Coupling effects of hydrological characteristics and nutrient load in sediments on the trophic state of reservoirs

Currently,lakes and artificial reservoirs are increasingly threatened by eutrophication,which is the result of the combined action of many natural and anthropogenic factors.In the past,the effect of nutrient load on the trophic state of water bodies has attracted much attention,while few studies have addressed the effect of hydrological characteristics.Therefore,to reveal the coupling effects of hydrological characteristics and nutrient load in sediments on the trophic state of water bodies,this study collected relevant data from 36 lakes and reservoirs across China.Pearson correlation analysis showed that trophic level index was positively and significantly correlated with nutrient load in sediments and hydraulic retention time,while it was negatively correlated with mean depth and hydraulic load.The principal component analysis showed that the nutrient load was the first major component that influenced the trophic state of water bodies,followed by the mean depth and hydraulic retention time.Eutrophication was prone to occur in water bodies with mean depth less than 7 m and hydraulic retention time greater than 14 d,and the trophic level index regression equation with hydrological characteristics and nutrient load in sediments was derived by multiple regression analysis.This study revealed that the trophic state of water bodies influenced by both nutrient load and hydrological characteristics.It provides a new idea to reduce the occurrence of eutrophication in reservoirs by using the artificial hydrological regulation capacity of reservoirs.

Physico-Chemical Features of the Kpassa Reservoir, Northern Benin, with Emphasis on Its Trophic State: A Preliminary Study

This work presents recent data on the physico-chemical properties and the trophic status of Kpassa reservoir at eighteen locations from August 2014 to February 2015. Seventeen physico-chemical parameters were measured and data obtained were statistically analyzed. The descriptive statistics showed their variations (minima-maxima) as follows: pH (4.65 - 7.30), temperature (25.1°C - 29.9°C), dissolved oxygen (1 - 5.79 mg/L), oxydability (0.32 - 10.88 mg O2/L), electrical conductivity (55 - 77 μS/cm𕒵), TDS (76 - 94 mg/L), turbidity (15.70 - 274.40 NTU), transparency (0.24 - 1.55 m), suspended matter (3 - 92 mg/L), total phosphorus (0.25 - 1.90 mg/L), orthophosphate (0.08 - 0.61 mg/L), nitrate (undetected 5.50 mg/L), nitrite (undetected 0.79 mg/L), ammonia (undetected 0.36 mg/L), chlorophyll a (7.20 - 2334.6 μg/L), silica (4.34 - 15.67 mg/L) and N/P ratio (0.08 - 42.62). These parameters were mainly influenced by agricultural activities and climatic conditions. The restriction or the removal of the use of chemical fertilizers in agricultural activities in Kpassa reservoir basin was recommended. The highest values of Pearson and Spearman correlations were observed across TDS and conductivity (0.967;0.951), turbidity and oxydability (0.924;0.665), turbidity and chlorophyll a (0.884;0.663), turbidity and suspended matter (0.982;0.793), suspended matter and transparency (𕒴.781;𕒴.819), suspended matter and nitrate (𕒴.813;𕒴.839), suspended matter and oxydability (0.919;0.602) and suspended matter and chlorophyll a (0.879;0.656). Carlson’s trophic state index (TSI) values varied between 36 and 66 showing that Kpassa reservoir was eutrophic in August and mesotrophic to oligotrophic during the other months of the sampling period. ANOVA and Kruskal-Wallis test indicated that there were no significant differences between sampling stations.

Assessment of the Trophic Status by Monitoring of Reservoir’s Water Quality

Continuous long-term monitoring of aquatic systems is important for understanding their complete evolution in order to monitor changes in the trophic status and water quality. The continuous monitoring during a period of 20 years, by sampling once a month at two locations, the water quality of reservoir “Grliste”, which is used for the water supplying town Zajecar (Eastern Serbia), is observed and developmental stages in the life of the reservoir were determinated. It should be noted that the obtained results were used also in the purpose of finding a cause of cyanobacteria bloom, as a consequence of algal production. Limiting factors of algal production usually were nitrogen and phosphorus, however, in this study, obtained results of subtraction between trophic state index, calculated through total chlorophyll a (TSIChl-a) and trophic state index, calculated through total phosphorus (TSITP), indicated that limiting factor of algal production was light. On the basis of the concentrations of dissolved oxygen (DO), total phosphorus (TP) and chlorophyll a (Chl-a) in the surface and in the bottom, it was concluded that the reservoir passed through four development phases during the examined period. Results of long-term monitoring showed that in the first years after the formation of the reservoir, the highest trophicity was detected (hypereutrophic status), but later the reservoir mostly maintained eutrophic status.

