Assessing Stormwater Nutrient and Heavy Metal Plant Uptake in an Experimental Bioretention Pond

With the purpose to study a solution based on Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) to reduce and treat stormwater runoff in urban areas, a bioretention pond (BP) was realized in the Agripolis campus of the University of Padova, Italy. The BP collected overflow water volumes of the rainwater drainage system of a 2270 m2 drainage area consisting almost entirely of impervious surfaces. Sixty-six Tech-IA\uae floating elements, supporting four plants each, were laid on the water surface. Eleven species of herbaceous perennial helophyte plants, with ornamental features, were used and tested. The early growth results of the BP functioning showed that nearly 50% of the total inflow water volume was stored or evapotranspirated, reducing the peak discharge on the urban drainage system. Among plants, Alisma parviflora, Caltha palustris, Iris \u2018Black Gamecock\u2019, Lysimachia punctata \u2018Alexander\u2019, Oenanthe javanica \u2018Flamingo\u2019, Mentha aquatica, Phalaris arundinacea \u2018Picta\u2019, and Typha laxmannii had the best survival and growth performances. A. parviflora and M. aquatica appeared interesting also for pollutant reduction in runoff water

Farming largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) with lettuce (Lactuca sativa) and radicchio (Cichorium intybus) in aquaponics: effects of stocking density on fish growth and quality, and vegetable production

