Sedimentation and internal phosphorus loads in Krishnagiri Reservoir,India

This study examines sedimentation rate and its consequences on the bathymetry, capacity and internal phosphorus loading of Krishnagiri Reservoir in Tamil Nadu, South India, utilizing an acoustic Doppler profiler and remote sensing data in an ArcGIS environment. There was a significant change in the reservoir bathymetry for the year 2012, compared with the 2007. The sedimentation rate was 0.818 MCM from 1960 to 1990 and 0.83 MCM over past 5 years. The present reservoir volume is 35.57 MCM, having been reduced to nearly half of its original capacity over a 55 year span, pointing to a seriously threatened lifespan. The sediment total phosphorus (TP) load spatially varied from 6.84 to 23 394 kg, depending on the sediment deposition zones. Sequential extraction indicated the dominance of phosphate fractions to be Al‐P> Fe‐P> Ca‐P> SRP, with an average TP value of 27.27 mg g^?1 dry weight. Aluminium‐ (35%) and iron(25%)‐bound forms are the major sediment phosphorus fractions, suggesting temperature, pH and redox or related chemical reactions may be important means of sediment P release in Krishnagiri Reservoir. The sediment phosphorus load in Krishnagiri Reservoir is estimated to be 44.50 tons, with an average TP release of 40.97 mg m^?2 (range of 10.22–70 mg m^?2). The measured pore water TP concentration and calculated sediment phosphate release exhibited a linear relation. Even with a reduced external P load, the eutrophication of Krishnagiri Reservoir cannot be reduced immediately because of its high internal load and nutrient remobilization.     

The seasonal and spatial variations of labile copper, iron, manganese, lead and zinc sediment fractions in Lake Naivasha, Kenya

Lake Naivasha is a freshwater lake with no surface outlet, lying within a closed basin of the Kenyan Rift Valley. It is perceived to be a lake undergoing anthropogenic stresses. This study is intended to determine the speciation of some selected heavy metals in the sediments of Lake Naivasha, as an indicator of potential pollution of the lake. Sediment and water sampling of the lake was conducted in March and May 2003, during the dry and wet seasons, respectively. Analyses of the speciation of heavy metals in sediment samples (<63 µm faction) were performed on sediment samples collected from five sites within the lake. The study results obtained indicated that influent Malewa River was not a source of labile copper (Cu), lead (Pb) or zinc, despite the river having the highest percentage clay content during the wet season (86%). Copper was highly distributed in the residual sediment fraction (average of 90%). Among the labile sediment factions, the highest quantity of Cu was in the oxidizable phase (3.58 and 2.30 µg g⁻¹ during the dry and wet season, respectively). Carbonate‐bound Cu was sparingly distributed during both the dry and the wet seasons, ranging between 0.74 and 1.81 µg g⁻¹. Iron was highly distributed in the oxidizable sediment phase, exhibiting concentrations ranging between 2.0 and 6.0 (×10³) µg g⁻¹. Relative to the other heavy metals, manganese was distributed in lower proportions in the residual sediment fraction. High concentrations of Pb were observed in the oxidizable phase from most of the sampling sites along the lake shore. Zinc was distributed largely in the oxidizable phase, being highest at sampling site SS, which was located near a municipal sewage input to the lake. The sediments collected at the sampling sites located in the deep portion of the lake exhibited the highest concentrations of labile heavy metals.     

