[Spatial Distribution and Pollution Evaluation of Carbon, Nitrogen, and Phosphorus in Sediments of Zhushan Bay at Taihu Lake]

To reveal the distribution characteristics of carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus in the sediments of Zhushan Bay at Taihu Lake, sedimentary columns were collected and sliced by 2 cm vertically from ten sampling points in three sections of Zhushan Bay. The content of total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), and total organic carbon (TOC) were determined for each slice to reveal their horizontal and vertical distribution. The results showed that:spatially, the content of TN, TP, and TOC increased in the surface sediments of Zhushan Bay from the open lake area to the bay, and inside the bay these indexes were significantly higher than in the open lake area (P<0.01). The content of TN, TP, and TOC in the surface sediments in the bay (section A) were 1.53 mg·g^-1, 1.55 mg·g^-1, and 11.31 mg·g^-1, respectively, while in the surface sediments near the open lake (section C) they were only 0.75 mg·g^-1, 0.57 mg·g^-1, and 6.70 mg·g^-1, respectively. Vertically, a feature of surficial enrichment was shown, and the contents of carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus in all three sections showed a decreasing trend with increase of depth. The contents of TN, TP and TOC in the surface sediments are 2-3 times, 2-5 times, and 2-3 times those in the bottom sediments, respectively. Generally, the average TP content in the sediment of Zhushan Bay is 0.93 mg·g^-1, suggesting an apparent heavy pollution, while the average TN content is 1.11 mg·g^-1 as slight pollution. According to the organic nitrogen index and comprehensive pollution index, the northern part of Zhushan Bay is suffering from heavy pollution, where the organic pollution is relatively strong. The TP pollution index is between 1.03 and 3.87, indicating heavy pollution in Zhushan Bay.

Modeling phosphorus sources and transport in a headwater catchment with rapid agricultural expansion

Increasing riverine phosphorus (P) levels in headwaters due to expanded and intensified human activities are worldwide concerns, because P is a well-known limiting nutrient for freshwater eutrophication. Here we adopt the conceptual framework of the SPAtially Referenced Regressions On Watershed attributes (SPARROW) model to describe total phosphorus (TP) sources and transport in a headwater watershed undergoing rapid agricultural expansion in the upper Taihu Lake Basin, China. Our models, which include variables for land cover, river length, runoff depth, and pond density, explain 94% of the spatio-temporal variability in TP loads. Agricultural lands contribute the largest percentage (61%) of the TP loads delivered downstream, followed by forestland (21%) and urban land (18%). Future agricultural expansion to 15% of the total basin area is possible, which could lead to a 50% increase in TP loads. According to our analysis, an average of 24% of the total P export from the watershed landscape was intercepted in ponds. The exported amount was subsequently retained by tributaries and along the mainstem river, accounting for 14% and 43% of their inflowing loads, respectively. The remaining ∼6 tons yr^-1 of TP was eventually transported into Tianmu Lake, in Southeastern China. The model identified several sub-catchments as hotspots of TP loss and thus logical sites for targeted management. Our study underscores the significance of agricultural expansion as a factor that can exacerbate headwater TP pollution, highlighting the importance of landscapes to buffer TP losses from sensitive hilly catchments. This also points to a need for an integrated management strategy that considers the spatial-varying P sources and associated transport of TP in precious headwater resources.

Application of diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) and simultaneously extracted metals (SEM) for evaluating bioavailability of metal contaminants in the sediments of Taihu Lake, China

The toxicities of heavy metals in sediments are related to their bioavailability, which is critical for deriving reliable sediment quality guidelines. To evaluate the bioavailability of the metals (Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn), sediments were collected from Taihu Lake, one of the largest and most important freshwater lakes in China. Concentrations of simultaneously extracted metals (1-M HCl extraction, C_SEM) in the sediments, metals released from sediment to pore waters and accumulated by diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT, C_DGT), and dissolved metals in the overlying water (C_OLW) were measured separately. Sediment toxicity was assessed with tubificids (Monopylephorus limosus) and chironomids (Chironomus kiiensis and Chironomus tentans). Significant relationships existed between the total metal concentrations and C_SEM, C_DGT, and C_OLW measurements (r² = 0.43-0.95, n = 27, p < 0.001), with stronger relationships with C_SEM (r² = 0.91-0.95) than C_DGT (r² = 0.56-0.85) and C_OLW (r² = 0.43-0.71). Risk quotients were derived by dividing C_SEM by sediment quality guideline values (SQGVs), and by dividing both C_DGT and C_OLW by water quality criteria (WQC). Toxicity of the sediments to the three species was better explained by the C_SEM-based risk quotient than those derived from C_DGT and C_OLW. The study indicated that DGT piston probes deployed face down in sediments did not accumulate metals in proportion to the bioavailable metal fraction that caused toxicity to these freshwater benthic organisms, and that single measurements of metals in overlying waters are not adequate for predicting risks of toxicity from sediments. The measurement of C_SEM was determined to be effective for assessing the risk posed by the metals in the Taihu Lake sediments, but offered limited improvement over measurement of total metal concentrations.

The intestinal microbiota of lake anchovy varies according to sex, body size, and local habitat in Taihu Lake, China

Lake anchovy (Coilia ectenes taihuensis) is a sedentary, dominant fish species that forms an unmanaged fishery in Taihu Lake, eastern China. The environment and developmental stage of lake anchovy are likely important drivers of their gut microbiome, which is linked to host health and development. To investigate the relationship between the gut microbiome and three defined factors (fish sex, fish body size, and the local habitat), high‐throughput sequencing of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene was used to study the microorganisms of 184 fish samples and four water samples collected in Taihu Lake. Four dominant bacterial phyla (Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Planctomycetes, and Cyanobacteria) were present in all fish samples. We compared the microbial communities of males and females and found that the relative abundance of Corynebacteriaceae was significantly higher in males than in females, while the opposite trend was detected for Sphingomonadaceae. We also discovered that the relative abundance of Firmicutes was positively correlated with fish body size and that the proportions of Proteobacteria and Tenericutes were lower in larger fish than in fish of other sizes. Finally, we found that the difference in microbial richness between eastern and northern Taihu Lake was the most marked. Lake anchovy was rich in Lactobacillus and Clostridium in the eastern site, while those in the northern site had the highest abundance of Sphingomonas and Methylobacterium, suggesting that the local habitat may also influence the intestinal microbiome. These findings will not only help researchers understand the community composition of the intestinal microflora of lake anchovy but also contribute to the protection of fish resources in Lake Taihu and the sustainable use of lake anchovy.

Taste and odor compounds associated with aquatic plants in Taihu Lake: distribution and producing potential

The odor problem caused by the decay of aquatic plants is widespread in many freshwater lakes. In this study, the spatial distributions of seven taste and odor (T&O) compounds (dimethyl sulfide, dimethyl disulfide, dimethyl trisulfide, 2-methylisoborneol, geosmin, β-cyclocitral, and β-ionone) in the sediments and overlying water of the east of Taihu Lake were investigated. The effects of plant and physico-chemical parameters on the release of T&O compounds were also analyzed. The results showed that high concentrations of T&O compounds were detected in the area where Eichhornia crassipes was flourishing. Volatile organic sulfur compounds were not found in the water source area, which was not covered by aquatic plants. High plant biomass and aquiculture activities might increase the release of the taste and odor compounds. The correlation between the concentrations of odorous compounds and nutrients in the sediment was also analyzed. The production of odorants was positively correlated with the nitrogen, and they may migrate from sediment to overlying water. The result suggested that controlling the plant density and aquaculture activities could reduce the release of odorous compounds.

[Composition and Distribution of Biodegradable Compounds in the Macrophyte Dominated Zone of Lake Taihu]

In shallow eutrophic lakes, benthic bioclastic deposits accumulate abundant organic carbon derived from macrophyte detritus. Taking the typical macrophyte-dominated Xukou Bay as the study area, field investigations were performed using sediment cores to evaluate benthic phytodetritus accumulation. Specifically, nutrient contents, TOC/TN ratios, pigmentation, and biodegradable compounds were measured as descriptive parameters. The results show that the benthic bioclastic deposit had accumulated abundant pigments, nutrients, and biodegradable compounds derived from macrophytes detritus. These were mainly localized in the top 15 cm of sediments. Nitrogen loading in the sediments was significantly higher than phosphorous loading, with a distinct spatial difference; the total nitrogen content ranged from 127.2-2092.8 mg·kg^-1 and total phosphorous content ranged from 222.1-528.4 mg·kg^-1. Moreover, nitrogen loading (1033.6 mg·kg^-1) in the vegetated zones were higher than in the unvegetated zones (325.2 mg·kg^-1). In addition, carbohydrate (3.7 mg·g^-1) was the dominant component of sedimentary bioclastic material, with lipids (2.8 mg·g^-1) being the second most abundant of the biodegradable compounds. The major sources of nutrients and biodegradable compounds in the sediment were massive aggregates of macrophyte detritus. The pigment, nutrient, and biodegradable compound contents in the vegetated zones were significantly higher than in unvegetated zones (P<0.01). The benthic eutrophic state showed a trend from mesotrophic to eutrophic in Xukou Bay, which should be given more attention in the future management of freshwater lake ecosystems.

