Optimization of Wetland Plant Selection and Configuration in Urban Water Environment Ecological Restoration Projects

In urban water ecological restoration projects,the selection and configuration of wetland plants are crucial for water quality improvement,ecological diversity enhancement,and landscape beautification.Different plants have different characteristics,and a scientific and rational selection and optimization of plant species is needed.This paper proposes an optimized plant selection and configuration scheme for urban water ecological restoration based on the ecological characteristics and pollutant removal performance of wetland plants.It analyzes the diversity,removal mechanisms,and configuration modes of wetland plants,taking into account ecology,aesthetics,and cost-effectiveness,to provide scientific evidence for wetland plant configuration and support water environment management decision-making.

Effect of Typical Vegetation Restoration Pattern on Soil and Water Conservation in Yuanmou Dry-hot Valley of Yunnan Province

In Yuanmou dry-hot valley of Yunnan Province,three typical vegetation restoration patterns including production forest transformed from sloping fields to terracing,ecological afforestation within the gully and ecological aforestation in gully head and slope were selected to compare their effects on soil and water conservation.Soil and water loss,soil infiltration rate and the soil moisture dynamics of soil profile with the depth of 0-100 cm of these three patterns and their controls were observed by established standard observation plots in rainy season.The results showed that the soil and water loss of ecological afforestation and production forest terrace reduced by over 30% and 60% compared with their controls（without growth of any vegetation）respectively,showing significant control effect on the soil and water loss.Vegetation restoration also apparently increased the infiltration rate of soil（increased by 100%-200%）.In rainy season,the soil moisture content of ecological afforestation and production forest terrace increased by over 30% and 100% compared with their controls.This indicated that vegetation restoration will not lead to soil aridity during the rainy season;vegetation restoration not only reduced the loss of surface water and soil fine particles,but also enhanced the infiltration of precipitation.These two effects made the soil moisture content increase throughout the profile.

Study on Ecological Restoration of the Landscape Water in Yuefei Temple of Hangzhou

On account of the existent problems of the small landscape water of 400 m2,with the recovery technique of submerged plants as the core,assisted by the measures of AquaMats ecological base,ecological floating bed construction,biological manipulation,the landscape water was treated comprehensively and the water quality obviously improved after the implementation and treatment of twelve month,CODMn,BOD5,NH3-N,TP,TN and SS respectively decreasing from 4.24,7.62,2.24,0.49,9.31,11.00 mg/L to 2.04,4.76,0.69,0.27,3.72,6.00 mg/L.After the treatment,the organic pollution and eutrophication of the landscape water was controlled to a certain degree,the eruption of the algal bloom was mitigated,and the color of landscape water changed from dark green to yellowish green,and the transparency degree increased from 50 cm to nearly 65 cm.The successful implementation of the restoration project provided certain guiding paradigm for the treatment of small landscape water in cities.

Recent advances and key perspectives of in-situ studies for oxygen evolution reaction in water electrolysis

Electricity-driven water splitting to produce hydrogen is one of the most efficient ways to alleviate energy crisis and environmental pollution problems,in which the anodic oxygen evolution reaction(OER)is the key half-reaction of performance-limiting in water splitting.Given the complicated reaction process and surface reconstruction of the involved catalysts under actual working conditions,unraveling the real active sites,probing multiple reaction intermediates and clarifying catalytic pathways through in-situ characterization techniques and theoretical calculations are essential.In this review,we summarize the recent advancements in understanding the catalytic process,unlocking the water oxidation active phase and elucidating catalytic mechanism of water oxidation by various in-situ characterization techniques.Firstly,we introduce conventionally proposed traditional catalytic mechanisms and novel evolutionary mechanisms of OER,and highlight the significance of optimal catalytic pathways and intrinsic stability.Next,we provide a comprehensive overview of the fundamental working principles,different detection modes,applicable scenarios,and limitations associated with the in-situ characterization techniques.Further,we exemplified the in-situ studies and discussed phase transition detection,visualization of speciation evolution,electronic structure tracking,observation of reaction active intermediates,and monitoring of catalytic products,as well as establishing catalytic structure-activity relationships and catalytic mechanism.Finally,the key challenges and future perspectives for demystifying the water oxidation process are briefly proposed.

