1
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Hallberg L, Hallin S, Djodjic F, Bieroza M. Trade-offs between nitrogen and phosphorus removal with floodplain remediation in agricultural streams. WATER RESEARCH 2024; 258:121770. [PMID: 38781622 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.121770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 04/17/2024] [Accepted: 05/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
To improve water quality and reduce instream erosion, floodplain remediation along agricultural streams can provide multiple ecosystem services through biogeochemical and fluvial processes. During floodplain inundation, longer water residence time and periodic anoxic conditions can lead to increased nitrogen (N) removal through denitrification but also mobilization of phosphorus (P), impeding overall water quality improvements. To investigate the capacity for N and P processing in remediated streams, we measured potential denitrification and nitrous oxide production and yields together with potential P desorption and P fractions in floodplain and stream sediments in ten catchments in Sweden. Sediment P desorption was measured as equilibrium P concentration, using P isotherm incubations. Denitrification rates were measured with the acetylene inhibition method. Sediment nutrient process rates were combined with hydrochemical monitoring along remediated streams and their paired upstream control reaches of trapezoidal shape to determine the impact of floodplains on water quality. The correlation between floodplain denitrification rates and P desorption (r = 0.53, p = 0.02) revealed a trade-off between soluble reactive P (SRP) and nitrate removal, driven by stream water connectivity to floodplains. Nitrous oxide production was not affected by differences in P processing, but nitrous oxide yields decreased with higher denitrification and P desorption. The release of SRP from floodplains (0.03 ± 0.41 mg P kg-1 day-1) was significantly lower than from trapezoidal stream banks (0.38 ± 0.37 mg P kg-1 day-1), predicted by long-term SRP concentrations in stream water and floodplain inundation frequency. The overall impact of SRP release from floodplains on stream SRP concentrations in remediated reaches was limited. However, the remediated reaches showing increased stream SRP concentrations were also frequently inundated and had higher labile P content and coarse soil texture in floodplain sediments. To fully realize the potential for water quality improvements with constructed floodplains in agricultural streams, the promotion of denitrification through increased inundation should be balanced against the risk of P release from sediments, particularly in streams with high SRP inputs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lukas Hallberg
- Department of Soil and Environment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Sara Hallin
- Department of Forest Mycology and Plant Pathology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Faruk Djodjic
- Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Magdalena Bieroza
- Department of Soil and Environment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
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2
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Wallington K, Cai X, Kalcic M. Evaluating the longevity of in-stream phosphorus legacies: A downstream cascade of recovery following point source remediation. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 912:168711. [PMID: 38007110 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/27/2023]
Abstract
In-stream phosphorus (P) legacies cause lags between upstream remediation and downstream load reductions. However, the length of these lags is largely unknown, especially for long stream distances. As a result, lag time estimates at the large-watershed scale have been abstract and sometimes understated. Here, we leverage a large area watershed model with newly improved in-stream P simulation (SWAT+P.R&R) to evaluate the magnitude, longevity, and spatial cascade of legacy P remobilization in a U.S. corn belt watershed. Our results illustrate the "spiraling recovery" of P loads after a hypothetical point source remediation, where locations further downstream take longer to recover to baseline load levels. At the watershed outlet, in-stream legacy P contributions are equivalent to 30% of the baseline average annual P loads for three years after remediation. In-stream legacies do not approach exhaustion (95% remobilized) until at least 9 years after remediation. In hypothetical weather scenarios beginning with dry years, legacy contributions persist even longer. These findings (1) suggest that in-stream legacies could impact P loads for years to decades in large river basins, (2) support explicit accounting for spatial scale in future studies of in-stream legacies, and (3) provide concerning implications for water quality recovery in large river basins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Wallington
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Civil and Environmental Engineering, 301 N Matthews Ave., Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
| | - Ximing Cai
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Civil and Environmental Engineering, 301 N Matthews Ave., Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
| | - Margaret Kalcic
- University of Wisconsin at Madison, Biological Systems Engineering, 460 Henry Mall, Madison, WI 53760, USA.