[Temporal and Spatial Variations in the Conductivity in Different Media in Taihu Lake, China]

Conductivity is an important parameter for characterizing dissolved solids and salinity in water, and is also one of the routinely measured parameters in water quality monitoring. To reveal temporal and spatial variations in conductivity in different media in Taihu Lake, historical data (1980-2009) were collected and field monitoring data (2009-2018) were analyzed. The results indicated that water conductivity in Taihu Lake has shown a significant increasing trend over the past 40 years and diverged in 1996-1997. Conductivity values increased from (239.43±70.60)μS·cm^-1 in the period 1980-1996 to(477.31±23.47)μS·cm^-1 in the present day, with an average annual increase of 10.40 μS·(cm·a)^-1. Spatially, the conductivity of water in the northwest part of the lake was significantly higher than the southeast part. These changes in conductivity are dominated by changes in major ions, and the contribution of nitrogen was essentially negligible. Human activities in the basin have been the main factors causing changes in water conductivity. In addition, conductivity is significantly affected by seasonal runoff. Compared with the water, the conductivity of the surface sediments and pore water (0-10 cm) in the northwest part of the lake were lower than in the southeast part, while this trend was opposite in the deeper sediments (>10 cm). The conductivity of the sediment and pore water were no different between surface (0-10 cm) and deeper (>10 cm) sediments in the northwest lake, while these were higher in the surface sediments in the southeast part of the lake. Sediment conductivity was positively correlated with organic matter (P<0.01) and was negatively correlated with pH (P<0.05). This indicated that organic matter promotes the activation and migration of metal ions, which are more activated under acidic conditions. We found that conductivity in the surface sediments and pore water (0-10 cm) were significantly positively correlated with conductivity in the overlying water (P<0.01). In contrast, the conductivity of overlying water was not correlated with the conductivity of deeper sediments and pore water (>10 cm). These patterns indicated that surface sediments and pore water have a significant effect on the conductivity of overlying waters. In addition, there was a significant positive correlation between the conductivity of sediment and pore water (P<0.01) within the entire sedimentary section (0-50 cm), indicating efficiency ion-exchange between the two. The interaction between sediment and pore water was generally stronger than their interaction with the overlying water.

Suspended particles potentially enhance nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions in the oxic estuarine waters of eutrophic lakes: Field and experimental evidence

Estuaries are considered hot spots for the production and emissions of nitrous oxide (N₂O) and easily occur suspended particles (SPS), however, current understanding about the role of SPS in the N₂O emissions from the oxic estuarine waters of lacustrine ecosystems is still limited. In this study, field investigations were performed in the estuaries of hypereutrophic Taihu Lake, and laboratory simulations were simultaneously conducted to ascertain the characteristics of N₂O emissions with different SPS concentrations. The results showed that the N₂O emission fluxes ranged from 9.75 to 118.38 μg m^-2 h^-1, indicating a high spatial heterogeneity for the N₂O emissions from the estuaries of Taihu Lake. Although the dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations were up to 7.85 mg L^-1 in the estuarine waters, from where the N₂O emissions fluxes were approximately three times that of the lake regions. Multiple regression model selected the total nitrogen (TN), SPS, and DO concentrations as the crucial factors influencing the N₂O emission fluxes. Particularly for SPS, the simulation results showed that the N₂O concentrations increased gradually with the increase in the SPS concentrations of an oxic water column containing 4 mg L^-1 of NO₃^--N, indicating that a high SPS concentration can accelerate the N₂O emissions. It was related to the change of denitrifying bacteria population in the SPS, as evidenced by its significantly positive correlation with N₂O emissions (p < 0.01). Our findings will draw attentions to the role of SPS playing in the N₂O productions and emissions in eutrophic lakes, and its effect on nitrogen cycle should be considered in the future study.

Integrating long-term dynamics of ecosystem services into restoration and management of large shallow lakes

Adequately understanding the dynamics of ecosystem services (ES), a practical framework for analyzing social-ecological systems (SES), is crucial for sustainable environmental management and decision-making. However, the interactions among multiple ES at multi-decadal scales are less explored, and many challenges remain to integrate long-term dynamics of ES into ecological restoration and management. Here, we combined socioeconomic data with synthesized paleolimnological records to assess the dynamics of 12 critical ES and regional SES in the Taihu Lake Basin (China) over the past century. Our results indicated that multiple provisioning services showed upwards trends while major regulating services in terms of water, sediment, soil and air regulation had sustained downwards trends since the 1950s, and reached dangerous status after the 1980s. This dynamic trade-off was mainly attributed to the effects of continued socioeconomic transitions including agriculture intensification, industrialization and urbanization. Anthropogenic land use change, pollution input, and climate changes are considered as major drivers of long-term environmental degradation. Regulating services exhibited various dynamical properties including different linear and nonlinear trends, and abrupt changes, which underlined the comprehensive consideration of legacy effects, ecological baseline, thresholds, and resilience into lake management. Environmental Kuznets curve analyses suggested that the regional SES started significant disorder from the 1970s driven by the transition between ES and non-ES (socioeconomic) supply, and then underpinned a gradual shift to reorganization stage after the 1990s. Our study highlights the significance of ES assessment from historical perspective to understand the major processes and underlying mechanisms of lake SES. With adaptive policy interventions on pollution control, efficient resource-use, and targeted environmental investment, the sustainability of regional SES can be expected.

Toxicological and ecotoxicological evaluation of the water quality in a large and eutrophic freshwater lake of China

Effect-based methods (EBMs) are recommended as holistic approach for diagnosis and monitoring of water quality; however, the application of EBMs is still scare in China. In the present study, water quality of the freshwater lake Taihu (China) was investigated by EBMs. Different types of water samples were collected from three bays of the lake during 2015, 2016 and 2017. A battery of seven effect-based bioassays, including both specific and non-specific toxicity assays, was used. The bioassay battery was recently suggested based on joint activities of the EU project SOLUTIONS and the NORMAN network on emerging pollutants and is also under discussion for being implemented into monitoring activities in the context of the European Water Framework Directive (WFD). Adverse effects were observed towards the primary producer, primary consumer and fish, indicating the potential ecotoxicity of water in Taihu Lake. Mutagenic and estrogenic effects were found in the Ames fluctuation assay and ERα CALUX (Chemically Activated Luciferase Gene-eXpression) assay, respectively, highlighting the potential risks on human health. Algal growth inhibition and mutagenic effects can be observed during each of the three years. Acute toxicity towards Daphnia magna and estrogen receptor agonistic effects were found in at least one of the samples collected in 2016 and 2017, but not in 2015. The endpoints for fish toxicity in the Danio rerio fish embryo test included both lethal and additionally several sublethal effects (only for samples from 2017) and were not compared between years. Algal growth inhibition, fish embryo toxicity, mutagenic effect and estrogenicity were observed in each of the three bays, while Daphnia acute toxicity was only found in Zhushan Bay. Taking together, this study provides a big picture on the water quality of Taihu Lake. The battery of effect-based tools is promising to be a routine for water quality monitoring in China.

Bioavailability and biomagnification of organophosphate esters in the food web of Taihu Lake, China: Impacts of chemical properties and metabolism

The bioavailability and biomagnification of organophosphate esters (OPEs) were investigated in a food web in the Zhushan Bay of Taihu Lake, China. The organisms included mainly three biological groups: plankton, invertebrates, and fish, which displayed distinctly different compositional profiles of OPEs. In general, the log BAFs (bioaccumulation factor) of OPEs displayed a significant correlation with their log K_ow (octanol-water partitioning coefficient), suggesting that the bioaccumulation was mainly controlled by the hydrophobicity. The log BAFs of the more hydrophobic OPEs in benthic invertebrates were higher than in fish, suggesting that ingesting sediment constituted additional exposure route for benthic invertebrates. The log BSAFs (biota-sediment accumulation factor) in the benthic invertebrates increased with log K_ow in the range of 1.44-5.73 and decreased afterwards. The depressed bioavailability of the highly hydrophobic OPEs was attributed to their strong adsorption to the sediment. The biomagnification potency of OPEs was affected by hydrophobicity of the compounds and biotransformation properties in the organisms at different trophic levels. 2-Ethylhexyl diphenyl phosphate biomagnified in the fish food web of Taihu Lake with a TMF (trophic magnification factor) of 3.61, which was due to the combined results of its relatively high hydrophobicity (log K_ow of 5.73) and decreased metabolism potential in the high-trophic-level fish. The constant metabolism diminished the biomagnification potency of hydrophobic compounds triphenyl phosphate and tricresyl phosphate in this food web.