Submitted 2020-06-30 | Accepted 2020-09-01 | Available 2020-12-01https://doi.org/10.15414/afz.2020.23.mi-fpap.79-87The present study assessed the effects of two initial stocking densities (low – LD, 4.23 kg m-3, moderate – MD, 8.05 kg m-3) on growth, health and fillet quality of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides), and on yield of lettuce (Lactuca sativa) and radicchio (Cichorium intybus group Rubifolium) produced in a low-tech recirculating aquaponic system. A total of 104 largemouth bass (initial body weight: 236 ± 38 g) were randomly stocked in eight 500 L tanks (four per stocking density) and monitored during a 70-day period. Vegetables yield was similar in LD and MD groups. Lettuce yield (6.33 kg m-2) was in line with typical values, whereas radicchio showed a negligible yield (1.34 kg m-2). Likewise, fish final weight (263 g, on average), specific growth rate (0.17% d-1), feed conversion ratio (2.72), and mortality (4.8%) did not differ between treatments. Fish morphometric indices, slaughter results and fillet quality were not affected by stocking density. In conclusion, the production of lettuce was successful in the tested system, whereas the production of radicchio did not achieve satisfactory results. Growth performances of the largemouth bass were poor and further investigations are required to optimize the rearing of this fish species in low-tech aquaponic systems.Keywords: largemouth bass, lettuce, radicchio, water quality, flesh qualityReferencesBAßMANN, B. et al. (2017). Stress and welfare of African catfish (Clarias gariepinus Burchell, 1822) in a coupled aquaponic system. Water, 9(7), 504. https://doi.org/10.3390/w9070504BROWN, T. G. et al. (2009). Biological synopsis of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides). Canadian Manuscript Report of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 2884, v + 27 p.CHAVES-POZO, E. et al. (2019). An overview of the reproductive cycle of cultured specimens of a potential candidate for Mediterranean aquaculture, Umbrina cirrosa. Aquaculture, 505, 137–149. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2019.02.039CHEN, Y. et al. (2020). Effects of dietary fish oil replacement by soybean oil and L-carnitine supplementation on growth performance, fatty acid composition, lipid metabolism and liver health of juvenile largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides. Aquaculture, 516, 734596. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2019.734596PANTANELLA, E. et al. (2012). Aquaponics vs. hydroponics: production and quality of lettuce crop. Acta Horticulturae, 927, 887-893. https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2012.927.109RAHMAN, M. M (2015). Role of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) in aquaculture production systems. Frontiers in Life Science, 8(4), 399–410. https://doi.org/10.1080/21553769.2015.1045629RAKOCY, J. E. (2012). Aquaponics: integrating fish and plant culture. In: Tidwell J.H. (Ed), Aquaculture production systems. India: Wiley-Blackwell (pp. 343–386). https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118250105.ch14SAS (Statistical Analysis System). 2013. SAS/STAT(R) 9.2 User’s Guide, second ed. SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA. Retrieved May 10, 2020 from http://support.sas.com/documentation/cdl/en/statug/63033/HTML/default/viewer.htm#glm_toc.htmSOMERVILLE, C. et al. (2014). Small-scale aquaponic food production. Integrated fish and plant farming. Rome: FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Technical Paper No. 589. Retrieved May 15, 2020 from http://www.fao.org/3/a-i4021e.pdfSUÁREZ, M. D. et al. (2014). Influence of dietary lipids and culture density on rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) flesh composition and quality parameter. Aquaculture Engineering, 63, 16–24. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaeng.2014.09.001SUN, J.-L. et al. (2020). Interactive effect of thermal and hypoxia on largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) gill and liver: Aggravation of oxidative stress, inhibition of immunity and promotion of cell apoptosis. Fish & Shellfish Immunology, 98, 923–936. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsi.2019.11.056TIDWELL, J. H. et al. (2000). Species profile – Largemouth bass. Southern Regional Aquaculture Center 722. Retrieved May 20, 2020 from http://aquaculture.ca.uky.edu/aquaculture-publications/12TIDWELL, J. H. et al. (2007). Effect of stocking density on growth and water quality for largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides growout in ponds. Journal of the World Aquaculture Society, 29, 79–83. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1749-7345.1998.tb00302.xTYSON, R. V. et al. (2004). Reconciling water quality parameters impacting nitrification in aquaponics: the pH levels. In: Proceedings of the Florida State Horticultural Society 117, 79–83. Retrieved May 20, 2020 from https://journals.flvc.org/fshs/article/view/858557_11VITULE, J. R. S. et al. (2006). Introduction of the African catfish Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822) into Southern Brazil. Biological Invasions, 8, 677–681. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-005-2535-8WANG, Y. et al. (2019). Effect of stocking density on growth, serum biochemical parameters, digestive enzymes activity and antioxidant status of largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides. Pakistan Journal of Zoology, 51(4), 1509–1517. http://dx.doi.org/10.17582/journal.pjz/2019.51.4.1509.1517WATTS, C. et al. (2016). Evaluation of stocking density during second‐year growth of largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides, raised indoors in a recirculating aquaculture system. Journal of the World Aquaculture Society, 47(4), 538–543. https://doi.org/10.1111/jwas.12315YILDIZ, H. Y. et al. (2017). Fish welfare in aquaponic systems: its relation to water quality with an emphasis on feed and faeces—A review. Water, 9(1), 13. https://doi.org/10.3390/w9010013YUAN, J. et al. (2019). Analysis of the growth performances, muscle quality, blood biochemistry and antioxidant status of Micropterus salmoides farmed in in-pond raceway systems versus usual-pond systems. Aquaculture, 511, 734241. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2019.734241

A daily time-step hydrological-energy-biomass model to estimate green roof performances across Europe to support planning and policies

Nature-based solutions (NBSs) and urban greening are well-established strategies used in various planning and policy instruments to promote the sustainability of cities and mitigate the effects of climate changes. Within this context, green roofs are emerging as an effective NBS in urban areas where space is often limited. The estimation of green roofs' benefits is essential for their effective implementation and engineering design. In this contribution, we present a daily time-step model to estimate the surface temperature, the growth of vegetation cover and the hydrological behaviour of a green roof. The model is tested using twenty time series of real and independent European green roofs. Results show that, in the absence of calibration, the model can reproduce the daily surface temperature with high accuracy. The vegetation growing period is also reproduced. The hydrological variables can be estimated with moderate accuracy, and higher accuracy can be achieved when the model is calibrated. Therefore, the model proves a useful tool to support the appraisal of green roofs and the planning of green infrastructures in European cities.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio