Relationships among nutrients, algae, and land use in urbanized southern California streams

2006 ◽  
Vol 63 (12) ◽  
pp. 2621-2638 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lilian B Busse ◽  
Juliet C Simpson ◽  
Scott D Cooper
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Total Phosphorus ◽  
Algal Biomass ◽  
Southern California ◽  
Stream Water ◽  
Algal Growth ◽  
Nutrient Concentrations ◽  
Total Chlorophyll ◽  
Impervious Surfaces ◽  
High Nutrient

We surveyed algal cover, algal biomass, and physical and chemical factors at 14 sites representing a range of land use types in the Malibu Creek watershed in southern California, USA. We also conducted nutrient diffuser substrate experiments to identify the nutrient limiting algal growth. Algal biomass increased with urbanization, reaching very high levels in the most urbanized streams (up to 322.4 mg chlorophyll a·m-2). Total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and benthic and total chlorophyll concentrations were positively correlated with the proportion of upstream land covered by impervious surfaces. Relationships between land use and algal biomass or nutrient concentrations were evaluated at 100 m, 500 m, and whole subwatershed scales. The closest relationships were found at the 500 m scale, where 56% of the variation in total chlorophyll could be explained by the proportion of land within a 500 m radius upstream covered by impervious surfaces. Floating macroalgae were observed in the summer in pools with high nutrient and light levels, whereas benthic algal biomass was positively related to total phosphorus concentrations and current speed. Other methods of determining nutrient limitation (nutrient diffuser substrate experiment, molar N/P ratios in stream water) produced conflicting results, possibly because algal growth was saturated by high nutrient levels at some of the study sites.

scholarly journals A macro-tidal freshwater ecosystem recovering from hypereutrophication: the Schelde case study

2009 ◽  
Vol 6 (12) ◽  
pp. 2935-2948 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. J. S. Cox ◽  
T. Maris ◽  
K. Soetaert ◽  
D. J. Conley ◽  
S. Van Damme ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Inhibition ◽  
Algal Biomass ◽  
Alternative Stable States ◽  
Algal Growth ◽  
Nutrient Concentrations ◽  
Freshwater Ecosystem ◽  
Nutrient Inputs ◽  
Stable States ◽  
Estuarine Ecosystem ◽  
Algal Growth Inhibition

Abstract. We report a 40 year record of eutrophication and hypoxia on an estuarine ecosystem and its recovery from hypereutrophication. After decades of high inorganic nutrient concentrations and recurring anoxia and hypoxia, we observe a paradoxical increase in chlorophyll-a concentrations with decreasing nutrient inputs. We hypothesise that algal growth was inhibited due to hypereutrophication, either by elevated ammonium concentrations, severe hypoxia or the production of harmful substances in such a reduced environment. We study the dynamics of a simple but realistic mathematical model, incorporating the assumption of algal growth inhibition. It shows a high algal biomass, net oxygen production equilibrium with low ammonia inputs, and a low algal biomass, net oxygen consumption equilibrium with high ammonia inputs. At intermediate ammonia inputs it displays two alternative stable states. Although not intentional, the numerical output of this model corresponds to observations, giving extra support for assumption of algal growth inhibition. Due to potential algal growth inhibition, the recovery of hypereutrophied systems towards a classical eutrophied state, will need reduction of waste loads below certain thresholds and will be accompanied by large fluctuations in oxygen concentrations. We conclude that also flow-through systems, heavily influenced by external forcings which partly mask internal system dynamics, can display multiple stable states.

scholarly journals Linkage Between In-Stream Total Phosphorus and Land Cover in Chugoku District, Japan: An Ann Approach

2012 ◽  
Vol 60 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bahman Amiri ◽  
K. Sudheer ◽  
Nicola Fohrer
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Land Use ◽  
Land Cover ◽  
Total Phosphorus ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Stream Water ◽  
Ann Model ◽  
Stream Water Quality ◽  
The Impact

Linkage Between In-Stream Total Phosphorus and Land Cover in Chugoku District, Japan: An Ann ApproachDevelopment of any area often leads to more intensive land use and increase in the generation of pollutants. Modeling these changes is critical to evaluate emerging changes in land use and their effect on stream water quality. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of spatial patterns in land use and population density on the water quality of streams, in case of data scarcity, in the Chugoku district of Japan. The study employed artificial neural network (ANN) technique to assess the relationship between the total phosphorous (TP) in river water and the land use in 21 river basins in the district, and the model was able to reasonably estimate the TP in the stream water. Uncertainty analysis of ANN estimates was performed using the Monte Carlo framework, and the results indicated that the ANN model predictions are statistically similar to the characteristics of the measured TP values. It was observed that any reduction in forested area or increase in agricultural land in the watersheds may cause the increase of TP concentration in the stream. Therefore, appropriate watershed management practices should be followed before making any land use change in the Chugoku district.

