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Munyai LF, Mugwedi L, Wasserman RJ, Dondofema F, Riddell E, Keates C, Dalu T. Water and sediment chemistry drivers of chlorophyll-a dynamics within a Ramsar declared floodplain pan wetland system. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2024; 31:28549-28563. [PMID: 38561533 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-33052-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Floodplain pans are hydrologically dynamic in nature and characterised by variables such as chlorophyll-a (chl-a), water, and sediment chemistry over their hydroperiods. The present study investigated the spatio-temporal variations in water and sediment physico-chemical, and chlorophyll-a concentration characteristics of six floodplain pans found in the Ramsar declared Makuleke wetlands, Kruger National Park, South Africa. The water and sediment physico-chemical variable values were generally elevated during the high-water period, whereas chlorophyll-a concentrations varied across pans and hydroperiod. Benthic chl-a concentration significantly varied across pans with concentrations ranging from 161 to 1036.2 mg m2. The two-way ANOVA showed significant differences in benthic chl-a concentration among hydroperiods, and no significant differences were observed in pelagic chl-a across pans and hydroperiods. Generally, pelagic and benthic chl-a concentration increased as water and sediment chemistry variables increased. Furthermore, three sediment variables, i.e. pH, calcium, and magnesium, and water conductivity were found to be significant in structuring benthic chlorophyll-a dynamics in pans. However, none of the sediment and water variables had a significant effect on pelagic chl-a. Hydroperiod had a significant effect on influencing chl-a concentration, with high and low water level periods being characterised by low and high chl-a concentration, respectively. The n-MDS results showed strong overlaps in chl-a biomass among the Makuleke floodplain pans across hydroperiods. The increasing chl-a concentration in these floodplain pans due to potential bioturbation effects as a result of large mammals could potentially lead to eutrophication, which in turn could affect the system's primary productivity and aquatic biota. Therefore, it is important to establish a continuous monitoring programme on these pans to inform sound management decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linton F Munyai
- School of Biology and Environmental Sciences, University of Mpumalanga, Nelspruit, 1200, South Africa.
- Aquatic Systems Research Group, Department of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Venda, Thohoyandou, 0950, South Africa.
| | - Lutendo Mugwedi
- Aquatic Systems Research Group, Department of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Venda, Thohoyandou, 0950, South Africa
| | - Ryan J Wasserman
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, Rhodes University, Makhanda, 6140, South Africa
- South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity, Makhanda, 6140, South Africa
| | - Farai Dondofema
- Aquatic Systems Research Group, Department of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Venda, Thohoyandou, 0950, South Africa
| | - Eddie Riddell
- Regional Integration Unit, Conservation Management, SANParks, Kruger National Park, Skukuza, 1350, South Africa
- Centre for Water Resources Research, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 3209, South Africa
| | - Chad Keates
- South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity, Makhanda, 6140, South Africa
| | - Tatenda Dalu
- School of Biology and Environmental Sciences, University of Mpumalanga, Nelspruit, 1200, South Africa
- South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity, Makhanda, 6140, South Africa
- Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study, Wallenberg Research Centre at Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, 7600, South Africa
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Microbial Diversity of a Disused Copper Mine Site (Parys Mountain, UK), Dominated by Intensive Eukaryotic Filamentous Growth. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10091694. [PMID: 36144296 PMCID: PMC9504087 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10091694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Revised: 08/06/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The Parys Mountain copper mine (Wales, UK) contains a wide range of discrete environmental microniches with various physicochemical conditions that shape microbial community composition. Our aim was to assess the microbial community in the sediments and overlying water column in an acidic mine drainage (AMD) site containing abundant filamentous biogenic growth via application of a combination of chemical analysis and taxonomic profiling using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Our results were then compared to previously studied sites at Parys Mt. Overall, the sediment microbiome showed a dominance of bacteria over archaea, particularly those belonging to Proteobacteria (genera Acidiphilium and Acidisphaera), Acidobacteriota (subgroup 1), Chloroflexota (AD3 cluster), Nitrospirota (Leptospirillum) and the uncultured Planctomycetota/CPIa-3 termite group. Archaea were only present in the sediment in small quantities, being represented by the Terrestrial Miscellaneous Euryarchaeota Group (TMEG), Thermoplasmatales and Ca. Micrarchaeota (Ca. Micracaldota). Bacteria, mostly of the genera Acidiphilium and Leptospirillum, also dominated within the filamentous streamers while archaea were largely absent. This study found pH and dissolved solutes to be the most important parameters correlating with relative proportions of bacteria to archaea in an AMD environment and revealed the abundance patterns of native acidophilic prokaryotes inhabiting Parys Mt sites and their niche specificities.