Eutrophication of lakes in urbanized areas: The case of Yaounde Municipal Lake in Cameroon, Central Africa

A 1 year qualitative and quantitative evaluation of phytoplankton and chlorophyll‐a, as well as some physicochemical parameters, was recorded in a shallow tropical lake in Cameroon: the Yaounde Municipal Lake. Physicochemical measurements also were regularly made in its main tributary (Mingoa Stream). These analyses aimed to assess the lake's trophic status and to propose measures for controlling its degradation process. The Secchi disk transparency was low and rarely exceeded 100 cm. Conductivity was higher near the lake bottom. The oxygen deficiency, and sometimes anoxia, recorded from a 2.5 m depth leads to high quantities of ammonium‐nitrogen. The total phosphorus concentrations varied from 80–2290 µg P L^?1 and the total Kjeldhal nitrogen concentrations fluctuated between 3 and 15 mg  L^?1. Upstream to the lake, in the Mingoa Stream, total phosphorus concentrations ranged from 0.6–3.8 mg P L^?1 and total Kjeldhal nitrogen concentrations ranged from 10–22 mg  L^?1. There are up to 102 phytoplankton‐specific taxa, with Euglenophyta and Chlorophyta particularly more diversified. The phytoplankton biomass and chlorophyll‐a concentrations reached 225 µg mL^?1 and 566 mg m^?3, respectively. The analyses pointed out the allogenic nature of the functioning of this ecosystem as a result of bad waste management in the surrounding landscape. Urgent actions need to be undertaken in order to rehabilitate this lake, which rapidly shifted to a hypertrophic status.     

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.     

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.     

Anoxygenic phototrophic bacteria and aerobic phototrophs in Normans Lagoon, a 'billabong' adjacent to the Murray River, south-eastern Australia

The development and demise of substantial populations of bacteriochlorophyll (BChl) a and d containing phototrophs are documented within the bottom waters of a billabong (oxbow lake) in south‐eastern Australia. The observation of such populations within a freshwater body is unusual, illustrating an unexpected source of organic carbon within the floodplain ecosystem of one of Australia's principal rivers. Values of up to 1086 µg L^?1 BChl a and 490 µg L^?1 BChl d were recorded during an 11 month study of physico‐chemical parameters, algae and bacteria. An unusual density stratification was observed within the billabong, fostered by an increase in bivalent ions at depth, and leading to persistent anoxia below 0.75 m depth over summer. A marked vertical distribution was observed for both algae and bacteria, that for the bacteria being lost with a mixing event in late March. The presence of up to 74 µg L^?1 BChl a at the surface of the billabong during the summer months is ascribed to entrainment of bacteria within bubble plumes rising from the sediments.     

Assessment of heavy metals in sediments and aquatic organisms in West Lake (Ho Tay), Hanoi, Vietnam

West Lake (Ho Tay) is the largest freshlake in Hanoi, Vietnam. It has a surface area of ≈ 500 ha and a total volume of >10⁷ m³, and is 1–3.5 m in depth. West Lake has been classified as needing protection because of its valuable freshwater genetic resources. Noting that it has been extensively affected by pollution, the objective of the present study was to examine the extent of heavy metal contamination of the sediments and commercially important biota in the lake. Heavy metal concentrations in the sediment from most of 24 samples in West Lake exceeded the Ontario Ministry of Environment Screening Level for chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) concentrations. Aquatic organisms from the lake also were found to be contaminated by heavy metals. The average Zn concentrations in snails and mussels tissues ranged between 174 and 415 µg g⁻¹, and the Pb concentrations between 3.5 and 5.2 µg g⁻¹. The Cu concentration in shrimp (52 µg g⁻¹) and snail (189 µg g⁻¹), and the Pb concentration in all fish species and shrimp from the lake (2.0–5.2 µg g⁻¹) exceeded the Food Standard Australia‐New Zealand (FSANZ) health standards for human consumption. The Cd concentration in Cyprinus carpio also exceeded the FSANZ standard. The implications of these study findings for the effective management of the food and ecological resources of West Lake are discussed.     

