Simultaneous determination of microcystin contaminations in various vertebrates (fish, turtle, duck and water bird) from a large eutrophic Chinese lake, Lake Taihu, with toxic Microcystis blooms

This is the first to conduct simultaneous determination of microcystin (MC) contaminations in multi-groups of vertebrates (fish, turtle, duck and water bird) from Lake Taihu with Microcystis blooms. MCs (-RR, -YR, -LR) in Microcystis scum was 328 μg g^− 1 DW. MCs reached 235 μg g^− 1 DW in intestinal contents of phytoplanktivorous silver carp, but never exceeded 0.1 μg g^− 1 DW in intestinal contents of other animals. The highest MC content in liver of fish was in Carassius auratus (150 ng g^− 1 DW), followed by silver carp and Culter ilishaeformis, whereas the lowest was in common carp (3 ng g^− 1 DW). In livers of turtle, duck and water bird, MC content ranged from 18 to 30 ng g^− 1 DW. High MC level was found in the gonad, egg yolk and egg white of Nycticorax nycticorax and Anas platyrhynchos, suggesting the potential effect of MCs on water bird and duck embryos. High MC contents were identified for the first time in the spleens of N. nycticorax and A. platyrhynchos (6.850 and 9.462 ng g^− 1 DW, respectively), indicating a different organotropism of MCs in birds. Lakes with deaths of turtles or water birds in the literatures had a considerably higher MC content in both cyanobacteria and wildlife than Lake Taihu, indicating that toxicity of cyanobacteria may determine accumulation level of MCs and consequently fates of aquatic wildlife.     

Environmental factors controlling phytoplankton dynamics in a large floodplain river with emphasis on cyanobacteria

Harmful algal blooms are occurring in large river ecosystems and at the mouth of large rivers with increasing frequency. In lentic systems, the chemical and physical conditions that promote harmful algal blooms are somewhat predictable but tracking prevalence and conditions that promote harmful algal blooms in lotic systems is much more difficult. We captured two of the most extreme discharge years within the last 20 years occurring in the Upper Mississippi River, allowing a natural experiment that evaluated how major shifts in discharge drive environmental variation and associated shifts in phytoplankton. Statistical models describing significant environmental covariates for phytoplankton assemblages and specific taxa were developed and used to identify management‐relevant numeric breakpoints at which environmental variables may promote the growth of specific phytoplankton and/or cyanobacteria. Our analyses supported that potentially toxin‐producing cyanobacteria dominate under high phosphorus concentration, low nitrogen concentration, low nitrogen‐to‐phosphorus ratio, low turbulence, low flushing, adequate light and warm temperatures. Cyanobacteria dominated in 2009 when low discharge and low flushing likely led to optimal growth environments for Dolichospermum, Aphanizomenon and Microcystis. Rarely will a single factor lead to the dominance, but multiple positive factors working in concert can lead to cyanobacteria proliferation in large rivers. Certain isolated backwaters with high phosphorus, low nitrogen, warm water temperatures and low potential for flushing could benefit from increased connection to channel inputs to reduce cyanobacterial dominance. Numerous examples of this type of habitat currently exist in the Upper Mississippi River and could benefit from reconnection to channel habitats.     

Validation of 2015 Lake Erie MODIS image spectral decomposition using visible derivative spectroscopy and field campaign data

Timely identification of color-producing agents (CPAs) in Lake Erie is a challenging, but vital aspect of monitoring harmful algal blooms (HABs). In particular, HABs that include large amounts of cyanobacteria (CyanoHABs) can be toxic to humans, posing a threat to drinking water, in addition to recreational and economic use of Lake Erie. The optical signal of Lake Erie is complex (Becker et al., 2009; Moore et al., 2017), typically comprised of phytoplankton, cyanobacteria, colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM), detritus, and terrigenous inorganic particles, varying in composition both spatially and temporally. The Kent State University (KSU) spectral decomposition method effectively partitions CPAs using a varimax-rotated, principal component analysis (VPCA) of visible reflectance spectra measured using lab, field or satellite instruments (Ali et al., 2013; Ortiz et al., 2017, 2013). We analyze 2015 imagery acquired by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) sensor and field samples collected during the early 2015 cyanoHAB season. We identified four primary CPA spectral signatures, and the spatial distribution of each identified CPA, in the reflectance spectra datasets of both the MODIS and lab-measured water samples. The KSU spectral decomposition method results in mixtures of specific pigments, pigment degradation products, and minerals that describe the optically complex water. We found very good agreement between the KSU VPCA spectral decomposition results and in situ measurements, indicating that this method may be a powerful tool for rapid CyanoHAB monitoring and assessment in large lakes using instruments that provide moderate resolution imagery (0.3 to 1 km²).     