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Ren Z, He J, Zhao H, Ding S, Duan P, Jiao L. Water depth determines spatial and temporal phosphorus retention by controlling ecosystem transition and P-binding metal elements. WATER RESEARCH 2022; 219:118550. [PMID: 35567845 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2022.118550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Revised: 04/23/2022] [Accepted: 05/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Shallow lakes are more susceptible to eutrophication than deep lakes. The geochemical and biogeochemical mechanisms controlling the vulnerability to eutrophication for deep lakes and shallow lakes remain unknown. Therefore, we investigated the combined Phosphorus (P) retention mechanism with P fractions, water depth, distribution of P-binding metal elements, and macrophytes coverage in a degrading ecosystem of Erhai Lake. We concluded that different mechanisms control the P retention in deep-water areas and shallow-water areas. In shallow areas covered by macrophytes, the biogeochemical process manipulates the P retention by changing the total organic carbon (TOC), calcium (Ca) distributions and turbulence. In deep areas without macrophyte coverage, the aluminum (Al) and iron (Fe) distributions control the P retention by a physicochemical process. Manganese (Mn) was found to be a potential proxy in tracking the kinetic release and readsorb of redox-sensitive P (BD-P) in deep areas. The historical record and core sample indicate that the hydrological engineering induced water depth variation is a vital factor changing the ecosystem of Erhai Lake by forming a large area of intermediate area where macrophytes could only survive at low water level. The uplift of water level in the 1990s gradually changed the ecosystem of Erhai Lake from macrophyte-dominated to algal-macrophyte concomitant that reduced the accumulation of stable P fractions and their binding metals. Macrophytes were capable to preserve P in biomass in the macrophyte-dominated ecosystem, which released 150% and 72% of more labile organic P (NaOH25-nrP) and BD-P in the sediment after the deterioration than before, respectively. Therefore, water depth is a prerequisite to restoring the P preservation capacity of sediment and the macrophyte ecosystem. Further hydraulic engineering projects should consider the effect of water-level-variation-induced ecosystem transition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiyuan Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, 8 Dayangfang, Beijing 100012, China; National Engineering Laboratory for Lake Pollution Control and Ecological Restoration, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China; Institute of Water Environment Research, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
| | - Jia He
- Kunming Institute of Eco-Environmental Sciences, Yunnan, Kunming, China
| | - Haichao Zhao
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Quality & Safety Analysis-Testing for Agro-Products and Food, Hebei North University, Zhangjiakou 075000, China
| | - Shuai Ding
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, 8 Dayangfang, Beijing 100012, China; Environmental Standard Institute, Ministry of Ecology and Environment of the People's Republic of China, Beijing 100012, China
| | - Pingzhou Duan
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, 8 Dayangfang, Beijing 100012, China; National Engineering Laboratory for Lake Pollution Control and Ecological Restoration, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China; Institute of Water Environment Research, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
| | - Lixin Jiao
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, 8 Dayangfang, Beijing 100012, China; National Engineering Laboratory for Lake Pollution Control and Ecological Restoration, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China; Institute of Water Environment Research, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China.