Geochemical baseline establishment and pollution source determination of heavy metals in lake sediments: A case study in Lihu Lake, China

Geochemical baseline, as the boundary between background and anomalous values of pollutants in sediments, is typically used to evaluate whether sediments are disturbed by human activities. However, this tool is rarely used in identifying the pollution source types of heavy metals. This study aims to determine the pollution source of heavy metals in sediments based on the geochemical baseline by using statistical methods. The geochemical baseline values of surface and core sediments in Lihu Lake, a typical urban lake in Taihu Lake Basin, were calculated by relative cumulative frequency and iterative methods. The enrichment degree and pollution source of heavy metals in surface sediments were also determined. The metal baselines in the core or surface sediments calculated by the two methods did not show significant difference (P > 0.05). The geochemical baseline of core sediments could represent the background level of sediments in the study area. The enrichment extent of the tested metals in surface sediments followed the order of: Pb > Zn > Hg > As > Cu > Cd > Ni > Cr. The average contents of Pb and Zn were 3.0 and 2.1 times of the background values, and their pollution were mainly derived from local and non-point sources, respectively. The contributions of the background concentrations to the contents of Cu, As, and Hg were slightly higher than that of human interference, and accounted for 59.4%, 58.4%, and 54.0% of the total contents, respectively. The pollutions of Cu and As mainly originated from non-point source, and that of Hg was mainly derived from local source. The contents of Cr, Ni, and Cd were within the background level. Geochemical baseline can be used not only to determine the enrichment degree but also as a potentially useful tool for identifying the pollution source (local and non-point source) of heavy metals in sediments.

Characteristics of Dissolved Organic Nitrogen in the Sediments of Six Water Sources in Taihu Lake, China

KCl-extractable sediment dissolved organic nitrogen (KS-DON) extracted from sediments near drinking water intakes of six drinking water sources in Taihu Lake in China was partitioned into hydrophobic and hydrophilic fractions and high/low molecular weight fractions. The results showed that the total dissolved nitrogen (TDN) contents of the extracts ranged from 67.78 to 128.27 mg/kg. KS-DON was the main TDN species, accounting for more than 50%, with NH₄⁺-N and NO₃⁻-N averaging 30% and 20%, respectively. The molecular weight fractions of <1 kDa accounted for almost half of KS-DON. Hydrophilic compounds accounted for more than 75% of KS-DON. Three fluorescence peaks were identified: soluble microbial byproducts (A); protein-like substances (B); and humic acid-like substances (C). It is concluded that the KS-DON in Taihu Lake sources has higher bioavailability and higher risk of endogenous release. Ecological dredging and establishment of constructed wetlands are possible measures to reduce the release of endogenous nitrogen.

[Influence of Cyanobacterial Blooms on Denitrification Rate in Shallow Lake Taihu, China]

Denitrification is the most important nitrogen removal process in lake waters, and is of great significance for mitigating nitrogen pollution and controlling eutrophication in lakes. The outbreak and decline of cyanobacterial blooms may promote denitrification directly in the water column by changing the nitrogen circulation pathway and microenvironment of the water body, and accelerate the removal of nitrogen. In order to verify this hypothesis, the cyanobacteria with different biomass and the NO₃^--N, PO₄^3--P nutrient for 10 days were taken from Taihu Lake water to simulate the effects of cyanobacteria growth and degradation on denitrification. The dynamic changes of algal biomass and various forms of nitrogen concentration were simultaneously determined by ¹⁵N isotope addition culture combined with membrane inlet mass spectrometer (MIMS) for real-time quantitative determination of denitrification rate. The results showed that cyanobacteria absorbed nitrogen into particle nitrogen during the growth period. During the decay period, algae cells released a large amount of NH₄⁺-N by degrading mineralization, which was then converted into NO₃^--N to provide a substrate for denitrification. That is the key to promoting denitrification in water; the denitrification rate (as N₂) reaches (1614.52±301.57)μmol·(m²·h)^-1, which is three times higher than the denitrification rate[ (534.45±242.18)μmol·(m²·h)^-1]of the lowest concentration cyanobacterial group at the same time. At the end of the experiment, the highest rate of TN removal was highest in the group with the highest initial biomass of cyanobacteria (40.02%), which was 2.26 times of the TN removal rate (17.72%) in the control, indicating that cyanobacterial accumulation can significantly promote the intensity of denitrification and accelerate the removal of nitrogen in water. The rate of denitrification in the decline of cyanobacteria is significantly affected by the concentration of NH₄⁺-N, indicating that the coupling of nitrification-denitrification of microorganisms attached to algae is the main route of nitrogen removal. The results study indicate that the cyanobacteria bloom rapidly during the growth period. Nitrogen is converted into particle nitrogen. The degradation of cyanobacteria is accelerated by coupled nitrification-denitrification, which may be one of the reasons for the decrease of nitrogen concentration in Taihu Lake.

Distribution and relationship between antimicrobial resistance genes and heavy metals in surface sediments of Taihu Lake, China

Heavy metals, pharmaceuticals, and other wastes released into the environment can significantly influence environmental antibiotic resistance. We investigated the occurrence of 22 antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) and 10 heavy metal concentrations, and the relationship between ARGs and heavy metals in surface sediment from seven sites of Lake Taihu. The results showed significant correlations (p < 0.05) between sediment ARG levels, especially for tetracycline and sulfonamides (e.g., tet(A), tet(D), tet(E), tet(O), sul1, sul2 and int-1) and specific heavy metals (Fe, Mn, Cr, Cu, Zn, among others) in the Lake. In the surface sediments, heavy metals showed an interaction with resistance genes, but the strength of interaction was diminished with increasing depth. For most of the heavy metals, the concentration of elements in the top sediments was higher than that in other depths. Tetracycline resistance genes (tet(A), tet(B), tet(D), tet(E) and tet(O), β-lactam resistance genes (SHV, TEM, CTX, OXA and OXY) and sulfonamide resistance genes (sulA, sul1, sul2, sul3 and int-1) were detected. They showed a trend which inferred a statistically significant increase followed by decreases in the relative abundance of these ARGs (normalized to 16S rRNA genes) with increasing depth. This study revealed that tet(A), tet(O), TEM, OXY, int-1, sul1 and sul3 were widespread in surface sediments with high abundance, indicating that these genes deserve more attention in future work.

Effect-based and chemical analyses of agonistic and antagonistic endocrine disruptors in multiple matrices of eutrophic freshwaters

In the present study, both bioanalytical and instrumental tools were employed to examine the endocrine-disruptive potentials of water samples, cyanobloom samples, and sediment samples collected from in the northern region of Taihu Lake (China) during cyanobloom season. Results from cell-based bioassays suggested the occurrence of estrogenic, anti-estrogenic, anti-androgenic, and anti-glucocorticogenic activities, while no androgenic and glucocorticogenic activities were observed in the collected samples. Using an UPLC-MS/MS system, 29 endocrine disrupting compounds including seven estrogens, seven androgens, six progestogens, and five adrenocortical hormones and four industrial pollutants were simultaneously detected. 17, 20 and 12 chemicals were detected at least in one of the water samples, cyanobloom samples and sediment samples, respectively. Since both agonistic and antagonistic endocrine-disruptive activities were detected in the present study, commonly used receptor-based in vitro bioassays resulted in net effects, suggesting that the hormone receptor agonistic potentials might be underestimated with this practice. The EDCs detected in cyanobloom samples also highlight the necessity to consider the phytoplankton matrix for understanding the mass fluxes of endocrine disruptors in eutrophic freshwaters and to consider it in monitoring strategies.

Long-term and inter-monthly dynamics of aquatic vegetation and its relation with environmental factors in Taihu Lake, China

This paper discussed the long-term and inter-monthly variation in the distribution area of aquatic macrophytes in Taihu Lake, as well as the relationship between these variations and environmental factors. The findings were of great significance to the protection and environmental remediation of lake ecosystems. This paper presented data from 92 periods during 1980 to 2017 on the distribution area of aquatic macrophytes (including submerged macrophytes and floating-leaved macrophytes, but excluding emergent macrophytes) in Taihu Lake. Data were acquired by remote-sensing and subsequent image interpretation. The analysis of the inter-monthly variation indicated that the area occupied by aquatic macrophytes first increased and then decreased from January to December. Specifically, the distribution area was very small from January to March, began to increase gradually from April to August, reached its maximum in September, and decreased gradually from October to December. The analysis of the long-term variation showed that the distribution and area of aquatic macrophytes experienced two stages during the years 1980 to 2017: 1) gradual increase, 2) sharp decrease. In the first stage (1980 to 2014), the area occupied by aquatic macrophytes increased by 9 times, the maximum distribution area was 206.27 km² (in May), 307.92 km² (in September) and 277.33 km² (in October). In the second stage (2015 to 2017), the distribution area of aquatic macrophytes decreased sharply to 50 km² or less. The distribution area of aquatic macrophytes during the months of January to December had a significant positive correlation with monthly average temperature, COD_Mn value, secchi disk depth(SDD), area of cyanobacteria and chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) concentration, a significant negative correlation with water quality indices such as dissolved oxygen (DO) value and NH₃-N concentration, but no significant correlation with water quality indices such as pH values and total suspended matter (TSM) concentration. The distribution area of aquatic macrophytes from 1980 to 2017 had a significant positive correlation with annual average temperature, annual minimum water level, pH value, SDD, area of cyanobacteria and Chl-a concentration, but no significant correlation with water quality indices such as DO value, COD_Mn value, NH₃-N concentration and TSM concentration. The sharp decrease in the distribution area of aquatic macrophytes in 2015 and subsequent years was primarily due to the mechanized salvage of aquatic plants.

