Assessment and management of lake eutrophication: A case study in Lake Erhai, China

Phosphorus-based soil prophylactics for managing Pb contamination in soil: Slow-release kinetics and microbiological effects

Soil remediation poses significant challenges due to its spatial heterogeneity, surpassing the complexities of atmospheric and water remediation. This study introduces an innovative approach to prevent soil heavy metal pollution by developing three phosphorus slow-release heavy metal soil prophylactic agents (SLPs) - Sap-11, Sap-12, and Sap-21. At a liquid-to-solid ratio of 1:20, the three types of SLPs achieve phosphorus sustained slow release amounts of 1.586 g/L, 4.259 g/L, and 1.444 g/L within 30 days, respectively. Over a cultivation period of 120 days, after amendment with the three SLPs, the surface soil demonstrates stabilization capacities for Pb of 29.56 mg/g, 46.24 mg/g, and 25.77 mg/g, respectively, representing enhancements of 283.64 %, 500.12 %, and 250.74 % compared to the control. Firstly, the direct contribution of P (up to 3.778 mg/g) released from SLPs chemically binding with Pb, and secondly, a significant proportion of the indirect contribution originating from the microbial activity and soil organic matter. In summary, SLP emerges as an effective strategy for soil heavy metal management, stabilizing heavy metals by stimulating the soil's inherent physiological and biochemical reactions. This approach provides a practical solution for the application of P-containing materials and introduces novel perspectives for soil heavy metal management strategies.

Atmospheric wet and dry phosphorus deposition in Lake Erhai, China

Lake Erhai is a potentially phosphorus (P)-limited lake and its water quality may have been affected by atmospheric P deposition. However, there have been few studies on atmospheric P deposition in this lake. In this study, we established five wet deposition monitoring sites and two dry deposition monitoring sites around Lake Erhai to quantify the wet and dry deposition of total phosphorus (TP), including dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP), dissolved organic phosphorus (DOP) and particulate phosphorus (PP) from July 2022 to June 2023. Wet deposition fluxes of P species were collected by automatic rainfall collection instrument, and dry deposition fluxes were estimated using airborne concentration measurements and inferential models. The results reveal that among the different P components, DOP had the highest contribution (50%) to wet TP deposition (average all sites 12.7 ± 0.7 mg P m2/yr), followed by PP (40%) and DIP (10%). Similarly, DOP (51%) was the major contributor to dry TP deposition (average two sites 2.4 ± 0.9 mg P m2/yr), followed by DIP (35%) and PP (14%). Wet deposition dominated the annual total TP deposition (wet plus dry), accounting for approximately 83%. The key seasons for dry deposition were spring and autumn, which accounted for 64% of the annual total dry TP deposition. In comparison, wet deposition was significantly higher in the summer, accounting for 73% of the annual total wet TP deposition. The results of the potential source contribution function and concentration-weighted trajectories analysis indicate that local source emission and long-range transport from surrounding cities jointly exerted a substantial influence on aerosol P concentrations, particularly in the eastern and northwestern regions of the lake. These findings provide a comprehensive understanding of the different P components in atmospheric deposition, which is beneficial for developing effective strategies to manage the P cycle in Lake Erhai.

Assembly process and co-occurrence network of microbial community in response to free ammonia gradient distribution

Microorganisms are crucial components of the aquatic ecosystem due to their immense diversity and abundance. They are vital in sustaining ecological services, especially in maintaining essential biogeochemical cycles. Recent years have seen a substantial increase in surplus nitrogenous pollutants in aquatic ecosystems due to the heightened occurrence of anthropogenic activities. Elevated levels of free ammonia (FA, NH3), stemming from the discharge of excess nitrogenous pollutants, have caused notable fluctuations in aquatic ecosystems, leading to water eutrophication and various ecological challenges. The impact of these oscillations on microbial communities in aquatic ecosystems has not been extensively studied. This study employed 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing to systematically investigate the dynamics, co-occurrence networks, and assembly processes of microbial communities and their subcommunities (abundant, moderate, and rare) in the Luanhe River Diversion Project in China. Our findings indicate that NH3 concentration significantly influences the dynamics of microbial communities, with a notable decrease in community Richness and Phylogenetic Distance alongside increased community dissimilarity under higher NH3 conditions. The analysis revealed that certain microbial groups, particularly Actinobacteriaota, were notably more prevalent in environments with elevated NH3 levels, suggesting their potential resilience or adaptive responses to NH3 stress. Additionally, through co-occurrence network analysis, we observed dynamic changes in network topology and increased connectedness under NH3 stress. Key nodes, identified as connectors and module hubs, played crucial roles in maintaining network structure, particularly Cyanobacteria and Actinobacteriaota. Furthermore, stochastic processes, particularly drift and dispersal limitation, predominantly shaped the microbial communities. Within the three subcommunities, the impact of drift became more pronounced as the effect of dispersal limitation diminished. Overall, elucidating the dynamics of microbial communities in aquatic ecosystems exposed to NH3 can enhance our comprehension of the ecological mechanisms of microbial communities and provide new insights into the conservation of microbial community diversity and ecological functions.

IMPORTANCE

The research presented in this paper explores how varying concentrations of free ammonia impact microbial communities in aquatic ecosystems. By employing advanced gene sequencing techniques, the study reveals significant changes in microbial diversity and network structures in response to increased ammonia levels. Key findings indicate that high ammonia concentrations lead to a decrease in microbial richness and diversity while increasing community dissimilarity. Notably, certain microbial groups, like Actinobacteria, show resilience to ammonia stress. This research enhances our understanding of how pollution affects microbial ecosystems and underscores the importance of maintaining balanced ammonia levels to preserve microbial diversity and ecosystem health.

Agricultural watershed conservation and optimization using a participatory hydrological approach

Maximizing the impact of agricultural wastewater conservation practices (CP) to achieve total maximum daily load (TMDL) scenarios in agricultural watersheds is a challenge for the practitioners. The complex modeling requirements of sophisticated hydrologic models make their use and interpretation difficult, preventing the inclusion of local watershed stakeholders' knowledge in the development of optimal TMDL scenarios. The present study develops a seamless modeling approach to transform the complex modeling outcomes of Hydrologic Simulation Program Fortran (HSPF) into a simplified participatory framework for developing optimized management scenarios. The study evaluates seven conservation practices in the Pomme de Terre watershed in Minnesota, USA, focusing on sediment and phosphorus pollutant load reductions incorporating farmers' opinions to guide practitioners toward implementing cost-effective CPs. Results show reduced tillage and filter strips are the most cost-effective practices for non-point source pollution reduction, followed by conservation cover perennials. The integration of SAM with HSPF is crucial for sustainable field-scale implementation of conservation practices through enhanced involvement of amateur-modeling stakeholders and farmers directly connected to fields.

Spatio-temporal evolution mechanism and dynamic simulation of nitrogen and phosphorus pollution of the Yangtze River economic Belt in China

Excess nitrogen and phosphorus inputs are the main causes of aquatic environmental deterioration. Accurately quantifying and dynamically assessing the regional nitrogen and phosphorus pollution emission (NPPE) loads and influencing factors is crucial for local authorities to implement and formulate refined pollution reduction management strategies. In this study, we constructed a methodological framework for evaluating the spatio-temporal evolution mechanism and dynamic simulation of NPPE. We investigated the spatio-temporal evolution mechanism and influencing factors of NPPE in the Yangtze River Economic Belt (YREB) of China through the pollution load accounting model, spatial correlation analysis model, geographical detector model, back propagation neural network model, and trend analysis model. The results show that the NPPE inputs in the YREB exhibit a general trend of first rising and then falling, with uneven development among various cities in each province. Nonpoint sources are the largest source of land-based NPPE. Overall, positive spatial clustering of NPPE is observed in the cities of the YREB, and there is a certain enhancement in clustering. The GDP of the primary industry and cultivated area are important human activity factors affecting the spatial distribution of NPPE, with economic factors exerting the greatest influence on the NPPE. In the future, the change in NPPE in the YREB at the provincial level is slight, while the nitrogen pollution emissions at the municipal level will develop towards a polarization trend. Most cities in the middle and lower reaches of the YREB in 2035 will exhibit medium to high emissions. This study provides a scientific basis for the control of regional NPPE, and it is necessary to strengthen cooperation and coordination among cities in the future, jointly improve the nitrogen and phosphorus pollution tracing and control management system, and achieve regional sustainable development.

