 m³ s^?1 in 48 of 95 years. Invertebrate metric means indicated minor losses in response to modelled discharge reductions, but wetted area decreased substantially. Responses of invertebrates to water abstraction will likely be a function of changing habitat quantity rather than quality. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The effect of land use on channel geometry and sediment distribution in gravel mantled bedrock streams,Illinois River watershed,Arkansas

Headwater stream morphology is a direct reflection of watershed characteristics and therefore can inform our understanding of anthropogenic influence on channel geometry and sediment dynamics. Little knowledge of the geomorphology of headwater streams in the Ozark Plateaus region of northwest Arkansas exists. The Illinois River watershed, in northwest Arkansas, is of critical interest within the region because of land use changes in the headwaters due to rapid population growth. A mixture of forest and agricultural (open pasture and poultry houses) land use dominates the watershed, but urban areas are rapidly expanding. These land use types: forest, agriculture and urban are an effective proxy for increasing anthropogenic disturbance. Analysis of longitudinal profile, cross‐section and sediment distribution in streams from each land use type shows a strong trend of increasing slope and channel cross‐sectional area with a greater degree of anthropogenic disturbance. Additionally, urban streams are characterized by the presence of exposed bedrock in the stream bed, while agricultural and forested streams are gravel mantled. These data have important implications for current and future stream management policies and practices regionally. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Physicochemical characteristics of Lake IRAD, an artificial lake in Wakwa region, Cameroon

Wakwa is a region in north Cameroon characterized by intensive cattle production. This study evaluated the physicochemical characteristics of the waters in Lake IRAD, located near Wakwa, which is the main water source for cattle grazing in this area. Water samples were collected at four sampling sites during the rainy and dry seasons (April, July, October and February). The chemical composition of the water samples was analysed for various constituents, including nitrate (NO₃^–), chloride (Cl^?), phosphate (PO₄^3?), bicarbonate (HCO₃^?), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), manganese (Mn), aluminium (Al), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), nickel (Ni), cadmium (Cd), ammonia–nitrogen (NH₄–N) and organic matter (OM). The mineral composition varied significantly (P < 0.05) with the sampling period. High concentrations of zinc (0.96 mg L^?1) and dissolved iron (1.23 mg L^?l) were observed during the dry season. Total iron (3.25 mg L^?1), OM (15.4 mg of O₂ L^?1), nitrate (28.82 mg L^?1) and NH₄–N (1.05 mg L^?1) concentrations were highest during the rainy season. The iron, OM and NH₄–N concentrations were higher than the USEPA‐recommended values (0.2 mg L^?1, 4 mg of O₂ L^?1 and 0.5 mg L^?1, respectively). The phosphate, copper, nickel and cadmium concentrations, considered as the polluting substances, were present in negligible concentrations, being below the detection limits of the analytical techniques used to measure them. The high iron, OM and nitrogen concentrations were attributed to water‐leached soil run‐off, as well as the activity of animals in the lake. Sampling sites 1 and 2, which were used mostly by cattle, were observed to have the highest concentrations of NH₄–N, compared with sites 3 and S (exit point). It will be necessary to delimit cattle access points to the lake to reduce this type of contamination of drinking water.     

Long‐term irreversible changes in a lake ecosystem affected by the Indian Ocean Tsunami