Active Biomonitoring of Metals with Cultured Anodonta woodiana: A Case Study in the Taihu Lake, China

Freshwater bivalves (Anodonta woodiana), cultured in the Nanquan Aquaculture Base, were translocated to the water source area of Xidong Waterworks in the Taihu Lake for 18-months to biomonitor 13 metals, and determine the suitability of using these cultures as an indicator of long-term metal contamination. Mussel and water samples were analyzed every 6 months, with the Nanquan Aquaculture Base serving as control. Metal concentrations in water and mussels from both sites were generally within the Chinese permissible levels. Metal pollution indexes between the two sites were similar. However, the metal loads of mussels in the water source area of Xidong Waterworks were 57.3, 1.7, and 295.5-fold higher after 6-, 12-, and 18-months relative to the control mussels from the Nanquan Aquaculture Base, respectively. Moreover, the water area in Taihu Lake was moderately, considerably, and highly contaminated by Cd, Al, and Cu, respectively.

Heavy Metal Accumulation in Common Aquatic Plants in Rivers and Lakes in the Taihu Basin

We investigated the concentrations of 10 heavy metals in Potamogeton malaianus, Nymphoides peltata, Eichhornia crassipes, and Hydrilla verticillata to evaluate their potential to bioaccumulate heavy metals and related influencing factors in Taihu Lake. Enrichment factor (EF) values of Cu, Cr, Mn, Ni, Zn, Co, Pb, and V were above 2.0, indicating moderate to significant contamination in sediment. Most of Ti, V, Cr, Mn, and Ni in P. malaianus, E. crassipes, and H. verticillata and V in N. peltata were within excess/toxic level in plants, but higher than normal level. Even though no aquatic plants in this study were identified as a hyperaccumulator, relatively higher concentrations in aquatic plants were found in Taihu Lake than have been found in other previous studies. Heavy metal in submerged plants, especially in their stems, seemed to be more closely related to metals in water and sediment than those in floating-leaf plants. Ratios of metals in stem versus leaves in all plants ranged from 0.2 to 25.8, indicating various accumulation capabilities of plant organs. These findings contribute to the application of submerged aquatic plants to heavy metal removal from moderately contaminated lakes.

Spatiotemporal heterogeneity of antibiotic pollution and ecological risk assessment in Taihu Lake Basin, China

Natural lakes play a vital role as receiving system of a cocktail of antibiotics (ABs) which have triggered a major health concern. The comparisons of ABs concentrations have been substantially implemented throughout the worldwide range. However, from lake management, the questions are not yet adequately solved: "when and where does the overall pollution level of ABs present more serious, and what AB species dominate". In this study, we detected 22 ABs in water column and sediment bottom in Taihu Lake Basin in January, April, July and October in 2017. Non-metric multi-dimensional scaling (NMDS) was applied to characterize spatiotemporal dissimilarity of ABs concentrations. Combined with a method of summed standardized concentrations, analysis of variance was applied to evaluate the overall pollution level of ABs at different sites and time periods, instead of, traditionally, a comparison of concentration. The results showed that 90% CI of Macrolides, Sulfonamides, Tetracyclines and Quinolones were 0.020-5.646, 0.040-7.887, 0.100-13.308 and 0.130-9.631 ng/L in water column, respectively; and 0.005-1.532, 0.002-0.120, 0.010-0.902 and 0.006-3.972 μg/kg in sediment, respectively. ABs concentrations approximately presented spatial homogeneity in the whole basin which included all main inflow rivers, outflow rivers and the lake body itself. Species composition was seasonally distinct and the overall pollution level was significantly lower in autumn. A critical body residue analysis showed that ABs concentrations presented a neglectable cumulative risk for fish species. This research added to the body of knowledge to develop pollution management strategies on point and non-point source loads for Taihu Lake Basin, and also the methodology provided reference for spatiotemporal characterization of dissolved pollutant in other water bodies.

[Contamination Levels and Ecological Risk Assessment of Phthalate Esters (PAEs) in the Aquatic Environment of Key Areas of Taihu Lake]

To better understand phthalate esters (PAEs) pollution in key areas of Taihu Lake, water and sediment samples were collected for content analysis. The concentrations of ∑PAEs in water samples from wet, dry, and normal seasons ranged 1.6-11.2 μg·L^-1 (mean:3.68 μg·L^-1), nd-6.21 μg·L^-1 (mean:1.3 μg·L^-1), and nd-1.72 μg·L^-1 (mean:0.48 μg·L^-1), respectively. No differences were found between upstream and downstream samples. DEHP was the predominant component in water samples, whereas DBP exceeded the national surface water environmental quality standards. The total PAE concentration in the sediment ranged between 0.74 and 6.90 μg·g^-1 (mean:2.64 μg·g^-1), with DBP and DEHP the predominant PAEs. The risk quotient (RQ) results showed that DBP and DEHP contributed the most potentially adverse effects to the aquatic environment in the key areas. The contents of PAEs in sediment were all less than the ERLs, thus posing no significant threat to aquatic organisms. The overall level of PAEs in the study area was moderate compared to those in other areas, including rivers, lakes, and estuaries from cities worldwide. Industrial pollution and urban activities are the major sources of PAEs in the aquatic environment of key areas of Taihu Lake.

In-time source tracking of watershed loads of Taihu Lake Basin, China based on spatial relationship modeling

Influent river carrying cumulative watershed load plays a significant role in promoting nuisance algal bloom in river-fed lake. It is most relevant to discern in-stream water quality exceedance and evaluate the spatial relationship between risk location and potential pollution sources. However, no comprehensive studies of source tracking in watershed based on management grid have been conducted for refined water quality management, particularly for plain terrain with complex river network. In this study, field investigations were implemented during 2014 in Taige Canal watershed of Taihu Lake Basin. A Geographical Information System (GIS)-based spatial relationship model was established to characterize the spatial relationships of "point (point-source location and monitoring site)-line (river segment)-plane (catchment)." As a practical exemplification, in-time source tracking was triggered on April 15, 2015 at Huangnianqiao station, where TN and TP concentration violated the water quality standard (TN 4.0 mg/L, TP 0.15 mg/L). Of the target grid cells, 53 and 46 were identified as crucial areas having high pollution intensity for TN and TP pollution, respectively. The estimated non-point source load in each grid cell could be apportioned into different source types based on spatial pollution-related entity objects. We found that the non-point source load derived from rural sewage and livestock and poultry breeding accounted for more than 80% of total TN or TP load than another source type of crop farming. The approach in this study would be of great benefit to local authorities for identifying the serious polluted regions and efficiently making environmental policies to reduce watershed load.

[Characteristics of N2O Release and Influencing Factors in Grass-type and Algae-type Zones of Taihu Lake During Summer]

Spatial heterogeneity of N₂O generation and emissions in multi-ecotype lakes limited the accurate estimation of the N₂O fluxes in lakes, but few studies on the characteristics of N₂O generation and emissions have been conducted. In this study, N₂O flux at the water-gas interface, dissolved N₂O concentration in the water column, and N₂O flux at the sediment-water interface in typical grass-type and algal-type zones of Taihu Lake were analyzed during summer, and indoor micro-environment experiments were conducted to illustrate the main factors affecting the generation and emissions of N₂O. The results showed that the N₂O fluxes at the water-gas interface, dissolved N₂O concentration, and N₂O fluxes at the sediment-water interface of the emergent macrophyte type area was higher than the algae-type area and submerged macrophyte area during the summer., with N₂O fluxes at the water-gas interface of (115.807±7.583), (79.768±1.842), and (3.685±0.295) μmol ·(m² ·h)^-1, respectively. The dissolved N₂O concentration in the water column were (0.051±0), (0.029±0.001), and (0.018±0) μmol ·L^-1, respectively; and the N₂O fluxes at the sediment-water interface were (178.275±3.666), (160.685±0.642), and (75.665±1.016) μmol ·(m² ·h)^-1, respectively. The spatial difference could be attributed to dominant plants and the concentration of inorganic nitrogen in the water column. The results of micro-environment experiments showed that nitrate and organic carbon sources could significantly increase the N₂O production potential of sediments, the high concentration of NH₄⁺-N in the water column might inhibit the N₂O production in sediments, and the production rates of N₂O in the sediment increased remarkably when the incubation temperature increased, suggesting that the generation and emissions of N₂O were mainly restricted by nitrate, organic carbon, and temperature in summer.

Spatiotemporal distribution and risk assessment of organophosphate esters in sediment from Taihu Lake, China

The occurrence and spatiotemporal distribution of 12 organophosphate esters (OPEs) were investigated in the sediments collected from Taihu Lake. Compared to the same lake in 2012 (3.4-14 ng/g dw), the concentrations of ∑12 OPEs in sediments ranged from 10.76 to 335.37 ng/g dw and from 8.06 to 425.39 ng/g dw in 2015 and in 2016, respectively, indicating that the OPEs levels in Taihu Lake have aggravated, recently. TEHP was the most abundant compound of the OPEs, which suggested that TEHP was the most widely used around Taihu Lake recently. The positive correlations between some of individual OPEs and the principal components analysis suggested the same potential sources for them. The strong positive correlation between ∑BPs and TOC content indicated that TOC content was one of the factors affected the distribution of ∑OPEs in the sediment. Risk quotient (RQ) for OPEs showed no high eco-toxicity risk in sediment for aquatic organisms.