Phosphorus stoichiometric homeostasis of submerged macrophytes and associations with interspecific interactions and community stability in Erhai Lake, China

According to stoichiometric homeostasis theory, eutrophication is expected to increase the dominance of submerged macrophytes with low homeostatic regulation coefficients (H) relative to those with high H values, ultimately reducing macrophyte community stability. However, empirical evidence supporting this hypothesis is limited. In this study, we conducted a three-year tracking survey (seven sampling events) at 81 locations across three regions of Erhai Lake. We assessed the H values of submerged macrophyte species, revealing significant H values for phosphorus (P) and strong associations of HP values (range: 1.58-2.94) with species and community stability. Moreover, in plots simultaneously containing the dominant high-HP species, Potamogeton maackianus, and its low-HP counterpart, Ceratophyllum demersum, we explored the relationships among eutrophication, interspecific interaction shifts, and community dynamics. As the environmental P concentration increased, the dominance of P. maackianus decreased, while that of C. demersum increased. This shift coincided with reductions in community HP and stability. Our study underpins the effectiveness of H values for forecasting interspecific interactions among submerged macrophytes, thereby clarifying how eutrophication contributes to the decline in stability of the submerged macrophyte community.

An innovative method based on Gaussian cloud distribution and sample information richness for eutrophication assessment of Yangtze's lakes and reservoirs under uncertainty

The precise assessment of a water body's eutrophication status is essential for making informed decisions in water environment management. However, conventional approaches frequently fail to consider the randomness, fuzziness, and inherent hidden information of water quality indicators. These would result in an unreliable assessment. An enhanced method was proposed for the eutrophication assessment under uncertainty in this study. The multi-dimension gaussian cloud distribution was introduced to capture the randomness and fuzziness. The Shannon entropy based on various sample size and trophic levels was proposed to maximize valuable information hidden in the datasets. Twenty-seven significant lakes and reservoirs located in the Yangtze River Basin were selected to demonstrate the proposed method. The sensitivity and consistency were used to evaluate the accuracy of the proposed method. Results indicate that the proposed method has the capability to effectively assess the eutrophication status of lakes and reservoirs under uncertainty and that it has a better sensitivity since it can identify more than 33-50% trophic levels compared to the traditional methods. Further scenario experiments analysis revealed that the sample information richness, i.e., sample size and the number of trophic levels is of great significance to the accuracy/robustness of the method. Moreover, a sample size of 60 can offer the most favorable balance between accuracy/robustness and the monitoring expenses. These findings are crucial to optimizing the eutrophication assessment.

Co-influence of biochar-supported effective microorganisms and seasonal changes on dissolved organic matter and microbial activity in eutrophic lake

DOM (dissolved organic matter) play a crucial role in lakes' geochemical and carbon cycles. Eutrophication evolution would influence nutrient status of waters and investigating the DOM variation helps a better understanding of bioremediation on environmental behavior of DOM in eutrophic lakes. In our study, the contents, compositions and characteristics of systematic DOM&SOM (sediment organic matter) were greatly influenced by seasonal changes. But the effective bioremediations obviously reduced the DOM concentration and thus mitigated the eutrophication outbreak risks in water bodies due to the increased MBC (microbial biomass carbon), microbial activity and metabolism. In early summer, the overall DOM in each treatment were readily low levels and derived from both autochthonous and exogenous origins, dominated by fulvic acid-like. In midsummer, the DOM contents and characteristics in each treatment increased significantly as phytoplankton activity improved, and the majority of DOM were humic acid-like and mainly of biological origin. The greatest differences of enzymes, MBC, microbial metabolism and DOM&SOM removal among different treatments were observed in summer months. In autumn, the systematic DOM&SOM slightly reduced due to the deceased microbial activity, in which the microbial humic acids were main component and derived from endogenous sources. Additionally, the gradually decreased SOM with cultivated time in each treatment was a result of microbiological conversion of SOM into DOM. For various treatments, BE, BE.A, BE.C and BE.E increased the MBC, enzymatic and microbial activities due to the application of biochar-supported EMs. Among these, BE and BE.A, especially BE.A with oxygen supplement, achieved the most desirable effect on reducing systematic DOM&SOM levels and increasing enzymatic and microbial activities. The group of EM also reduced the levels of DOM&SOM as improved degradation of EMs for DOM. However, BC, BE.C and BE.E finally did not achieved the desirable effect on reducing DOM&SOM due to the suppression of microbial activities, respectively, from high dose of biochar, weakening of dominant species and additional introduction of EMs in low liveness.

Eco-environmental changes due to human activities in the Erhai Lake Basin from 1990 to 2020

Human activities have increased with urbanisation in the Erhai Lake Basin, considerably impacting its eco-environmental quality (EEQ). This study aims to reveal the evolution and driving forces of the EEQ using water benefit-based ecological index (WBEI) in response to human activities and policy variations in the Erhai Lake Basin from 1990 to 2020. Results show that (1) the EEQ exhibited a pattern of initial degradation, subsequent improvement, further degradation and a rebound from 1990 to 2020, and the areas with poor and fair EEQ levels mainly concentrated around the Erhai Lake Basin with a high level of urbanisation and relatively flat terrain; (2) the EEQ levels were not optimistic in 1990, 1995 and 2015, and areas with poor and fair EEQ levels accounted for 43.41%, 47.01% and 40.05% of the total area, respectively; and (3) an overall improvement in the EEQ was observed in 1995-2000, 2000-2005, 2005-2009 and 2015-2020, and the improvement was most significant in 1995-2000, covering an area of 823.95 km2 and accounting for 31.79% of the total area. Results also confirmed that the EEQ changes in the Erhai Lake Basin were primarily influenced by human activities and policy variations. Moreover, these results can provide a scientific basis for the formulation and planning of sustainable development policy in the Erhai Lake Basin.

Modulating cultivation regimes of Messastrum gracile SVMIICT7 for biomass productivity integrated with resource recovery via hydrothermal liquefaction

The present study was designed to assess Messastrum gracile SVMIICT7 potential in treating dairy wastewater (autoclaved (ADWW) and raw (DWW)) with relation to nutrient removal, in-vivo Chl-a-based biomass, and bio-oil synthesis. Chlorophyll a fluorescence kinetics revealed improved photochemical efficiency (0.639, Fv/Fm) in M. gracile when grown with DWW. This may be owing to enhanced electron transport being mediated by an effective water-splitting complex at photosystem (PSII) of thylakoids. The increase in ABS/RC observed in DWW can be attributed to the elevated chlorophyll content and reduced light dissipation, as evident by higher values of ETo/RC and a decrease in non-photochemical quenching (NPQ). M. gracile inoculated in DWW had the highest Chl-a-biomass yield (1.8 g L-1) and biomolecules while maximum nutrient removal efficiency was observed in ADWW (83.7% TN and 60.07% TP). M. gracile exhibited substantial bio-oil yield of 29.6% and high calorific value of 37.19 MJ kg-1, predominantly composed of hydrocarbons along with nitrogen and oxygen cyclic compounds. This research offers a thorough investigation into wastewater treatment, illustrating the conversion of algal biomass into valuable energy sources and chemical intermediates within the framework of a biorefinery.

Enhancing phosphorus source apportionment in watersheds through species-specific analysis

Phosphorus (P) is a pivotal element responsible for triggering watershed eutrophication, and accurate source apportionment is a prerequisite for achieving the targeted prevention and control of P pollution. Current research predominantly emphasizes the allocation of total phosphorus (TP) loads from watershed pollution sources, with limited integration of source apportionment considering P species and their specific implications for eutrophication. This article conducts a retrospective analysis of the current state of research on watershed P source apportionment models, providing a comprehensive evaluation of three source apportionment methods, inventory analysis, diffusion models, and receptor models. Furthermore, a quantitative analysis of the impact of P species on watersheds is carried out, followed by the relationship between P species and the P source apportionment being critically clarified within watersheds. The study reveals that the impact of P on watershed eutrophication is highly dependent on P species, rather than absolute concentration of TP. Current research overlooking P species composition of pollution sources may render the acquired results of source apportionment incapable of assessing the impact of P sources on eutrophication accurately. In order to enhance the accuracy of watershed P pollution source apportionment, the following prospectives are recommended: (1) quantifying the P species composition of typical pollution sources; (2) revealing the mechanisms governing the migration and transformation of P species in watersheds; (3) expanding the application of traditional models and introducing novel methods to achieve quantitative source apportionment specifically for P species. Conducting source apportionment of specific species within a watershed contributes to a deeper understanding of P migration and transformation, enhancing the precise of management of P pollution sources and facilitating the targeted recovery of P resources.

Dynamics of algal blooms in typical low-latitude plateau lakes: Spatiotemporal patterns and driving factors

The alpine lakes distributed on the plateau are crucial for the hydrological, and biogeochemical cycle, and also serve as a guarantee for regional economic development and human survival. However, under the influence of human interference and climate fluctuations, lakes are facing problems of eutrophication and subsequent algal blooms (ABs) with acceleration, and the development and driving factors of this phenomenon need to be considered as a whole. In this study, ten lakes located on the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau were selected as the study area to analyze the spatiotemporal distribution of ABs and possible controlling forces. The FAI (Floating Algae Index) derived from multiple MODIS products and water quality data under high-frequency monitoring were selected as the data sources for characterizing ABs. Three nutrient parameters and five meteorological variables were used to explore the driving factors affecting ABs. Various methods of trend detection and correlation analysis have been applied. The main results are as follows: (1) Dianchi Lake (in lake area) and Xingyun Lake (in area proportion) are the two lakes with the most serious ABs in the historical period; (2) ABs are mainly distributed on the shoreline and northern edge of lakes, and tend to stay away from the lake center during high-temperature periods of the day; (3) Six lakes show a decreasing trend in ABs, especially after 2018, while other lakes (including Fuxian, Chenghai, Yangzong, and Erhai) are increasing, not only in peak value but also in duration; (4) Lakes with severe ABs are all P-restricted lakes, the minimum temperature is the most sensitive meteorological factor, while the impact of precipitation against ABs has a time lag; (5) Establishing a warning system of temperature and nutrient concentration is critical in ABs adaptive strategy. This study is expected to provide scientific references for regional water management and the restoration of the eutrophic aquatic ecosystem.