This study focused on ecosystem responses to the environmental perturbations caused by the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami in a small lake that was a freshwater body in 1996, prior to the tsunami. The physicochemical and biological characteristics of Kokilamedu Lake (KKM) revealed drastic changes, compared with pretsunami conditions. Monthly average observations on water quality indicated the electrical conductivity of the water increased steeply to 17.41 mS cm^?1 in 2009, from the lowest pretsunami value of 1.83 mS cm^?1 (range of 1.83–5.25 mS cm^?1). Simultaneously, the nitrate + nitrite (NO₃ + NO₂) values increased significantly from 0.49 μmol L^?1 in 1996 to 74.47 μmol L^?1 in 2006. Silicate (SiO₄‐Si) exhibited a dramatic increase in concentration, from an average of 64.87 μmol L^?1 in the pretsunami period to 309.71 μmol L^?1 the post‐tsunami period (2009–2010). Inorganic phosphate had increased to a maximum of 9.59 μmol L^?1 from a pretsunami maximum of 1.09 μmol L^?1. The chlorophyll‐α concentrations did not respond to the increased nutrient stoichiometry of the lake. There was a decreased chlorophyll‐α concentration under post‐tsunami conditions. The recent infilling of the lake with sediment during the tsunami, associated with wind‐driven resuspension reduced the light penetration. There was a significant improvement in dissolved oxygen concentrations (2006–2010 average of 8.27 mg L^?1) in the lake, however, compared with the pretsunami values (1994–1995 average of 5.94 mg L^?1). The algal component is now dominated by blue‐green algae, while green algae had dominated in the pretsunami period. Pre‐ and post‐tsunami observations from a control site did not exhibit such dramatic shifts from the 1995 and 1996 conditions, whereas a shift was apparent in the case of KKM. Certain marine fishes have adapted to this altered ecosystem. These marine species encountered (Elops machnata, Cociella punctata, Sphyraena jello, Platycephalus indicus, Glossogobius giuris) might have been recruited during the intrusion of the tsunami waves.     

Detecting land use/land cover changes in the Lake Hayq (Ethiopia) drainage basin, 1957–2007

Land use/land cover changes in a lake drainage basin reflect changes in the magnitude of the water balance components and rate of sediment deposition in a lake as a reflection of the fundamental linkage between what happens in a lake considered against what is happening in the drainage basin of the lake. The objective of this study was to quantify the spatio‐temporal land cover/land use changes across the Lake Hayq 1 1 Lake Hayq is also locally called Lego.
closed drainage basin in north‐east Ethiopia over a 50‐years period, using multitemporal remote sensing and geospatial data. Two historical occasions of aerial photographs (1957 and 1986) and one satellite image (2007) were examined with image analysis tools: Leica Photogrammetric Suite (LPS 9.2) Project Manager, ArcGIS10.0, and ERDAS EMAGINE 9.2. Seven aerial coverage of land use/land cover categories were identified and mapped for the past three historical times. The results indicated that farmlands/settlements and shrublands/degraded lands increased by 43.1% and 136.9%, at an annual rate of 27.4 and 13.5 ha year^?1, respectively, between 1957 and 2007. In contrast, bushlands, grasslands, forestlands and lake surface area were diminished by 68.8%, 62.7%, 90.5% and 7.6%, at a rate of 24.0, 7.6, 6.1 and 3.7 ha year^?1, respectively, over the past five decades. The basin had undergone significant transformation in land use/land cover over the past half century, affecting the lake's biophysical stability by accelerating soil erosion in the basin, sediment accumulation, and a reduced quantity and quality of cumulative stream flow into the lake.     

Variations in zooplankton community structure and water quality conditions in three habitat types in northern Lake Victoria

Lake Victoria is vulnerable to increasing eutrophication, which has become manifested in ecological changes not yet fully understood. From October 2009 to January 2010, the influence of water quality on zooplankton community structure in three habitats in northern Lake Victoria, including sewage lagoons at the lake shores, Napoleon Gulf (NG) and the interface between the lake and the Nile River (also known as Source of the Nile River), was examined. Selected physico‐chemical parameters (dissolved oxygen concentration; water temperature; electrical conductivity; water depth) were measured in‐situ, while water samples were collected for chlorophyll‐a determinations. Zooplankton was sampled with conical plankton net (mesh size 60 μm; 0.25‐m mouth diameter). The NG and Source of the River Nile (SN) sampling sites exhibited significantly higher species richness, relative to the Sewage Lagoons (SL) site (F_2,69 = 68.533; P < 0.05). Higher mean densities and dry biomass of zooplankton was generally a characteristic of the SL site (8715 ± 3241 ind L^?1; 1862 ± 451 μg L^?1), compared to the NG (119 ± 24 ind L^?1; 53 ± 8 μg L^?1) and SN sites (151 ± 26 ind L^?1; 58 ± 9 μg L^?1). Copepoda constituted a high numerical composition of the zooplankton at the NG and SN sites (>90% for both sites), while Rotifera dominated the zooplankton community at the SL site (97%). The mean values (±SE) of soluble reactive phosphorus (4060.7 ± 776.6 μg L^?1) and nitrate–nitrogen (2121.7 ± 355.5 μg L^?1) were much higher for the SL site, compared with the SN (8.2 ± 1.1 μg L^?1; 28.6 ± 5.3 μg L^?1, respectively), and NG site (7.8 ± 0.8 μg L^?1; 32.7 ± 5.4 μg L^?1, respectively). This study indicated the nutrient‐rich conditions observed at the SL site suppress the zooplankton species diversity, but favour species‐specific abundance and biomass. These study results indicate the zooplankton community structure can be used as a biological indicator of water quality in the Lake Victoria region.     