Simultaneous determination of (N-ethyl perfluorooctanesulfonamido ethanol)-based phosphate diester and triester and their biotransformation to perfluorooctanesulfonate in freshwater sediments

While (N-ethyl perfluorooctanesulfonamido ethanol)-based phosphates (SAmPAPs) have been proposed as a group of perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) precursors, investigation of their occurrence and fate has been limited to SAmPAP diester. In this study, SAmPAP diester and triester were simultaneously determined in freshwater sediment from Taihu Lake using a newly developed UPLC-MS/MS method, and their biotransformation to PFOS in lake sediment was investigated. SAmPAP diester and triester were detected in sediments with a detection frequency of 56% and 88%, and their mean concentrations were 0.24 ± 0.11 ng/g dry weight (dw) and 0.12 ± 0.03 ng/g dw, respectively. The SAmPAP diester/triester ratio in sediment was 1.1 ± 4.2, much lower than that (6.7) observed in the technical product, and the positive correlation was found between the concentrations of SAmPAP diester and PFOS in sediments (r² = 0.45, p = 0.01), suggesting that SAmPAP diester would be biotransformed to PFOS in the lake sediment. The microbial degradation test in the lake sediments further clarified that SAmPAP diester was biodegraded to PFOS, but SAmPAP triester was highly recalcitrant to microbial degradation. This study suggests that the occurrence of SAmPAP diester in freshwater lake sediments may be an important precursor of PFOS.

Bioaccumulation of heavy metals in fish species from the Meiliang Bay, Taihu Lake, China

In the present study, the bioaccumulation of heavy metals (Cr, Cu, Cd, Pb) content were determined in freshwater edible fishes Cyprinus carpio Linnaeus and Pelteobagrus fluvidraco, which were caught from the Meiliang Bay, Taihu Lake, a large, shallow and eutrophic lake of China. The results showed that the Cr, Cu, Cd and Pb content in the edible parts of the two fish species were much lower than Chinese Food Health Criterion (1994). However, the results showed marked differences in the four analyzed metal content between the two species and different tissues as well as significant variations. Pb content were the highest in the liver of fishes, Cd contents were almost the same in all organs of fishes, Cr contents mainly enriched in the kidney and liver, Cu contents were the highest in gills, However, the total metal bioaccumulation were greatest in the liver, gills and the lowest in the muscle. Although the total accumulations were highest in P. fluvidraco compare then C.carpio. This investigation indicated that fish products in Meiliang Bay, Taihu Lake were still safe for human consumption, but the amount consumed should be controlled under the Chinese Food Health Criterion to avoid excessive intake of Pb. Further, this is the first report on seasonal distribution of heavy metals and proximate compositions of commercialized important edible fishes from Meiliang Bay, Taihu Lake, China.

Riverine inputs and source tracing of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in Taihu Lake, China

The occurrence, riverine inputs and sources of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in Taihu Lake, one of the largest lakes in China, were investigated by measuring PFASs including the isomers of perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS), perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) and perfluorohexanesulfonate (PFHxS) in the Lake and its main flow-in rivers. It was found that PFHxS, instead of PFOS or PFOA, was predominant both in the Lake and rivers (45.9-351ng/L), reflecting increasing demand of PFHxS in recent years. The riverine flux of PFASs into the Lake was estimated to be 1255kg/year. The percentage of linear (n-) PFOS and the ratio of 3+5m-/1m-PFOS were combined to indicate indirect source due to biodegradation of PFOS-precursors. The percentage order of n-PFOS was: the Lake (48.7%)<the flow-in rivers (59.2%)<ECF product (70.3%). While the ratio of 3+5m-/1m-PFOS was in reverse order: the Lake (11.9)>the rivers (8.99)>ECF (electrochemical fluorination) product (6.76). These suggested that degradation of PFOS-precursors made distinct contribution to PFOS load in the waters, particularly in the Lake. The Lake and river waters had a consistent proportion of n-PFHxS (89.0%), which was slightly lower than the ECF product (96.0%), indicating it was mainly due to the release from production and application of PFHxS as an active ingredient.

Studies on seasonal pollution of heavy metals in water, sediment, fish and oyster from the Meiliang Bay of Taihu Lake in China

The present study, seasonal pollution of heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Cr and Cu) in water, sediment, tissues of fish Carassius carassius and oyster Crassostrea gigas were determined at seven sampling sites from Meiliang Bay, Taihu Lake during one year calendar, 2016. The total heavy metal concentrations in water samples were higher in winter and summer than in spring and autumn season, whereas in sediment they were higher in winter and summer seasons, respectively. The trend of metal mean contents found in the fish and oyster were in decreasing order of Pb > Cu > Cr > Cd and Pb > Cu > Cr > Cd, respectively. The tissues of fish and oyster captured during winter and summer accumulated a higher significant different amount of metals relative to other season, which was attributed to a higher influx of agricultural waste, sewage and sludge by heavy rainfall and floods. In addition, the pollution load index (PLI) values were above one (>1), indicating an advanced decline of the sediment quality, and contamination factor (CF) confirmed that the sediment samples were moderate to high contamination by Pb and Cr. Thus, comparative studies with seasonal pollution of heavy metals in Meiliang Bay of Lake Taihu regions indicate considerable heavy metal enrichment in water, sediments as well as in various organs of fish and oyster. Finally, our results indicated that the metal concentration values increased statistically significant different related to season (p < 0.001). The determination of heavy metal stress biomarkers in fish along with seasonal variations may serve as a convenient approach during pollution bio-monitoring programme.

Occurrence, distribution and sources of bisphenol analogues in a shallow Chinese freshwater lake (Taihu Lake): Implications for ecological and human health risk

Since the production and use of BPA were regulated in China around 2008, several bisphenol analogues were widely used to substitute BPA in the manufacture of polycarbonates, epoxy resins, and plastics. However, there is limited understanding of the spatial distribution, potential sources and risk assessment for those bisphenol analogues. In this study, seven bisphenol analogues were investigated in water and sediment samples from Taihu Lake, China. Compared to the same lake in 2013 (range: 5.4-87ng/L for waters and 0.37-8.3ng/g dw for sediments), the samples from Taihu Lake contained comparatively higher BPs (2.0×10²-9.5×10²ng/L and 23-4.3×10²ng/gdw) in 2016, indicating that the BPs levels in Taihu Lake have aggravated recently. In waters, BPAF has become the predominant congener in Taihu Lake, suggesting that BPAF was the most widely used substitute of BPA, recently. In sediments, BPA was the most abundant compound. Moderate or strong correlations between some individual BPs indicated that those BPs may have the common sources and/or similar environmental behavior. The strongly positive correlation between ∑BPs and TOC content indicated that TOC content was one of the major factors controlled the distribution of ∑BPs in the sediment. The risk assessment at the sampling sites showed no high eco-toxicity or estrogenic risk in Taihu Lake.

The heterogeneity of composition and assembly processes of the microbial community between different nutrient loading lake zones in Taihu Lake

To investigate the differences in the microbial community composition and assembly process in two lake zones (Meiliang Bay (MLB) and Xukou Bay (XKB) in Taihu Lake, China) with different nutrient loadings, water samples were collected. Both the 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene for the bacterial community and the 18S rRNA gene for the microeukaryote community were investigated using the Illumina second-generation sequencing platform (2 × 250 paired-end). The results indicated that both the bacterioplankton and microeukaryote community composition derived from the two lake zones were significantly different. Significantly higher operational taxonomic unit (OTU) richness (P < 0.01) and phylogenetic diversity (P < 0.05) were found for the bacterioplankton community of MLB. However, a comparable alpha diversity was found between the microeukaryote communities of MLB and XKB (P > 0.05). Environmental factors significantly affected the community compositions in XKB for both the bacterioplankton and microeukaryotes. However, they did not significantly influence the microbial community composition in MLB, except for a weak correlation between dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and the microeukaryote community. The microbial communities tended to be more phylogenetically clustered than expected by chance in the two lake zones. Moreover, the results of the phylogenetic structure suggest that deterministic processes played overwhelming roles in driving the assembly of both the bacterioplankton and microeukaryote community in XKB.