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3
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Chen YT, Mundle SOC, Reid T, Weisener C. Nutrient variability and sediment contribution along a mixed land-use within Sturgeon Creek- Lake Erie watershed. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2023; 347:119139. [PMID: 37748294 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.119139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Revised: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Ting Chen
- Great Lakes Institute of Environmental Research, University of Windsor, 401 Sunset Avenue, Windsor, Ontario, N9B 3P4, Canada
| | - Scott O C Mundle
- Great Lakes Institute of Environmental Research, University of Windsor, 401 Sunset Avenue, Windsor, Ontario, N9B 3P4, Canada
| | - Tom Reid
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Water Science and Technology Branch, Canada Centre for Inland Waters, Burlington, Ontario L7S 1A1, Canada
| | - Christopher Weisener
- Great Lakes Institute of Environmental Research, University of Windsor, 401 Sunset Avenue, Windsor, Ontario, N9B 3P4, Canada.
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4
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Yin Y, Zhang W, Cao X, Chen X, Tang J, Zhou Y, Li Q. Evaluation of sediment phosphorus dynamics in cascade reservoir systems: A case study of Weiyuan River, China. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2023; 346:118980. [PMID: 37741190 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.118980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/09/2023] [Indexed: 09/25/2023]
Abstract
Reservoirs tend to accumulate phosphorus (P) originating from agriculture, industry, and other upstream sources in sediment, with this stored P later released. However, the spatiotemporal dynamics of sediment P release in reservoirs remains unclear. This study investigated the spatiotemporal dynamics in P of the sediment and water of three cascade reservoirs in the Weiyuan River (Tuojiang tributary). The results showed elevated P in sediment [total P (TP): 1208.93 mg kg-1] and water (TP: 0.23 mg L-1) during the low-water season (LWS), which could be attributed to notably higher organic matter content (9.65%), finer particle size (20.95 μm), and extended hydraulic retention time (HRT: 13.13 days) downstream of the cascade reservoirs. Further study employing static in-situ diffusive gradient in thin films (DGT) and dynamic ex-situ adsorption kinetic experiments confirmed that the downstream release of P from sediments [diffusion flux (Fd): 1.67 mg m-2 d-1, equilibrium P concentrations (EPC0): 0.22 ± 0.10 mg L-1] greatly exceeded those upstream (-0.66 ± 0.17 mg m-2 d-1, 0.07 ± 0.001 mg L-1), Fe (II) was a critical factor in regulating sedimentary P release. The combined effects of high P in overlying water and sediment significantly stimulated downstream phytoplankton growth, particularly among cyanobacteria (26.48%) and green algae (8.33%). Further regulatory steps are needed to regulate LWS algal blooms downstream of cascade reservoirs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuepeng Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Geohazard Prevention and Geoenvironment Protection, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu, 610059, China; State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Synergetic Control and Joint Remediation for Soil& Water Pollution, College of Ecology and Environment, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu, 610059, China
| | - Wen Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Geohazard Prevention and Geoenvironment Protection, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu, 610059, China; State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Synergetic Control and Joint Remediation for Soil& Water Pollution, College of Ecology and Environment, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu, 610059, China.
| | - Xi Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Geohazard Prevention and Geoenvironment Protection, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu, 610059, China; State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Synergetic Control and Joint Remediation for Soil& Water Pollution, College of Ecology and Environment, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu, 610059, China
| | - Xuemei Chen
- Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430072, China
| | - Jinyong Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Geohazard Prevention and Geoenvironment Protection, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu, 610059, China; State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Synergetic Control and Joint Remediation for Soil& Water Pollution, College of Ecology and Environment, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu, 610059, China
| | - Yuxin Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Geohazard Prevention and Geoenvironment Protection, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu, 610059, China; State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Synergetic Control and Joint Remediation for Soil& Water Pollution, College of Ecology and Environment, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu, 610059, China
| | - Qingman Li
- Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430072, China
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5
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Falk N, Droppo IG, Drouillard KG, Weisener CG. Biogeochemical Processes and Microbial Dynamics Governing Phosphorus Retention and Release in Sediments: A Case Study in Lower Great Lakes Headwaters. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2023; 72:932-944. [PMID: 37505273 PMCID: PMC10509119 DOI: 10.1007/s00267-023-01859-0] [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: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
The ability of headwater bed and suspended sediments to mitigate non-point agricultural phosphorus (P) loads to the lower Great Lakes is recognized, but the specific biogeochemical processes promoting sediment P retention or internal P release remain poorly understood. To elucidate these mechanisms, three headwater segments located within priority watersheds of Southern Ontario, Canada, were sampled through the growing season of 2018-2020. The study employed equilibrium P assays along with novel assessments of legacy watershed nutrients, nitrogen (N) concentrations, sediment redox, and microbial community composition. 20-year data revealed elevated total P (TP) and total Nitrogen (TN) at an inorganic fertilizer and manure fertilizer-impacted site, respectively. Overall, sampled sites acted as P sinks; however, agricultural sediments exhibited significantly lower buffering capacity compared to a reference forested watershed. Collection of fine suspended sediment (<63 µm) through time-integrated sampling showed the suspended load at the inorganic-fertilized site was saturated with P, indicating a greater potential for P release into surface waters compared to bed sediments. Through vertical microsensor profiling and DNA sequencing of the sediment microbial community, site-specific factors associated with a distinct P-source event were identified. These included rapid depletion of dissolved oxygen (DO) across the sediment water interface (SWI), as well as the presence of nitrate-reducing bacterial and ammonia-oxidizing archaeal (AOA) genera. This research provides valuable insights into the dynamics of P in headwaters, shedding light on P retention and release. Understanding these processes is crucial for effective management strategies aimed at mitigating P pollution to the lower Great Lakes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas Falk
- Flinders Accelerator for Microbiome Research, College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Sturt Rd, Adelaide, SA, 5042, Australia.
- Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research, University of Windsor, 401 Sunset Avenue, Windsor, ON, N9B 3P4, Canada.
| | - Ian G Droppo
- Canada Centre for Inland Waters, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 867 Lakeshore Rd, Burlington, ON, L7R 4A6, Canada
| | - Ken G Drouillard
- Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research, University of Windsor, 401 Sunset Avenue, Windsor, ON, N9B 3P4, Canada
| | - Christopher G Weisener
- Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research, University of Windsor, 401 Sunset Avenue, Windsor, ON, N9B 3P4, Canada
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6
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May H, Rixon S, Gardner S, Goel P, Levison J, Binns A. Investigating relationships between climate controls and nutrient flux in surface waters, sediments, and subsurface pathways in an agricultural clay catchment of the Great Lakes Basin. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 864:160979. [PMID: 36549520 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.160979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2022] [Revised: 12/11/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Water quality within agricultural catchments is governed by management practices and climate conditions that control the transport, storage, and exchange of nutrients between components of the hydrologic cycle. This study aims to improve knowledge of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) transport in low permeability agricultural watersheds by considering spatial and temporal trends of surface water nutrient concentrations in relation to hydroclimatic drivers, sediment quality, shallow hyporheic exchange, groundwater quality, and tile drain discharge over a 14-month field study in a clay hydrosystem of the Lake Huron basin, one of the five Great Lakes. Results found that events of varying magnitude and intensity enhanced nutrient release from overland flow and subsurface pathways. Tile drain discharge was found to be a consistent and elevated source of P and N to surface waters when flowing, mobilizing both diffuse nutrients from fertilizer application and legacy stores in the vadose zone. Surface water quality was temporally variable at the seasonal and event scale. Targeted sampling following fertilization periods, snowmelt, and moderate precipitation events revealed catchment wide elevated nutrient concentrations, emphasizing the need for targeted sampling regimes. Controls other than discharge magnitude and overland flow were found to contribute to peak nutrient concentrations, including internal nitrate loading, soil-snowmelt interaction, catchment wetness, and freeze thaw cycles. Sediments were found to store P in calcium minerals and have a high P storage capacity. Instream mechanisms such as sediment P fixation and hyporheic exchange may play a role in mediating surface water quality, but currently have no discernable benefit to year-round surface water nutrient concentrations. Best management practices need to focus on reducing sources of agricultural nutrients (e.g., field phosphorus concentrations and tile drain discharge loading) at the watershed scale to reduce nutrient concentrations and export in flashy clay catchments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah May
- School of Engineering, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada.
