Effects of light and oxygen on the uptake and distribution of phosphorus at the sediment-water interface

Effects of oxygen and light on the uptake and distribution of phosphorus at the sediment-water interface were investigated in this study. The experimental water and sediment samples were collected from East Taihu Lake, China. The results show that phosphorus can be taken up from the overlying water to the sediments with high nutrient loading in both anoxic and aerobic conditions. The transformation between different phosphorus fractions in the sediments and in the overlying water was observed. Effects of dissolved oxygen on the phosphorus distribution at the sediment and overlying water interface were mainly due to the inorganic processes, while effects of light were mainly due to the biological activity. This study indicates that oxygen concentration had a predominant control on the distribution and uptake of phosphorus in the sediments, and light had obvious effect on the dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP) concentration in the overlying water.     

Phosphorus dynamics in hypereutrophic lake sediments

The sediments of two hypereutrophic lakes (Stone Lake, Michigan and Lake Charles East, Indiana) were studied to determine phosphorus sorption and release tendencies as they vary seasonally. Techniques used were chemical extractions of phosphorus forms from core fractions and the incubation of undisturbed cores in the laboratory under ambient conditions of temperature and dissolved oxygen. The uptake of phosphorus during aerobic periods was found to be in accord with previously observed trends in that the amount sorbed was proportional to overlying phosphorus concentration supporting an adsorption type of model. Phosphorus was given off during anoxic periods, however, the specific release rates could not be correlated with the gradient of interstitial phosphorus to overlying phosphorus concentrations as reported by others. Rather, release rates were closely correlated with average interstitial phosphorus concentrations. A diffusion model is presented, applicable to systems similar to those studied, in which soluble interstitial phosphorus varies from a greatly elevated concentration in close proximity to sediment particle surfaces to levels approaching those of overlying phosphorus.     

Extreme fluctuations in water quality of eutrophic fish kill lakes: Effect of sediment mixing

Variations in nutrient content and dissolved oxygen concentrations in two shallow winterkill pothole lakes are described. The chemical systems of these lakes are displaced from a steady state during anoxic conditions under ice cover in winter or after a sudden collapse of algal blooms and their bacterial decomposition in summer. Due to their reductive character and high content of soluble nutrients, lake sediments play an important role in formation of water quality of these lakes. In contact with overlying water when upwelled by wind action or artificial neration, they cause a significant depletion of dissolved oxygen and a release of ammonia into water column.     

Causes of low oxygen in a lowland, regulated eutrophic river in Eastern England

In the River Brett, Eastern England, over the period 1955-1998 there was a significant long-term decline in dissolved oxygen (DO), as well as increases in TON (total oxidised nitrogen) and SRP (soluble reactive phosphorus). Flow decreased from 1963 to 1998. Field studies in 1998-2000 showed increased pH and a gradient of DO beneath the filamentous alga Cladophora glomerata. DO decreased through the summer. Macrophytes accounted for 45% of community respiration at the study site, while sediment accounted for 36%. In container studies, muddy sediments had the highest maximum sediment oxygen demand (SOD), but canopies of C. glomerata and Lemna minor together increased the SOD by up to 90% over control samples. During periods of high temperature, abundant growths of C. glomerata and/or L. minor would increase the SOD of organic mud in river areas with shallow, ponded water, eventually leading to anoxic conditions and the release of nutrients from the sediment. If a river had large areas of mud, these processes could dramatically affect the river's oxygen budget, and hence its ecology.     

环境因子对湖泊底泥释磷的影响研究

在实验室模拟条件下考察了上覆水的TP浓度、pH、温度、溶解氧(DO)浓度、光照、水体扰动等因素对湖泊底泥释磷的影响.结果表明:上覆水为蒸馏水时底泥的释磷强度高于上覆水为真实湖水时的,底泥释磷强度受控于水体中磷酸盐的饱和度;光照对底泥释磷影响不明显,但温度和DO浓度对底泥释磷均有一定影响,升高温度或提高DO浓度均可促进底泥释磷;上覆水的pH呈中性时底泥的释磷强度最小,碱性条件下底泥的释磷强度高于酸性条件下的;扰动可明显提高底泥的释磷强度和速度.     

Phosphorus release rates from sediments and pollutant characteristics in Han River, Seoul, Korea

The Han River is 469.7-km long and drains a 26219-km(2) watershed. The sediments in the river are highly polluted due to inputs from upstream tributaries as well as partially treated municipal wastewaters that are discharged to the river. The water quality and strategy for control are important because the river is the primary drinking water supply for the City of Seoul, as well as being a major source for irrigation and industrial water. The Jamsil submerged dam partitions the river to isolate an upstream area for drinking water, but also captures sediments. Samples from four sites were studied to determine sediment pollutant concentrations and phosphorus release rates. Phosphorus tends to desorb from sediments when the concentration of overlying water is less than 1.4 mg/l. Water column P concentrations range from 0.04 to 0.1 mg/l, which suggests that sediments will act as a P source. In a series of batch experiments, P was released at approximately 15-20 mg/m(2)week in the winter (1-5 degrees C) and as much as 90 mg/m(2)week in the summer (20-24 degrees C), and is also a function of pH and dissolved oxygen concentration. The sediment total phosphorus concentration, which averages 833 mg/kg, is evenly distributed among non-apatite-P (33%), apatite-P (32%) and residual-P (34%). An equilibrium model is proposed to describe release rate.     