Composition and copper binding properties of aquatic fulvic acids in eutrophic Taihu Lake, China

Fulvic acid (FA) plays a significant role in biogenic-elemental cycling in aquatic ecosystems which is highly dependent on their organic composition. In this study, the aquatic FA contents and binding properties during bloom and non-bloom periods in Taihu Lake were investigated by two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (2D-COS-FTIR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and elemental analysis. Compared with non-bloom FA, bloom FA was of lower nitrogen content and higher C/N ratio. It contained more carboxylic and aliphatic groups while less amide groups. 2D-COS-FTIR spectra evidenced the carboxyl groups in bloom FA had the fastest response to Cu(II) binding. Also, polysaccharide in bloom FA was more susceptive to Cu(II) concentrations than that in non-bloom FA. While comparing with bloom FA, the N-rich organic compounds in non-bloom FA exhibited faster binding sequence with Cu(II). A comprehensive scheme about the interaction process of FA-Cu(II) showed that both nitrogenous and oxygenic groups in FAs were active in binding to Cu(II). The alteration in binding behaviors of organic groups in FAs to Cu(II) may have been driven by algal products and microbial community variety in Taihu Lake. Our results here have the potential to contribute significantly to future studies of dissolved organic matter dynamic biogeochemistry processes and trace metal cycling processes in eutrophic lakes.

Spatial distributions of β-cyclocitral and β-ionone in the sediment and overlying water of the west shore of Taihu Lake

After large-scale outbreaks of algal blooms in eutrophic water, considerable amounts of algae residue accumulate in near-shore zones before fermenting rapidly and becoming malodorous. Taste and odor pollution caused by secondary metabolites from cyanobacterial blooms has become a serious and widespread environmental problem. Two typical odorous compounds, β-cyclocitral and β-ionone, have gained increasing attention in recent years. In this paper, the spatial distributions of β-cyclocitral and β-ionone in the sediments and overlying water off the west shore of Taihu Lake were investigated. The results showed that β-cyclocitral, β-ionone and nutrients are released during the degradation of fresh cyanobacteria, especially in the early stages. The odorous compounds and nutrients greatly decreased as the depth of sediment increased, indicating that reed roots can absorb β-cyclocitral, β-ionone and nutrients. Furthermore, removing cyanobacteria and dredging sludge might reduce the release of β-cyclocitral and β-ionone.

[Deposition Characteristics of Suspended Solids and the Response of Dissolved Nutrients in Spring in the Western Lakeside of Taihu Lake]

To reveal the spatiotemporal characteristics of nutrients in the deposition process of suspended solids in lakeside zone,in situ deposition tests were performed in the western lakeside of Taihu Lake,and the contents of TP,TN,NH₄⁺-N and NO₃^--N were measured and analyzed.The results showed that the deposition fluxes in the western lakeside of Taihu Lake ranked as follows:artificial reed areas >non-vegetation nearshore areas >natural reed areas >non-vegetation offshore areas,with their average values of (1383.40±925.60),(1208.67±743.50),(278.72±142.53),(245.58±154.25) g·(m²·d)^-1,respectively.From the 6th day,the deposition volume steadily increased,with the deposition rate larger than the decomposition rate.Through the 15-day continuous in situ observation,the content of TP in nearshore zone was 2-3 folds larger than that of offshore zone,and the content of NH₄⁺-N was significantly different from that of NO₃^--N in the settlement bottle (P<0.01).The deposition volume was significantly and positively correlated to both TN and NH₄⁺-N contents in the water column (P<0.01,n=42),suggesting that the TN and NH₄⁺-N contents in the overlying water increased with the deposition fluxes.The correlation coefficient between TN and NH₄⁺-N was 0.84,implicating that the increase of deposition flux may accelerate the mutual transformation between different forms of nitrogen.These findings should be taken into account in the current control of black blooms and nutrient management in Taihu Lake.

Effects of internal loading on phosphorus distribution in the Taihu Lake driven by wind waves and lake currents

Wind-driven sediment resuspension exerts significant effects on the P behavior in shallow lake ecosystems. In this study, a comprehensive dynamic phosphorus (P) model that integrates hydrodynamic, wind wave and sediment transport is proposed to assess the importance of internal P cycling due to sediment resuspension on water column P levels. The primary contribution of the model is detailed modeling and rigorous coupling of sediment and P dynamics. The proposed model is applied to predict the P behavior in the shallow Taihu Lake, which is the third largest lake in China, and quantitatively estimate the effects of wind waves and lake currents on P release and distribution. Both the prevailing southeast winds in summer and northwest winds in winter are applied for the simulation, and different wind speeds of 5 m/s and 10 m/s are also considered. Results show that sediment resuspension and the resulting P release have a dominant effect on P levels in Taihu Lake, and likely similar shallow lakes. Wind-driven waves at higher wind speeds significantly enhance sediment resuspension and suspended sediment concentration (SSC). Total P concentration in the water column is also increased but not in proportion to the SSC. The different lake circulations resulting from the different prevailing wind directions also affect the distribution of suspended sediment and P around the lake ultimately influencing where eutrophication is likely to occur. The proposed model demonstrates that internal cycling in the lake is a dominant factor in the lake P and must be considered when trying to manage water quality in this and similar lakes. The model is used to demonstrate the potential effectiveness of remediation of an area where historical releases have led to P accumulation on overall lake quality.

Occurrence, distribution, and risk assessment of alkylphenols, bisphenol A, and tetrabromobisphenol A in surface water, suspended particulate matter, and sediment in Taihu Lake and its tributaries

The occurrence and distribution of nine selected compounds were investigated in surface water, suspended particulate matter (SPM), and sediment in Taihu Lake and its tributaries. With the exception of 4-Butylphenol, all compounds were detected in at least two phases, and nonylphenol (NP) and 4-tert-Octylphenol (4-OP) were the predominant alkylphenols (APs) in the lake. A significant correlation was observed between NP and 4-OP, indicating that they may share the same source. Moreover, surface water phase was the dominant sink of Bisphenol A (BPA) in the aquatic environment. The concentrations of BPA between the surface water and SPM phases were closely related to each other. In addition, Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) exhibited relatively higher concentrations and detection frequencies in the SPM. Risk assessment revealed greater risk associated with the surface water than the sediment, indicating that the discharge of industrial wastewater and domestic sewage poses a serious threat to aquatic ecosystems.

Distribution, diffusive fluxes, and toxicity of heavy metals and PAHs in pore water profiles from the northern bays of Taihu Lake

Pore water plays a more significant role than do sediments in pollutant cycling dynamics. Also, concentrations of pollutants in pore water provide important information about their bioavailability or eco-toxicity; however, very few studies have focused on this topic. In this study, four duplicate sediment cores from three typical northern bays as well as the central part of Taihu Lake were collected to investigate the distribution, diffusive fluxes, and toxicity of heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in pore water profiles, which will be good in understanding the mobility and toxicity of these toxic pollutants and achieving better environmental management. The diffusive fluxes of heavy metals across the sediment-water interface was estimated through Fick's First Law, and the toxicity of heavy metals and PAHs in pore water was assessed by applying a water quality index (interstitial water toxicity criteria unit, IWCTU) and a hazard index (HI), respectively. The average concentrations of Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn in surface pore water were 18.8, 23.4, 12.0, 13.5, and 42.5 μg L^-1, respectively. Also, concentrations of the selected heavy metals in both overlying water and pore water from Taihu Lake were all lower than the standard values of the environmental quality standards for surface water. The concentrations as the pore water depth increased, and the highest detected concentrations of heavy metals were recorded between 3 and 5 cm below the sediment surface. The average diffusive fluxes of these metals were 27.3, 24.8, 7.03, 7.81, and -3.32 μg (m² day)^-1, respectively, indicating export from sediment into overlying water, with the exception of Zn. There was a potential risk of toxicity, mainly from Pb and Cu, indicating that heavy metals in pore water had slight to moderate impact on sediment-dwelling organisms by values of the IWCTU and the Nemeraw index. The total PAH concentrations in pore water were higher than those in overlying water, and such gradient implies a potential flux of PAHs from pore water to overlying water. The average HI value of PAHs in surface pore water showed no or low ecological risk. While there may be occasional risk due to the HI values in some sites being greater than 1, the dominant contributors were carcinogenic PAHs. Because of their potential biological impact, heavy metals and PAHs and their comprehensive toxic effects in pore water should be given priority attention to keep the safety of Taihu Lake.

Response of sediment calcium and magnesium species to the regional acid deposition in eutrophic Taihu Lake, China

Acid deposition causes carbonate dissolution in watersheds and leads to profound impacts on water chemistry of lakes. Here, we presented a detailed study on the seasonal, spatial, and vertical variations of calcium and magnesium species in the overlying water, interstitial water, and sediment profiles in eutrophic Taihu Lake under the circumstance of regional acid deposition. The result showed that both the acid deposition and biomineralization in Taihu Lake had effects on Ca and Mg species. In the lake water, calcium carbonate was saturated or over-saturated based on long-term statistical calculation of the saturation index (SI). On the sediment profiles, significant difference in Ca and Mg species existed between the surface sediment (0-10 cm) and deeper sediments (>10 cm). The interstitial water Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺, ion-exchangeable Ca and Mg in the surface sediment were higher than those in the deeper sediment. In the spring, when the acid deposition is more intensive, the acid-extracted Ca and Mg in the surface sediment were lower than that in the deeper sediment in the northwest lake, due to carbonate dissolution caused by the regional acid deposition. Spatially, the higher concentration of acid-extracted Ca and Mg in the northwest surface sediment than that in the east lake was observed, indicating the pronounced carbonate biomineralization by algae bloom in the northwest lake. Statistical analysis showed that acid deposition exerted a stronger impact on the variation of acid-extracted Ca and Mg in the surface sediment than the biomineralization in Taihu Lake. For the total Ca and Mg concentration in the spring, however, no significant change between the surface and deeper sediment in the northwest lake was observed, indicating that the carbonate precipitation via biomineralization and the carbonate dissolution due to acidic deposition were in a dynamic balance. These features are of major importance for the understanding of combined effects of acid deposition and eutrophication on freshwater lakes.