Water quality response to a pulsed‐flow event on the Mokelumne river,California

Controlled water releases from reservoirs (i.e. artificial floods) are used as a management technique to remove fine sediments and detrital materials from spawning gravels, mobilize gravel bars and clear encroaching brush from stream banks. The effects of a managed release event on water quality were investigated on the lower Mokelumne River in the western Sierra Nevada, California. The managed release was characterized by an increase in flow over a 4‐day period (from 11 to 57 m³ s⁻¹). Automatic pump samplers were used to collect samples for water quality from 0.7, 16.4, 37.4 and 54.4 km below Camanche Dam. These sampling sites provided water quality data for three distinct stream reaches: a gravel and sand‐textured substrate reach (0.7–16.4 km), a reach characterized by lentic conditions associated with a small reservoir (16.4–37.4 km), and fine sand and silt‐textured substrate reach (37.4–54.4 km). Water samples were analysed for total suspended solids (TSS), total nitrogen, ammonium (NH₄‐N), nitrate (NO₃‐N), total phosphorus, soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), foecal coliforms and E. coli. Chemographs for all constituents exhibited spikes in concentration with each increase in streamflow for the rising limb. Fluxes of TSS, total P and total N released from the 0.7 to 16.4 km reach were 322, 0.32 and 0.70 Mg, respectively. The small reservoir acted as a sink for particulate materials retaining about 50% of TSS, 48% of total P and 43% of total N. However, the reservoir acted as a source of dissolved nutrients (NO₃‐N = 0.28 Mg and SRP = 0.055 Mg). The stream reach below the reservoir (37.4 to 54.4 km) was a source of particulate materials, dissolved nutrients and bacteria, possibly due to agricultural and urban inputs. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

HIGH RATES OF PRIMARY PRODUCTIVITY IN A SEMI‐ARID TAILWATER: IMPLICATIONS FOR SELF‐REGULATED PRODUCTION

Reservoir‐river systems in desert environments may provide the optimal combination of environmental conditions (e.g. light, nutrients, temperature, and flow) that maximizes primary production in downstream reaches. Stream metabolism was measured using an open‐system approach each month during spring‐summer in a semi‐arid tailwater (South Fork Humboldt River) in the central Great Basin, USA. Spatial and temporal differences in metabolic rates were evident despite tailwater reaches sustaining comparable standing stocks of periphyton (>10 µg chla cm^?2) during this growing season. Primary productivity was highest (15 to 36 g O₂ m^?2 day^?1) in July, supporting previous studies that have described arid regulated/unregulated streams as ultra‐productive. Substrate availability when combined with self‐shading and hypoxic conditions created a system that was likely near the maximal productivity that stream systems can achieve because of the self‐regulating attributes that thick periphyton mats impose upon themselves as they reach high biomass and maximal production rates. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Sensitivity of water quality indicators in a large tropical reservoir to selected climate and land‐use changes

This study compared the sensitivity of water quality in tropical Aguamilpa Reservoir, as represented by normalized algae mass and dissolved oxygen, to selected projected changes from global climate change and development. The sensitivity of reservoir stratification as an indicator of reservoir sensitivity also was analysed. Model simulations indicated the reservoir was more sensitive to changes during the warm‐dry season than at other times. Both indexes (normalized algal mass and dissolved oxygen mass) were more sensitive to changes in air temperature (climate change) and nitrogen loading (development) than to changes in flow. The sensitivity to air temperature was similar to, but generally less than, the sensitivity to nutrient inflow. At the bounding values for change (3 °C for temperature; 50% increase in nitrogen loading), the algae mass sensitivities were 0.15 mg L^?1 per 3 °C and 0.2 mg L^?1 per 50% nitrogen load increase, and the dissolved oxygen mass sensitivities were 0.7 mg L^?1 per 3 °C and 2.0 mg L^?1 per 50% load increase. Changes in air temperature and nitrogen loadings affect the reservoir in different ways, air temperature mostly changing the timing of the algal growth with little change in peak values, while nutrient loadings change the peak values with little change in the timing. While the sensitivities are similar, the total algal mass change is significantly larger for nitrogen loading, compared to air temperature changes. These results imply global climate change effects can be partially mitigated by implementing management measures in the surrounding watersheds to minimize nutrient inflows, especially nitrogen in the case of Aguamilpa Reservoir.     