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Aguinaga OE, White KN, Dean AP, Pittman JK. Addition of organic acids to acid mine drainage polluted wetland sediment leads to microbial community structure and functional changes and improved water quality. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2021; 290:118064. [PMID: 34481302 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.118064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Revised: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Acid mine drainage (AMD) is a serious environmental problem worldwide that requires efficient and sustainable remediation technologies including the use of biological mechanisms. A key challenge for AMD bioremediation is to provide optimal conditions for microbial-mediated immobilisation of trace metals. Although organic carbon and oxygen can enhance treatment efficiency, the effect on microbial communities is unclear. In this study, surface sediments from a natural wetland with proven efficiency for AMD bioremediation were artificially exposed to oxygen (by aeration) and/or organic carbon (in the form of mixed organic acids) and incubated under laboratory conditions. In addition to measuring changes in water chemistry, a metagenomics approach was used to determine changes in sediment bacterial, archaeal and fungal community structure, and functional gene abundance. The addition of organic carbon produced major changes in the abundance of microorganisms related to iron and sulfur metabolism (including Geobacter and Pelobacter) and increased levels of particulate metals via sulfate reduction. Aeration resulted in an increase in Sideroxydans abundance but no significant changes in metal chemistry were observed. The study concludes that the utilisation of organic carbon by microorganisms is more important for achieving efficient AMD treatment than the availability of oxygen, yet the combination of oxygen with organic carbon addition did not inhibit the improvements to water quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oscar E Aguinaga
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, School of Natural Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, The University of Manchester, Michael Smith Building, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK; Departamento de Ingeniería, Facultad de Ciencias y Filosofía, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | - Keith N White
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, School of Natural Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, The University of Manchester, Michael Smith Building, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK
| | - Andrew P Dean
- Department of Natural Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Manchester Metropolitan University, Oxford Road, Manchester, M1 5GD, UK
| | - Jon K Pittman
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, School of Natural Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, The University of Manchester, Michael Smith Building, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK.
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Cai Y, Liang J, Zhang P, Wang Q, Wu Y, Ding Y, Wang H, Fu C, Sun J. Review on strategies of close-to-natural wetland restoration and a brief case plan for a typical wetland in northern China. CHEMOSPHERE 2021; 285:131534. [PMID: 34329151 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.131534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2021] [Revised: 07/03/2021] [Accepted: 07/09/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Wetlands play an important role in sustaining ecosystems on the earth, which regulate water resources, adjust local climate and produce food for human beings, etc. However, wetlands are facing huge challenges due to human activities and other natural evolution, such as area shrinkage, function weakening and biodiversity decrease, and so on, therefore, some wetlands need to be urgently restored. In this study, the main technology components of close-to-natural restoration of wetlands were summarized. The ecological water requirement and water resource allocation can be optimized for the water balance between social, economy and ecology, which is a key prerequisite for maintaining wetland ecosystem. The pollution of wetland sediments and soils can be assessed by various indicators to provide the scientific basis for natural restoration of wetland base, and suitable strategies should be taken according to the actual conditions of wetland bases. The hydrological connectivity in wetlands and with related water system can be numerically simulated to make the optimal plan for improvement of hydrological connectivity. The ecological restoration of wetlands with the synergetic function of plants, animals and microorganisms was summarized, to improve the quality of wetland water environment and maintain the ecosystem stability. Based on the wetland close-to-natural restoration strategies, a brief ecological restoration plan for a typical wetland, Zaozhadian Wetland, near Xiong'an New Area in the north China was proposed from water resource guarantee, base pollution management, hydrological connectivity improvement and biological restoration. The close-to-natural restoration shows more effective, sustainable and long-lasting and thus a practical prospect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yajing Cai
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Jinsong Liang
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Panyue Zhang
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China; School of Environmental Chemical Engineering, Chongqing Three Gorges University, Chongqing, 404632, China.