Long-term (2003-2021) evolution trend of water quality in the Three Gorges Reservoir: An evaluation based on an enhanced water quality index

The degradation of water quality induced by the construction of large-scale hydraulic projects is one of the primary public concerns; however, it is rarely addressed with long-term field observation data. Here, we reported the long-term (2003-2021) trends, seasonal patterns, and overall condition of water quality of the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR) with an enhanced water quality index (WQI). Specifically, to emphasize the importance of the biological role in water quality assessment, chlorophyll-a (Chla) was incorporated into WQI, and then a novel workflow using machine learning approach based on Random Forest (RF) model was constructed to develop a minimal water quality index (WQImin). The enhanced WQI indicated an overall "good" water quality condition, exhibiting a gradually improving trend subsequent to the reservoir impoundment in 2003. Meanwhile, the assessment revealed that the water quality has discernible seasonal patterns, characterized by poorer conditions in the spring and summer seasons. Furthermore, the RF model identified Chla, dissolved oxygen (DO), ammonium nitrogen (NH4-N), water temperature (WT), pH, and total nitrogen (TN) as key parameters for the WQImin, with Chla emerging as the most important factor in determining WQImin in our study. Moreover, weighted WQImin models exhibited improved performance in estimating WQI. Our study emphasizes the importance of biological parameters in water quality assessment, and introduces a systematic workflow to facilitate the development of WQImin for accurate and cost-efficient water quality assessment. Furthermore, our study makes a substantial contribution to the advancement of knowledge regarding long-term trends and seasonal patterns in water quality of large reservoirs, which provides a foundational basis for guiding water quality management practices for reservoirs worldwide.

Remediation of biochar-supported effective microorganisms and microplastics on multiple forms of heavy metals in eutrophic lake

In mineral-rich areas, eutrophic lakes are at risk of HMs pollution. However, few papers focused on the repair of HMs in eutrophic environment. Our study analyzed multiple forms of HMs, pore structure and microbial responses in the water-sediment system of eutrophic lake treated with biochar, Effective Microorganisms (EMs) or/and microplastics (MPs). As biochar provided an ideal carrier for EMs, the remediation of biochar-supported EMs (BE) achieved the greatest repairment that improved the bacterial indexes and greatly decreased the most HMs in various forms across the water-sediment system, and it also reduced metal mobility, bioavailability and ecological risk. The addition of aged MPs (MP) stimulated the microbial activity and significantly reduced the HMs levels in different forms due to the adsorption of biofilms/EPS adhered on MPs, but it increased metals mobility and ecological risks. The strong adsorption and high mobility of aged MPs would increase enrichment of HMs and cause serious ecological hazards. The incorporation of BE and MP (MBE) also greatly reduced the HMs in full forms, which was primarily ascribed to the adsorption of superfluous biofilms/EPS, but it distinctly depressed the microbial activity. The single addition of biochar and EMs resulted in the inability of HMs to be adsorbed due to the preferentially adsorption of dissolved nutrients and the absence of effective carrier, respectively. In the remediation cases, the remarkable removal of HMs was principally accomplished by the adsorption of HMs with molecular weight below 100 kDa, especially 3 kDa ∼100 kDa, which had higher specific surfaces and abundant active matters, resulting in higher adsorption onto biofilms/EPS.

How do the growth forms of macrophytes affect the homogeneity of nearshore and open water areas?

Macrophytes with different growth forms exhibit diverse functional traits and ecological functions. In natural sub-deep lakes, there are often large differences in water quality between nearshore areas with macrophytes and open water areas. However, it remains unclear whether this phenomenon can be attributed to differences in plant growth forms. Therefore, we conducted continuous monitoring for four years, both before and after the implementation of an ecological restoration project, to explore whether the change in plant growth forms caused differences in water quality between the nearshore and open water areas. The results showed that implementing ecological restoration projects proved highly effective in improving the local environment, including water physicochemical properties and biological components, in the implementation area. First, the ecological restoration project greatly altered the plant community structure in the nearshore area before and after restoration. After restoration, there was a significant increase in the biomass and distribution area of noncanopy-forming plants (including erect and rosette-forming plants), while the opposite effect was observed for canopy-forming plants. Second, the transition of macrophyte community growth forms enhanced the stability of both macrophyte communities and water physicochemical parameters. Furthermore, the reduction in canopy-forming plants facilitated a more efficient water body exchange, resulting in greater homogeneity in water quality between the nearshore and open water areas. Overall, the presence of canopy-forming plants can hinder water body exchange due to large canopy formations on the water surface. In light of these findings, it is recommended that ecological restoration projects in natural lakes should consider the functional group composition of macrophytes.

Aerobic methane production by phytoplankton as an important methane source of aquatic ecosystems: Reconsidering the global methane budget

Biological methane, a major source of global methane budget, is traditionally thought to be produced in anaerobic environments. However, the recent reports about methane supersaturation occurring in oxygenated water layer, termed as "methane paradox", have challenged this prevailing paradigm. Significantly, growing evidence has indicated that phytoplankton including prokaryotic cyanobacteria and eukaryotic algae are capable of generating methane under aerobic conditions. In this regard, a systematic review of aerobic methane production by phytoplankton is expected to arouse the public attention, contributing to the understanding of methane paradox. Here, we comprehensively summarize the widespread phenomena of methane supersaturation in oxic layers. The remarkable correlation relationships between methane concentration and several key indicators (depth, chlorophyll a level and organic sulfide concentration) indicate the significance of phytoplankton in in-situ methane accumulation. Subsequently, four mechanisms of aerobic methane production by phytoplankton are illustrated in detail, including photosynthesis-driven metabolism, reactive oxygen species (ROS)-driven demethylation of methyl donors, methanogenesis catalyzed by nitrogenase and demethylation of phosphonates catalyzed by CP lyase. The first two pathways occur in various phytoplankton, while the latter two have been specially discovered in cyanobacteria. Additionally, the effects of four crucial factors on aerobic methane production by phytoplankton are also discussed, including phytoplankton species, light, temperature and crucial nutrients. Finally, the measures to control global methane emissions from phytoplankton, the precise intracellular mechanisms of methane production and a more complete global methane budget model are definitely required in the future research on methane production by phytoplankton. This review would provide guidance for future studies of aerobic methane production by phytoplankton and emphasize the potential contribution of aquatic ecosystems to global methane budget.

Identifying the drivers of chlorophyll-a dynamics in a landscape lake recharged by reclaimed water using interpretable machine learning

The water quality of lakes recharged by reclaimed water is affected by both the fluctuation of reclaimed water quality and the biochemical processes in the lakes, and therefore the main controlling factors of algal blooms are difficult to identify. Taking a typical landscape lake recharged by reclaimed water as an example and using the spatiotemporal distribution characteristics and correlation analysis of water quality indexes, we propose an interpretable machine learning framework based on random forest to predict chlorophyll-a (Chl-a). The model considered nutrient difference indexes between reclaimed water and lake water, and further used feature importance ranking and partial dependence plot to identify nutrient drivers. Results show that the NO3--N input from reclaimed water is the dominant nutrient driver for algal bloom especially at high temperatures, and the negative correlation between NO3--N and Chl-a in the lake water is the consequence of algal bloom rather than the cause. Our study provides new insights into the identification of eutrophication factors for lakes recharged by reclaimed water.

A novel combined system for efficient nitrate removal using a continuous flow electrocoagulation and sand filtration (FECF) reactor: Statistical analysis by Taguchi design

In this study, a new hybrid bench-scale electrocoagulation-sand filtration (FECF) reactor was developed for purifying nitrate-contaminated samples. Before and after electrochemical treatment, two sand filters were included in this continuous system to facilitate the purification procedure, and the contaminated water flows horizontally through the entire system according to a specific hydraulic gradient within the reactor, resulting in water purification. Significant improvement in treatment performance was observed due to the presence of metal hydroxides in the second filter media that were not fully involved in the electrocoagulation treatment. Energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis was performed to detect metal hydroxide species in the sand media, and the need for filter regeneration was evaluated by monitoring changes in the system flow rate. Moreover, an evaluation of the effects of different factors including operating time, current intensity, initial pH, type of anode and cathode, initial nitrate concentration, hydraulic head level inside the reactor, number of electrodes, and NaCl electrolyte concentration on the performance of nitrate removal was conducted through the Taguchi design. Further, ANOVA analysis verified the accuracy of the predicted model, and the variables were classified based on their relative importance in the FECF process. According to the regression model, 97% of nitrates were removed with Al electrodes as anode and Fe as cathode, 70 min purification time, current intensity of 3 A, 100 mg/l initial nitrate concentration, pH 8, electrolyte concentration of 1 g/l, electrode number of 6, and 1.5 cm head level.