Survival of salmonid eggs in a degraded gravel‐bed stream: effects of groundwater–surface water interactions

The effect of hyporheic water quality on developing salmonids was assessed between spawning and hatch. Results from a low‐lying degraded agricultural catchment (Newmills Burn) were compared with those from a near‐pristine upland spawning stream (Girnock Burn), providing a set of comparisons beyond the range of hyporheic conditions present in the Newmills Burn. It was demonstrated that hyporheic water quality in the Newmills Burn varied temporally and spatially as a consequence of variable fluxes of chemically reduced groundwater through heterogeneous drift deposits. Mortality rates from samplers located within artificial redds ranged from 0 to 100% and showed a clear negative relationship with mean dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations (r² = 0.85, P < 0.01). Where embryo mortality was less than 100%, low DO appeared to affect rates of embryo development. Embryos exposed to lower DO concentrations were observed to have a higher percentage mass of yolk sac than those developing in more favourable conditions. The chemical characteristics of hyporheic water in the stream were indicative of the mixing of longer residence regional groundwater with local surface water at shallow depths. The hyporheic water of the Girnock Burn approximated closely to that of surface water suggesting a local origin. Hyporheic water quality affects egg survival and may limit recruitment when egg deposition is marginal or inadequate. A consideration of hyporheic dynamics and groundwater–stream interactions should form part of channel modification or restoration works in salmonid spawning streams. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Stratification and water quality of an abandoned opencast coal pit lake at Raniganj Coalfield Area,West Bengal,India

Stratification and assessment of the limnological conditions of an abandoned opencast coal pit (OCP), locally called Khadan, which is a potential water reserve located at the Raniganj‐Asansol Coalfield Areas of Burdwan, are the main objectives of this study. Water quality changes occurred with increasing depths in the OCP water and suggest a gradual and significant ecological restoration over time, which can create a condition of sustainable pisciculture. The physical and chemical variables of the OCP water changed with changing depths and seasons. The temperature and alkalinity decreased with depth throughout the year. The dissolved oxygen concentration exhibited a mixing characteristic in the summer and winter, but decreased with depth in the monsoon and postmonsoon seasons. The total hardness increased with depth in the monsoon season, being maximum in the winter (196.0 mg L^?1). The biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) increased with depth in the winter. The silicon concentration increased with depths, exhibiting a maximum value of 14.2 mg L^?1 in the winter and a minimum value of 1.24 mg L^?1 in the postmonsoon season. The ammonia‐nitrogen, nitrate‐nitrogen, potassium, chloride and sulphate concentrations only exhibited seasonal variations. The concentration of heavy metals (arsenic, chromium, cadmium, manganese) decreased with increasing depth. The fluoride concentration exhibited high concentrations in each OCP water layer. The results of this study indicated that limnological variables in thermally stratified lakes may be an important measure for better understanding the gradual process of developing an improved ecological conditions in the OCP and which can facilitate the possibility of pisciculture in the near future.     

Comparison of coarse particulate organic matter retention in meandering and straightened sections of a third‐order New Zealand stream

Four types of coarse particulate organic matter (CPOM), 100 mm and 200 mm lengths of wooden dowel, paper strips and Eucalyptus leaves, were released in either straightened or naturally meandering sections of a third‐order stream in lower North Island, New Zealand. The distance travelled until retained and the fate of each CPOM type were recorded over a range of discharges (0.10–0.77 m³ s^?1) in stream sections with differing riparian characteristics (forest, willow and pasture). In meanders, CPOM travelled a shorter distance until retention and a higher proportion of released CPOM was retained compared to straightened reaches. CPOM travelled further until retention in pasture sections. Snags (vegetation and debris) were more important than rocks and eddies as retention structures, but more items were trapped by eddies in straightened reaches than in meanders. Leafy CPOM (paper strips and Eucalyptus) were retained more than wooden dowels, with paper strips behaving in a similar fashion to Eucalyptus leaves. Longer dowels were retained more than shorter ones. Changes to the channel form of this stream have significantly affected the rate and nature of CPOM retention which in turn could impact on stream ecosystem structure and productivity. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Hyporheic invertebrate community composition in streams of varying salinity in south‐western Australia: diversity peaks at intermediate thresholds