Effects of light on sediment nutrient flux and water column nutrient stoichiometry in a shallow lake

The effects of light and temperature on nutrient cycling (silica (Si), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P)) between sediments and water in a shallow eutrophic lake (Loch Leven, Scotland), and consequent effects on water column nutrient stoichiometry, were assessed using a series of intact sediment core incubation experiments. Estimates of actual seasonal dark and light P-fluxes were assessed using 24-h incubations. Sediment-P uptake was observed in spring (7 degrees C) and release in autumn (12 degrees C) and summer (17 degrees C), with the highest release rates ( approximately 17 mgPO4-Pm(-2) sediment surface area d(-1)) occurring in summer. In a longer (21-day) experiment in which the effects of light (light (n=6) and dark (n=6)) and temperature (five 4-day cycles to represent: 7 degrees C-->13 degrees C-->23 degrees C-->13 degrees C-->7 degrees C) on water column nutrient concentrations were assessed, PO(4-)-P, total P (TP), SiO2 and total silica (TSi) concentrations in the water column were all significantly higher under dark conditions (ANOVA, alpha=0.05). NH4-N (ammonium N) water column concentrations were observed to be higher under dark conditions at low temperatures and higher under light conditions following a high-temperature (23 degrees C) treatment. No significant light effects were observed for water column total N (TN) concentration. Flux estimates for all nutrients measured are given. In terms of water column nutrient stoichiometry, TN:TP ratio was significantly higher under light conditions, TSi:TN was significantly lower under light conditions, and TSi:TP did not vary significantly between the dark and light treatments. The main processes acting to regulate diffusive nutrient release appeared to be photosynthetic elevation of bottom water pH and dissolved oxygen concentration (both significantly higher under light conditions) and direct microalgal sequestration. Thus, a feedback mechanism exists in recovering shallow lakes where benthic microalgae can affect the stoichiometry (to favour P/Si limitation) of the plankton, and also of the main source of nutrients back to the sediments via the disproportionate regulation of sediment P, Si and N release.     

Release of organic P forms from lake sediments

The effects of different physical and chemical conditions on the decomposition and release of organic and inorganic P compound groups from the sediment of Lake Erken were investigated in a series of laboratory experiments. Conditions investigated were temperature, oxygen level, and the effects of additions of carbon substrate (glucose) and poison (formalin). The effects on the P compound groups were determined by measurements with ³¹P NMR before and after the experiments, as well as analysis of P in effluent water throughout the experiment. Phosphate analysis of the effluent water showed that oxygen level was the most influential in terms of release rates, with the sediments under anoxic conditions generally releasing more phosphate than the other treatments. ³¹P NMR showed that the various treatments did influence the P compound group composition of the sediment. In particular, the addition of glucose led to a decrease in orthophosphate and polyphosphate while the addition of formalin led to a decrease in phosphorus lipids, DNA-phosphate and polyphosphate. Oxic conditions resulted in an increase in polyphosphates, and anoxic conditions in a decrease in these. Temperature did not seem to affect the composition significantly.     

Phosphorus partitioning in a shallow lake: implications for water quality management

This paper describes the seasonal partitioning of phosphorus (P) across the sediment–water interface in Loch Leven, Scotland, and discusses the implications for future lake management strategy with respect to recovery from eutrophication. In a 10‐month survey, surface water total phosphorus (TP) concentrations were highest in late summer and lowest in early spring. In contrast, sediment TP concentrations were highest in mid‐winter and lowest in late summer. Water discharge at the main outflow of the loch was highest when water‐column TP was low and sediment TP high, and vice versa. Monthly sediment P uptake/release values showed significant cycling between the water‐column and the sediment and showed seasonal variation in four release‐sensitive P pools. Regulating the water level to increase flushing during sediment release periods and decrease flushing during uptake periods has the potential to significantly enhance the recovery of shallow lakes and reservoirs following historic nutrient loading.     

Spatial and historical variation in sediment phosphorus fractions and mobility in a shallow lake

Temporal and spatial variation in sediment P composition and mobility were investigated in Loch Leven. Little change was observed in total sediment P (surface sediment at 4m depth), in comparison to a previous study (1990), despite significant reduction of external point sources of P. Labile P and residual P have both increased (0.007-0.039 mg PO(4)-P and 0.121-0.420 mg PO(4)-P per gram dry weight of sediment, respectively) since 1990. An analysis of P fractions, along a depth transect, indicated elevated labile P concentrations in shallow water sediment (<12 m overlying water depth). Regression analysis showed that spatial variability in reductant-adsorbed P was significantly related to sediment chlorophyll a concentration (R(2)=0.733, p<0.05). This may be linked to the production of oxygen, by benthic algae, resulting in the maintenance of an oxygenated layer at the sediment surface. Variation in labile P was best explained by overlying water temperature and equilibrium phosphate concentration (EPC0).