Effective microorganism water treatment method for rapid eutrophic reservoir restoration

Since reservoirs perform many important functions, they are exposed to various types of unfavorable phenomena, e.g., eutrophication which leads to a rapid growth of algae (blooms) that degrade water quality. One of the solutions to combat phytoplankton blooms are effective microorganisms (EM). The study aims to evaluate the potential of EM in improving the water quality of the Turawa reservoir on the Mała Panew River in Poland. It is one of the first studies providing insights into the effectiveness of using EM in the bioremediation of water in a eutrophic reservoir. Samples for the study were collected in 2019-2021. The analysis showed that EM could be one of the most effective methods for cleaning water from unfavorable microorganisms (HBN22, HBN36, CBN, FCBN, FEN) - after the application of EM, a reduction in their concentration was observed (from 46.44 to 58.38% on average). The duration of their effect ranged from 17.6 to 34.1 days. The application of EM improved the trophic status of the Turawa reservoir, expressed by the Carlson index, by 7.78%. As shown in the literature review, the use of other methods of water purification (e.g., constructed wetlands, floating beds, or intermittent aeration) leads to an increase in the effectiveness and a prolongation of the duration of the EM action. The findings of the study might serve as a guide for the restoration of eutrophic reservoirs by supporting sustainable management of water resources. Nevertheless, further research should be conducted on the effectiveness of EM and their application in the remediation of eutrophic water reservoirs.

Current status and prospects of algal bloom early warning technologies: A Review

In recent years, frequent occurrences of algal blooms due to environmental changes have posed significant threats to the environment and human health. This paper analyzes the reasons of algal bloom from the perspective of environmental factors such as nutrients, temperature, light, hydrodynamics factors and others. Various commonly used algal bloom monitoring methods are discussed, including traditional field monitoring methods, remote sensing techniques, molecular biology-based monitoring techniques, and sensor-based real-time monitoring techniques. The advantages and limitations of each method are summarized. Existing algal bloom prediction models, including traditional models and machine learning (ML) models, are introduced. Support Vector Machine (SVM), deep learning (DL), and other ML models are discussed in detail, along with their strengths and weaknesses. Finally, this paper provides an outlook on the future development of algal bloom warning techniques, proposing to combine various monitoring methods and prediction models to establish a multi-level and multi-perspective algal bloom monitoring system, further improving the accuracy and timeliness of early warning, and providing more effective safeguards for environmental protection and human health.

Attribution of lake eutrophication risk to anthropogenic forcing adjacent to the agriculture areas: a case study of Chagan Lake

Lake eutrophication, exacerbated by high-intensity anthropogenic forcing, threatens water ecological security and the sustainable development of fisheries. Accurately evaluating lake eutrophication is the basis for effective management of the water environment. This study aimed to study eutrophication and its anthropogenic forcing in Chagan Lake, which is surrounded by agricultural areas with irrigation discharge as the primary water source. The spatiotemporal evolution characteristics of lake eutrophication and the anthropogenic forcing factors were analyzed based on the long-series multi-source data and modified eutrophication index. The results showed that (1) the average trophic state of Chagan Lake was eutrophic according to the modified eutrophication index (TLI = 58.31) and the nutrient level was higher in summer, reaching hypertrophy (TLI 61.49); (2) the maximum pollution footprint affecting the lake reached 34.7 km2, with a maximum buffer zone radius of 1 km; (3) the gross domestic product of primary industry, total sown area, and rice field area were the main anthropogenic factors leading to the lake eutrophication, with contribution rates of 64.43%, 13.09%, and 10.23%, respectively. Multidimensional management strategies for maximum pollution footprint, buffer zone radius, and contribution of anthropogenic factors were used to improve the water quality of the lake. The findings provided scientific support for the management of water environment of Chagan Lake and guided the formulation of "one lake, one policy."

Spatiotemporal dynamics of phytoplankton biomass and community succession for driving factors in a meso-eutrophic lake

Effects of climate change and nutrient load caused by human activities on lake phytoplankton blooms have attracted much attention globally. However, their roles and synergistic effects on phytoplankton biomass and community historical succession are not well understood, especially for meso-eutrophic plateau lakes. In this study, a multi-year (1997-2022) monthly dataset including hydro-chemical and meteorological indicators of the meso-eutrophic plateau lake Erhai in China, was used to explore the contributions of climate change and nutrients on phytoplankton biomass variation and community succession. Phytoplankton biomass increased from 1997 to 2006, slowly decreased from 2006 to 2015, then increased again from 2015 to 2022, according to a generalised additive model (GAM). Alongside warming, nitrogen, phosphorus and organic matter are key drivers of long-term interannual variation in phytoplankton biomass and historical succession of the phytoplankton community. The extensive blooms in recent years were strongly associated with both organic matter accumulation and global warming. Phytoplankton biomass in northern and southern districts was greater than in central areas, with Cyanophyta and Pyrrophyta dominating in the north and Chlorophyta prevalent in the south. Since 2015, phytoplankton diversity has increased significantly, and biomass has declined in the southern district but increased markedly in the northern district. Spatial heterogeneity was caused by the spatial distribution of nutrients and the buoyancy regulation capacity of cyanobacteria. The results demonstrate that bloom mitigation responds strongly to nitrogen and phosphorus control in meso-eutrophic lakes, therefore preventing and controlling blooms through nitrogen and phosphorus reduction is still an effective measure. Given the accumulation of organic matter in recent years, synergistic control of organic matter and total nitrogen and phosphorus could effectively reduce the risk of cyanobacterial and dinoflagellate blooms.

Unveiling novel perspectives on niche differentiation and plasticity in rhizosphere phosphorus forms of submerged macrophytes with different stoichiometric homeostasis

Stoichiometric homeostasis is the ability of organisms to maintain their element composition through various physiological mechanisms, regardless of changes in nutrient availability. Phosphorus (P) is a critical limiting element for eutrophication. Submerged macrophytes with different stoichiometric homeostasis regulated sediment P pollution by nutrient resorption, but whether and how P homeostasis and resorption in submerged macrophytes changed under variable plant community structure was unclear. Increasing evidence suggests that rhizosphere microbes drive niche overlap and differentiation for different P forms to constitute submerged macrophyte community structure. However, a greater understanding of how this occurs is required. This study examined the process underlying the metabolism of different rhizosphere P forms of submerged macrophytes under different cultivation patterns by analyzing physicochemical data, basic plant traits, microbial communities, and transcriptomics. The results indicate that alkaline phosphatase serves as a key factor in revealing the existence of a link between plant traits (path coefficient = 0.335, p < 0.05) and interactions with rhizosphere microbial communities (average path coefficient = 0.362, p < 0.05). Moreover, this study demonstrates that microbial communities further influence the niche plasticity of P by mediating plant root P metabolism genes (path coefficient = 0.354, p < 0.05) and rhizosphere microbial phosphorus storage (average path coefficient = 0.605, p < 0.01). This research not only contributes to a deeper comprehension of stoichiometric homeostasis and nutrient dynamics but also provides valuable insights into potential strategies for managing and restoring submerged macrophyte-dominated ecosystems in the face of changing nutrient conditions.

The effects of nutrient loading from different sources on eutrophication in a large shallow lake in Southeast China

Lake water eutrophication has become one of the leading obstacles to sustainable economic development in China. Research on the effects of mainstream currents on reservoirs has been relatively underdeveloped compared with research on tributaries, though changes in the water-sediment transport regime in a downstream river may affect nutrient transport behavior in a lake connected to that river. This is particularly problematic because certain wastewater sources, including runoff from agricultural wastes and industrial discharges, adversely affect lake water. Our study focused on Sanshiliujiao Lake, a significant drinking water source in Fujian, Southeast China, that has suffered considerably from eutrophication over the past few decades. This study aimed to estimate the phosphorus and nitrogen loads to the lake, exploring their sources and their ecologic effects using in situ observation and the export coefficient model. Our results showed that the pollution loads of total phosphorus (TP) and total nitrogen (TN) were 2.390 and 46.040 t/year, respectively, most of which were derived from the water diversion (TP 45.7%, TN 29.2%) and non-point source (TP 30.2%, TN 41.6%). The TN input was the highest in East river (3.557 kg/d), followed by Red river (2.524 kg/d). During the wet season, the input of TP and TN increased by 14.6 and 18.7 times, respectively, but produced only slight variations in concentration. Water diversion enriched the nutrients inputs and altered the structure and abundance of phytoplankton communities. In addition, when water flows from the main river directly to Sanshiliujiao Lake, algal blooms in river-connected lakes are significantly exacerbated, so our study may also serve as a theoretical basis to regulate eutrophication in Sanshiliujiao Lake.

