A case study: Comparison and limitations of biological and chemical assessments of trophic state in four streams of the Genesee River watershed

We evaluated the trophic status of several contrasting wadeable streams with the Nutrient Biotic Index for phosphorus (NBI-P) and the NBI for nitrate (NBI-N) in comparison to trophic status as determined based solely on measured nutrient chemistry. The macroinvertebrate assemblage (NBI-P) and phosphorus assessments agreed well in the designation of the trophic status in three of the four streams. However, total nitrogen (TN)-based predictions of trophic status did not agree well with the biologically derived NBI for nitrate. Although improvements to the NBI-N based on nitrate tolerance scores could be made, a TN-derived trophic status, especially in agriculturally impacted watersheds where nitrate concentrations may be relatively low in comparison to TN, may be preferable. In general, the P short-term and long-term nutrient-derived trophic status provided a similar stream trophic classification. However, this was not always the case. While a short-term average is appropriate for the conditions preceding a macroinvertebrate sample, it may not necessarily be an accurate indicator of a stream's long-term chemistry or trophic state. The widely different results between the short- and long-term TP and TN concentrations suggest that streams with inherently variable nonpoint source agricultural runoff might need a wider time frame to evaluate nutrient concentrations. Although the NBI represents an integrated response to both autochthonous and allochthonous inputs of carbon, invertebrate responses to toxics, as well as nutrients, and the short period of time the NBI may represent, may not adequately reflect impact and nutrient load to downstream systems.     

The effects of drying and re‐flooding on nutrient availability in ephemeral deflation basin lakes in western New South Wales,Australia

We examined the response of nutrient concentrations to the drying and re‐flooding of ephemeral deflation basin lakes (EDBL) in western New South Wales, Australia. As lakes dried total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) concentrations increased. TN concentrations increased more quickly and TP concentrations increased more slowly than could be attributed to evaporation alone. This suggested that additional nitrogen was being sequestered from the atmosphere or sediments and that some phosphorus loss to the sediments was occurring. Concentrations of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and filterable reactive phosphorus (FRP), however, declined as lakes dried, suggesting a tighter coupling of nutrient release and uptake mechanisms. Inorganic nutrient concentrations rose sharply in response to re‐flooding in all lakes. Evidence is provided to suggest that post‐flood nutrient pulses are the net result of both riverine inputs and sediment releases and that the relative significance of either may be influenced by regulation. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Snowmelt and its role in the hydrologic and nutrient budgets of prairie streams

Small watersheds in the Canadian Prairies are characterized by seasonally disconnected hydrologic networks whereby stream channels are hydrologically connected during snowmelt but have disconnected reaches throughout the remainder of the year. Snowmelt is the most significant hydrological event in the Canadian Prairies, yet few studies have investigated the role of snowmelt in the nutrient budget of prairie streams. We quantified hydrologic and nutrient dynamics during snowmelt for ten agricultural subwatersheds distributed along a gradient of human activity in the Red River Valley, Canada, to evaluate the timing of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) export. Elevated concentrations of total P (TP) and total N (TN) were observed during the snowmelt peak, with maximum concentrations reaching 3.23 mg TP L(-1) and 18.50 mg TN L(-1). Dissolved P and N dominated the total nutrient pool throughout snowmelt, likely due to reduced erosion and sediment transport resulting from the combination of the flat topography, frozen soil and stream banks, and gradual snow cover melt. Significant correlations were observed between snowmelt N load (r=0.91; p<0.05) and both agricultural land cover and fertilizer usage, with a weaker correlation between snowmelt P load (r=0.81; p<0.05) and agricultural area. Our results showed that snowmelt plays a key role in nutrient export to prairie aquatic ecosystems and this may have serious impacts on downstream ecosystems. Land use management practices need to consider the snowmelt period to control nutrient loads to Lake Winnipeg and other waterbodies in the Great Plains.     

WATER QUALITY DURING TWO HIGH‐FLOW YEARS ON THE LOWER MISSOURI RIVER: THE EFFECTS OF RESERVOIR AND TRIBUTARY CONTRIBUTIONS

Complex socioeconomic and ecological issues, ranging from impaired streams to Gulf of Mexico hypoxia, have made nutrient management an increasingly important issue across the USA. High flows during 2010 and 2011 provided a unique opportunity to investigate trends in discharge, total nitrogen, nitrate/nitrite, total phosphorus, ortho‐phosphorus, suspended sediment and total suspended solids during two distinct high‐flow years on the Missouri River. We compared collections taken during 2010 and 2011 at 12 lower Missouri River locations (river kilometers 1212 to 71) and 22 Missouri River tributary locations. During 2011, average concentrations for all sampled parameters were significantly lower, despite significantly higher total discharge, than 2010 concentrations. Differences in water chemistry between years are likely attributed to the primary source of water. Tributary inflow created high flows during 2010, whereas record releases from Gavins Point Dam created high flows during 2011. Analysis of flow estimated the contribution of these releases at each site and revealed strong positive relationships between the percentage of estimated tributary flow at each site and the concentrations of total nitrogen, total phosphorus and total suspended solids. These monitoring efforts underline the contrasting impacts that tributary streams and reservoir releases have on nutrient export of the Missouri River during high‐flow events and reveal a larger trend of increased nutrient concentrations as the proportion of Missouri River tributary flow increased. Published 2013. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA. River Research and Applications published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Spatial and temporal patterns in macronutrient concentrations and stoichiometry of tributaries draining the lower Great Lakes-St. Lawrence basin

Nutrient management in the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence basin has focused on the reduction of tributary phosphorus inputs to control lake eutrophication. However, the regional implications of nutrient enrichment on stream eutrophication and management remain understudied. We compared nutrient concentrations and stoichiometric ratios of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus to evaluate spatial and temporal patterns in the potential for nutrient limitation in streams of the lower Great Lakes-St. Lawrence basin in Ontario, Canada. Monitoring data from 127 streams was used to describe macronutrient concentrations and stoichiometry over a 10-year period (2007–2016). Nutrient enrichment was widespread as 65% and 68% of studied streams had nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations above regional guidelines, respectively. Macronutrient stoichiometry indicated that 35% of streams were depleted for phosphorus and 65% were co-depleted for nitrogen and phosphorus relative to the Redfield ratio. However, algal production in most streams was likely nutrient saturated such that only 2% of streams showed the potential for phosphorus limitation and 21% for nitrogen and phosphorus co-limitation. Temporal assessment of individual nutrients that were depleted indicated minimal variation within most streams. In contrast, macronutrient stoichiometry was associated with spatial patterns in catchment land-cover whereby a shift from nitrogen and phosphorus co-depletion to phosphorus depletion occurred with increasing agriculture and decreasing natural and wetland cover. Our results suggest that phosphorus reductions alone may be insufficient to manage stream eutrophication in the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence basin and that dual nutrient reductions needed to improve stream conditions may be achievable through land-cover management.     

The influence of the coastal plain on the downstream material fluxes from a small coastal mountainous river basin

Small mountainous coastal basins display steeper gradients, suggesting intensified river transport. However, there is little information about downstream trends in rivers with low discharge and material fluxes across coastal plains and its influence on land‐sea material transport. This study examined 2 years of river discharge, suspended sediment and nutrient concentrations, fluxes and yields from upstream to the upper estuary of a typical South‐east Atlantic Basin. This study provides data about the material retention capacity of the coastal plain. The results indicated that the coastal plain did not affect nutrient concentrations, but reduced turbidity, inducing chlorophyll a and consequently primary productivity in the lower river basin and upper estuary. The coastal plain attenuated the increasing downstream material fluxes, but also curbed suspended sediment and TN fluxes, across the lower river/upper estuary. In contrast, TP and PO₄^3? fluxes increased sharply across the coastal plain. This was influenced by natural and anthropogenic P inputs from soils and run‐off to the river channel. These exceeded the retention capacity of the coastal plain and result in a high export efficiency of this nutrient to the sea.     

Then and now: Revisiting nutrient export in agricultural watersheds within southern Ontario’s lower Great Lakes basin

An enhanced understanding of nonpoint source (NPS) nutrient export to the lower Great Lakes is needed to inform land use and land management decisions within southern Ontario. However, this understanding is limited by a lack of long-term, temporally-intensive monitoring. To address this knowledge gap, we revisit six agriculturally-dominated subwatersheds in southern Ontario, which were intensively studied during the mid-1970s, to assess changes in hydrology and NPS nutrient contributions. We compared 1975–1977 to 2016–2018 stream runoff, nutrient export (kg/day∙km²), and flow-weighted mean concentrations (FWMCs) of total phosphorus (TP), total dissolved phosphorus (TDP), total nitrogen (TN), nitrates (NO₃^–+NO₂^–) and Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen (TKN). Relative to the 1970s, runoff increased at three of six watersheds (by ~20–35%) while TP and TDP export increased at five watersheds (by ~50–125%). The increases in TP and TDP FWMCs were lower relative to phosphorus export changes at the three watersheds with increased runoff, suggesting that hydrology is an important driver of phosphorus export at these sites. Interestingly, export of TN and nitrates increased while TKN export decreased at most watersheds. We further note a shift in the timing of nutrient export at most sites, with ~40–70% of export now occurring during the winter and fall seasons whereas ~40–85% of past export occurred during spring and summer. These findings support an enhanced importance of non-growing season nutrient export from agricultural watersheds since the mid-1970s and stresses the need for targeted best management practices specific to the fall and winter seasons.     