Limnological features of coastal-plain wetlands on the Gnangara Mound, Perth, Western Australia

1991 ◽  
Vol 42 (6) ◽  
pp. 761 ◽  
Author(s):  
TJ Wrigley ◽  
SW Rolls ◽  
JA Davis
Keyword(s):  
Chlorophyll A ◽  
Total Phosphorus ◽  
Coastal Plain ◽  
Nutrient Concentrations ◽  
The North ◽  
Large Numbers ◽  
High Nutrient ◽  
Consequent Reduction ◽  
Coastal Plain Wetlands ◽  
Urban Activity

The Gnangara Mound is an area of elevated sandy soil on the Swan Coastal Plain to the north of Perth. It constitutes a major groundwater resource for metropolitan Perth. Sixteen wetlands on the Mound had total phosphorus concentrations of 12-462�g L-1, the high values being attributed to agricultural and urban activity. Sediment concentrations of total phosphorus and total nitrogen were 61-954 and 1212-16739 �g g-1, respectively. Conductivities were 505-10270 �S cm-1, and pH values were 3.3-9.3. Only one wetland was highly coloured (79.9 8440 m-1), with an E4/E6 ratio of 4.6. Chlorophyll a concentrations were 0.01-130.8�g L-1; in wetlands with low gilvin concentrations, Myxophyceae dominated, whereas wetlands with higher gilvin concentrations had large numbers of diatoms and Chlorophyceae. The highly coloured wetland had the lowest chlorophyll a concentration despite high nutrient concentrations, supporting the hypothesis that the consequent reduction in light or other associated factors are important in maintaining low phytoplankton biomass in dystrophic wetlands of the region, particularly those on Bassendean sands.

scholarly journals Variation of stream metabolism along a tropical environmental gradient

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wesley A. Saltarelli ◽  
Walter K. Dodds ◽  
Flavia Tromboni ◽  
Maria do Carmo Calijuri ◽  
Vinicius Neres-Lima ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Total Phosphorus ◽  
Ecosystem Respiration ◽  
Gross Primary Production ◽  
Canopy Cover ◽  
Tropical Streams ◽  
Nutrient Concentrations ◽  
Stream Metabolism ◽  
Mixed Effect ◽  
Single Station

Stream metabolism is affected by both natural and human-induced processes. While metabolism has multiple implications for ecological processes, relatively little is known about how metabolic rates are influenced by land use in tropical streams. In this study, we assessed the metabolic characteristics and related environmental factors of six streams located in a transition area from Cerrado to Atlantic Forest (São Carlos/Brazil). Three streams were relatively preserved, while three were flowing through more agriculturally and/or urban impacted watersheds. Surface water samples were analyzed for biological and physico-chemical parameters as well as discharge and percentage of canopy cover. Metabolism was determined through the single-station method to estimate gross primary production (GPP), ecosystem respiration (ER) and net ecosystem production (NEP) with BAyesian Single-station Estimation (BASE). Nutrient concentrations tended to be higher in impacted versus preserved streams (e.g., average total phosphorus between 0.028-0.042 mg L-1 and 0.009-0.038 mg L-1, respectively). Average canopy cover varied between 58 and 77%, with no significant spatial or seasonal variation. All streams were net heterotrophic (ER exceeded GPP) in all sampling periods. GPP rates were always lower than 0.7 gO2 m-2 d-1 in all streams and ER varied from 0.6 to 42.1 gO2 m-2 d-1.  Linear Mixed-Effect models showed that depth, discharge, velocity and total phosphorus are the most important predictors for GPP. For ER, depth, velocity and canopy cover are significant potential predictors. Canopy cover was the main light limiting factor and influenced stream metabolism. Our findings reinforced the concepts that shifts in the shading effect provided by vegetation (e.g., through deforestation) or changes in discharge (e.g., through land use conversion or water abstractions) can impact freshwater metabolism. Our study suggests that human activities in low latitude areas can alter tropical streams’ water quality, ecosystem function, and the degree of riparian influence. Our data showed that tropical streams can be especially responsive to increases of organic matter inputs leading to high respiration rates and net heterotrophy, and this should be considered to support management and restoration efforts.