Constraints on benthic algal response to nutrient addition in oligotrophic mountain rivers

Nutrient availability has long been considered one of the most important factors regulating production of benthic algae in oligotrophic rivers; yet, empirical relationships do not have as wide an application as similar models derived for lentic systems. The aim of this research was to derive empirical relationships between nutrient concentrations and benthic algal abundance and to identify commonalities with other studies to improve our understanding of constraints on algae in oligotrophic rivers. Surveys of physical, chemical and biological attributes of oligotrophic mountain rivers in spring, summer and autumn for 2 years confirmed that small amounts of anthropogenic phosphorus (0.1–5.6 µg/L total phosphorus (TP)) resulted in 4‐ to 30‐fold increases in abundance of benthic algae and benthic macroinvertebrates (BMIs). Algal accrual along a gradient in nutrient availability was not masked by grazing pressure but was positively correlated with abundance of scrapers. Epilithic abundance was highest downstream of anthropogenic nutrient sources in autumn. We concluded that benthic algal abundance in these mountain rivers was weakly correlated with phosphorus availability if light was not limiting but ultimately controlled by temperature and river discharge. Therefore, we recommend more direct measures of nutrient limitation be used to predict changes in ecological integrity at the lower end of the resource gradient. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

水位调控对河口沉积物磷赋存及生物可利用性的影响

以丹江口库区神定河河口持续淹水和间歇淹水积物为对象,探讨水位调控前后不同淹水沉积物的理化性质、磷赋存及生物可利用性变化规律。实验持续3个水位调控循环,水位变化速率分别为0,3,6 cm/d。结果表明:水位调控总体上促使沉积物OM流失和pH值升高。与对照速率(0 cm/d)相比,3 cm/d和6 cm/d水位变化使无定形铁氧化物分别增加了185.56%~204.92%(持续淹水沉积物)和185.28%~228.76%(间歇淹水沉积物)。水位调控后,持续淹水和间歇淹水沉积物的可交换态磷(Ex-P)、铝结合态磷(Al-P)、铁结合态磷(Fe-P)、钙结合态磷(Ca-P)和总磷(TP)含量均上升,OM流失降解和闭蓄态磷(O-P)活化转化造成有机磷(Org-P)和O-P含量降低。水位调控有利于Org-P和O-P转化为活性磷,因此应将二者也视作沉积物生物可利用性磷组分。     

Environmental characteristics and phytoplankton productivity of a shallow Ramsar‐site floodplain in the western Himalaya

Hokersar wetland (altitude of 1584 masl), a shallow (0.5 m) floodplain waterfowl habitat in Kashmir, India, gained international importance in 2005 with its declaration as a Ramsar site. Although isolated in the western Himalayan mountains, it is being impacted by a silt‐laden river (Doodhganga). Human activities, not the least of which is affected by the closeness of the wetland to suburban areas, have gradually altered its trophic state. Its alkaline‐ and calcium‐rich waters contain many planktonic diatoms, green algae and cyanobacteria. Nitrate–nitrogen and total phosphorus concentrations are high (370–4750 and 101–968 μg L^?1, respectively). A pronounced seasonal cycle in phytoplankton production (g C m^?2 day^?1) was evident in a minimum value of 0.38 (Jan–Feb, 2002) and a maximum value of 4.02 (July, 2002), closely paralleling the seasonal cycles of temperature and light. The photosynthetic efficiency of the wetland was highest (1.97%) during the summer. The annual phytoplankton production of this wetland ecosystem was 210 × 10² KJ m^?2, suggestive of a meso‐eutrophic status.     

Recruitment of Heliozoa, rhizopods and rotifers from the sediments of an extremely acidic lake during spring and early summer