Application of nitrogen and phosphorus criteria for streams in agricultural landscapes

Efforts to control eutrophication of water resources in agriculturally dominated ecosystems have focused on managing on-farm activities to reduce nutrient loss; however, another management measure for improving water quality is adoption of environmental performance criteria (or 'outcome-based standards'). Here, we review approaches for setting environmental quality criteria for nutrients, summarize approaches developed in Canada for setting 'ideal' and 'achievable' nutrient criteria for streams in agricultural watersheds, and consider how such criteria could be applied. As part of a 'National Agri-Environmental Standards Initiative', the Government of Canada committed to the development of non-regulatory environmental performance standards that establish total P (TP) and total N (TN) concentrations to protect ecological condition of agricultural streams. Application of four approaches for defining ideal standards using only chemistry data resulted in values for TP and TN spanning a relatively narrow range of concentrations within a given ecoregion. Cross-calibration of these chemically derived standards with information on biological condition resulted in recommendations for TP and TN that would likely protect aquatic life from adverse effects of eutrophication. Non-point source water quality modelling was then conducted in a specific watershed to estimate achievable standards, i.e. chemical conditions that could be attained using currently available and recommended management practices. Our research showed that, taken together, short-term achievable standards and ultimate ideal standards could be used to set policy targets that should, if realized, lower N and P concentrations in Canadian agricultural streams and improve biotic condition.     

Patchiness in a Large Floodplain River: Associations Among Hydrology,Nutrients, and Fish Communities

Large floodplain rivers have internal structures shaped by directions and rates of water movement. In a previous study, we showed that spatial variation in local current velocities and degrees of hydrological exchange creates a patch‐work mosaic of nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations and ratios in the Upper Mississippi River. Here, we used long‐term fish and limnological data sets to test the hypothesis that fish communities differ between the previously identified patches defined by high or low nitrogen to phosphorus ratios (TN:TP) and to determine the extent to which select limnological covariates might explain those differences. Species considered as habitat generalists were common in both patch types but were at least 2 times as abundant in low TN:TP patches. Dominance by these species resulted in lower diversity in low TN:TP patches, whereas an increased relative abundance of a number of rheophilic (flow‐dependent) species resulted in higher diversity and a more even species distribution in high TN:TP patches. Of the limnological variables considered, the strongest predictor of fish species assemblage and diversity was water flow velocity, indicating that spatial patterns in water‐mediated connectivity may act as the main driver of both local nutrient concentrations and fish community composition in these reaches. The coupling among hydrology, biogeochemistry, and biodiversity in these river reaches suggests that landscape‐scale restoration projects that manipulate hydrogeomorphic patterns may also modify the spatial mosaic of nutrients and fish communities. Published 2016. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.     

三峡库区香溪河回水区营养状态变化特征与驱动因子

基于2015—2016年香溪河回水区域主要水质参数和营养状态的周年监测数据,分析并探讨三峡库区香溪河库湾回水区营养状态的季节性变化特征及潜在污染来源。结果表明:(1)香溪河回水区TN、TP污染十分严重,在调查时段内,各月份香溪河库湾水体的TN、TP质量浓度均远高于限制值,易发生水体富营养化;(2)香溪河回水区水体营养程度较高,所有月份均达到中营养以上水平,并在2015年8月达到富营养状态。水体营养状态从低到高季节顺序为秋季、冬季、春季、夏季。TN质量浓度是影响香溪河回水区水体富营养化程度最重要的指标;(3)香溪河回水区TN主要来自农业面源污染和城镇生活污水排入,流域上游的磷矿资源开采产生的工业废水以及库湾沿岸的点源污染是水体中CODMn与TP污染负荷的主要来源。水体中Chl-a质量浓度受TN、TP等营养盐的限制较弱,SD受浮游藻类和悬浮物的共同影响。     