Autotrophic Production in Carnation Creek, a Coastal Rainforest Stream on Vancouver Island, British Columbia

1976 ◽  
Vol 33 (7) ◽  
pp. 1553-1563 ◽  
Author(s):  
John G. Stockner ◽  
K. R. S. Shortreed
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Nutrient Enrichment ◽  
Algal Biomass ◽  
Algal Growth ◽  
Nutrient Concentrations ◽  
Herbivorous Insects ◽  
Light Conditions ◽  
Net Production ◽  
Filamentous Green Algae ◽  
Major Loss

Attached algal growth in Carnation Creek and its estuary were monitored in 1974 and 1975 as part of the Carnation Creek Experimental Watershed Project. Net production on the estuary was 17.8 μg organic matter (org)∙cm−2∙day−1, and in Carnation Creek the average was 3.4 μg org∙cm−2∙day−1. Algal growth in Ritherdon Creek, located in an adjacent logged watershed, was slightly higher (4.6 μg org∙cm−2∙day−1) than the Carnation Creek average. In a streamside nutrient enrichment experiment, nitrate and phosphate concentrations in one trough were increased to twice the normal Carnation Creek values present in the control. In 35 days the nutrient-enriched trough had a total algal volume 3 times that of the control. It is suggested that extremely low nutrient concentrations (especially phosphate), and secondarily, poor light conditions under the canopy, are responsible for the paucity of algal growth in Carnation Creek. Major loss of algae from the system is caused by periodic freshets which scour the stream bed. Losses by grazing herbivorous insects were considered negligible. Dominant diatoms in Carnation Creek were Achnanthes minutissima, Synedra ulna, Hannaea arcus, Diatoma hiemale, and Eunotia pectinalis. Ulothrix sp., Draparnaldia sp., and Mougeotia sp. were the dominant filamentous green algae. Net production and algal biomass (chlorophyll a) in Carnation Creek are among the lowest ever reported in the literature.

scholarly journals The effects of storm-induced events on the seasonal dynamics of epilithic algal biomass in subtropical mountain streams

2014 ◽  
Vol 65 (1) ◽  
pp. 25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeng-Wei Tsai ◽  
Yi-Li Chuang ◽  
Zih-Yi Wu ◽  
Mei-Hwa Kuo ◽  
Hsing-Juh Lin
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Riparian Vegetation ◽  
Algal Biomass ◽  
Algal Growth ◽  
Canopy Cover ◽  
Mountain Streams ◽  
Vegetation Coverage ◽  
Nutrient Concentrations ◽  
Agricultural Activity ◽  
Epilithic Algae

Information concerning the drivers of seasonal variation in algal biomass in subtropical mountain streams is limited. To identify the drivers of biomass dynamics for epilithic algae, a 20-month study was conducted in mountain streams in Taiwan, an area characterised by different levels of riparian vegetation coverage and agricultural activity, in which a process-based model was optimally fit to field data. We found that episodic typhoon-induced floods were the major drivers shaping the seasonal variations in algal biomass. Flow-induced detachment was frequently observed in periods of higher algal biomass. In contrast, an increased flow stimulated algal growth during periods with slower flow rates. Increased temperature stimulated algal growth at sites with an open canopy cover and higher light availability but constrained biomass at sites with dense canopy shading. Overall, scraper biomass exerted less influence on algal biomass than did environmental factors. The effects of grazing were visible only at the pristine, low-stream-order site in winter. The effects of minimal algal biomass required for recovery was comparable to environmental factors only at sites with intermediate canopy cover, moderate discharge, and higher nutrient concentrations. We suggest that agricultural activity and riparian vegetation can affect epilithic algal biomass in subtropical mountain streams.

scholarly journals Nutrients exported from upland stream water enlarge perennial biomass crops