Effects of air blower and pump failures on the performance of A2O processes for wastewater treatment

The unexpected failure of equipment such as pumps and fans in wastewater treatment plants can reduce wastewater treatment efficiency, leading to direct leakage of untreated wastewater into the environment. It is hence important to predict the possible consequences of equipment failure to minimize the leakage of harmful substances. This study examines the impacts of equipment shutdown on the performance and recovery time of a laboratory-scale anaerobic/anoxic/aerobic system with regard to reactor conditions and water quality. Two days after the air blowers are stopped, the concentrations of the soluble chemical oxygen demand, NH4-N, and PO4-P in the effluent of the settling tank increase to 122 mg/L, 23.8 mg/L, and 46.6 mg/L, respectively. These concentrations return to their initial values after 12, 24, and 48 h of restarting the air blowers. The concentrations of PO4-P and NO3-N in the effluent increase to 58 mg/L and 20 mg/L, respectively, about 24 h after stopping the return activated sludge and mixed liquor recirculation pumps, owing to the release of phosphates in the settling tank and inhibition of denitrification.

Relationships between Legionella and Aeromonas spp. and associated lake bacterial communities across seasonal changes in an anthropogenic eutrophication gradient

Anthropogenic eutrophication of lakes threatens their homeostasis and carries an increased risk of development of potentially pathogenic microorganisms. In this paper we show how eutrophication affects seasonal changes in the taxonomic structure of bacterioplankton and whether these changes are associated with the relative abundance of pathogenic bacteria of the genera Legionella and Aeromonas. The subject of the study was a unique system of interconnected lakes in northern Poland (Great Masurian Lakes system), characterized by the presence of eutrophic gradient. We found that the taxonomic structure of the bacterial community in eutrophic lakes was significantly season dependent. No such significant seasonal changes were observed in meso-eutrophic lakes. We found that there is a specific taxonomic composition of bacteria associated with the occurrence of Legionella spp. The highest positive significant correlations were found for families Pirellulaceae, Mycobacteriaceae and Gemmataceae. The highest negative correlations were found for the families Sporichthyaceae, Flavobacteriaceae, the uncultured families of class Verrucomicrobia and Chitinophagaceae. We used also an Automatic Neural Network model to estimate the relative abundance of Legionella spp. based on the relative abundance of dominant bacterial families. In the case of Aeromonas spp. we did not find a clear relationship with bacterial communities inhabiting lakes of different trophic state. Our research has shown that anthropogenic eutrophication causes significant changes in the taxonomic composition of lake bacteria and contributes to an increase in the proportion of potentially pathogenic Legionella spp.

Geochemical records of human-induced environmental changes in two small remote lakes of Songnen Plain, Northeast China

The abundance and composition of aliphatic hydrocarbon biomarkers were determined in dated sediment cores from Lakes Qijiapao (QJP) and Huoshaoheipao (HSH) in the Songnen Plain, Northeast China, to investigate historical environmental changes in these lakes and identify likely controlling factors. Based on these results, the recent environmental history of the two lakes can be divided into three periods. Before 1950, low Paq values (avg. 0.23 and 0.27, respectively) and middle-chain n-alkane abundances (normalized to total organic carbon, avg. 14.82 and 16.01 µg g-1 TOC, respectively) in both lakes suggested low aquatic productivity and the limited input of submerged macrophyte organic matter (OM). However, the significant increase in the abundance of short-chain n-alkanes in Lake HSH (from 8.34 to 16.68 µg g-1 TOC) indicated the emergence of early nutrient enrichment in the lake. From 1950 to 2000, marked increase in the abundance of middle-chain n-alkanes (avg. 21.72 and 22.62 µg g-1 TOC in Lakes QJP and HSH, respectively) and Paq values indicated that both lakes had undergone eutrophication because of the population explosion and agricultural intensification. From 2000 to 2013, the abundance of short- and middle-chain n-alkanes in Lake QJP markedly exceeded those in Lake HSH and indicated a larger eutrophication in Lake QJP, which could be caused by the development of ecotourism in Lake HSH and the concomitant increase in aquaculture in Lake QJP in recent years. The highest abundance of C30 αβ-hopane (~ 10.24 µg g-1 TOC) and the lowest CPIH values in Lake QJP revealed a possible petroleum pollution since 2008. Taken together, lake eutrophication in the Songnen Plain accelerated after 1950 and was influenced primarily by agriculture and aquaculture. This is in contrast to lakes in other regions of China (such as the Yangtze River Basin and Yunnan Province), where urbanization and industrialization have exerted a dominant influence on the lake environment.

Habitat-specific regulation of bacterial community dynamics during phytoplankton bloom succession in a subtropical eutrophic lake

Phytoplankton blooms, an important indicator of severe eutrophication, are a globally significant consequence of anthropogenic activities and climate change on freshwater lakes. Shifts in microbial communities during phytoplankton blooms have been extensively investigated, yet we have a limited understanding of how distinct assembly processes underlying the temporal dynamics of freshwater bacterial communities within different habitats respond to the succession of phytoplankton blooms. To address this knowledge gap, we collected both water and sediment samples in a subtropical eutrophic lake over a complete period of phytoplankton blooms to assess the dynamics of bacterial communities and the temporal shifts in assembly processes. Our results showed that phytoplankton blooms strongly altered the diversity, composition, and coexistence patterns of both planktonic and sediment bacterial communities (PBC and SBC), but the successional patterns differed between PBC and SBC. PBC were less temporally stable under bloom-induce disturbances, with higher variations in temporal dynamics and greater sensitivity to environmental fluctuations. Furthermore, the temporal assembly patterns of bacterial communities in both habitats were mainly driven by homogeneous selection and ecological drift. In the PBC, the role of selection decreased over time, while ecological drift became increasingly important. Conversely, in the SBC, the relative impact of selection and ecological drift on community assemblages fluctuated less over time, with selection remaining the dominant process throughout the bloom.

Relationship between anthropogenic factors and freshwater quality in Hainan Province, south China

Water resource security directly or indirectly affects the development of society, economy, and the environment, and is of massive significance for regional sustainable development. This study addresses whether anthropogenic activities, especially from tourism, significantly affect the freshwater quality in Hainan Province, China. The freshwater quality in Hainan Province was generally good in 2012 to 2015 (at level II, GB3838-2002). Agriculture, fishery, animal husbandry, and chemical oxygen demand discharge mainly affect freshwater quality in the Nandu and Changhua rivers. Water quality in Wanquan River is more susceptible to tourism in comparison with the Nandu and Changhua rivers. DO content in the Wanquan River fluctuated greatly. It remains necessary to closely monitor negative changes in water quality due to increasing tourism, especially in Wanquan River and eastern Hainan Province. The developed radial basis function neural network shows that the changes in water quality are predicted accurately in comparison with experimental values in the present study. Our results suggested that current anthropogenic factors had a modest effect on water quality on Hainan Island, while tourism had a perceptible effect in eastern Hainan. Our findings provide a reference for the interplay of water quality, people's livelihood, and economic development (tourism and port construction) in Hainan Province.

Hippuris vulgaris could replace Myriophyllum aquaticum for efficiently removing water phosphorus under low temperature conditions in China

Phytoremediation is widely used for the restoration of aquatic environments. However, the phytoremediation effects and mechanisms of special submerged species of native aquatic plants, especially under low-temperature conditions, are not yet clear. In this study, two typical submerged plants, Myriophyllum aquaticum (M. aquaticum; an exotic species) and Hippuris vulgaris (H. vulgaris; a native species), in China were investigated for their phosphorus (P) removal efficiencies (RE_p) and the related mechanisms of phytophysiology and microorganisms in a low-temperature incubator (10 °C during the day and 2 °C at night). At an initial P level of 0.5 mg L^-1, the two plants exhibited similar RE_p, with the highest values (73.5%-92.1%) observed on days 3-6. After 18 days, the residual P concentration in the water was less than the Grade III limit value (0.2 mg L^-1; GB 3838-2002). However, M. aquaticum had a faster RE_p velocity than H. vulgaris at an initial P level of 3.0 mg L^-1, which was attributed to the mechanisms of plant and its interactions with microorganisms. Compared to the control group, the superoxide dismutase activity of H. vulgaris was significantly increased and its catalase activity was decreased, whereas for that of M. aquaticum was the opposite. Micro region X-ray fluorescence analysis revealed that there may be synergic absorption effects between P, S, and K, and antagonistic absorption action between P and Mn in H. vulgaris. In addition, Acinetobacter, Novosphingobium and Pseudomonas were enriched at 3.0 mg L^-1 P level with these two plants, but Chlorophyta only accumulated with H. vulgaris, respectively. Overall, the native species, H. vulgaris, could replace the exotic M. aquaticum to efficiently remove P from polluted water at low temperatures. These findings provide a theoretical foundation for submerged plants P removal capabilities, and the protection of local ecosystem diversity at low temperatures.

