Spatial characters of nutrients in Wujiangdu Reservoir in karst river,SW China

A preliminary assessment of the Wujiangdu Reservoir examined nutrient distribution and transport.Water samples were collected in the summer(July) of 2004, during the high-flow season. Inorganic nutrients(N,P, Si) and chlorophyll a(chl a) concentrations of the Wujiangdu Reservoir and its inflow rivers were analyzed.Other water parameters(dissolved oxygen, p H, temperature, and electrical conductivity) were measured as well.The results show gradually decreasing concentrations of NO_3^--N and dissolved silicate in the surface water moving downstream to the dam of the Wujiangdu Reservoir.Additionally, soluble reactive phosphorus concentrations measured very low, with most falling below the sensitivity threshold of the method used in surface waters. Particulate phosphorus and NO_3^--N were the predominant species of phosphorus and nitrogen in the reservoir, respectively. The concentration of nutrients in the Yeji River was the largest of all inflow rivers. The maximum concentration of chl a was found near the dam. These results reflect upstream conditions similar to that of a river, and reservoir conditions near the dam similar to that of a natural lake system.

Methylmercury and sulfate-reducing bacteria in mangrove sediments from Jiulong River Estuary,China

Estuaries are important sites for mercury （Hg） methylation, with sulfate-reducing bacteria （SRB） thought to be the main Hg methylators. Distributions of total mercury （THg） and methylmercury （MeHg） in mangrove sediment and sediment core from Jiulong River Estuary Provincial Mangrove Reserve, China were determined and the possible mechanisms of Hg methylation and their controlling factors in mangrove sediments were investigated. Microbiological and geochemical parameters were also determined. Results showed that SRB constitute a small fraction of total bacteria （TB） in both surface sediments and the profile of sediments. The content of THg, MeHg, TB, and SRB were （350 ± 150） ng/g, （0.47 ± 0.11） ng/g, （1.4× 10^011 ± 4.1 × 10^9） cfu/g dry weight （dw）, and （5.0× 10^6 d： 2.7 × 10^6） cfu/g dw in surficial sediments, respectively, and （240 ± 24） ng/g, （0.30 ± 0.15） ng/g, （1.9 × 10^11 ± 4.2 × 10^9） cfu/g dw, and （1.3 × 10^6 ± 2.0 × 10^6） cfu/g dw in sediment core, respectively. Results showed that THg, MeHg, TB, MeHg/THg, salinity and total sulfur （TS） increased with depth, but total organic matter （TOM）, SRB, and pH decreased with depth. Concentrations of MeHg in sediments showed significant positive correlation with THg, salinity, TS, and MeHg/THg, and significant negative correlation with SRB, TOM, and pH. It was concluded that other microbes, rather than SRB, may also act as main Hg methylators in mangrove sediments.

Total mercury in wild fish in Guizhou reservoirs, China

The health hazard of mercury （Hg） compounds is internationally recognized, and the main pathways for methylmercury （MeHg） intake in humans are through consumption of food, especially fish. Given the large releases of Hg to the environment in China, combined with the fast development of hydropower, this issue deserves attention. Provided similar mobilization pathways of Hg in China as seen in reservoirs in North America and Europe one should expect increased Hg contamination in relation to future hydropower reservoir construction in this country. This study presents total Hg （THg） concentrations in wild fish from six Guizhou reservoirs, China. The THg concentrations in fish were generally low despite high background levels in the bedrock and depositions from local point sources. The over all mean ± SD concentration of THg was （0.066 ± 0.078） μg/g （n = 235）. After adjusting for among-reservoir variation in THg, there were significant differences in THg among functional groups of the fish, assumed to re？ect trophic levels. Predicted THg- concentration ratios, retrieved from a mixed linear model, between the functional groups were 9：4：4：1 for carnivorous, omnivorous, planktivorous and herbivorous fish. This result indicated that MeHg accumulation may prevail even under circumstances with short food chains as in this Chinese water system. No fish exceeded recommended maximum THg limit for human consumption set by World Health Organization and the Standardization Administration of China （0.5 μg/g fish wet weight （ww））. Only six fish （2.5%） exceeded the maximum THg limit set by US Environmental Protection Agency （0.3 μg/g fish ww）.