Impact of nutrient losses from agricultural lands on nutrient stocks in Dianshan Lake in Shanghai,China

Abstract： The water quality of Dianshan Lake in Shanghai Municipality, China, is impacted by nutrient losses from agricultural lands around the lake. In this study, nine types of agricultural land use were monitored in 2010 and 2011, and a correlation analysis between nutrient losses from agricultural non-point sources （NPS） and nutrient stocks in the lake was conducted over monthly and seasonal time periods. The results indicate that the monthly average concentration of total nitrogen （TN） ranged from 1.41 to 7.34 mg/L in 2010 and from 1.52 to 5.90 mg/L in 2011, while the monthly average concentration of total phosphorous （TP） ranged from 0.11 to 0.26 mg/L in 2010 and from 0.13 to 0.30 mg/L in 2011. The annual loss of TN from agricultural NPS was 195.55 tons in 2010 and 208.40 tons in 2011. The cultivation of water oat made the largest contribution to the loss of TN. The annual loss of TP was 44.58 tons in 2010 and 48.12 tons in 2011, and multi-vegetable cultivation made the largest contribution to the loss of TP. The results of correlation analysis show that the monthly stocks of TN and TP in the lake have a positive correlation with the monthly losses of TN and TP from agricultural NPS. According to the seasonal data, the stocks of TN and TP in the lake both have a much stronger correlation with the losses of TN and TP from agricultural NPS in summer than in other seasons. Agricultural NPS pollution control should be the main focus for the water resource conservation in this area.     

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.     

An Evaluation of the Relations Between Flow Regime Components,Stream Characteristics,Species Traits,and Meta‐Demographic Rates of Warm‐Water‐Stream Fishes: Implications for Aquatic Resource Management

Fishery biologists are increasingly recognizing the importance of considering the dynamic nature of streams when developing streamflow policies. Such approaches require information on how flow regimes influence the physical environment and how those factors, in turn, affect species‐specific demographic rates. A more cost‐effective alternative could be the use of dynamic occupancy models to predict how species are likely to respond to changes in flow. To appraise the efficacy of this approach, we evaluated relative support for hypothesized effects of seasonal streamflow components, stream channel characteristics, and fish species traits on local extinction, colonization, and recruitment (meta‐demographic rates) of stream fishes. We used 4 years of seasonal fish collection data from 23 streams to fit multistate, multiseason occupancy models for 42 fish species in the lower Flint River Basin, Georgia. Modelling results suggested that meta‐demographic rates were influenced by streamflows, particularly short‐term (10‐day) flows. Flow effects on meta‐demographic rates also varied with stream size, channel morphology, and fish species traits. Small‐bodied species with generalized life‐history characteristics were more resilient to flow variability than large‐bodied species with specialized life‐history characteristics. Using this approach, we simplified the modelling framework, thereby facilitating the development of dynamic, spatially explicit evaluations of the ecological consequences of water resource development activities over broad geographic areas. Published 2014. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.     

Nutrient reference concentrations and trophic state boundaries in subtropical reservoirs

Nutrient criteria as reference concentrations and trophic state boundaries are necessary for water management worldwide because anthropogenic eutrophication is a threat to the water uses. We compiled data on total phosphorus (TP), nitrogen (TN) and chlorophyll a (Chl a) from 17 subtropical reservoirs monitored from 2005-2009 in the S?o Paulo State (Brazil) to calculate reference concentrations through the trisection method (United States Environmental Protection Agency). By dividing our dataset into thirds we presented trophic state boundaries and frequency curves for the nutrient levels in water bodies with different enrichment conditions. TP and TN baseline concentrations (0.010 mg/L and 0.350 mg/L, respectively) were bracketed by ranges for temperate reservoirs available in the literature. We propose trophic state boundaries (upper limits for the oligotrophic category: 0.010 mg TP/L, 0.460 mg TN/L and 1.7 μg Chl a/L; for the mesotrophic: 0.030 mg TP/L, 0.820 mg TN/L and 9.0 μg Chl a/L). Through an example with a different dataset (from the Itupararanga Reservoir, Brazil), we encouraged the use of frequency curves to compare data from individual monitoring efforts with the expected concentrations in oligotrophic, mesotrophic and eutrophic regional systems. Such analysis might help designing recovery programs to reach targeted concentrations and mitigate the undesirable eutrophication symptoms in subtropical freshwaters.     