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Masaaki Chiwa ◽  
Yasuhiro Utsumi ◽  
Naoaki Tashiro ◽  
Yuko Yasuda ◽  
Ken’ichi Shinozuka ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stream Water ◽  
Base Cations ◽  
Nutrient Concentrations ◽  
Soil Conditions ◽  
Growth Environment ◽  
Moisture Contents ◽  
High Nutrient ◽  
Water Nutrients ◽  
Petasites Japonicus

AbstractRawanbuki, a variety of Japanese butterbur (Petasites japonicus subsp. giganteus), grow naturally along the Rawan River, Hokkaido, northern Japan. Most plants reach 2–3 m in height and 10 cm in diameter in 2 months and are much larger than those grown along other rivers. We examined the hypothesis that nutrients exported from upland streams enhance the growth of the Rawanbuki. Nutrient concentrations, including nitrogen, phosphorus, and base cations, in the Rawan River were much higher than those in rivers of adjacent watersheds. High nutrient concentrations and moisture contents were found in soil along the Rawan River and a significant relationship was found between physicochemical soil conditions and aboveground biomass of butterburs. This indicates that extremely large Rawanbuki plants could be caused by these high nutrient concentrations and moisture contents in the soils. A manipulation experiment showed that fertilization simulated the growth environment along the Rawan River and enhanced the stem height and stem diameter of butterburs. This study concluded that the extremely large butterburs are caused by a large amount of nutrients exported from upland areas. These results are the first demonstration of the role of stream water nutrients in enlarging agricultural crops.

A Strategy for Estimating Nutrient Concentrations Using Remote Sensing Datasets and Hydrological Modeling

2012 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vladimir J. Alarcon ◽  
William H. McAnally
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Land Use ◽  
Total Nitrogen ◽  
Total Phosphorus ◽  
Hydrological Modeling ◽  
Northern Region ◽  
Nutrient Concentrations ◽  
Nutrient Export

This paper presents a methodology for estimating nutrient concentrations of total phosphorus (TP) and total nitrogen (TN) through the use of hydrological modeling, remote sensing datasets, and nutrient export coefficients. The strategy is applied to the Upper Tombigbee watershed, located in the northern region of the states of Mississippi and Alabama, USA. USGS GIRAS (1986), NASA MODIS MOD12Q1 (2001-2004) land use datasets, and USGS-DEM topographical datasets were used to characterize the physiography of the watershed. TN and TP concentration values estimated using the methodology were compared to values reported in the literature.

Periphyton biomass and community composition in rivers of different nutrient status

1999 ◽  
Vol 56 (4) ◽  
pp. 560-569 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Chételat ◽  
F R Pick ◽  
A Morin ◽  
P B Hamilton
Keyword(s):  
Community Composition ◽  
Total Phosphorus ◽  
Algal Biomass ◽  
Standing Stock ◽  
Water Velocity ◽  
Nutrient Concentrations ◽  
Phosphorus Concentration ◽  
Overlying Water ◽  
Total Phosphorus Concentration ◽  
Chl A

Epilithic periphyton was investigated in riffle zones of 13 rivers in southern Ontario and western Quebec to describe how algal biomass and community composition vary with nutrient concentration and water velocity during summer. Algal biomass (milligrams chlorophyll a (Chl a) per square metre) was strongly correlated with total phosphorus concentration (r2 = 0.56, p < 0.001) and conductivity (r2 = 0.71, p < 0.001) of the overlying water but unrelated to water velocity over the range of 10-107 cm·s-1. Differences in periphyton Chl a were associated with changes in biomass of Chlorophyta (r2 = 0.51, p = 0.001) and Bacillariophyta (r2 = 0.64, p < 0.001) and were not related to Rhodophyta and Cyanophyta biomass (p > 0.10). The relative proportions of taxonomic divisions varied with total standing stock. Percent Chlorophyta biomass increased with periphyton Chl a and was the largest fraction at moderately eutrophic sites. Rhodophyta contributed the most biomass at sites with the lowest Chl a. Cladophora, Melosira, and Audouinella biomasses were positively correlated with total phosphorus concentration over the range of 6-82 µg·L-1 (r2 = 0.39-0.64, p < 0.005), and these genera were dominant at sites with the highest nutrient concentrations.

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