| | - Sarah Rixon
- School of Engineering, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Scott Gardner
- School of Engineering, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Pradeep Goel
- Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP), Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jana Levison
- School of Engineering, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Andrew Binns
- School of Engineering, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada
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7
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Varga E, Reid T, Mundle SOC, Weisener CG. Investigating chemical and microbial functional indicators of nutrient retention capacity in greenhouse stormwater retention ponds in southwestern Ontario, Canada. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 855:158894. [PMID: 36155045 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.158894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Revised: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The tributaries flowing through Leamington, Ontario are unique in the Canadian Lake Erie watershed due to the broad spatial extent of greenhouse operations, which more than doubled in size and density from 2011 to 2022. These greenhouse operations are considered to be potential nutrient point sources with respect to observed nutrient concentrations in tributaries adjacent to greenhouse stormwater retention ponds (GSWPs). Identifying causal factors of nutrient release, whether this be chemical or biological, within these ponds may be critical for mitigating their impact on the watershed and ultimately the receiving waters of Lake Erie. Specifically, phosphorus and nitrogen accumulation in freshwater ponds can contribute to environmental damage proximal to adjacent streams, serving as a potential catalyst for algal blooms and eutrophication. This study compared correlations between the water column N:P stoichiometry, sediment nutrient retention capacity, and drivers of microbial metabolism within GSWP sediments. Correlations between water column TN:TP ratios and sediment nutrient retention capacity were observed, suggesting an interplay between N and P in terms of nutrient limitation. Further, clear shifts were observed in the bacterial metabolic pathways analyzed through metatranscriptomics. Specifically, genes related to nitrogen fixation, nitrification and denitrification, and other metabolic processes involving sulfur and methane showed differential expression depending on the condition of the respective pond (i.e., naturalized wetland vs. dredged, eutrophic pond). Collectively, this research serves to highlight the interconnected role of chemical-biological processes particularly as they relate to significant ecosystem processes such as nutrient loading and retention dynamics in impaired freshwater systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Varga
- Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON N9B 3P4, Canada
| | - T Reid
- Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON N9B 3P4, Canada; Environment and Climate Change Canada, Water Science and Technology Branch, Canada Centre for Inland Waters, Burlington, ON L7R 1A1, Canada
| | - S O C Mundle
- Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON N9B 3P4, Canada
| | - C G Weisener
- Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON N9B 3P4, Canada.
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8
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Guo Y, Dong Y, Chen Q, Wang S, Ni Z, Liu X. Water inflow and endogenous factors drove the changes in the buffering capacity of biogenic elements in Erhai Lake, China. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 806:150343. [PMID: 34571238 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.150343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2021] [Revised: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/10/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Buffering capacity could provide a comprehensive view to recognize the response between external loads and water quality and help address the significant challenges associated with the reduction of lake pollution. However, quantification of the dynamic change in the holistic buffering capacity of biogenic elements in lakes and its driving mechanisms has not been fully understood. Taking Erhai Lake in China as an example, this study quantified the long-term (2000-2019) dynamic changes in buffering capacity and revealed key driving forces for the changes in buffering capacity. The results showed that nitrogen buffering capacity (NBC) and organic buffering capacity (CODBC) decreased during the past 20 years, while phosphorus buffering capacity (PBC) did not change significantly. Endogenous factors are the main controlling factors of buffering capacity. Specifically, algal biomass drove the change in NBC (interpretation rate of 62.2%); the adsorption and sedimentation effects of sediments maintained the relative stability of PBC (56.30%) while algal biomass indirectly impacted the PBC (1.69% only) by affecting the redox environment of the sediments; and algae-derived organic matter and refractory organic matter accumulation dominated the change in CODBC (61.4% and 32.8%, respectively). Water inflow is another controlling factor for NBC and CODBC due to dilution of lake water. This study indicated that the accumulation of endogenous loads and a decrease in water inflow drove the decrease in the lake's buffering capacity (mainly NBC and CODBC), which could help explain why the decrease in external loads in Erhai Lake has not yet reversed the trend of water quality decline. Our study highlights the importance of comprehensive buffering capacity improvement instead of simple external load control to optimize lake environmental management. In the future, attention should be given to controlling endogenous loads, especially preventing algal blooms, and to optimizing hydrodynamic conditions to cope with the decrease in water inflow.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Guo
- Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for Water Security, Center for Water Research, Advanced Institute of Natural Sciences, Beijing Normal University at Zhuhai, Zhuhai 519087, China; College of Water Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China; Engineering Research Center of Ministry of Education on Groundwater Pollution Control and Remediation, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Yue Dong
- Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for Water Security, Center for Water Research, Advanced Institute of Natural Sciences, Beijing Normal University at Zhuhai, Zhuhai 519087, China; Engineering Research Center of Ministry of Education on Groundwater Pollution Control and Remediation, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Qiuying Chen
- Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for Water Security, Center for Water Research, Advanced Institute of Natural Sciences, Beijing Normal University at Zhuhai, Zhuhai 519087, China; College of Water Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China; Engineering Research Center of Ministry of Education on Groundwater Pollution Control and Remediation, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Shengrui Wang
- Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for Water Security, Center for Water Research, Advanced Institute of Natural Sciences, Beijing Normal University at Zhuhai, Zhuhai 519087, China; College of Water Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China; Engineering Research Center of Ministry of Education on Groundwater Pollution Control and Remediation, Beijing 100875, China; Yunnan Key Laboratory of Pollution Process and Management of Plateau Lake Watershed, Kunming, Yunnan Province 650034, China.