The goal of this study was to investigate the recruitment of zooplankton from the littoral sediment of Lake 111, an acidic lake in north‐east Germany, in April (spring) and June (early summer), and its role in coupling the benthos and the pelagic. Maximum heliozoan and rhizopod recruitment occurred in early summer from sediment cores incubated at ambient water temperatures (20°C). Conversely, recruitment of the rotifer Cephalodella sp. was highest in spring at ambient spring temperatures of 12°C. A combination of passive and active recruitment processes is likely responsible. The seasonal abiotic and biotic sediment characteristics were relatively constant and therefore not likely responsible for the observed temporal recruitment pattern. The sediment water and carbon content ranged from 20 to 50% (mean = 29 ± 6% standard deviation) and 2–12% (mean = 5 ± 2% standard deviation), respectively. Similarly, there was little variation in the chlorophyll‐a (mean = 0.2 ± 0.2 µg Chl‐a g^?1 dry weight ≡ 6.1 ± 3.9 mg Chl‐a m^?2). The in situ sediment bacterial density (0.82 × 10⁹ ± 0.26 × 10⁹ g^?1 dry weight ≡ 1.01 × 10⁹ ± 0.34 × 10⁹ cells cm^?3) was high. In contrast, the abundance of zoobenthos and their resting stages was low (< 25 individuals cm^?3, and mean of 90 ± 75 cysts cm^?3, respectively), with no temporal pattern being observed. Temperature was the only abiotic factor influencing recruitment. This study suggests that, even in relatively young, chemically extreme lakes, the benthos can play an important role in whole lake microbial processes and zooplankton community composition. Such benthic repositories of resting stages potentially provide protection against adverse environmental changes.     

Changes in pollution indicators in Lake Victoria,Kenya and their implications for lake and catchment management

Monitoring of aquatic pollution is important for ascertaining the relationship between fisheries and the general ecosystem health of a lake. This study evaluated the use of changes in pollution indicators in Lake Victoria, Kenya, as a decision support tool for fisheries management and productivity. Principal component analysis (PCA; R² ≥ 0.5, P < 0.05) of physical and chemical parameters delineated sampling sites into ecological cluster zones consisting of the inner gulf (C1), mid‐gulf (C2) and open lake (C3). Test results for lead (Pb) and mercury (Hg) levels in the Nile perch tissues were found to be compliant with EU standards. The inner and mid‐gulfs of the Winam Gulf had high levels of total (1818.8 ± 102–1937.78 ± 94 cfu 100 mL^?1) and faecal (390 ± 21 cfu 100 mL^?1) coliforms attributable to urban sewage and industrial effluents exceeded WHO standards. Similarly, Winam Gulf was more polluted than the open lake, with higher total phosphorus and nitrogen concentrations, turbidity levels and electrical conductivity. Low phytoplankton biovolume and a low number of macroinvertebrates genera, and high zooplankton densities and pollution‐tolerant catfishes (e.g., Schilbe victoriae; Clarias gariepinus) were observed in Winam Gulf. Faecal coliforms and dissolved oxygen influenced the abundance of tolerant fish species (e.g., S. victoriae) in the lake. This study indicated a declining trend of ecological integrity in the Winam Gulf, compared with the open waters of Lake Victoria. An integrated management approach directed to minimizing pollution levels, especially in the Winam Gulf, is recommended to enhance fishery production.     

Lake Jabel restoration project: Phosphorus status and possibilities and limitations of diversion of its nutrient-rich main inflow

External and internal phosphorus loading was studied in 1996 in the anthropogenically eutrophicated Lake Jabel, which is located in Mecklenburg (north‐eastern Germany). It has a dimictic 23‐m‐deep northern basin, a 19‐m‐deep middle basin and a 6‐m‐deep polymictic southern basin. The main tributary, Grabowhöfer Grenzgraben, which enters via a leaching field from a waste‐water treatment plant, has been identified as the major nutrient discharge (80% of total phosphorus loading) into the northern basin. The sediment is the second largest source of phosphorus for Lake Jabel, contributing 25.7%, 27.4% and 2.4% of the overall phosphorus load to the northern, middle and southern basins, respectively. Although the favoured diversion of the Grabowhöfer Grenzgraben would contribute to a reduction of 1.22 t P and 20.94 t NO₃^‐–‐N per year, it is mainly rejected for the following reasons. If the extreme monthly nitrate supply, between 4.84 and 189.6 mg N m^‐2 day^–1 ceased, the release of redox‐sensitive phosphorus in the northern basin would increase by a factor of 0.54, which is with 41.1% total phosphorus, twice as high as that in the middle basin. In addition, the nitrate supply can substantially lower the seasonal precipitation of stable iron sulphides, which would otherwise lower the concentration of redox‐sensitive phosphorus, but cannot change the phosphorus retention in the long term. Because of internal phosphorus sources, the diversion of the Grabowhöfer Grenzgraben would result in no substantial changes in the level of trophy.     