Reduction of pollution loads based on sewage treatment projects around a lake: A case study on Erhai Lake

Erhai Lake is a highland freshwater lake in Dali, China. Rapid tourism development has generated large amounts of pollutants. Since 2015, six wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) have been built to treat wastewater collected through sewage interception projects. In this study, reductions in the pollution load of wastewater from different sources were evaluated by considering the effects of groundwater leakage, microbial degradation, and rainfall-runoff. The results showed that the systems reduced the chemical oxygen demand (COD), total nitrogen (TN), and total phosphorus (TP) loads by 85, 83, and 85%, respectively. Discharge wastewater has the characteristics of a low concentration of domestic sewage discharge, large tourist sewage discharge, and high concentration of livestock wastewater. Due to the high groundwater level, there is groundwater infiltration in the influent water of WWTPs, which dilutes the pollutant concentration of the influent and, therefore, results in a lower treatment efficiency. Further treatment of tailwater also reduced the pollution loads discharged into the lake as well as the COD and TN by 10.25 and 22.90%, respectively. The results indicate that groundwater infiltration in the sewer network system is the primary target to be addressed in future developments.

Eutrophication control of large shallow lakes in China

Large shallow lake refers to a polymictic system that is often well mixed without stratification during summer. Similar to a small and deep lake, a large and shallow lake has a high nutrient retention rate. Differing from a small and deep lake, it has an extensive sediment-water interface and internal loading from sediment, which has led to high susceptibility to eutrophication. There are many large and shallow freshwater lakes in the middle and lower Yangtze River (MLYR), China, experienced eutrophication and cyanobacteria blooms. To address this issue, a variety of methods focused on in-lake physical and biogeochemical processes was explored. The main gains of these studies included: (1) shallow lakes in the floodplain of the Yangtze River are prone to eutrophication because of their high trophic conditions; (2) wind-induced waves determine sediment resuspension, downward dissolved oxygen penetration, and upward soluble reactive nutrient mobilization, while wind-driven currents regulate the spatial distribution of water quality metrics and algal blooms; (3) the low P loss of shallow lakes via sedimentation and high N loss via denitrification lead to a low N:P ratio and N and P colimitation, which demonstrated the significance of dual N and P reduction for eutrophication control in shallow lakes; (4) extensive submerged macrophyte could suppress internal loading in large, shallow waters, but nutrient loading must be reduced and water clarity must be increased; and (5) climate warming promotes cyanobacterial blooms through positive feedback to exacerbate eutrophication in shallow lakes. The lack of action to address the challenges of non-point source pollution and internal loading from the sediment has led to limited effectiveness of eutrophication control in large shallow lakes under climate warming. In the future, the management of large shallow eutrophic lakes in China must combine social sciences (economic development) with natural technology (pollution reduction) to achieve sustainability.

Spatio-temporal evolution of eutrophication and water quality in the Turawa dam reservoir, Poland

The objectives of the article are: to assess spatio-temporal evolution of eutrophication and water quality of the Turawa dam reservoir, located in south-western Poland on the Mała Panew River; to identify location and relationship between potential sources of physicochemical pollution related to the progressing process of eutrophication; and to determine trophic status and water quality indices of the selected research object. The analysis (Mann-Whitney U test, PCA, HCA, Spearman correlation matrix) showed a high susceptibility of the reservoir to eutrophication processes, especially due to the influence of dangerous loads of compounds emerging from areas with high tourist intensity and pollutants flowing from the Mała Panew River. The parameters deteriorating the ecological status were TP, DO, BOD₅, and COD. Considering the cumulative results of water quality indices for the period 1998-2020, the average water quality was in classes II or III. A noticeable deterioration appeared in water quality for the years 2016-2020, which proves the progressing eutrophication in the Turawa reservoir. In 1998-2020, the reservoir was classified as eutrophic or mesoeutrophic based on the calculated three trophic status indices. This article would help in developing a strategy for dealing with water blooms, a reliable system for monitoring pressures causing eutrophication, and optimal technologies for the reconstruction of multifunctional reservoirs.

Sedimentary organic matter molecular composition reveals the eutrophication of the past 500 years in Lake Daihai, Inner Mongolia

Lake eutrophication seriously threatens water quality and human health. Under continuous global warming and intensified human activity, increasing attention is being paid to how lake trophic status responds to climate change and anthropogenic impacts. Based on the sedimentary organic matter (SOM) molecular composition determined by the Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS) technology, and combined with the SOM stable nitrogen isotopes (δ¹⁵N_org), we studied how lake trophic status and ecology respond to both climatic changes and anthropogenic impacts of the past 500 yrs at Lake Daihai, Inner Mongolia. The results show that the relative abundance of lipids, proteins, and carbohydrates in lake sediments kept relatively low before AD ∼1850, and increased gradually thereafter, especially after AD ∼1950, suggesting that the lake trophic status was low before AD ∼1850, but obviously increased during the past one more century. On the other hand, the relative abundance of allochthonous condensed aromatics and vascular plant-derived polyphenols compounds gradually decreased after AD ∼1850, which is most likely due to the intensified land-use changes in the catchment. Our results show that the SOM molecular composition is more sensitive to trace the land-use changes than the δ¹⁵N_org ratios, suggesting a potential use of this technique to trace even earlier human land uses (e.g., during the prehistorical times) in a catchment. The results of this study suggest that intensified land-use change, increased discharges of human sewage and industrial wastewater, cropland runoff, and concentrated effects caused by lake level drops may have combinedly increased nutrient concentration and accelerated lake eutrophication at Lake Daihai. Therefore, proper policy is necessary to slow down anthropogenic impacts and limit further eutrophication for lakes like Lake Daihai.

Water exchange unevenness alters the species dominance and community composition of submerged macrophytes in Erhai Lake and the potential mechanisms revealed by laboratory experiment

Water exchange unevenness (WEU) is defined as the coefficient of variation in water exchange intensity over time. Although its influence on aquatic plant characteristics has been recently investigated, there is limited understanding regarding the effects of this hydrodynamic change on submerged vegetation. This study investigated the impacts of WEU on the species dominance and community composition of submerged macrophytes in three bays with different WEU conditions in Erhai Lake, China. Subsequently, a laboratory experiment was conducted to elucidate the mechanisms underlying these effects. The field investigation showed that the dominance values of submerged macrophytes were influenced by WEU. As WEU decreased, the average dominance value decreased for Vallisneria natans (by 34.54 %), Myriophyllum spicatum (16.82 %), and Hydrilla verticillata (12.84 %); showed no significant change for Potamogeton lucens; and increased for Potamogeton maackianus (14.22 %) and Ceratophyllum demersum (17.52 %). The laboratory experiment showed that lower WEU markedly inhibited the growth of V. natans, slightly inhibited that of M. spicatum, and stimulated that of P. maackianus, consistent with the field observations. The inhibitory effect was attributed to a reduced concentration of carbon dioxide in the water; adaptive strategies, i.e., plant height, biomass allocation, and root traits, were more effective for M. spicatum than for V. natans. The stimulated growth of P. maackianus was attributed to increased dissolved oxygen concentration, which promoted root growth and nutrient uptake. Our results indicate that WEU has significant effects on the growth and community characteristics of submerged macrophytes.

Effects of calcination on the environmental behavior of sediments by phosphorus speciation and interface characterization

Dredged sediments derived from eutrophicated lakes poses hardness of sludge disposal and ecological risks. The proper pretreatment and utilization of dredged sediments presented a challenge. In this study, Dianchi Lake sediments were dredged, thermally treated and utilized as particle capping material in batch experiments. The effects of calcination on phosphorus speciation and sediment-water interface environment as well as P immobility mechanism were predominantly explored. The microstructures and chemical compositions of calcined sediments were investigated, indicating the porosity and mineralization components were greatly enhanced. The fractional analysis of phosphorus revealed that the calcination process reduced the percentage of unsteady phosphorus, transforming into stable inert phosphorus fractions (Al-P, Ca-P and Res-P), respectively, thereby minimized its mobility and eutrophication risk. Interestingly, calcination temperatures of 700 °C and 800 °C resulted in smaller releasing potentials and equilibrium phosphorus concentrations, despite having lower adsorption capacities than 550 °C. Furthermore, the results of redox potential monitoring showed that the thermally treated Dianchi Lake sediments could enhance the redox potential and dissolved oxygen in the surface sediment, indicating the amelioration of interfacial environment. The practical monitoring experiments confirmed the capping depressed the DTP to 0.031 mg L^-1. The investigation of this study provided explicit evidence of Ca coupled P and aerobic Fe bound P strengthened the immobilization effects, and the development of sediment calcination demonstrates a promising strategy for alleviating the burden of endogenous pollution and improving aerobic environment, which are of great significance for lake ecological remediation.