| | - Zhaokui Ni
- Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for Water Security, Center for Water Research, Advanced Institute of Natural Sciences, Beijing Normal University at Zhuhai, Zhuhai 519087, China; College of Water Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China; Engineering Research Center of Ministry of Education on Groundwater Pollution Control and Remediation, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Xiaofei Liu
- Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for Water Security, Center for Water Research, Advanced Institute of Natural Sciences, Beijing Normal University at Zhuhai, Zhuhai 519087, China; College of Water Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China; Engineering Research Center of Ministry of Education on Groundwater Pollution Control and Remediation, Beijing 100875, China
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9
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Stutter M, Richards S, Ibiyemi A, Watson H. Spatial representation of in-stream sediment phosphorus release combining channel network approaches and in-situ experiments. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 795:148790. [PMID: 34247091 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.148790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2021] [Revised: 06/14/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Impairment of rivers by elevated phosphorus (P) concentration is an issue often studied at outlets of mesoscale catchments. Our objective was to evaluate within-catchment spatio-temporal processes along connected reaches to understand processes of internal P loading associated with sediment input, accumulations in channels and sediment-water column P exchange. Our overall hypothesis was that heterogeneous sediment residence within the channel of a 52 km2 mixed land cover catchment resulted in key zones for sediment-water P exchange. We evaluated the channel network through ground-survey, spatial data methods establishing connectivity and energy gradients. This gave a background to understand sampling of sediments and P release/uptake to the water column using 90 s in-situ resuspension isolating a portion of streambed over five sets of three-location transects in May (spring storms, recent active erosion) and September (summer low flow, longer sediment residence). Simple transect position models (top, mid, bottom) predicted increased sediment resuspension yields and P contents in lower settings. Sediment P release following resuspension were mean (and range) 0.5 (-0.8 to 1.8) and 0.5 (-2.5 to 3.6) mg soluble reactive P/m2 bed in May and September, respectively, strengthening generally down the transects but inconsistently. Relationships (log form) showed a steepening rise in fine sediments, P content, background and disturbance-released dissolved P, with specific stream power < 40 W/m2. In-situ methods showed sediments dominantly (12 cases May, 13 cases Sep) as P sources capable of influencing dissolved P concentrations and with potential explanation that heterogeneous locations of internal P loading influence the systems longer-term observed P trends. Combining channel network, stream power assessment and in-situ sorption studies improved the understanding of influential zones of sediment-water P exchange within this mesoscale catchment. Such methods have potential to inform P model development and management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc Stutter
- The James Hutton Institute, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen AB158QH, UK; Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, UK.