[Spatial, Temporal Distribution Characteristics and Potential Risk of PPCPs in Surface Sediments from Taihu Lake]

Fourteen sediment samples from 15 river estuaries and six sediments from 6 drinking water resource were collected from Taihu Lake. Nine pharmaceutical and personal care products(PPCPs) in the sediments samples were measured by using the HPLC-MS/MS technique. The ranges of geometric mean values were 1.60-129 ng·g^-1 and 1.36-22.0 ng·g^-1, respectively. Caffeine was the dominant pollutant in fourteen sediments near the river estuary, the content of which covered 52% of amounts of 9 PPCPs. Lincomycin, trimethoprime, azithromycin, sulfamethoxazole and tylosin were the dominant pollutants in six sediments near the drinking water resource, the contents of which covered 79% of amounts 9 PPCPs. From the point of spatial distribution, the results of PPCPs in Zhushan bay and East of Yixing in the northwest and west of Taihu Lake showed higher concentration than those in other sample sites. From the composition, the origin of PPCPs was different. Municipal sewage, stock farming and aquaculture were the main sources of PPCPs in Taihu Lake. Pharmaceuticals of human use showed the dominant pollution in fourteen sediments near the river estuary and drugs of veterinary use showed the dominant pollution in six sediments near the water resource. The concentrations of PPCPs in fourteen sediments of river mouth showed high level. It suggested that PPCPs pollutants were discharged to Taihu Lake continuously. Further risk assessment results showed that the overall risk was not high except for some PPCPs compounds. The RQ exceeded 1 for acetaminophen, azithromycin and sulfamethoxazole in the surface sediments of 15 river estuaries and 6 water resources, which showed high risk. The RQ was between 0.01 to 0.1 for carbazepine in the surface sediments of 15 river estuaries and 6 water resources, which showed medium risk. The RQ was below 0.01 for caffeine, lincomycin, trimethoprim, diltiazem and tylosin in the sediments of 15 river estuaries and 6 water resources, which showed low risk.

[Absorption and Reflection Characteristics of Black Water Blooms in the Eutrophic Water]

Studying on optical properties of black water blooms, is the precondition for using remote sensing technology to monitor and evaluate the black water blooms event. Black water blooms occurred in Taihu Lake in July 2015. A total of 36 water samples were observed in the three water regions of Taihu Lake, the region 1 with black water blooms characteristics, region 2 with cyanobacterial bloom characteristics, and regional 3 with characteristics of clean lake water. The reflectance spectra and absorption coefficient of these three regions were analyzed, and the results show that:1 The absorption coefficients of the total particles, the pigment particles and the non-pigment particlesin black water blooms are 1 to 2 times higher than the other two areas. The absorption coefficient of CDOM between 400-500 nm in region 1 is about 2 times higher than the other two areas, which lead the black water area with a very lower reflectance, and presents as black color. 2 The range of M value in black water blooms is lower than Dianchi Lake and Chaohu Lake, which means the humic acid content of CDOM with black water characteristics is higher. A significant positive correlation is found between chlorophyll a (Chl-a) and the CDOM absorption coefficient at 350 nm, indicating that algae degradation is likely to be the primary source of CDOM in black waters. 3 The contribution of each optically active component indicates that the water absorption of region 1 strongly controlled by CDOM below 380 nm, but by Chla absorption between 380 nm and 700 nm.

Submerged macrophytes shape the abundance and diversity of bacterial denitrifiers in bacterioplankton and epiphyton in the Shallow Fresh Lake Taihu, China

nirK and nirS genes are important functional genes involved in the denitrification pathway. Recent studies about these two denitrifying genes are focusing on sediment and wastewater microbe. In this study, we conducted a comparative analysis of the abundance and diversity of denitrifiers in the epiphyton of submerged macrophytes Potamogeton malaianus and Ceratophyllum demersum as well as in bacterioplankton in the shallow fresh lake Taihu, China. Results showed that nirK and nirS genes had significant different niches in epiphyton and bacterioplankton. Bacterioplankton showed greater abundance of nirK gene in terms of copy numbers and lower abundance of nirS gene. Significant difference in the abundance of nirK and nirS genes also existed between the epiphyton from different submerged macrophytes. Similar community diversity yet different community abundance was observed between epiphytic bacteria and bacterioplankton. No apparent seasonal variation was found either in epiphytic bacteria or bacterioplankton; however, environmental parameters seemed to have direct relevancy with nirK and nirS genes. Our study suggested that submerged macrophytes have greater influence than seasonal parameters in shaping the presence and abundance of bacterial denitrifiers. Further investigation needs to focus on the potential contact and relative contribution between denitrifiers and environmental factors.

Levels and distributions of polybrominated diphenyl ethers, hexabromocyclododecane, and tetrabromobisphenol A in sediments from Taihu Lake, China

The concentrations and distribution of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD), and tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) were investigated in 28 sediment samples collected from Taihu Lake, Eastern China. The results showed that all three classes of compounds were detected in 28 sediment samples but that PBDEs were the main contaminants in the study area. The total PBDE concentrations ranged from 3.77 to 347 ng/g dry weight (dw) with a mean value of 72.8 ng/g dw, whereas the concentrations ranged from 0.168 to 2.66 and from 0.012 to 1.30 ng/g dw for HBCD and TBBPA, respectively. In all of the sediment samples, BDE-209 was the predominant congener, accounting for 95.9 to 98.6 % of the total PBDEs, which indicated that commercial mixtures of deca-BDEs were the main sources of PBDE contamination. Higher concentrations of PBDEs were found in samples collected from Meiliang Bay and Gonghu Bay near the inflow river, which suggested that inflow runoff might play an important role in the PBDE levels in Taihu Lake sediments.

Occurrence, removal and risk assessment of pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs) in an advanced drinking water treatment plant (ADWTP) around Taihu Lake in China

The occurrence and removal of 39 selected pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs) were investigated in an advanced drinking water treatment plant (ADWTP) around Taihu Lake. Fourteen of 39 targeted pharmaceuticals were detected in the raw water. After a series of purification processes, only indomethacin, caffeine and sulfamethoxazole were found in effluent, albeit at concentrations less than 2 ng L(-1). The results of principal component analysis suggested that three main purification processes, oxidation, coagulation combined with sedimentation and filtration combined with bio-degradation, influenced the removal performance of PPCPs. The ecotoxicological and human health risk assessment confirmed that drugs detected in effluent posed no potential toxicity and also suggested that two PPCPs (roxithromycin and sulfamethoxazole), especially sulfamethoxazole, should be seriously considered as candidates for regulatory monitoring and prioritization. Finally, the correlation between removal efficiency and risk quotient indicated that uniform removal efficiency for all PPCPs may not reflect an equal risk control in the ADWTP.

Effects of electron acceptors on soluble reactive phosphorus in the overlying water during algal decomposition

Endogenous phosphorus (P) release from sediments is an important factor to cause eutrophication and, hence, algal bloom in lakes in China. Algal decomposition depletes dissolved oxygen (DO) and causes anaerobic conditions and therefore increases P release from sediments. As sediment P release is dependent on the iron (Fe) cycle, electron acceptors (e.g., NO3 (-), SO4 (2-), and Mn(4+)) can be utilized to suppress the reduction of Fe(3+) under anaerobic conditions and, as such, have the potential to impair the release of sediment P. Here, we used a laboratory experiment to test the effects of FeCl3, MnO2, and KNO3 on soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) concentration and related chemical variables in the overlying water column during algal decomposition at different algal densities. Results showed that algal decomposition significantly depleted DO and thereby increased sediment Fe-bound P release. Compared with the control, addition of FeCl3 significantly decreased water SRP concentration through inhibiting sediment P release. Compared with FeCl3, addition of MnO2 has less potential to suppress sediment P release during algal decomposition. Algal decomposition has the potential for NO3 (-) removal from aquatic ecosystem through denitrification and by that alleviates the suppressing role of NO3 (-) on sediment P release. Our results indicated that FeCl3 and MnO2 could be efficient in reducing sediment P release during algal decomposition, with the strongest effect found for FeCl3; large amounts of NO3 (-) were removed from the aquatic ecosystem through denitrification during algal decomposition. Moreover, the amounts of NO3 (-) removal increased with increasing algal density.