Migration electric-field assisted electrocoagulation with sponge biochar capacitive electrode for advanced wastewater phosphorus removal

Migrating electric field-assisted electrocoagulation (MEAEC) is a three-electrode electrochemical system, including waste flour-derived sponge biochar (SBC) as an adsorption electrode for efficient phosphorus removal from wastewater. The SBC was applied in the MEAEC system as a pseudo capacitance electrode with low energy consumption and reached an excellent effluent level (0.12 mg/L) with a 200-s treatment time in 1 mg/L phosphate synthetic wastewater. The SBC adsorption electrode had a total charge capacitance of 1.14 F/g with abundant micropores. Continuous charging and discharging at a constant voltage over 100 cycles demonstrated the excellent durability of the biochar electrodes. The energy demand of SBC-MEAEC was only 0.0058 kWh/m³ for 90% phosphate removal, which was 65% less than that of the control. The use of SBC in the MEAEC system greatly enhanced phosphate removal at low concentrations. In the SBC-MEAEC system, the electro-desorption synchronous electrocoagulation process demonstrated efficient concentration and release of ions after electro-adsorption. These results indicate that MEAEC with an SBC electrode could achieve a high level of phosphate removal with a much lower energy consumption than in previous studies. The recovered concentrated phosphorus flocs also contained fewer metal impurities than those in previous electrochemical approaches. The proposed desorption synchronous electrocoagulation utilizing waste-derived SBC electrodes provides a cost-effective pathway to treat low phosphorous-containing wastewater.

Spatiotemporal variation and driving factors of water quality in Yunnan-Guizhou plateau lakes, China

The Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau (YGP) lakes are the typical plateau rift lakes and an important water source in southwest China. However, there is a scarcity of research on its spatiotemporal water quality variations and driving factors, especially on long-term scales. Herein, multiple water quality indicators for 11 natural lakes on the YGP were measured from 2005 to 2020. In this study, the effects of natural lake attributes, human activities, and meteorological conditions on water quality were also analyzed. The results showed that the water quality of the YGP lakes tended to degrade, and was divided into heavy, medium, and light pollution types. Total phosphorus (TP), total nitrogen (TN), permanganate index (COD_Mn), and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD₅) increased by 14.69%, 14.44%, 22.61%, and 11.26%, respectively, from 2005 to 2020. Natural attributes of lakes and land use types were the main reasons for the spatial heterogeneity of water quality in YGP. In contrast, the temporal evolution of lake water quality was mainly related to human activities and climatic conditions. The smaller the water/ terrestrial area ratio, water storage capacity, and water depth, the easier the eutrophication and the worser the water quality of YGP lakes. Land degradation accelerated the deterioration of water quality in plateau lakes, while ecological land played an improving role. This study summarizes the water quality changes and influencing factors in YGP lakes over the past 15 years, which can provide a scientific database reference for water environment protection in YGP.

Mechanistic insights into polyhydroxyalkanoate-enhanced denitrification capacity of microbial community: Evolution of community structure and intracellular electron transfer of nitrogen metabolism

Denitrification is the key driving force of nitrogen cycle in surface water and plays an important role in eutrophication water remediation. Compared with some other common carbon sources, such as glucose and sodium acetate, polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) were found to have the distinguished advantages in screening specific denitrifying bacteria of natural surface water bodies. In this study, the large ensembles of taxa were obtained from surface water samples and then sub-cultured with PHA or glucose as the sole carbon source. The microbial community that could be screened by PHA was identified, and the environmental functions of these bacteria were analyzed. At the genus level, the main communities regulated by PHA included Pseudomonas (56.30 %), Acinetobacter (27.75 %), Flavobacterium (10.19 %) and Comamonas (3.14 %), which all had good denitrification ability. The changes in carbon source, nitrogen source and biomass (expressed by DNA) were simultaneously monitored when culturing the model strain (P. stuzeri) with PHA or glucose. Compared with the glucose group, less PHA was consumed to remove the same amount of nitrate within a shorter incubation time, and there was no significant difference in bacterial growth with PHA or glucose as the carbon source (glucose:ΔN:ΔC:ΔDNA = 1:18:0.072; PHA:ΔN:ΔC:ΔDNA = 1:11:0.063). PHA improved the denitrification efficiency by increasing the expression of NarGHI, NirB, NirK and NorB, i.e., the key enzymes in the denitrification process. In addition, PHA accelerated the assimilating rate of extracellular nitrate by bacteria through increasing the expression of NarK. Finally, PHA-regulated electron transfer during denitrification was studied by observing the changes in NADH and NAD⁺. PHA could use a large proportion of NADH to offer electrons for denitrification, which increased the rate of denitrification. Improved mechanistic insights into the PHA-enhanced denitrification capacity of the microbial community can provide novel options for the in-situ remediation of eutrophic surface water.

Removal effects of aquatic plants on high-concentration phosphorus in wastewater during summer

Aquatic plants are widely used in depth treatment of wastewater; however, the phosphorus (P) removal mechanisms of aquatic plants at high temperatures in summer are not well understood. Eight aquatic plants, including two floating species (Ludwigia peploides and Hydrocharis dubia) and six emergent species (Lythrum salicaria, Sagittaria sagittifolia, Canna indica, Sparganium stoloniferum, Rotala rotundifolia, and Ludwigia ovalis), were treated with five P solutions (3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, and 5.5 mg L^-1) for 5 weeks in a greenhouse during summer at air temperatures ranging from 25 to 35 °C. H. dubia, L. peploides, L. salicaria, and S. sagittifolia showed high water P removal efficiencies (exceeded 95%). Furthermore, their corresponding residual P concentrations in water were almost lower than the limit value of 0.2 mg L^-1 of Grade III in the Chinese Environmental Quality Atandards for Surface Water (GB3838-2002). Plants have different water P removal paths. For example, H. dubia enriched more P with water P concentration increasing significantly. As the culture time increased, the water pH fluctuated significantly in the fall, and then H. dubia used the produced H⁺ enrich P. L. peploides did not enrich P, but proliferated rapidly, to remove P from water by increasing its fresh weight (FW). L. salicaria and S. sagittifolia showed two paths of enrich-P and FW increase. During the growth process of L. salicaria, the stem diameter and leaf length increased with an increase in P concentration in water or plant or both; however, the height and root length of L. peploides were reduced. Moreover, SOD and CAT activities responded to high P concentrations in water or high temperatures or both, which protected against oxidative damage. These findings could offer theoretical foundation and practical guidance for selection of aquatic plant species in depth treatment of wastewater during summer.

Metagenomic Analysis Reveals the Response of Microbial Communities and Their Functions in Lake Sediment to Environmental Factors

Jingpo Lake is the largest mountain barrier lake in China and plays a key role in breeding, power generation, and providing a source of drinking water. Microbes are important participants in the formation of lake resources and energy cycles. However, the ecological protection of Jingpo Lake has faced serious challenges in recent years. In this study, we investigate the responses of the microbial community's composition of sediments at five locations to an environmental gradient representing water quality and water-depth changes using a metagenomic sequence. We found that the diversity and composition of the microbiota sediments were altered spatially and correlated with the physicochemical factors of water samples. In the microbial community, relatively lower Chao1, alternating conditional expectations, and Shannon and Simpson indices were found at the shallowest location with higher total phosphorus and chlorophyll a. Furthermore, the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis revealed that the metabolism function was the most abundant functional classification in Jingpo Lake. The levels of total phosphorus, chlorophyll a and pH were positively correlated with the abundance of Flavobacterium and the bacterial functions of the carbohydrate metabolism and amino acid metabolism. In conclusion, our results reveal the physical and chemical characteristics, as well as the microbial community characteristics, of Jingpo Lake, which provides new insights for studying the relationship between environmental factors and the bacterial community distribution of freshwater ecosystems, in addition to also providing a theoretical basis for the environmental monitoring and protection of the lake.

A holistic assessment of spatiotemporal variation, driving factors, and risks influencing river water quality in the northeastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP) is the source for many of the most important rivers in Asia. It is also an essential ecological barrier in China and has the characteristic of regional water conservation. Given this importance, we analyzed the spatiotemporal distribution patterns and trends of 10 water quality parameters. These measurements were taken monthly from 67 monitoring stations in the northeastern QTP from 2015 to 2019. To evaluate water quality trends, major factors influencing water quality, and water quality risks, we used a series of analytical approaches including Mann-Kendall test, Boruta algorithm, and interval fuzzy number-based set-pair analysis (IFN-SPA). The results revealed that almost all water monitoring stations in the northeastern QTP were alkaline. From 2015 to 2019, the water temperature and dissolved oxygen of most monitoring stations were significantly reduced. Chemical oxygen demand, permanganate index, five-day biochemical oxygen demand, total phosphorus, and fluoride all showed a downward trend across this same time frame. The annual average total nitrogen (TN) concentration fluctuation did not significantly decrease across the measured time frame. Water quality index (WQI-DET) indicated bad or poor water quality in the study area; however, water quality index without TN (WQI-DET') reversed the water quality value. The difference between the two indexes suggested that TN was a significant parameter affecting river water quality in the northeastern QTP. Both Spearman correlation and Boruta algorithm show that elevation, urban land, cropland, temperature, and precipitation influence the overall water quality status in the northeastern QTP. The results showed that between 2015 and 2019, most rivers monitored had a relatively low risk of degradation in water quality. This study provides a new perspective on river water quality management, pollutant control, and risk assessment in an area like the QTP that has sensitive and fragile ecology.