Phytoplankton composition and biomass in tropical soda Lake Shala: seasonal changes in response to environmental drivers

Although soda lakes are valuable, sensitive aquatic resources where phytoplankton play a decisive role for the entire ecological functions, they are among the least‐studied ecosystems. Seasonal variations in phytoplankton composition, abundance and biomass in relation to some environmental parameters of the little known, deep, large, volcanic and saline–alkaline Lake Shala were investigated over an annual cycle. The lake phytoplankton community consisted of relatively diverse taxa (23) belonging to Bacillariophyceae, Cryptophyta, Cyanoprokaryota and Dinophyta. Bacillariophyceae and Cryptophyta were the dominant groups throughout the annual cycle, accounting for about 57% and 22% of the total number of species, and 28% and 69% of the total abundance of the phytoplankton community, respectively. Cryptomonas spp. were most abundant throughout nearly all months, contributing about 59%–95% of total phytoplankton abundance, followed by Thalassiosira sp. (1%–35%). The chlorophyll‐a concentration, as a proxy for algal biomass, was generally low (mean 17 μg L^?1), exhibiting only small seasonal variation. The strong, inverse relation of chlorophyll‐a with water transparency (r = ?0.69; n = 11) and the persistent dominance of species adapted to low‐light conditions and mixing suggest the overriding importance of these factors in controlling the lake's phytoplankton. The results of the present study generally suggest the phytoplankton composition and biomass in Lake Shala exhibited muted seasonal changes, despite the environmental perturbations, probably because of the lake's high buffering capacity against allochthonous impacts because of its voluminous nature.     

Resuspension of bottom sediment by an internal wave in Lake Biwa

An internal wave‐induced resuspension of bottom sediment and resultant changes in water chemistry were investigated in the sublittoral area of Lake Biwa in the late stage of the stagnant period. The thermocline was measured at between depths of 15 and 20 m at the beginning of the observation and rapidly dropped by 5 m within 3 h. The downward movement of the thermocline resulted in markedly increased turbidity at the top of the thermocline (20 m in water depth). Concentrations of dissolved methane synchronistically increased with turbidity, especially in the top of the thermocline where there was the highest turbidity. Total dissolved phosphorus and particulate phosphorus also increased in the thermocline. In contrast, the soluble reactive phosphate concentration decreased with time. An increase in the concentrations of particulate metals (aluminium, iron and titanium), which probably originated from mineral particles, was more marked in the water sample collected at 1 m above the bottom than at the peak of turbidity. The results indicated that an internal wave caused resuspension of the bottom sediment and also affected the water chemistry.     

太湖重污染湖区底泥沉积物特性

对竺山湖及太湖西岸湖区底泥沉积物的粒径、含水率、有机质、TN,TP含量进行研究,探讨竺山湖湾东部、竺山湖湾西部、太湖西岸北部、太湖西岸南部底泥污染物表层及垂向分布规律.结果表明,竺山湖湾沉积物中有机质、TN,TP含量高于西沿岸湖区,底泥再悬浮释放污染物风险较大;西沿岸北段清淤区垂向有机质、TN含量无显著性变化,TP含量...     

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.     