Trophic state evolution in a subtropical reservoir over 34 years in response to different management procedures

Despite their importance for water management, long-term studies on trophic state are relatively scarce in subtropical reservoirs. We analyzed total phosphorus (TP), total nitrogen (TN) and chlorophyll a (Chl a) concentrations in the Billings Reservoir (Brazil) over time: Phase 1 (1977-1992, Tietê River water was pumped to Billings to increase energy generation, 100 m(3) s(-1)); Phase 2 (1992-2007, Tietê water was conveyed to Billings only in special cases for flood avoidance, 8 m(3) s(-1)); and Phase 3 (2007-2010, besides flood control, Billings received Tietê water treated by an in situ flotation system, 13 m(3) s(-1)). We compared our results with data from 12 reservoirs to evaluate current (2005-2009) enrichment conditions. Phosphorus and nitrogen concentrations decreased (p < 0.05, MANOVA) from Phase 1 to 2 and were stable thereafter. TN/TP ratios increment (1977-2010) indicated shift from N- to P-limitation in the reservoir, affecting the phytoplankton. Nutrient levels in Billings are currently between the expected concentrations in mesotrophic and eutrophic reservoirs (0.03 mg L(-1) < TP < 0.42 mg L(-1), 0.8 mg L(-1) < TN < 7.6 mg L(-1)) and Chl a concentrations exceeded 34 μg L(-1), median for the eutrophic waterbodies from the dataset. Although water quality in Billings has improved, nutrient inputs from Tietê River pumping episodes, diffuse and internal sources are still favoring biomass accrual and compromising water uses.     

Sediment‐bound nutrient export from five small reservoir catchments and its implications for the Sudan savanna zone of Ghana

A study was carried out in the Sudan savanna zone in the Upper East Region of Ghana to assess the rate of sediment‐bound nutrient export (NE) into five small reservoirs (Dua, Doba, Zebilla, Kumpalgogo and Bugri) and to analyse the implications of this export. The catchment soils and reservoir sediments from the various study sites were sampled and analysed for their bulk density, particle size distribution and nutrient content. Assessment of the nutrient concentrations indicated that the reservoir sediments were richer not only in nutrients and organic carbon, but also in clay and silt, than the catchment soils, having enrichment ratios >1. Nutrient export rates (NE; kg ha^?1 year^?1) from the reservoir catchments ranged from 0.755 (±0.264) for OC, 0.104 (±0.0245) for N, 0.0020 (±0.0003) for P, 0.016 (±0.0038) for K, 0.009 (±0.0024) for Na, 0.113 (±0.017) for Ca and 0.027 (±0.0093) for Mg. These rates were lower than those of other studies, likely due to the low nutrient content in the catchment soils. The relationships established between NE and specific sediment yield (SSY) indicated the NE was positively correlated with SSY (R² = 0.66–0.98). The derived empirical equations can be satisfactorily used to predict the quantity of sediment‐bound plant nutrients lost from similar catchments and subsequently stored in the reservoir sediments. The study results also suggest the need for sustainable land management practices to forestall erosion in the catchment areas and to reduce reservoir sedimentation, for enhancement of the livelihoods of the communities in the study area.     

The influence of land use and potamodromous fish on ecosystem function in Lake Superior tributaries

Allochthonous nutrients and carbon are recognized as dominant controls on biogeochemistry of low-order streams. In some systems, potamodromous fish may provide a complementary source of material as they deliver lake-derived materials to spawning streams. This study examines nutrient and carbon inputs from terrestrial ecosystems and migratory fishes to streams in undeveloped watersheds in northern Michigan, USA. We compared watershed and riparian area, slope, and landcover to nutrient concentrations at 26 sites, as well as whole-stream metabolism at 5 sites. Despite low levels of agricultural land use (0–3%), agriculture had the largest influence on stream chemistry as indicated by higher dissolved organic carbon (DOC), ammonium, silica, and chloride concentrations at the watershed level, and increased DOC and chloride at the riparian level. Ecosystem respiration and net primary production increased with watershed and riparian area, and the proportion of managed forest. To quantify inputs from fish, we monitored the spawning migrations of white (Catostomus commersonii) and longnose (C. catostomus) suckers at one site, and measured nutrients and stream metabolism above and below an impassable dam. Nutrient concentrations were uniformly low and did not increase during the fish migration; however, temporal shifts in stream metabolism during sucker migration suggest that fish influenced respiration, presumably by providing high-quality carbon and bioavailable nutrients. We conclude that both watershed land use and fish migrations provide important sources of allochthonous material to these oligotrophic streams. Recognizing the bi-directional nature of allochthonous inputs is important for understanding controls on ecosystem functioning in low-order streams.     