| | - Samia Richards
- The James Hutton Institute, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen AB158QH, UK
| | - Adekunle Ibiyemi
- The James Hutton Institute, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen AB158QH, UK
| | - Helen Watson
- The James Hutton Institute, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen AB158QH, UK
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10
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Sandström S, Futter MN, O'Connell DW, Lannergård EE, Rakovic J, Kyllmar K, Gill LW, Djodjic F. Variability in fluvial suspended and streambed sediment phosphorus fractions among small agricultural streams. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY 2021; 50:612-626. [PMID: 33817794 DOI: 10.1002/jeq2.20210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2020] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Agriculture is a major source of sediment and particulate phosphorus (P) inputs to freshwaters. Distinguishing between P fractions in sediment can aid in understanding its eutrophication risk. Although streams and rivers are important parts of the P cycle in agricultural catchments, streambed sediment and especially fluvial suspended sediment (FSS) and its P fractions are less studied. To address this knowledge gap, seasonal variations in FSS P fractions and their relation to water quality and streambed sediment were examined in three Swedish agricultural headwater catchments over 2 yr. Sequential fractionation was used to characterize P fractions in both streambed sediment and FSS. All catchments had similar annual P losses (0.4-0.8 kg ha-1 ), suspended solids (124-183 mg L-1 ), and FSS total P concentrations (1.15-1.19 mg g-1 ). However, distribution of P fractions and the dominant P fractions in FSS differed among catchments (p < .05), which was most likely dependent on differences in catchment geology, clay content, external P sources, and flow conditions. The most prominent seasonal pattern in all catchments was found for iron-bound P, with high concentrations during low summer flows and low concentrations during winter high flows. Streambed sediment P fractions were in the same concentration ranges as in FSS, and the distribution of the fractions differed between catchments. This study highlights the need to quantify P fractions, not just total P in FSS, to obtain a more complete understanding of the eutrophication risk posed by agricultural sediment losses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Sandström
- Dep. of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish Univ. of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 7050, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Martyn N Futter
- Dep. of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish Univ. of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 7050, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - David W O'Connell
- Dep. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Museum Building, Trinity College Dublin, the University of Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Emma E Lannergård
- Dep. of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish Univ. of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 7050, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Jelena Rakovic
- Dep. of Soil and Environment, Swedish Univ. of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 7014, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Katarina Kyllmar
- Dep. of Soil and Environment, Swedish Univ. of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 7014, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Laurence W Gill
- Dep. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Museum Building, Trinity College Dublin, the University of Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Faruk Djodjic
- Dep. of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish Univ. of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 7050, Uppsala, Sweden
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11
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Simpson ZP, McDowell RW, Condron LM, McDaniel MD, Jarvie HP, Abell JM. Sediment phosphorus buffering in streams at baseflow: A meta-analysis. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY 2021; 50:287-311. [PMID: 33491241 DOI: 10.1002/jeq2.20202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2020] [Accepted: 01/17/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Phosphorus (P) pollution of surface waters remains a challenge for protecting and improving water quality. Central to the challenge is understanding what regulates P concentrations in streams. This quantitative review synthesizes the literature on a major control of P concentrations in streams at baseflow-the sediment P buffer-to better understand streamwater-sediment P interactions. We conducted a global meta-analysis of sediment equilibrium phosphate concentrations at net zero sorption (EPC0 ), which is the dissolved reactive P (DRP) concentration toward which sediments buffer solution DRP. Our analysis of 45 studies and >900 paired observations of DRP and EPC0 showed that sediments often have potential to remove or release P to the streamwater (83% of observations), meaning that "equilibrium" between sediment and streamwater is rare. This potential for P exchange is moderated by sediment and stream characteristics, including sorption affinity, stream pH, exchangeable P concentration, and particle sizes. The potential for sediments to modify streamwater DRP concentrations is often not realized owing to other factors (e.g., hydrologic interactions). Sediment surface chemistry, hyporheic exchange, and biota can also influence the potential exchange of P between sediments and the streamwater. Methodological choices significantly influenced EPC0 determination and thus the estimated potential for P exchange; we therefore discuss how to measure and report EPC0 to best suit research objectives and aid in interstudy comparison. Our results enhance understanding of the sediment P buffer and inform how EPC0 can be effectively applied to improve management of aquatic P pollution and eutrophication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary P Simpson
- Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Lincoln Univ., P.O. Box 84, Lincoln, Christchurch, 7647, New Zealand
| | - Richard W McDowell
- Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Lincoln Univ., P.O. Box 84, Lincoln, Christchurch, 7647, New Zealand
- AgResearch, Lincoln Science Centre, Private Bag 4749, Christchurch, 8140, New Zealand
| | - Leo M Condron
- Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Lincoln Univ., P.O. Box 84, Lincoln, Christchurch, 7647, New Zealand
| | | | - Helen P Jarvie
- Dep. of Geography and Environmental Management, Univ. of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada
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Dissolved Organic Matter Quality and Biofilm Composition Affect Microbial Organic Matter Uptake in Stream Flumes. WATER 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/w12113246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Agriculture delivers significant amounts of dissolved organic matter (DOM) to streams, thereby changing the composition and biodegradability of the aquatic DOM. This study focuses on the interactive effects of DOM quality and biofilm composition on the degradation of DOM in a laboratory flume experiment. Half of the flumes were exposed to light to stimulate algal growth, the other half was shaded. Leachates of deciduous leaves, maize leaves, and cow dung were added to the flumes in a single pulse and changes of DOC (dissolved organic carbon) and nutrient concentrations, DOM composition (absorbance and fluorescence data), chlorophyll-a concentrations, bacterial abundances, and enzymatic activities were recorded over a week. DOM was taken up with rates of 50, 109, and 136 µg DOC L−1 h−1 for dung, leaf, and maize leachates, respectively, in the light flumes and 37, 80, and 170 µg DOC L−1 h−1 in the dark flumes. DOC uptake correlated strongly with initial SRP (soluble reactive phosphorus) and DOC concentrations, but barely with DOM components and indices. Algae mostly stimulated the microbial DOC uptake, but the effects differed among differently aged biofilms. We developed a conceptual model of intrinsic (DOM quality) and external (environmental) controlling factors on DOM degradation, with the microbial community acting as biotic filter.
