A mass-balance approach to estimate in-stream processes in a large river

A mass-balance approach was used to estimate in-stream processes related to inorganic nitrogen species (NH4 C, NO2 and NO3 ) in a large river characterized by highly variable hydrological conditions, the Garonne River (south-west France). Studies were conducted in two consecutive reaches of 30 km located downstream of the Toulouse agglomeration (population 760 000, seventh order), impacted by modification of discharge regime and high nitrogen concentrations. The mass-balance was calculated by two methods: the first is based on a variable residence time (VRT) simulated by a one-dimensional (1-D) hydraulic model; the second is a based on a calculation using constant residence time (CRT) evaluated according to hydrographic peaks. In the context of the study, removal of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) for a reach of 30 km is underestimated by 11% with the CRT method. In sub-reaches, the discrepancy between the two methods led to a 50% overestimation of DIN removal in the upper reach (13 km) and a 43% underestimation in the lower reach (17 km) using the CRT method. The study highlights the importance of residence time determination when using modelling approaches in the assessment of whole stream processes in short-duration mass-balance for a large river under variable hydrological conditions

Biochar from Pyrolysis of Biosolids for Nutrient Adsorption and Turfgrass Cultivation

At water resource recovery facilities, nutrient removal is often required and energy recovery is an ever-increasing goal. Pyrolysis may be a sustainable process for handling wastewater biosolids because energy can be recovered in the py-gas and py-oil. Additionally, the biochar produced has value as a soil conditioner. The objective of this work was to determine if biochar could be used to adsorb ammonia from biosolids filtrate and subsequently be applied as a soil conditioner to improve grass growth. The maximum carrying capacity of base modified biochar for NH3−N was 5.3 mg/g. Biochar containing adsorbed ammonium and potassium was applied to laboratory planters simulating golf course putting greens to cultivate Kentucky bluegrass. Planters that contained nutrient-laden biochar proliferated at a statistically higher rate than planters that contained biosolids, unmodified biochar, peat, or no additive. Nutrient-laden biochar performed as well as commercial inorganic fertilizer with no statistical difference in growth rates. Biochar from digested biosolids successfully immobilized NH3−N from wastewater and served as a beneficial soil amendment. This process offers a means to recover and recycle nutrients from water resource recovery facilities

Convergence of detrital stoichiometry predicts thresholds of nutrient-stimulated breakdown in streams

Nutrient enrichment of detritus‐based streams increases detrital resource quality for consumers and stimulates breakdown rates of particulate organic carbon (C). The relative importance of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (N) vs. phosphorus (P) for detrital quality and their effects on microbial‐ vs. detritivore‐mediated detrital breakdown are poorly understood. We tested effects of experimental N and P additions on detrital stoichiometry (C:N, C:P) and total and microbial breakdown (i.e., with and without detritivorous shredders, respectively) of five detritus types (four leaf litter species and wood) with different initial C : nutrient content. We enriched five headwater streams continuously for two years at different relative availabilities of N and P and compared breakdown rates and detrital stoichiometry to pretreatment conditions. Total breakdown rates increased with nutrient enrichment and were predicted by altered detrital stoichiometry. Streamwater N and P, fungal biomass, and their interactions affected stoichiometry of detritus. Streamwater N and P decreased detrital C:N, whereas streamwater P had stronger negative effects on detrital C:P. Nutrient addition and fungal biomass reduced C:N by 70% and C:P by 83% on average after conditioning, compared to only 26% for C:N and 10% for C:P under pretreatment conditions. Detritus with lowest initial nutrient content changed the most and had greatest increases in total breakdown rates. Detrital stoichiometry was reduced and differences among detritus types were homogenized by nutrient enrichment. With enrichment, detrital nutrient content approached detritivore nutritional requirements and stimulated greater detritivore vs. microbial litter breakdown. We used breakpoint regression to estimate values of detrital stoichiometry that can potentially be used to indicate elevated breakdown rates. Breakpoint ratios for total breakdown were 41 (C:N) and 1518 (C:P), coinciding with total breakdown rates that were ~1.9 times higher when C:N or C:P fell below these breakpoints. Microbial and shredder‐mediated breakdown rates both increased when C:N and C:P were reduced, suggesting that detrital stoichiometry is useful for predicting litter breakdown dominated by either microbial or shredder activity. Our results show strong effects of nutrient enrichment on detrital stoichiometry and offer a robust link between a potential holistic nutrient loading metric (decreased and homogenized detrital stoichiometry) and increased C loss from stream ecosystems

Assessing the importance of a self-generated detachment process in river biofilm models

1. Epilithic biofilm biomass was measured for 14 months in two sites, located up- and downstream of the city of Toulouse in the Garonne River (south-west France). Periodical sampling provided a biomass data set to compare with simulations from the model of Uehlinger, Bürher and Reichert (1996: Freshwater Biology, 36, 249–263.), in order to evaluate the impact of hydraulic disturbance. 2. Despite differences in application conditions (e.g. river size, discharge, frequency of disturbance), the base equation satisfactorily predicted biomass between low and high water periods of the year, suggesting that the flood disturbance regime may be considered a universal mechanism controlling periphyton biomass. 3. However modelling gave no agreement with biomass dynamics during the 7-month long low water period that the river experienced. The influence of other biomass-regulating factors (temperature, light and soluble reactive phosphorus) on temporal biomass dynamics was weak. 4. Implementing a supplementary mechanism corresponding to a temperature-dependent self-generated loss because of heterotrophic processes allowed us to accurately reproduce the observed pattern: a succession of two peaks. This case study suggests that during typical summer low water periods (flow stability and favourable temperature) river biofilm modelling requires self-generated detachment to be considered