Evaluation of the trophic state in Vilun lagoon

In this paper we present the evaluation of trophic state of lagoon aquatic ecosystems connected to the Adriatic Sea. Vilun lagoon is one of these lagoons in Albania. It is one of the most important ecosystems in the country. For trophic state evaluation, spectrophotometry methods of absorption, as well as turbidimetry ones are applied. This ecosystem is monitored for a year from April to October. The evaluation of trophic state is based on these four indicators: the containment of chlorophyll a in phytoplankton;the distribution of photosynthetic pigments;water turbidity and phosphorus containment in water. The monitoring process is performed in different areas of the lagoon, in order to be able to make a more characteristic evaluation of trophic state. All selected areas of Vilun lagoon show a reasonable level of trophic state, which is characterized such as being mezotrophic. Changes related to trophic level are observed during the monitoring period, in each and all the selected areas. Furthermore, changes in the distribu-tion of chlorophylls and their relative content between selected areas are observed.

Study on the Relationship between Chlorophyll-a and Environmental Impact Factors in Deep Reservoir in Karst Areas——Taking Aha Reservoir for Example

[Objective] The aim was to study the relationship between chlorophyll-a and environmental impact factors in deep reservoir in Karst Areas.[Method] Taking Aha Reservoir for example,the changes of chlorophyll-a content and its relationship with environmental impact factors were researched,and the water quality of Aha Reservoir was assessed by means of modified Carlson trophic state index.[Result] Chlorophyll-a content in Aha Reservoir was higher in March,April,May and September and lower from June to August,and there was obvious seasonal variation,namely its variation trend was spring>summer>autumn>winter.In addition,chlorophyll-a content showed extremely significant correlation with transparency and dissolved oxygen (P<0.01) and significant correlation with ammonia nitrogen (P<0.05).Meanwhile,trophic state index was higher in whole year in Aha Reservoir which was in moderate trophic state in August,October and November and eutrophic state in other months.[Conclusion] The study could provide scientific reference for discussing the mechanism of lake eutrophication.

Temporal and spatial distribution of virioplankton in large shallow freshwater lakes

Virioplankton dynamics at seven sample sites(from two freshwater lakes) with different trophic states were monitored over the period of a year.Water was sampled monthly from August 2004 to July 2005,and the abundances of viruses and bacteria were measured using direct epifluorescence microscopy counting.Results indicated that both natural and anthropogenic factors could influence the distribution of virioplankton.Temporally,viral abundance was significantly correlated to bacterial density and water temperature.Spatially,viral abundance was significantly correlated to trophic state.This in turn indicated that viral abundance was directly dependant on host abundance in eutrophic lakes,while trophic state and temperature could drive the distribution of virioplankton.The virus-bacteria ratio was significantly lower in less productive water-bodies.The result implied that the control of virioplankton on their hosts may change according to the host density.

Evolution on the Water Quality in Sergipe Hinterland Reservoirs, Northeast Brazil

Population growth has consequences for intense use of aquatic ecosystems. Samples were taken, between 2013 and 2014, in the reservoirs ＂Algodoeiro＂ and ＂Gloria＂ in Sergipe, Brazil. TSI （Trophic State Index） and WQI （Water Quality Index） were used. It was determined the parameters such as conductivity, dissolved oxygen, total nitrogen, total phosphorus and chlorophyll. TSI has been applied, in ＂Algodoeiro＂, which was classified as mesotrophic. With the increase of rainfall in 2014, this reservoir changed its condition to eutrophic. ＂Gloria＂ reservoir was already classified in super-eutrophication. Regarding the WQI, the reservoirs were classified in Class IV, indicating a critically degraded condition.

Spatiotemporal optical properties of dissolved organic matter in a sluice-controlled coastal plain river with both salinity and trophic gradients

Due to the combined effect of sluices and sea tide,the sluice-controlled coastal plain river would be characterized by both trophic state and salinity gradients,affecting the spatiotemporal optical properties of dissolved organicmatter(DOM).In this study,we investigated the spatiotemporal variation of water quality parameters and optical properties of DOM in the Haihe River,a representative sluice-controlled coastal plain river in Tianjin,China.A significant salinity gradient and four trophic states were observed in the water body of the Haihe River.Two humic-and one protein-like substances were identified from the DOM by the three-dimensional fluorescence spectra combined with the parallel factor(PARAFAC)analysis.Pearson’s correlation analysis and redundancy analysis(RDA)showed that the salinity significantly affected the abundance of chromophoric DOM(CDOM)but did not cause significant changes in the fluorescence optical characteristics.In addition,the effect of Trophic state index(TSI)on the CDOM abundance was greater than that on the fluorescence intensity of fluorescent dissolved organic matter(FDOM).In the water body with both salinity and trophic state gradients,TSI posed a greater influence than salinity on the CDOM abundance.Our results fill the research gap in spatiotemporal DOM characteristics and water quality variation in water bodies with both salinity and trophic state gradients.These results are beneficial for clarifying the joint influence of saline intrusion and sluices on the DOM characteristics and water quality in sluice-controlled coastal plain rivers.

