Ecosystem Service Value for the Common Reed Wetlands in the Liaohe Delta, Northeast China

The largest reed field in the world, with an area of 1000 km2 in 1953, is located in the Liaohe Delta, which lies in the five-point-in-a-line economic strategic zone of northeastern China. However, the area of reeds has declined dramatically in recent years to accommodate oil field infrastructure and societal developments. Although the direct and indirect services provided by such wetlands make valuable contributions to human welfare, wetlands are often given little weight in policy decisions, because ecosystem services are not fully “captured” in commercial markets or adequately quantified in terms comparable with the values of economic services and manufactured capital. In this study the value of 10 of 17 ecosystem services provided by the reed wetlands in the Liaohe Delta was estimated by using market pricing, shadow projects, and benefit transfer methods. The value of the 10 services provided by the 800 km2 of reed wetland totaled approximately US $2.68 billion. Remarkably, aquaculture and the production of pulp from reeds accounted for only 19% of the total value of the reed wetland services. About 32% of the value of the ecosystem services was attributed to non-consumptive recreation, an easily perceived service that may act as a powerful incentive for sustainable management of this wetland ecosystem. The results of this study should help not only to guide management decisions with respect to this particular wetland but also to serve as an example of the approach to be taken with respect to valuation of similarly endangered wetlands throughout China.

Relations between soil heterogeneity and common reed(Phragmites australis Trin.ex Steud.) colonization in the Keriya River Basin,Xinjiang of China

How common reed （Phragmites australis Trin. ex Steud.） colonization correlates to soil heterogeneity and environmental determinants remains unclear in arid areas. We conducted a field investigation and soil sampling in 100 plots along Keriya River Basin to uncover the relationship between common reed and heterogeneous soils. Reed colonization variables and its soil properties were measured and recorded for the analysis of their relationship using Pearson correlation and redundancy analysis methods. The comparison results of common reed characteris- tics among 100 plots showed that common reeds performed strong tolerance and ecophysiological plasticity to edaphic stresses. Common reed colonization was tightly connected to soil heterogeneity according to the correla- tion analysis between its colonization characteristics and soil properties. Common reed colonization got feedbacks on soil properties as well, including the increase of soil organic matter and the alleviation of salt uplifting. The main limiting environmental determinant of common reed colonization was soil salt, followed by pH and soil water content.

Performance of Common Reed(Phragmites australis)in a Constructed Wetland for Greywater Treatment in Akure,Nigeria

Shortage of freshwater is becoming a growing problem in both dry and semi-dry regions of the world,hence the need to make use of other source of water for agricultural production.The study was conducted to examine the performance of common reed in a constructed wetland for greywater treatment in Akure,Nigeria.Raw greywater was collected from Jadesola Hostel,Federal University of Technology,Akure,and pretreated through a combination of gravel of diameters<32 mm,24 mm and 16 mm with fine sand of diameter 0.2 mm arranged accordingly.The filtered water was thereafter released to a plastic constructed wetland(CW)which also consisted of same combination of layers of gravel and sand with common reed planted on it for complete treatment.The raw and treated greywater were analyzed for Biochemical Oxygen Demand(BOD),Chemical Oxygen Demand(COD),Total Dissolved Solid(TDS),and heavy metals.It was discovered that CW planted with common reed was effective in the treatment of greywater with reduction in BOD by 91.4%,COD by 91.5%and TDS by 38.7%.CW had appreciable removal effect on heavy metals with reduction in:manganese(Mn)from 0.100 ppm to 0.012 ppm,iron(Fe)from 0.014 ppm to 0.002 ppm,lead(Pb)from 0.05 ppm to 0.001 ppm and zinc(Zn)from 0.154 ppm to 0.148 ppm.Therefore,the use of common reed in constructed wetland for greywater treatment is recommended for farmers involved in irrigation with greywater,especially during dry seasons,and most importantly under the rising global water scarcity due to climate change.

Cutting of Phragmites australis as a lake restoration technique： Productivity calculation and nutrient removal in Wuliangsuhai Lake, northern China

Reed is one of the most frequent and dominant species in wetlands all over the world, with common reed （Phragmites australis （Cav.） Trin. ex Steud.） as the most widely distributed species. In many wetlands, P. australis plays a highly ambivalent role. On the one hand, in many wetlands it purifies wastewater, provides habitat for numerous species, and is a potentially valuable raw material, while on the other hand it is an invasive species which expands aggressively, prevents fishing, blocks ditches and waterways, and builds monospecies stands. This paper uses the eutrophic reed-swamp of Wuliangsuhai Lake in Inner Mongolia, northern China, as a case to present the multiple benefits of regular reed cutting. The reed area and aboveground biomass production are calculated based on field data. Combined with data about water and reed nutrient content, the impact of reed cutting on the lake nutrient budget （N and P） is investigated. Currently, at this lake around 100,000 tons of reed are harvested in winter annually, removing 16% and 8% of the total nitrogen and phosphorus influx, respectively. Harvesting all available winter reed could increase the nutrient removal rates to 48% and 24%, respectively. We also consider the effects of summer harvesting, in which reed biomass removal could overcompensate for the nutrient influx but could potentially reduce reed regrowth.