Abundance and nutrient limiting growth rate of heterotrophic bacterio-plankton in Himalayan foot hill Lake Phewa, Nepal

We examined heterotrophic bacterial abundance, chlorophyll- a concentration and resources limiting bacterial growth from October 2004 to August 2005 in Lake Phewa. The lake has a large watershed that covers ≈435 ha of water surface surrounded by ≈23-time large catchment area that might receive up to 4850 mm annual precipitation. During the study, bacterial abundance ranged from 3.2 to 9.9 × 10⁶ cells mL⁻¹, and chlorophyll- a varied from 2 to 32 μg L⁻¹. Bacterial abundance and chlorophyll- a weakly correlated ( r  = 0.40, n  = 77, P  < 0.1) in the lake. Experiments on resources, glucose (C), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) alone and in combination (CNP) limiting bacterial growth rate, were examined using dilution bioassays. Experimental bottles enriched with resources and controls without enrichment (in triplicate) were incubated in situ for 48 h at collection depth. Results showed that C, N and P in combination significantly (at 5% level) stimulated bacterial growth rate. Bioassays with single resource additions showed P as main nutrient limiting bacterial growth comparing with C and N, implying that rainfall received in the catchment might convey adequate resources causing increased P deficiency for bacterial growth in Himalayan foot hill Lake Phewa.     

Does Manganese Influence Phosphorus Cycling under Suboxic Lake Water Conditions?

The comparative roles of iron and manganese in internal phosphorus loading were examined in a managed lake. Sediments and the water column of Irondequoit Bay, an embayment along Lake Ontario's southern shore, were sampled monthly during summer thermal stratification. Total phosphorus, total iron, and total manganese concentrations in the sediment averaged 1.389 ± 0.150 g/kg dry wt, 24.415 ± 0.760 g/kg dry wt, and 1.727 ± 0.053 g/kg dry wt, respectively. Elevated total phosphorus (maximum = 0.915 mg P/L) and soluble reactive phosphorus (maximum = 0.749 mg P/L) concentrations were observed in the hypolimnion. Sequential extraction of phosphorus fractions from the top 25 cm of deepwater sediment revealed that approximately 25% of phosphorus was stored in a redox-sensitive form, most likely associated with iron and manganese oxyhydroxides. Typically, phosphorus released from sediments is associated with iron, not manganese. However, iron and manganese profiles from the water column indicated that manganese from the sediment was cycling with phosphorus into the overlying waters, while iron did not demonstrate evidence of cycling. Although reductive dissolution of iron likely occurs in the sediment, iron was retained in the sediment and kept out of the water column by the maintenance of low concentrations of dissolved oxygen in the hypolimnion.     

Variations in trace elements in bottom sediments of major rivers in Lake Victoria's basin, Kenya

River sediments collected between March 1994 and January 1995 were analysed for iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), lead (Pb), copper (Cu), chromium (Cr), aluminium (Al) and cadmium (Cd) in the less than 63 μm grain‐size fraction. The river sediments were characterized by a sandy texture, with a relatively low organic matter (as percentage loss on ignition), ranging 3.5–9.6%. The metal mean range values in μg/g dry weight for the river sediments were: Mn (836–2.10 × 10⁴), Fe (1.09 × 10⁴–9.22 × 10⁴), Al (2.86 × 10³–7.77 × 10³), Zn (34–130), Cu (11–78), Cr (not detected ND–125); Pb (ND–100) and Cd (ND). Temporal variations were significant for Zn, Cr and Pb. There were no significant longitudinal differences in all the elements in rivers Nyando, Nzoia, Yala and Sondu‐Miriu, apart from sediment Fe contents. Relatively high sediment Fe, Mn, Zn, Cr and Al were observed in river Kasat. River Kasat was considered polluted with respect to Mn, Zn and Cr, which were comparatively higher than unpolluted sediments and geochemical background values. This supports similar results on surface water trace element levels. Most of the rivers drain an area of relatively similar lithological characteristics. Therefore, apart from the direct waste input into Kasat river from municipal and industrial sources, lack of specific point sources indicate lithological metal origins with localized variations. A final comparative evaluation of the river sediments’ trace metal pollution was made from the study results. The data is vital for pollution management of the lake as information about metal loadings into the lake ecosystem is lacking.