Spatial Evaluation of Heavy Metals Concentrations in the Surface Sediment of Taihu Lake

With regard to the size of China's freshwater lakes, Taihu Lake ranks third and it plays an important role in the supply of drinking water, flood prevention, farming and navigation, as well as in the travelling industry. The problem of environmental pollution has attracted widespread attention in recent years. In order to understand the levels, distribution and sources of heavy metals in sediments of Taihu Lake, random selection was carried out to obtain 59 samples of surface sediment from the entire lake and study the concentrations of Pb, Cd, Cu, Zn, Cr and Ni. Toxic units were also calculated to normalize the toxicities caused by various heavy metals. As a result, Cd and Cu in sediment were considered lower than the effect range low (ERL) at all regions where samples were gathered, while Pb and Ni were categorized into ERL-effect range median (ERM) at over 22% of the regions where samples were obtained. Nevertheless, all average concentrations of the samples were below the level of potential effect. According to the findings of this research, significant spatial heterogeneity existed in the above heavy metals. In conclusion, the distribution areas of heavy metals with higher concentrations were mainly the north bays, namely Zhushan Bay, Meiliang Bay as well as Gonghu Bay. The distribution areas of Cu, Zn, Cr and Ni with higher concentration also included the lake's central region, whereas the uniform distribution areas of those with lower concentrations were the lake's southeast region. In addition, it was most probable that the spatial distribution of heavy metals was determined by river inputs, whereas atmospheric precipitation caused by urban and traffic contamination also exerted considerable effects on the higher concentrations of Pb and Cd. Through evaluating the total amount of toxic units (ΣTU), it was found that higher toxicity existed primarily in the north bays and central region of the lake. If the heavy metals were sorted by the reduction of mean heavy metal toxic units in Taihu Lake in descending order, it would be Pb, Cr, Ni, Cd, Zn and Cu. Generally speaking, these result of analyses are conducive to alleviating the contamination of heavy metals in Taihu Lake.

A pollutant load hierarchical allocation method integrated in an environmental capacity management system for Zhushan Bay, Taihu Lake

An environmental capacity management (ECM) system was developed to help practically implement a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for a key bay in a highly eutrophic lake in China. The ECM system consists of a simulation platform for pollutant load calculation and a pollutant load hierarchical allocation (PLHA) system. The simulation platform was developed by linking the Environmental Fluid Dynamics Code (EFDC) and Water Quality Analysis Simulation Program (WASP). In the PLHA, pollutant loads were allocated top-down in several levels based on characteristics of the pollutant sources. Different allocation methods could be used for the different levels with the advantages of each method combined over the entire allocation. Zhushan Bay of Taihu Lake, one of the most eutrophic lakes in China, was selected as a case study. The allowable loads of total nitrogen, total phosphorus, ammonia, and chemical oxygen demand were found to be 2122.2, 94.9, 1230.4, and 5260.0 t·yr(-1), respectively. The PLHA for the case study consists of 5 levels. At level 0, loads are allocated to those from the lakeshore direct drainage, atmospheric deposition, internal release, and tributary inflows. At level 1 the loads allocated to tributary inflows are allocated to the 3 tributaries. At level 2, the loads allocated to one inflow tributary are allocated to upstream areas and local sources along the tributary. At level 3, the loads allocated to local sources are allocated to the point and non-point sources from different towns. At level 4, the loads allocated to non-point sources in each town are allocated to different villages. Compared with traditional forms of pollutant load allocation methods, PLHA can combine the advantages of different methods which put different priority weights on equity and efficiency, and the PLHA is easy to understand for stakeholders and more flexible to adjust when applied in practical cases.

The accumulation and potential ecological risk of heavy metals in microalgae from a eutrophic lake (Taihu Lake, China)

This study aimed to evaluate the bioaccumulation and enrichment of heavy metals in dominant microalgae and assess the potential ecological risk to the microalgae located at the northern region of Taihu Lake, China, a shallow freshwater lake. The concentrations of heavy metals (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, and Zn) in water and microalgae (predominant cyanophyta) collected from the north of Taihu Lake were analyzed. Subsequently, enrichment factors (EF) for heavy metals in microalgae relative to water were calculated. The concentrations and EF values of heavy metals were significantly higher in water and microalgae from the northern region compared with other regions for all the metals except As and Hg. Among the metals, Pb and Cd possessed higher enrichment levels, approx. 200 and 400 for Pb and Cd, respectively. This suggested that Pb and Cd had stronger chemisorption on microalgae, even though present at lower concentrations. Moreover, Ni and Zn in microalgae from the north of the lake also exhibited risk to the ecosystem owing to their high concentrations. In general, the microalgae tended to enrich Pb, Cd, Ni, and Zn by biosorption and bioaccumulation and thus exert a risk to the ecosystem and human populations.

Distribution, source characterization and inventory of perfluoroalkyl substances in Taihu Lake, China

The levels, distribution, possible sources, and inventory of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) in the eutrophic freshwater Taihu Lake, East China were investigated in this study. Among the target 11 PFAAs, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) (2.15-73.9 ng L(-1)) and perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA) (<LOQ-22.2 ng L(-1)) were the dominant components in surface water, followed by perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) with the maximum concentration of 10.5 ng L(-1). PFOS was also dominant (0.13-6.95 ng g(-1) dw) in the sediments, accounting for 15-85% of ΣPFAAs concentrations in 70% of the sediment samples. Sediment-water partitioning coefficients showed that logKOC increased linearly with the increasing chain length, with the logKOC values increased by 0.1-0.4 log unit with each CF2 moiety from C8 to C12 perfluorinated carboxylic acids. Three specific molecular ratios, PFOS/PFOA, PFOA/PFNA and PFHpA/PFOA were used to characterize the potential sources. It indicated that the majority of pollutants was from direct emissions from manufacturing processes. The PFOA/PFNA ratios between 1.7 and 56.8 in surface water suggested the influence of secondary sources such as the degradation of volatile precursor substances. Given the high ratios of PFHpA/PFOA (0.05-7.93), it also indicated the influence from atmospheric deposition to the epilimnion. The predicted environmental concentrations were calculated from European Union system for the evaluation of substances model (EUSES). As expected, the predicted environmental concentration (PEC) of PFOS in sediment fit well to the monitored level of PFOS in this region, and the inventory of ΣPFCA and PFOS were estimated to be 989 kg and 646 kg in Taihu Lake.

Distribution, sources and composition of antibiotics in sediment, overlying water and pore water from Taihu Lake, China

The occurrence of 15 antibiotics classified as sulphonamides, fluoroquinolones, macrolides, tetracyclines and trimethoprim in sediment, overlying water, and pore water matrices in Taihu Lake, China was studied. The total concentrations were from 4.1 μg/kg to 731 μg/kg, from 127 ng/L to 1210 ng/L, and from 1.5 ng/L to 216 ng/L in sediment, overlying water and pore water, respectively. Antibiotics in different locations originated from various sources, depending on human, agricultural and aquacultural activities. Composition analysis indicated that human-derived and animal-derived drugs significantly contributed to the total contamination of antibiotics in the lake, indicating the high complexity of contamination sources in Taihu Lake Basin. The in situ sediment-pore water partitioning coefficients were generally greater than sediment-overlying water partitioning coefficients, suggesting continuous inputs into the lake water. This study shows that antibiotics are ubiquitous in all compartments in Taihu Lake, and their potential hazards to the aquatic ecosystem need further investigation.

Analysis of algal bloom risk with uncertainties in lakes by integrating self-organizing map and fuzzy information theory

Algal blooms are a serious problem in waters, which damage aquatic ecosystems and threaten drinking water safety. However, the outbreak mechanism of algal blooms is very complex with great uncertainty, especially for large water bodies where environmental conditions have obvious variation in both space and time. This study developed an innovative method which integrated a self-organizing map (SOM) and fuzzy information diffusion theory to comprehensively analyze algal bloom risks with uncertainties. The Lake Taihu was taken as study case and the long-term (2004-2010) on-site monitoring data were used. The results showed that algal blooms in Taihu Lake were classified into four categories and exhibited obvious spatial-temporal patterns. The lake was mainly characterized by moderate bloom but had high uncertainty, whereas severe blooms with low uncertainty were observed in the northwest part of the lake. The study gives insight on the spatial-temporal dynamics of algal blooms, and should help government and decision-makers outline policies and practices on bloom monitoring and prevention. The developed method provides a promising approach to estimate algal bloom risks under uncertainties.

Potential environmental implications of emerging organic contaminants in Taihu Lake, China: comparison of two ecotoxicological assessment approaches

In this study, the hazard quotient (HQ) and a novel enhanced integrated biomarker response (EIBR) were applied to indirectly/directly estimate the ecotoxicological risk of emerging organic contaminants in Taihu Lake. Nine out of sixteen target compounds were detected in most sampling points at comparable concentrations (1.58-206.95 ng/L). Simultaneously, changes in multi-biomarkers were measured in caged fish for 28 days. The 0HQ results preliminarily indicated that most water areas were at significant risk for adverse effects to aquatic organisms (HQ>10). The prioritisation was then ranked and 17α-ethinylestradiol, diethylstilbestrol and 17β-estradiol were regarded as the greatest hazards. The EIBR, covering multi-biomarkers and their weighting, was applied to field study, and Zhushan Bay was suggested as the most stressful place, followed by Meiliang Bay. The HQ showed significant positive linear correlation with the EIBR (r=0.848, P<0.001), suggesting mutual consistency between the two approaches based on laboratory and field study in ecotoxicological risk assessment.