Effects of vegetation types on soil water dynamics during vegetation restoration in the Mu Us Sandy Land, northwestern China

The arid and semi-arid northwestern China has been undergoing ecological degradation and the efforts to reverse the ecological degradation have been undertaken for many years. Some shifting dunes have been fixed and the vegetation has been partially recovered in certain areas and the Mu Us Sandy Land in the Ordos Plateau is an example of the success. The present study attempts to reveal the relationships between the vegetation restoration and ecohydrology in the Mu Us Sandy Land. We continuously measured soil water content at 10-min intervals under three vegetation types （i.e., shifting dune, shrub-dominated community, and herb-dominated community） in the Mu Us Sandy Land from April 2012 to October 2013. The results show the infiltration coefficient increased with increased rainfall amount and eventually reached a stable value. Infiltration coefficients were 0.91, 0.64, and 0.74 in the shifting dune, in the shrub-dominated community, and in the herb-dominated community, respectively. Cumulative infiltration and soil texture are two vital factors affecting the depths of rainfall penetration. Only rainfall events larger than 35.0 mm could recharge soil water at the 60-80 cm layer in the herb-dominated community. Our results imply that the expected forward succession of restored vegetation may be destined to deterioration after reaching the climax simply because of following two facts： （1） soil water is mainly retained at shallower layer and （2） plant fine roots mainly distribute in deeper layer in the herb-dominated community.

Experimental Research on the Application of Water Hyacinths to the Ecological Restoration of Water Bodies with Eutrophication

[Objective] The study aims to discuss the application of water hyacinths to the ecological restoration of water bodies with eutrophication through simulation experiments. [Method] In this study, water hyacinths were used to restore the simulated eutrophic water with green algae as the dominant algae species, and then the restoration effect of the simulated eutrophic water by water hyacinths was analyzed. [Result] In the simulation test without sediment, the peak chlorophyll concentration was 434.6 mg/m3 in the tank without water hyacinths, which decreased to 285 and 119 mg/m3 respectively in the tanks with 1 and 4 water hyacinths. In the experiment with sediment, compared with the control tank without water hyacinths, a 58% reduction in chlorophyll concentration could be observed in the tank with 4 water hyacinths planted (with a coverage of 51%). The results showed that water hyacinths could inhibit alga growth notably, but there was likely a density threshold (51% coverage), and no significant eco-restoration effect was observed in the simulated eutrophic water with too few water hyacinths planted. [Conclusion] The research could provide scientific references for the ecological restoration of eutrophic water bodies.

Structural Changes and Rheological Properties of Dry Abalone Meat (Haliotis diversicolor) During the Process of Water Restoration

Changes in tissue structure, rheological property and water content of dry abalone meat in the process of water restora- tion were studied. The weight and volume of dry abalone meat increased with water restoration. When observed under a light micro- scope, structural change in myofibrils was obvious and a distinct network was found. When water restoration time increased from 24 h to 72 h, the instantaneous modulus E0 and viscosity η1 increased, whereas the rupture strength and relaxation time (τ1) were re- duced. There were no significant changes of rheological parameters (E0, η1, τ1, rupture strength) from 72 h to 96 h of water restoration. Therefore, the dry abalone meat was swollen enough at the time of 72 h. The rheological parameters were obviously influenced by the structural changes.

On the Ecological Restoration Mode of Urban Water Revetment Landscape

Urban waterfront revetment is a special zone between water and land,with high ecological,economic and aesthetic value. Waterfront revetment landscape is not only an important part of urban water and land ecosystems,but also an integral part of the city. Based on the current situation of ecological environment of waterfront revetment landscape,we come up with different ecological restoration modes for different types of revetment,to achieve the organic integration of waterfront revetment landscape and ecology.

Protection and Ecological Restoration of Water Level Fluctuation Zone in the Three Gorges Reservoir

Water level fluctuation zone(hereinafter referred to as "WLFZ") is a transitional ecosystem between terrestrial ecosystem and aquatic ecosystem,and also a key area to control its neighboring terrestrial and aquatic ecosystem. After the Three Gorges Reservoir was put into use,ecological environment of its WLFZ has aroused wide concern from domestic and foreign experts. On the basis of introducing characteristics of WLFZ of the Three Gorges Reservoir,current ecological environment and main problems of this area were analyzed,plant selection and configuration was elaborated as well as the implementation effect of many WLFZ protection and ecological restoration modes. In view of the actual conditions,pertinent suggestions were proposed for WLFZ of the Three Gorges Reservoir,namely classified protection and ecological restoration,enhancing monitoring and assessment of current situation and change tendency,carrying out technical researches and demonstration of WLFZ wetland ecological restoration.

