Organic matter cycling in a neotropical reservoir: effects of temperature and experimental conditions

Aim: This study reports a comparison between decomposition kinetics of detritus derived from two macrophyte species (Polygonum lapathifolium L.: Polygonaceae; Eichhornia azurea (Sw.) Kunth.: Pontederiaceae) growing in a neotropical reservoir (Brazil), under laboratory and field conditions, in order to assess hypotheses on the main differences in factors affecting organic matter cycling, including the effect of temperature. Methods: Plant and water samples were collected from the reservoir in August 2009. In field incubation mass loss was assessed using a litter bag technique and in the laboratory the decay was followed using a decomposition chamber maintained under controlled conditions (i.e. in the dark, at 15 °C and 25 °C). A kinetic model was adopted to explain and compare the organic matter decay, ANOVA (Repeated Measures) testing was used to describe the differences between the treatments and a linear correlation was used to compare in situ and in vitro experiments. Results: The mass decay was faster in natural conditions with rapid release of the labile-soluble portion. The simulated values of mineralization rates of dissolved organic matter and refractory organic matter were rapid in high temperatures (25 °C). The high Q10 results (mainly for E. azurea), and experimental conditions, and outcomes of ANOVA testing indicate the temperature variation (10 °C) influence the rates of mass decay. Conclusions: The results suggested rapid organic matter cycling in warm months (from October to December) supporting the microbial loop. Although the particulate organic matter losses are high in field conditions the results are of the same magnitude in both conditions suggesting an equivalence of the mass decay kinetic

Calibration of QUAL2K model in Brazilian micro watershed: effects of the land use on water quality

AIM: This study aimed to evaluate the water quality of Canha River micro watershed (Ribeira de Iguape Valley, São Paulo State, Brazil) and to calibrate the QUAL2K model with field data; METHODS: Five variables of water quality were analyzed (water temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, electric conductivity and turbidity), as well as flow and velocity, in eight sampling stations from September, 2006 to July, 2007. It was performed a correlation test between observed data and simulated data; RESULTS: The dissolved oxygen concentration was high (over than 5.0 mg.L-1) during sampling period. The headwater presented the lowest concentrations of this variable. The electric conductivity did not exceed 80 µS.cm-1 and the pH did not range (0.5-1). The hydraulic variables were in agreement with River Continuum Concept. Although correlation test was not successful for some variables, the simulated data followed observed data; CONCLUSIONS: The rainfall linked to land use was important for obtained results. The watershed characteristics, as high slope, for example, were essential mainly to dissolved oxygen concentrations. Even though QUAL2K has some limitations its use is recommended for water resources management and future purposes