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13
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DiCarlo AM, Weisener CG, Drouillard KG. Evidence for Microbial Community Effect on Sediment Equilibrium Phosphorus Concentration (EPC 0). BULLETIN OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 2020; 105:736-741. [PMID: 33051709 DOI: 10.1007/s00128-020-03019-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/06/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Batch equilibrium phosphorus concentration (EPC0) methods were applied to determine phosphorus capacity of sediments from three agriculturally influenced tributaries in southern Ontario - Belle River, Big Creek, and Nissouri Creek. Aliquots of sediments were amended with soluble reactive phosphorus and incubated at four temperatures (5, 15, 25, and 35°C). Batches of sediments from each location and temperature were also subjected to a treatment; gamma (γ)-irradiated at 28 kGy over 24-h (sterilized) and compared to non-sterilized biotic samples. Treatment showed a significant effect on EPC0 in Belle River and Nissouri Creek but non-significant effect in Big Creek. Temperature showed a significant effect in Belle River, Nissouri Creek, and the biotic subset of Big Creek. While direction of shift was not consistent in all cases, the biotic subsets of all three locations showed a significant effect of temperature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alicia M DiCarlo
- Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research (GLIER), University of Windsor, 401 Sunset Ave, Windsor, ON, N9B3P4, Canada.
| | - Chris G Weisener
- Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research (GLIER), University of Windsor, 401 Sunset Ave, Windsor, ON, N9B3P4, Canada
| | - Ken G Drouillard
- Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research (GLIER), University of Windsor, 401 Sunset Ave, Windsor, ON, N9B3P4, Canada
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Dos Reis Oliveira PC, van der Geest HG, Kraak MHS, Verdonschot PFM. Land use affects lowland stream ecosystems through dissolved oxygen regimes. Sci Rep 2019; 9:19685. [PMID: 31873108 PMCID: PMC6927968 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-56046-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2019] [Accepted: 12/05/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to assess the impact of surrounding land use on the structure and functioning of lowland stream ecosystems. To this end, five different land use types were selected (forest, extensive grassland, intensive grassland, cropland and wastewater treatment plant) each represented by four replicate streams, in which diel dissolved oxygen concentrations were recorded, sediment and water quality parameters were measured and macroinvertebrate community composition was determined. Chironomus sp., Oligochaeta and Gastropoda dominated the cropland and wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) streams, while Plecoptera and most Trichoptera only occurred in forest and extensive grassland streams. Forest streams communities were related to a high oxygen saturation, a high C/N ratio in the sediment and woody debris and coarse particulate organic matter (CPOM) substrate cover. Macroinvertebrate communities in cropland and WWTP streams were related to a low oxygen saturation in water and sediment and high concentrations of dissolved nitrogen, phosphorus and carbon. It is concluded that land use specific impacts on lowland streams are likely exerted via fine sediment accumulation in deposition zones, affecting oxygen regimes, sediment oxygen demand and stream metabolism, ultimately changing macroinvertebrate community composition. This study supports therefore the importance of including the catchment scale in ecological stream quality assessments, combining structural and functional endpoints.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula C Dos Reis Oliveira
- Department of Freshwater and Marine Ecology, Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, P.O. Box 94248, 1090 GE, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Harm G van der Geest
- Department of Freshwater and Marine Ecology, Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, P.O. Box 94248, 1090 GE, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Michiel H S Kraak
- Department of Freshwater and Marine Ecology, Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, P.O. Box 94248, 1090 GE, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Piet F M Verdonschot
- Department of Freshwater and Marine Ecology, Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, P.O. Box 94248, 1090 GE, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Freshwater Ecology Group, Wageningen Environmental Research, Wageningen UR, P.O. Box 47, 6700 AA, Wageningen, The Netherlands
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