Strategy &Techniques for Restoration of Healthy Aquaecosystem from Toxic Super Eutrophic Water Body

There are complex river-lake systems in the Taihu Lake catchment with total water surface area of 6174.7 km2, and population density of 1079/km2, including Taihu Lake water surface area of 2338 km2. The water systems in this catchment have healthy aquaecosystems during long history. However, in some riverlets in this catchment the water quality was estimated as “acute toxicity for higher organisms” and over standards for many heavy metal elements content;there were no any living plants and macro organisms in the water body, because there were developed a series of industry with abundant release of heavy metals and difficult decomposition organic chemical components along the riverlets during last decades. The even more serious situation was observed in sediments of the riverlets. How to restore such riverlet into a healthy aquaeosystem with abound plants and higher organisms? The main strategy and techniques are described in this paper as summarizing a report of engineering in a riverlet in Wuxi New District during last years, which leads to restore the aquaecosystem into a healthy one with abundant surface plant cultured on floating islands and observed living fish, lobster, frog, toad, mollusk and others in the riverlet. The main techniques are: 1) softwall buffer technic;2) floating eco-island technic by using which can culture any plant which can be cultured in solution;3) immobilized nitrogen cycle bacteria (INCB) technic;4) tattering esters and other big-molecule organic chemicals by using electronic pulse technic and photosensitization technic;5) mist spray facility technic for improving dissolved oxygen in deep water layers;6) technic for buffering and suppressing H2S release from water;7) the appropriate portion of surface with cultured plant to the total water surface area is about 1/3;8) Cress [Oenanthe Ljavanica (Bl.) DC.] and Myriophyllum verticilatum L. may be cultured in Taihu Lake catchment during the whole year as main plants with mosaic combination of other supplement plants in different seasons.

Changing Forestry Policy by Integrating Water Aspects into Forest/Vegetation Restoration in Dryland Areas in China

Restoration forestry （forest rehabilitation） or re-vegetation is one effective measure to solve environmental problems, notably soil erosion. It may be further stimulated by the Clean Development Mechanism for carbon sequestration. However, there is an intensive and on-going debate about the adverse effects arising from afforestation in dryland areas, such as soil drying up which may cause further damage to the success of forest restoration, and the water yield reduction from watershed which may harm the regional development. On other hand, some preliminary studies showed a possibility that these adverse effects may be diminished more or less by properly designing the system structure and spatial distribution of forest/vegetation in a watershed. However, it is urgent to develop an evidence-based and sustainable new forestry policy for harmonizing forest-water interrelation. As a leading country in afforestation, China is beginning to develop a more trans-disciplinary and cross-sectoral forestry policy for harmonizing forestry development with water management. The main points of the changing new forestry policy should include： （1） Establishing a regional development strategy focusing on harmonized forest-water relations; （2） Taking forest-water interactions as an important part of evaluation; （3） Reducing the ＇eco-water＇ quota of forests through technical advancement; （4） Developing and extending water-adaptive forest management practices; （S） Strengthening forest ecohydrological research and decision support ability.

Changes in Soil Hot-Water Extractable C,N and P Fractions During Vegetative Restoration in Zhifanggou Watershed on the Loess Plateau

The study was conducted in Zhifanggou Watershed,Shaanxi Province,China,to evaluate the effect of different vegetation types on hot-water extractable C,N and P fractions,with the aim to determine whether hot-water extractable fractions could be used as indicators of soil quality change in Loess Plateau.The six vegetation types established in 1975 were（i） Robinia pseudoacacia L.,（ii） Caragana korshinkii Kom.,（iii） Pinus tabulaeformis Carr.,（iv） P.tabulaeformis-Amorpha fruticosa L.,（v） R.pseudoacacia-A.fruticosa,and（vi） grassland.A cropped hillslope plot and a Platycladus orientalis L.native forest plot were used as references.The results indicated that the conversion of native forest to cropland resulted in a significant decline in the hot-water extractable C,N and P fractions.Hot-water extractable C,N,and P increased when cultivated land was revegetated,but after 30 years the amount of hot-water extractable C,N,and P in revegetated fields was still much lower compared to native forest.Hot-water extractable fractions increased more under mixed-forest than under pure-forest stands.Furthermore,there was a significant correlation between the hot-water extractable fractions and soil chemical and microbiological properties.The results showed that hot-water extractable fractions could be used as indicators of soil quality change on the Loess Plateau.