Inhibition of sediment internal phosphorus release in agricultural drainage ditches by ceria nanoparticle capping

In this study, ceria nanoparticles (CNPs) were introduced as an in-situ capping agent to inhibit the release of phosphorus (P) from sediments of agricultural drainage ditches. High-resolution dialysis (HR-Peeper) and diffusive gradients in thin film (DGT) techniques were used to measure the concentrations of P and iron (Fe) in the overlying water and sediments. The results showed that the CNP capping not only decreased the soluble reactive P (SRP) in the overlying water by 55.36% but also decreased the SRP in the pore water by 30.06%. More importantly, after the CNP capping, the flux of SRP from the pore water to the overlying water decreased by 34.12%, indicating that CNP capping can effectively inhibit the release of P from sediments to the overlying water. In addition, 38.38% of DGT-labile P was immobilized using CNP capping. Furthermore, the results of P speciation showed that CNP capping led to the change of P species from easily released NH4Cl-extractable P (NH4Cl-P) and Na2S2O4/NaHCO3-extractable P (BD-P) to more stable HCl-extractable P (HCl-P) and residual P (Res-P). These results show that CNP capping can further decrease the release of P from sediments to the overlying water. The present study shows that CNP is a feasible and effective capping material to inhibit the release of P from sediments of agricultural drainage ditches.

Microalgae-bacteria consortium for wastewater treatment and biomass production

The diversity of microalgae and bacteria allows them to form a complementary consortium for efficient wastewater treatment and nutrient recovery. This review highlights the potential of wastewater-derived microalgal biomass as a renewable feedstock for producing animal feed, biofertilisers, biofuel, and many valuable biochemicals. Data corroborated from this review shows that microalgae and bacteria can thrive in many environments. Microalgae are especially effective at utilising nutrients from the water as they grow. This review also consolidates the current understanding of microalgae characteristics and their interactions with bacteria in a consortium system. Recent studies on the performance of only microalgae and microalgae-bacteria wastewater treatment are compared and discussed to establish a research roadmap for practical implementation of the consortium systems for various wastewaters (domestic, industrial, agro-industrial, and landfill leachate wastewater). In comparison to the pure microalgae system, the consortium system has a higher removal efficiency of up to 15% and shorter treatment time. Additionally, this review addresses a variety of possibilities for biomass application after wastewater treatment.

Seasonal variation in release characteristics and mechanisms of sediment phosphorus to the overlying water in a free water surface wetland, southwest China

Geochemical cycling of iron (Fe) mediated by sediment microbes drives the remobilization of phosphorus (P). Understanding the underlying mechanism is essential for the evaluation of P retention by wetlands. The diffusive gradients in thin film (DGT) and 16S rDNA sequencing techniques were combined to explore seasonal variations in the remobilization mechanism of sediment P in a free water surface wetland in southwest China. A significantly positive correlation between labile P and Fe concentrations was found from the sediment profiles, indicating coupled remobilization of Fe and P in the sediment. Fe-reducing bacterial genera, particularly Sphingomonas and Geothermobacter, were responsible for the reductive dissolution of Fe oxides and subsequent P release in sediment. The efflux of sediment P was higher in the rainy season (95 ± 87 ng cm^-2 d^-1) than in the dry season (39 ± 29 ng cm^-2 d^-1). Based on the significantly positive relationship between the efflux and total concentration of sediment P, we propose a promising regression equation for quantifying the release risk of sediment P. The Luoshijiang Wetland exhibited a higher release potential as indicated by a greater regression slope (0.558) compared to the other water bodies (0.055), which was mainly attributed to the lower labile Fe:P molar ratio in the sediment. Based on estimations of the diffusive flux of P at the sediment-water interface, sediment contributed more than 172 and 413 g of P per day to the water column in the dry and rainy seasons, respectively, accounting for 14.0% and 1.9% of the P mass in the surface water of the wetland.

Metallic iron (Fe0)-based materials for aqueous phosphate removal: A critical review

The discharge of excessive phosphate from wastewater sources into the aquatic environment has been identified as a major environmental threat responsible for eutrophication. It has become essential to develop efficient but affordable techniques to remove excess phosphate from wastewater before discharging into freshwater bodies. The use of metallic iron (Fe⁰) as a reactive agent for aqueous phosphate removal has received a wide attention. Fe⁰ in-situ generates positively charged iron corrosion products (FeCPs) at pH > 4.5, with high binding affinity for anionic phosphate. This study critically reviews the literature that focuses on the utilization of Fe⁰-based materials for aqueous phosphate removal. The fundamental science of aqueous iron corrosion and historical background of the application of Fe⁰ for phosphate removal are elucidated. The main mechanisms for phosphate removal are identified and extensively discussed based on the chemistry of the Fe⁰/H₂O system. This critical evaluation confirms that the removal process is highly influenced by several operational factors including contact time, Fe⁰ type, influent geochemistry, initial phosphate concentration, mixing conditions, and pH value. The difficulty in comparing independent results owing to diverse experimental conditions is highlighted. Moreover, contemporary research in progress including Fe⁰/oxidant systems, nano-Fe⁰ application, Fe⁰ material selection, desorption studies, and proper design of Fe⁰-based systems for improved phosphate removal have been discussed. Finally, potential strategies to close the loop in Fe⁰-based phosphate remediation systems are discussed. This review presents a science-based guide to optimize the efficient design of Fe⁰-based systems for phosphate removal.

Water depth determines spatial and temporal phosphorus retention by controlling ecosystem transition and P-binding metal elements

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.

Agricultural non-point sources and their effects on chlorophyll-a in a eutrophic lake over three decades (1985-2020)

Erhai Lake is the second largest freshwater lake in Yunnan Province but suffers from the deterioration of water quality and agricultural non-point source pollution (ANPSP). However, little is known about the influence of ANPSP on the water quality of Erhai Lake. The export coefficient model (ECM) was used to obtain the total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) loads from ANPSP in Erhai Lake Basin (ELB). The trophic status of Erhai Lake as influenced by such sources of nutrient input was also been assessed. Results indicated that the TN and TP loads in ELB increased from 1985 to 2005 due to sustainable agricultural development; thereafter, the TN and TP loads decreased from 2005 to 2020, indicating that agricultural pollution prevention improved in ELB. The northern part of ELB had higher pollution intensity than the southern part and the central part, indicating that the ecosystem in the northern part of ELB appeared to be vulnerable. Driving force analysis showed that cattle breeding was the main reason for the exported TN loads in most watersheds, and intensive agricultural planting was the major contributor to TP loads. The mean annual Chl-a concentration had a strong correlation with the TN and TP loads exported from north of ELB, and this finding suggested that ANPSP could lead to eutrophication. The results of this study demonstrate the impacts of agricultural activities on water quality at the watershed scale and provide a scientific foundation for lake management decision-making.

New insights into identifying sediment phosphorus sources in river-lake coupled system: A framework for optimizing microbial community fingerprints

Identifying sediment phosphorus sources in river-lake coupled system is a question in developing preferential control strategies for phosphorus. As sediments adsorbed phosphorus and microbes would be transported with changing hydrodynamic, the phosphorus source-specific microbial community fingerprints shed light on determining the major sediment phosphorus sources. However, the identification of microbial community fingerprints is a challenge because both microbial succession and hydrological characteristics of river-lake systems would affect the stability of fingerprints. Therefore, this study provided a framework for optimizing phosphorus source-specific microbial community fingerprints, and attempted to identify the major sources of sediment phosphorus in river-lake coupled ecosystem. Meiliang Lake is one of the highly eutrophic area in Taihu Lake, where the sediments, bacterial communities, and phosphorus had a close relationship. Through analyzing the connectivity of microbes along water continuum, a microbial fingerprints candidate database was constructed. The phosphorus-related bacterial communities were screened and optimized by comparing the difference of predicted results between upstream and downstream, forming the stable microbial community fingerprints which consisted of Bacteroidia, Bacilli, Clostridia, and other species at the class level. SourceTracker results that based on the optimized phosphorus source-specific microbial community fingerprints indicated that the major sediment phosphorus sources to Meiliang Lake were Liangxi River, Wujingang River, and Donghuandi River, with the relative standard deviations ranging from 2.59% to 27.56%. The accuracy of phosphorus source apportionments was further confirmed based on the composite pollution index and hydrodynamic condition. This study put forward suggestions on how to improve the stability of microbial community fingerprints, and would help to improve the understanding of applying microbial source tracking method to identify the sources of abiotic pollution like sediment phosphorus.