Many streams of southwestern Australia have become secondarily saline through land clearance and other human activities in their catchments. Elevated salinities impact on aquatic biota and ecological processes of surface streams but little is known of the effects on the diversity and community composition of hyporheic (subsurface) invertebrates occupying the saturated sediments where surface and groundwaters exchange. We hypothesized that biodiversity of hyporheic invertebrates would decline with increasing salinity, especially where saline groundwater upwelled into the surface stream. We also predicted changes in community composition associated with salinity and direction of vertical hydrological exchange. Water and hyporheic invertebrates were sampled from downwelling and upwelling zones of 13 streams in southwestern Australia ranging in median surface water salinity from 0.27 to 17.86 g L⁻¹. Overall, taxa richness of hyporheic invertebrates was uncorrelated with salinity but, surprisingly, correlated positively with the salinity of upwelling water. However, when the sites were divided into ‘fresh’ (<3 g L⁻¹) and ‘mesosaline’ (>3 g L⁻¹) groups, this relationship became non‐significant. Instead, taxa richness and total abundance were correlated positively with salinity of downwelling water in fresh sites and negatively in mesosaline sites, resulting in a peak in richness at intermediate salinities. Community composition was unrelated to direction of hydrological exchange but was strongly associated with hyporheic salinity. Hyporheic assemblages of ‘fresh’ rivers were typified by harpacticoid copepods and candoniid ostracods, whereas the amphipod Austrochiltonia and several dipteran groups were more common below ‘mesosaline’ rivers. Although many hyporheic taxa collected in this study apparently have broad tolerances to salinity, secondary salinization due to human activities potentially changed community composition, possibly altering rates of ecological processes such as organic matter breakdown occurring within the sediments of streams undergoing salinization. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Spatial variations in nutrients and other physicochemical variables in the topographically closed Lake Baringo freshwater basin (Kenya)

Spatial physicochemical parameters were determined from 39 sampling sites distributed throughout Lake Baringo during December 2010. Mean values of temperature, dissolved oxygen concentration and electrical conductivity decreased successively with depth, while the pH remained constant. Only the turbidity values increased marginally with depth. Of the surface water parameters, mean (range) values of dissolved oxygen (DO), pH, electrical conductivity, water transparency and turbidity were 6.9 (4.5–8.4) mg L^?1, 8.3 (7.8–8.5), 573 (556–601)μS cm^?1, 33 (28–37) cm and 43.3 (32.7–54.6) NTU, respectively. Mean and range values of total nitrogen (TN), nitrate‐nitrogen(NO₃‐N), ammonia nitrogen (NH₄‐N), total phosphorus (TP) and soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) were 788.4 (278–4486) μg L^?1, 4.5 (2.4–10.0) μg L^?1, 42.6 (33.8–56.3) μg L^?1, 102.9 (20.3–585.3) μg L^?1 and 23.5 (15.2–30.5) μg L^?1, respectively. Dissolved silica concentrations ranged from 19.7 to 32.7 mg L^?1, with a mean value of 24.7 mg L^?1. The chlorophyll‐a concentrations were quite low, ranging from 1.4 to 4.9 μg L^?1, with a mean value of 4.2 μg L^?1. In contrast to previous reported values, a key finding in the present study is a relatively high water transparency, indicating a relatively clear water column, due possibly to the fact that the sampling was conducted during the dry period. The nutrient levels remained low, and the chlorophyll‐a concentration also was an almost all time low value. A TP value of 20 μg L^?1 and higher confirms strongly eutrophic conditions prevailing in the lake, with an extremely low potential for fish production and low species diversity, consistent with other studies. The results of the present study, therefore, reinforce the database for future management and monitoring plans for the Lake Baringo ecosystem, which lies adjacent to known geothermally active zones and a saline Lake Bogoria.     