Nitrogen cycling in large temperate floodplain rivers of contrasting nutrient regimes and management

Hydraulic connection between channels and floodplains (“connectivity”) is a fundamental determinant of ecosystem function in large floodplain rivers. Factors controlling material processing in these rivers depend not only on the degree of connectivity but also on the sediment conditions, nutrient loads, and source. Nutrient cycling in the nutrient‐rich upper Mississippi River (MISS) is relatively well studied, whereas that of less eutrophic tributaries is not (e.g., St Croix River; SACN). We examined components of nitrogen cycling in 2 floodplain rivers of contrasting nutrient enrichment and catchment land use to test the hypothesis that N‐cycling rates will be greater in the MISS with elevated nutrient loads and productivity in contrast to the relatively nutrient‐poor SACN. Nitrate (NO₃^?‐N) concentrations were greatest in flowing habitats in the MISS and often undetectable in isolated backwaters except where groundwater inputs occurred. In the SACN, NO₃^?‐N concentrations were greatest in the flowing backwater where groundwater inputs were high. Ambient nitrification in the MISS was twice that in the SACN and tended to be lowest in the main channel. Denitrification was 3× greater in the MISS than that in the SACN, N‐limited in both rivers. Community production/respiration was >1 in the MISS and likely provisioned labile C to fuel microbial metabolism and dissimilatory NO₃^?‐N reduction, whereas the heterotrophic (production/respiration < 1) nature of the SACN likely limited microbial metabolism and NO₃^?‐N dissimilation. It appears that N‐cycling in the SACN was driven by groundwater, whereas that in the MISS was supported mainly by water column N‐sources.     

Temporal changes in the hydrology and nutrient concentrations of a large tropical river: Anthropogenic influence in the Lower Grijalva River,Mexico

Dam construction and nutrient loading are among the greatest threats to freshwater ecosystems, altering ecological processes and the provisioning of ecosystem services. Temporal change in hydrology and ambient nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations was studied on the Grijalva, a large tropical river in southern Mexico, where four hydroelectric dams operate and where land conversion has impacted the freshwater environment. Temporal changes in discharge and in river chemistry were examined by analysing long‐term discharge and nutrient data using the software Indicators of Hydrologic Alteration and Mann–Kendall tests. Furthermore, additional water chemistry samples were collected to examine seasonal nutrient dynamics in the lower Grijalva. Long‐term discharge data indicated dam construction has severely altered temporal patterns in discharge and other hydrological characteristics. The lower Grijalva has also experienced increase in nitrate concentrations through time, which may be attributed to the expansion of agricultural and urban areas in the watershed. In contrast, total phosphorus appeared to decline at the sites influenced by dam construction. Lower nutrient concentrations were recorded upstream from the city of Villahermosa, suggesting that inputs from urban areas may have contributed to nutrient loading. Additionally, higher nitrate and total phosphorus concentrations were detected in tributaries draining intensive agricultural and suburban areas. Collectively, the results from the study suggest that dam construction and land conversion in large, tropical watersheds can produce chemical and hydrological changes, which may negatively impact important ecosystem services—such as fisheries and the provisioning of sources of drinking water—and may compromise the integrity of coastal zones.     

扑草净对鲫鱼（Carassius auratus）生长的影响及其导致的水体营养盐变化

为评价扑草净在水环境中造成的生态风险,以扑草净作为目标污染物,以鲫鱼作为受试生物,于实验室内水族箱中进行试验。持续监测鲫鱼体质量体长及水体营养盐浓度,考察扑草净对鲫鱼生长的影响,及其导致的水体营养盐浓度变化特征。结果表明：鲫鱼体质量生长率、体长生长率及营养盐浓度随时间的变化可利用Logistic方程描述（R²=0.959~0.997）;有扑草净组鲫鱼体质量生长率等比无扑草净组低8.7%～50.3%。无鱼时扑草净对水体中氮磷营养盐浓度、营养盐比例及总氮/总磷比例无显著影响;有鱼时,有扑草净组的总颗粒氮和总颗粒磷浓度分别比无扑草净组低41.4%及33.8%,有无扑草净组各形态磷营养盐浓度与总磷的比例以及总氮/总磷浓度比例差异显著。研究表明扑草净对鲫鱼的毒性效应可间接影响水体营养盐浓度。