Numerical modeling of nutrient transport to assess the agricultural impact on the trophic state of reservoirs

A trophic state increase relates to surface water bodies nutrient enrichment,due to the chemical products used such as fertilizers in agriculture and residues from cattle raising activities.This research consists of nutrient transport numerical modeling to analyze the Betancíreservoir trophic state in Colombia;Water samples were collected to analyze total nitrogen,total phosphorus,ammonia,nitrates,nitrites,phosphates,chlorophyll-a,dissolved oxygen,BOD,COD,suspended solids,and water trans-parency.The water quality model MOHID Studio was implemented and after its calibration,scenarios of increase and decrease of nutrients and inflows to the reservoir through its main tributaries were simulated to reproduce the agricultural activity changes in the basin and the effects that would have on the reservoir's trophic state dynamics;Therefore,the Carlson Trophic Status Index was calculated for each case.The results show that variations in total nitrogen concentration and increased inflows present short-term consequences on the reservoir's trophic state.Increasing the incoming total nitrogen con-centrations by 100%causes the reservoir to change from a light eutrophic to a hypereutrophic state.The results of this research provide a starting tool to water resources integrated management in reservoirs.

Establishing eutrophication assessment standards for four lake regions, China

The trophic status assessment of lakes in different lake regions may provide important and fundamental information for lake trophic state classification and eutrophication control. In this study, a region-specific lake eutrophication assessment standard was established through a frequency distribution method based on chlorophyll-a concentration. The assessment standards under the oligotrophic state for lakes in the Eastern plain, Yungui Plateau, Northeast Plain and Mountain Mongolia-Xinjiang regions are total phosphorus of 0.068, 0.005, 0.011, 0.005 mg/L; total nitrogen of 1.00, 0.16, 0.37, 0.60 mg/L; Secchi depth of 0.60, 8.00, 1.55, 3.00 m; and CODMn of 2.24, 1.00, 5.1 l, 4.00 mg/L, respectively. Moreover, a region-specific comprehensive trophic level index was developed to provide an understandable assessment method for the public. The results indicated that the frequency distribution analysis based on chlorophyll-a combined with trophic level index provided a useful metric for the assessment of the lake trophic status. In addition, the difference of eutrophication assessment standards in different lake regions was analyzed, which suggested that the sensitivities of algae to nutrients and the assessment standard of trophic status possessed significant regional differences for the four lake ecoregions. Lake eutrophication assessment standards would contribute to maximizing the effectiveness of future management strategies, to control and minimize lake eutrophication problems.

Eutrophication development and its key regulating factors in a water-supply reservoir in North China

Yanghe Reservoir is an important source of drinking water for Qinhuangdao City,North China;however,in recent decades this water source has been eutrophic with recurrent summer cyanobacterial blooms.The trophic grade of the system in summer was mesotrophiceutrophic in 1990 and became hypertrophic in 2011.The nutrient availability is extremely high during the entire year,and the water temperature should be the primary driver of the summer blooms.In May-October of 2010 and 2011,abrupt variations were observed in the Secchi depth（SD） and chlorophyll a（Chl-a）,and both the correlated analysis of Chl-a-SD and trophic status indices（TSI） deviation（TSI Chl-a-TSI SD） showed that algal cell density dominated light attenuation.During the algal bloom outbreak,the microcystin concentration was found to vary between 0.35-2.12 μg/L in 2010 and 0.11-1.86 μg/L in 2011.The maximum microcystin content was more than two times the safety limit required for drinking water.Inflow discharges were most concentrated in the summer,with periods of lower residence time and the largest water level fluctuation over the entire year.When a high availability of nutrients promoted a high Chl-a concentration in the whole system,it appeared that the instability caused by the decrease in residence time could not produce effective changes in the cyanobacterial abundance.The results indicated that nutrient enrichment in the aquatic systems of Yanghe Reservoir is the most serious problem and that the status would not been modified effectively by increasing hydrological fluctuations（e.g.,decreasing the residence time）.Therefore,decreasing the nutrient concentrations is the only route to improve the water quality of this reservoir.

Human impact on current environmental state in Chinese lakes

Anthropogenic and natural disturbance to inland aquatic ecosystems displays a notable spatial difference, yet data to measure these differences are scarce. This study encompasses 217 lakes distributed over five lake regions of China and elucidates the environmental factors determining the spatial variability of the water quality and trophic status. A significant correlation between human modification index in surrounding terrestrial systems(HMT)and trophic status of lake ecosystems(TSI) was found, and the regression slope in each region was similar except in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau region. It was further noted that the pattern of environmental factor network(EF network) differed among freshwater and saline lakes. The EF network was complex for freshwater lakes in less human-influenced areas, but intensive man-made influence disrupted most relationships except for those between total nitrogen, total phosphorus, chlorophyll-a, and water turbidity. As for regions including saline lakes, correlations among water salinity and organic forms of carbon and nitrogen were apparent. Our results suggest that HMT and EF network can be useful indicators of the ecological integrity of local lake ecosystems, and integrating spatial information on a large scale provides conservation planners the option for evaluating the potential risk on inland aquatic systems.