Sediment greenhouse gases (methane and carbon dioxide) in the Lobo-Broa Reservoir, São Paulo State, Brazil: Concentrations and diffuse emission fluxes for carbon budget considerations

Carbon gases (methane, CH₄, and carbon dioxide, CO₂) were measured for the first time in sediments of the Lobo‐Broa Reservoir, near São Carlos in São Paulo State, Brazil. It is believed these are the first measurements of this kind in any of the many reservoirs located in Brazil. Even though the Lobo‐Broa Reservoir is classified as oligotrophic, the sediment gas concentrations were exceedingly high, ranging from 0.4–3 mmol L^?1 for CH₄ and 1–9 mmol L^?1 for CO₂. Both gases exceeded their in situ gas saturation values at these shallow water depths (7 m in central basin; 11 m at dam), resulting in numerous sediment bubbles. Organic matter was highly concentrated in the reservoir sediments, averaging 25.5% loss on ignition (LOI) (dam) to 26.9% LOI (central basin) for the 0–12 cm depth interval, with values as high as 29–30% LOI (12% organic carbon) in the surface 0–5 mm layer. The theoretical flux of dissolved pore water carbon gases to the sediment–water interface (SWI) averaged 3.4 mmol L^?1 m^?2 day^?1 CH₄ and 7.3 mmol L^?1 m^?2 day^?1 CO₂ for the surface 0–10 mm. From gas emission measurements at the water surface, it was calculated that 90% of CH₄ is consumed either at the SWI or in the water column, resulting in a loss of 0.31 mmol L^?1 m^?2 day^?1 of CH₄ to the atmosphere. However, only 20% of the total CO₂ gas transported across the water–atmosphere interface (36.3 mmol L^?1 m^?2 day^?1, or 1600 mg CO₂ m^?2 day^?1) was produced in the sediments. The remaining 80% of CO₂ probably comes from other carbon sources. With CH₄ oxidation in the aerobic water column, close to 30% of the carbon gas flux to the atmosphere could be accounted for by gas production of CO₂ and CH₄ in the sediments and their diffuse transport to the water column.     

The Interplay between Environmental Conditions and Filamentous Algae Mat Formation in Two Agricultural Influenced South African Rivers

The regulation of nutrient inputs into rivers dominated by agriculture land use activities is an important aspect of ecological resilience of aquatic systems and the management of river eutrophication. The overabundance of benthic filamentous algae mats in river systems due to nutrient enrichment can modify the habitats of macroinvertebrate and fish communities as well as clogging irrigation crop sprayers of downstream water users. The current study examined over a period of 2 years (2013–2014) the interplay between physical and chemical river characteristics and epilithic filamentous algae biomass in two South African agricultural influenced rivers. The study area consisted of the Touw and Duiwe Rivers, which run into a proclaimed Ramsar site, namely, the Wilderness Lake System. A strong positive correlation was observed between the maximum filamentous algae biomass (97 chl‐a mg m^?2) observed during the dry season and the average water column alkalinity >30 mg l^?1. The benthic trophic status of the nine sampling sites during the dry seasons indicated the highest benthic algae biomass with mesotrophic (1.7–21 chl‐a mg m^?2) to hypertrophic (>84 chl‐a mg m^?2) conditions. During the dry season, only three sampling sites were below the suggested guideline value (35 µg l^?1) for total phosphorus (TP), while four sampling sites were below the total nitrogen guideline of 252 µg l^?1. In the wet season, two sites were below TP values with five sites below total nitrogen guideline values. From the data gathered, it was evident that water column alkalinity and hardness were the main drivers for the formation or absence of benthic filamentous algae mats in the two river systems and that nitrogen and/or phosphorus concentrations was overshadowed by the physical and chemical characteristics of the river systems at certain sites. Nutrient results for the river bottom sediments revealed that the sediment qualities were variable at the different sampling sites, but more specifically along the longitudinal paths of flow. It was apparent that the high TP concentrations in the water column and bottom sediment, which were lowest during the dry season, were associated with the highest epilithic filamentous algae mat formation. The outcome of the current study shows that a more holistic approach must be followed for the development of future eutrophication guidelines and nutrient thresholds in South African rivers influenced by agriculture land use activities. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.