| | - Qingyan Wang
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Yan Wu
- School of Environmental Chemical Engineering, Chongqing Three Gorges University, Chongqing, 404632, China
| | - Yiran Ding
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Hongjie Wang
- Xiong'an Institute of Eco-Environment, Hebei University, Baoding, 071002, China
| | - Chuan Fu
- School of Environmental Chemical Engineering, Chongqing Three Gorges University, Chongqing, 404632, China
| | - Jiajun Sun
- Beijing Engineering Research Center of Process Pollution Control, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
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Wang Y, Wang J, Li Z, Wang H, He X, Wang C. A novel method based on membrane distillation for treating acid mine drainage: Recovery of water and utilization of iron. CHEMOSPHERE 2021; 279:130605. [PMID: 33894512 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.130605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Revised: 04/06/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Rapid and highly efficient treatment of acid mine drainage (AMD) is still challenging due to the low pH and high metal concentrations in it. This research focuses on a novel treatment method of AMD using direct contact membrane distillation (DCMD) and photocatalysis to recover water and utilize iron. In the DCMD process without pretreatment, the flux decreased by 93.38%. If pretreated by adding sodium oxalate, scale formation potential was effectively mitigated due to the removal of calcium and complexing of iron. For the treatment of the pretreated AMD (PAMD), 60% of water was recovered in the DCMD process with the flux decrease of 22%. The concentrate obtained from the DCMD process demonstrated high photocatalytic activity in the methylene blue (MB) degradation in an aqueous solution. In addition, the Fe (III)-oxalate complexes in the concentrate were reduced to insoluble Fe (II)-oxalate with visible light irradiation, which could be separated by sedimentation and used as a Fenton catalyst. Hence, this novel method exhibits great advantages on effectively inhibiting DCMD membrane fouling during AMD treatment, producing high-quality distillate with low conductivity, and realizing near zero-discharge of AMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxiang Wang
- School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology (Beijing), Beijing, 100083, China.
| | - Jianbing Wang
- School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology (Beijing), Beijing, 100083, China.
| | - Zhongyi Li
- School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology (Beijing), Beijing, 100083, China; The Second High School Attached to Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100088, China.
| | - Huijiao Wang
- School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology (Beijing), Beijing, 100083, China.
| | - Xuwen He
- School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology (Beijing), Beijing, 100083, China.
| | - Chunrong Wang
- School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology (Beijing), Beijing, 100083, China.
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A Deeper Look into the Biodiversity of the Extremely Acidic Copahue volcano-Río Agrio System in Neuquén, Argentina. Microorganisms 2019; 8:microorganisms8010058. [PMID: 31905732 PMCID: PMC7027000 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8010058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2019] [Revised: 12/15/2019] [Accepted: 12/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The Copahue volcano-Río Agrio system, on Patagonia Argentina, comprises the naturally acidic river Río Agrio, that runs from a few meters down the Copahue volcano crater to more than 40 km maintaining low pH waters, and the acidic lagoon that sporadically forms on the crater of the volcano, which is studied for the first time in this work. We used next-generation sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene of the entire prokaryotic community to study the biodiversity of this poorly explored extreme environment. The correlation of the operational taxonomic units (OTUs)s presence with physicochemical variables showed that the system contains three distinct environments: the crater lagoon, the Upper Río Agrio, and the Salto del Agrio waterfall, a point located approximately 12 km down the origin of the river, after it emerges from the Caviahue lake. The prokaryotic community of the Copahue Volcano-Río Agrio system is mainly formed by acidic bacteria and archaea, such as Acidithiobacillus, Ferroplasma, and Leptospirillum, which have been isolated from similar environments around the world. These results support the idea of a ubiquitous acidic biodiversity; however, this highly interesting extreme environment also has apparently autochthonous species such as Sulfuriferula, Acidianus copahuensis, and strains of Acidibacillus and Alicyclobacillus.
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