Sediment transport-based metrics of wetland stability

Despite the importance of sediment availability on wetland stability, vulnerability assessments seldom consider spatiotemporal variability of sediment transport. Models predict that the maximum rate of sea level rise a marsh can survive is proportional to suspended sediment concentration (SSC) and accretion. In contrast, we find that SSC and accretion are higher in an unstable marsh than in an adjacent stable marsh, suggesting that these metrics cannot describe wetland vulnerability. Therefore, we propose the flood/ebb SSC differential and organic-inorganic suspended sediment ratio as better vulnerability metrics. The unstable marsh favors sediment export (18mgL(-1) higher on ebb tides), while the stable marsh imports sediment (12mgL(-1) higher on flood tides). The organic-inorganic SSC ratio is 84% higher in the unstable marsh, and stable isotopes indicate a source consistent with marsh-derived material. These simple metrics scale with sediment fluxes, integrate spatiotemporal variability, and indicate sediment sources

The Effects of Fertilization and Water Management on Growth and Production of Nile Tilapia in Deep Ponds During the Dry Season

Fertilization guidelines developed for shallow ponds (1 m) with controlled depths were tested in deeper (2.5 m) ponds to determine effectiveness of these guidelines for culture of Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus . Twelve ponds of 2.5-m depth were used in four treatments: (A) weekly fertilization with water addition; (B) weekly fertilization without water addition; (C) one early fertilization without water addition; and (D) fertilization frequency dependent on nutrient concentrations, without water addition. Sex-reversed Nile tilapia were stocked at 2 fish/m 2 with an initial weight of 15 g, and harvested after 234 d. Depth of water declined from 2.4 m to 1.6 m over the experiment in ponds without water addition. Fish growth rate was significantly higher in treatments A and B (0.86 g/d), than in other treatments, as was yield (3,830 kg/ha). Treatment C was lowest in growth (0.086 g/d) and yield (168 kg/ha), with treatment D intermediate. Fish growth rates and yields were strongly correlated to manure input ( R 2 = 0.89 and 0.94, respectively), and residuals were not correlated to any physical or chemical variables. Growth and yield in these deep ponds were somewhat lower than those in previous experiments for shallow ponds with regular water inputs. However, stagnant ponds did not accumulate nutrients and metabolites at rates higher than ponds with controlled water depths.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/73615/1/j.1749-7345.1998.tb00664.x.pd

Long-term effects of water quality on the freshwater bivalve Diplodon chilensis (Unionida: Hyriidae) caged at different sites in a North Patagonian river (Argentina)

Water quality was monitored along an Andean river of global importance using the freshwater bivalve Diplodon chilensis as sentinel species. Bivalves were placed in cages at three sites (S1-3) in the Chimehuin river in order to evaluate the long-term effects of a trout hatchery (S2), and the open dump and sewage treatment plant of a nearby city (S3). Water samples and bivalves were collected at 0 (September 2011), 3 (December 2011), 6 (March 2012), 9 (July 2012), and 12 (September 2012) months, from S3, S2 and from a reference site upstream (S1), and physicochemical parameters and the biological response of the caged bivalves were studied. ROS production, antioxidant response, oxidative damage, energy status and morphometric ratios were included as response biomarkers. Most of biomarkers showed site-and time dependence including bivalves transplanted at S1, revealing natural variability. Both anthropogenic perturbed sites (S2 and S3) showed differences in the exposed-bivalves with respect to the reference site (S1) in their biomarker responses after 9 and 12 months of exposure (July and September, respectively). Multivariate analysis showed alterations in hemocytes (ROS, TOSC and NRRT50), energy balance in digestive gland (energy and DGF), and in the detoxification response (GST) and GSH values in gill when bivalves were exposed to hatchery waste; whereas metal and bacterial pollution (S3 in July) caused GSH increase and a reduction of lysosomal damage in hemocytes. Results show that changes in the water quality of Chimehuin river due to the anthropogenic impact can be detected using the biomarkers analyzed on D. chilensis, being a useful tool for studies of long-term monitories.Fil: Yusseppone, Maria Soledad. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras; ArgentinaFil: Bianchi, Virginia Angélica. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Centro Regional Universidad Bariloche. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente; ArgentinaFil: Castro, Juan Manuel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Centro Regional Universidad Bariloche. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente; ArgentinaFil: Luquet, Carlos Marcelo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Centro Regional Universidad Bariloche. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente; ArgentinaFil: Sabatini, Sebastian Eduardo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Rios, Maria del Carmen. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Rocchetta, Iara. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Centro Regional Universidad Bariloche. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente; Argentin