Pre- and Post-Construction Assessment of Nutrient Concentrations at Shallow Water Habitat Restoration Sites on the Lower Missouri River

Loss of shallow water habitat (SWH) is hypothesized as a factor contributing to the decline of native Missouri River fishes, including the endangered pallid sturgeon. As a result, the restoration of SWH is a high priority in this large river system. Restoration activities often include constructing side channel chutes;however, limited information exists on the potential negative, unintended effects of chute construction activities on water quality. This study was designed to better understand the possible effects of chute construction, both initially and as chute development continues, on Missouri River nutrient concentrations. Our first objective was to determine if the addition of sediment from proposed chute locations to river water samples (i.e., elutriate samples) increased nutrient concentrations relative to water-only river samples collected just upstream of the proposed chute locations or river water samples collected from eight long-term water quality monitoring stations. Our second objective was to determine if nutrient concentrations of river samples monitored during 2009 and 2010 increased after water passed through previously-constructed chutes. Nutrient concentrations of elutriate samples were not significantly higher than river water samples collected just upstream of the proposed chute locations;the same was true for Missouri River water samples collected from seven of eight long-term water quality monitoring stations. Furthermore, monitoring of nutrient concentrations collected from water samples at the outlet of previously-constructed chutes were not significantly higher than water samples collected at the upstream inlet of these chutes. Our results suggest that individual SWH chute construction projects designed to restore some of the natural form and function of the Missouri River are unlikely to significantly increase Missouri Rivernutrient concentrations initially or as these chutes continue to develop.

Study on Evaluation Method of Ecological Restoration for Soil and Water Conservation in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region

On the basis of deeply understanding the domestic existing evaluation method of ecological restoration for soil and water conservation, under the premise of analyzing characteristics of current commonly used evaluation index of ecological restoration, based on the actual situation in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, taking objectivity, independence and operability as the principles, nine evaluation indexes were selected, and a set of comprehensive evaluation method of ecological restoration for water and soil conservation based on AHP was constructed. The hundred mark system corresponded with ecological restoration level, and the weight of each index in evaluation system was calculated according to comparison matrix constructed by frontline workers of soil and water conservation. The method could be used to determine difficult degree of restoration of the disturbed and destroyed ecosystem and the rationality of ecological restoration for soil and water conservation.

Managing Water Quality in Huntsman Lake （Virginia, USA）reDevelopment and Implementation of Restoration Strategies

Huntsman Lake is located within the Middle Run of the Pohick Creek watershed, which is itself located within the much larger Chesapeake Bay watershed. Data collected from both the water column and the lake＇s sediments indicate that phosphorus-rich bottom sediments are an important internal loading source, and these internal phosphorus loads would continue to adversely impact water quality until and unless sediments are removed or inactivated. The implementation of artificial circulation was anticipated to be able to increase the sequestration of phosphorus within better oxygenated bottom sediments, and was the first lake management strategy deployed in Huntsman Lake. In the first two years after the installation of a whole-lake circulation system, the lake＇s waters are no longer stratified, and the bottom waters are no longer hypoxic and/or anoxic. While there is no evidence of a subsequent reduction in concentrations of nitrogen or chlorophyll-a, average phosphorus concentrations have decreased. However, high variability in the phosphorus data decreases our confidence that this is a sustained improvement. These results are consistent with prior findings, including those from downstream systems, that the reversal of the symptoms of eutrophication can involve lag-periods up to several years, if they are successful at all.

Water Quality Characterisation and Restoration Measures of University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus (UNMC) Lake

Nutrient enrichment has been identified as the major cause of University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus (UNMC) Lake’s water quality degradation. This study critically examines the nature, source and delivery of nutrients into the lake and observes that uncontrolled anthropogenic activities along the catchment area are the major sources. The chemical analyses of the water samples drawn from different sampling points were carried out in the laboratory and the total phosphorus readings were in the range of 20 to 55.7 μg/L with the inflow 1 recording the highest level. The chlorophyll a concentrations in the lake water were between 39 to 65 μg/L which exceeded Malaysian water quality standard. However, the silicate and nitrate levels were found to be in lower concentrations. Dissolved oxygen and pH readings obtained through in situ measurements in the lake water showed that there was oxygen depletion in the water during the night while it increased during the day, also the lake was acidic in the night and became alkaline in the day. All the findings were integrated to draw realistic restoration goals for the lake.

Protection and Restoration of Soil and Water Ecology to Achieve Harmonious Coexistence between Human and Nature

At present,the ecological environment crisis of global concern,such as climate warming and biodiversity loss,the fundamental reason is the change and destruction of the earth's soil and water ecology.Therefore,protecting and restoring the authenticity,diversity,cleanliness and integrity of soil and water ecology,we should coordinate and deal with the relationship between human beings and soil and water ecology,and realize the harmonious coexistence between human beings and nature from the three aspects of protecting natural soil and water ecology,protecting and restoring natural soil and water ecology,building and regenerating artificial soil and water ecology.

Research of Ecological Restoration of Jari Agricultural Demonstration Site in Ethiopia

In order to resolve the issue of soil erosion in East African plateau, a micro-landscape irrigation region was established in Ethiopia plateau to research status quo of agricultural demonstration site in Jari in Ethiopia and to analyze the relation between structure and function of inner elements in different landscapes of demonstration site. Furthermore, in accordance with ecology, silviculture, agriculture and economics, the ecological landscapes were classified as per landscape functions; lands returning from farming were classified and re-used; ecosystems of grassland, river, agriculture and courtyard were researched; the feasibility of ecological restoration and sustainable development in demonstration site was demonstrated; the model for rational irrigation and water conservation was proposed. The research guarantees sustainable development of agriculture and animal husbandry and provides references for undeveloped countries with similar problems.

Response of Soil Moisture to Rainfall Event in Black Locust Plantations at Different Stages of Restoration in Hilly-gully Area of the Loess Plateau, China

Precipitation plays an important role in the water supplies that support ecological restoration by sustaining large-scale artificial plantations in arid and semiarid regions, especially black locust(Robinia pseudoacacia) plantations(RP plantations), which are widely planted due to R. pseudoacacia being an excellent pioneer species. Characterizing the response of soil moisture to rainfall events at different stages of restoration is important for assessing the sustainability of restoration in RP plantations. In this study, we quantified the response of soil moisture to rainfall events at different years of restoration(15, 20 and 30 yr) representing different restoration stages in RP plantations in a typical hilly-gully area, i.e., the Yangjuangou Catchment, of the Loess Plateau, China. Over the growing season(June to September) of 2017, smart probes were placed at nine depths(10, 20, 40, 60, 80, 100, 120, 150, and 180 cm below the soil surface) to obtain volumetric soil water information at 30-min intervals in the three RP plantations. The advance of the wetting front was depicted, and the total cumulative water infiltration was measured. Soil moisture was mainly replenished by eight heavy rainfall events(mean rainfall amount = 46.3 mm), accounting for 88.7% of the rainfall during the growing season. The mean soil moisture content profiles of RP plantations at the three restoration stages were ordered as 30-yr(14.07%) > 20-yr(10.12%) > 15-yr(8.03%), and this relationship displayed temporal stability. Soil moisture was primarily replenished by rainfall at the 0-60 cm soil depth, and soil moisture remained stable below the 100-cm soil depth. The rainfall regime influenced the advancement of the wetting front. Here, a single rainfall event of 30 mm was the rainfall threshold for infiltration into the 60-cm soil layer. The total infiltration time ranged from 310.5-322.0 h, but no significant differences were found among RP plantations at different restoration stages. Young and old RP plantations had more total infiltration(more than 228.2 mm) and deeper infiltration depths(80-100 cm) than middle-aged plantations. The RP plantation at the intermediate restoration stage exhibited minimal total infiltration(174.2 mm) and a shallow infiltration depth(60 cm) due to the soil physical structure of the plot, which may have limited rain infiltration. More stand conditions that may affect infiltration should be considered for priority afforestation areas.

Developing new understanding of photoelectrochemical water splitting via in-situ techniques:A review on recent progress

Photoelectrochemical(PEC) water splitting is a promising technology for solar hydrogen production to build a sustainable, renewable and clean energy economy. Given the complexity of the PEC water splitting processes, it is important to note that developing in-situ techniques for studying PEC water splitting presents a formidable challenge. This review is aimed at highlighting advantages and disadvantages of each technique, while offering a pathway of potentially combining several techniques to address different aspects of interfacial processes in PEC water splitting. We reviewed recent progress in various techniques and approaches utilized to study PEC water splitting, focusing on spectroscopic and scanning-probe methods.