Spatial and temporal variability of inherent and apparent optical properties in western Lake Erie: Implications for water quality remote sensing

Lake Erie has experienced dramatic changes in water quality over the past several decades requiring extensive monitoring to assess effectiveness of adaptive management strategies. Remote sensing offers a unique potential to provide synoptic monitoring at daily time scales complementing in-situ sampling activities occurring in Lake Erie. Bio-optical remote sensing algorithms require knowledge about the inherent optical properties (IOPs) of the water for parameterization to produce robust water quality products. This study reports new IOP and apparent optical property (AOP) datasets for western Lake Erie that encapsulate the May–October period for 2015 and 2016 at weekly sampling intervals. Previously reported IOP and AOP observations have been temporally limited and have not assessed statistical differences between IOPs over spatial and temporal gradients. The objective of this study is to assess trends in IOPs over variable spatial and temporal scales. Large spatio-temporal variability in IOPs was observed between 2015 and 2016 likely due to the difference in the extent and duration of mid-summer cyanobacteria blooms. Differences in the seasonal trends of the specific phytoplankton absorption coefficient between 2015 and 2016 suggest differing algal assemblages between the years. Other IOP variables, including chromophoric, dissolved organic matter (CDOM) and beam attenuation spectral slopes, suggest variability is influenced by river discharge and sediment re-suspension. The datasets presented in this study show how these IOPs and AOPs change over a season and between years, and are useful in advancing the applicability and robustness of remote sensing methods to retrieve water quality information in western Lake Erie.     

Needed: Early-term adjustments for Lake Erie phosphorus target loads to address western basin cyanobacterial blooms

For Lake Erie, it is already time to revise the phosphorus target loads set to address the problem of cyanobacterial blooms in the Western Basin. Current targets were proposed by the Annex 4 task group in 2015, adopted by U.S. and Canadian governments in 2016, and set as objectives of domestic action plans in 2017. These targets, applicable to all spring discharges below the 90th percentile, set a maximum load for both total phosphorus (TP) and dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP) equivalent to 60% of their 2008 spring loads. This essentially mandates 40% reductions in both particulate phosphorus (PP) and DRP loading relative to 2008 loads. These targets do not explicitly incorporate the difference in bioavailability between DRP (~100% bioavailable) and PP (~25% bioavailable). From 2008 to 2017, DRP comprised 24% of the spring TP load and over half (~56%) of the total bioavailable phosphorus (TBAP) load, while PP comprised 76% of the TP load but only ~44% of the TBAP load. Subsequent deposition of PP in the estuarine and nearshore zones further reduces its significance in bloom development. By ignoring differences in bioavailability, the current targets provide no guidance for choosing among practices based on their relative effectiveness in reducing DRP or PP and their combined reductions in TBAP loading. Current targets place more emphasis on PP than needed to efficiently reach targeted cyanobacterial bloom reductions. To clarify appropriate management approaches and lead to greater success in reducing cyanobacterial blooms, target loads should be based on TBAP.     

三峡水库支流水华机理及其调控技术研究进展

三峡水库自2003年蓄水以来,水库干支流水环境状况及支流水华问题已成为广泛关注的问题,国内外不少科研单位及学者对此进行了大量的研究。本文在介绍三峡水库蓄水以来水库水质状态及支流水华情势的基础上,系统总结了关于三峡水库干支流水动力特征及其环境效应、水华机理及其调控措施的研究发现,并提出了有待进一步研究的内容。主要研究发现包括:(1)三峡水库蓄水后支流库湾普遍存在分层异重流现象,产生的原因是干支流温度差及泥沙浓度差引起的水体密度差,其中水体温度差是主要因素;(2)在分层异重流的驱动下,支流库湾水体呈现"双混斜"及"半U"型特殊水体分层模式,支流库湾营养盐也主要来自于水库干流倒灌;(3)流速变缓只是支流暴发水华的表观原因,分层异重流驱动下的混合层(Zm)与临界层(ZCr)的关系变化才是决定水华生消的关键;(4)水库水位升降可通过影响分层异重流的形态、改变支流水体分层状态进而调控支流水华的生消过程,基于此提出了防控支流水华的"潮汐式"生态调度方法。如何将上述新发现上升为具有三峡水库特色的系统理论与方法,实现支流水华的精准预测预报,开展能够协调水库传统效益和防控支流水华等生态效益的三峡及上游梯级水库群联合多目标优化调度实践,应是今后进一步努力的方向。     

高效藻类塘系统处理太湖地区农村生活污水

对高效藻类塘系统处理太湖地区农村生活污水进行了试验研究，实验系统由沉淀水箱、高效藻类塘和水生生物塘等组成．结果表明：高效藻类塘出水COD浓度受藻类生长影响较大，但出水溶解性COD比较稳定，平均去除率在70％以上。氨氮的去除效果好，平均去除率为93％，氨氮主要通过硝化、挥发和生物同化吸收三种途径去除．塘内磷主要通过沉淀去除，总磷平均去除率在50％左右．水生生物塘不仅能有效去除高效藻类塘出水中的藻类和悬浮物，而且能进一步降低水中有机物、氮、磷等污染物浓度．冬季水力停留时问的延长对保障系统的整体运行效果是有效的．高效藻类塘系统用来处理太湖地区农村生活污水具有一定的应用前景．     

巢湖叶绿素a与环境因子耦合效应的多元分析

针对巢湖西半湖富营养化情况,利用实测资料,通过相关分析和多元逐步回归统计,分析环境多元耦合效应与水体叶绿素a质量浓度之间的关系,找出显著环境因子,建立多元逐步回归方程,预测叶绿素a质量浓度变化.结果表明,巢湖西半湖叶绿素a质量浓度夏季高冬季低,其变化受多个环境因子共同影响,相关性较显著的为气温、水位、CODMn等.在各...